Lights out for old bulbs, but ......

[Oneword]

Lights out on old bulbs

The SA Central Energy Fund (CEF) and UK multinational Philips are in talks to make energy saving light bulbs in southern Africa, which would dovetail with the government's plans to ban power-guzzling incandescent bulbs from 2010.

Eskom's roll-out of energy-efficient light bulbs, which began with more than 5 million in the Western Cape last year, is one measure to reduce demand.

Meanwhile, in Namibia the old bulbs will also gradually be changed for the new type free of charge. In recent advertisements by the Demand Side Management Project, a joint venture between the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Electricity Control Board and NamPower, people are encouraged to switch from using conventional light bulbs to CFL bulbs.

The Namibian power utility has embarked on an energy-saving campaign and has started to distribute some 900 000 compact fluorescent lights to Namibians, which will save about 20 Megawatts of electricity.

The government itself subsidises the installation of solar systems for household use and plans to fit all Government buildings with solar heating systems.

Not as safe as you think

Environmental agencies world-wide have, however, started to issue low-energy bulb disposal warnings

Theys say the public should be told more about the environmental risks of low-energy light bulbs so they are disposed of correctly.

Low-energy bulbs contain small amounts of poisonous mercury and are classed as hazardous waste.

If one breaks, the room should be aired and the pieces removed in a sealed bag without using a vacuum cleaner.

The agency says householders need to be given more information about where to take the bulbs for safe recycling.

Low-energy bulbs are to replace tungsten bulbs, while conventional or "incandescent" bulbs are being phased out in a voluntary agreement with retailers.

Health warnings

The government wants to end the sale of conventional bulbs to cut carbon dioxide emissions.

But the agency says manufacturers' packaging fails to mention official health warnings on what to do if a bulb smashes in the home.

If a bulb smashes the room should be ventilated, and people are advised not to inhale the dust.

The lighting industry and the environment department say the risk of pollution posed by low-energy bulbs is negligible compared to that caused by power stations feeding the UK's demand for electricity.

Meanwhile, energy-saving light bulbs could trigger migraines, say campaigners.

The Migraine Action Association says members have told them how fluorescent bulbs have led to attacks.

The government is set to prevent the sale of conventional light bulbs within the next four years in a bid to cut carbon dioxide emissions.

Concerns have already been raised by epilepsy charities about an increased risk of seizures from energy-saving bulbs.

Some bulbs use similar technology to fluorescent strip lights, and some users have complained that there can be a "flickering" effect.

Old technology

However, the Lighting Association, which represents bulb manufacturers, said that the latest energy-saving bulbs did not produce a flicker.

A spokesman said: "A small number of cases have been reported by people who suffer from reactions to certain types of linear fluorescent lamps.

"These were almost certainly triggered by old technology."

The switch to energy-saving light bulbs may also put thousands at risk of painful skin reactions, health charities warn.

Fluorescent bulbs can exacerbate skin rashes in people with photosensitive skin conditions, experts said.

The government is planning to prevent the sale of conventional bulbs by 2011 to cut carbon dioxide emissions.

Several groups including the British Association of Dermatologists called for exemptions to allow those affected to continue using traditional bulbs.

But representatives of the lighting industry said there would be alternatives to fluorescent lighting available.

Health conditions which can involve some form of light sensitivity, include the auto-immune disease lupus, the genetic disorder Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP), certain forms of eczema and dermatitis, photosensitivity, and porphyria.


We certainly don't want to say no to greener bulbs just that other bulbs need to be available
Andrew Langford, Skin Care Campaign

It has been estimated about 100,000 people in the UK with these skin conditions will be affected.

Spectrum - an alliance of charities that support people with light sensitive conditions - says they have also been contacted with people suffering from ME who have had bad reactions to fluorescent light.

Other groups have warned that low-energy bulbs, which use approximately a quarter of the energy of conventional bulbs, cause migraines and increase the risk of seizures in people with epilepsy.

Phase-out

Conventional or "incandescent" bulbs are being phased out in a voluntary agreement with retailers and will no longer be on sale from December 2011 in the UK.

Campaigners want people who have light sensitive conditions to be able to continue to buy conventional bulbs for their homes.

Dr Colin Holden, President of the British Association of Dermatologists, said: "It is important that patients with photosensitive skin eruptions are allowed to use lights that don't exacerbate their condition.

"It is essential that such patients are able to protect themselves from specific wavelengths of light emitted by fluorescent bulbs, especially as they are often trapped indoors because they can't venture out in natural sunlight."

Kevin Verdun, chief executive of the lighting association said only two-thirds of incandescent bulbs were being phased out.

"These things have been taken into consideration and there will be bulbs they can still use.

"There are also halogen bulbs and LED bulbs coming in in the next two or three years."

BBC/Nampower/own