Feb 3, 2012 8:45 AM
Eco Design Directive and lighting
Have you noticed the changes in lighting that have hit Europe over the past couple of years?
Incandescent lightbulbs
1st September 2011 changes to the Eco Design Directive heralded the end of the 60W incandescent light bulb, or at least its manufacture within (and import into) the European Union. This decision follows the banning of 100W and 75W incandescent lamps in 2009 and 2010. However, whilst the manufacture and import of these bulbs is prohibited, existing stocks already in the EU can continue to be sold until the supply is exhausted.
The Eco Design Directive specifies that transparent lamps of 60W+ must have an energy-label class of C or above (on a scale of A to G, with A being the highest). This energy-label class is unachievable by most standard incandescent bulbs but not all. Incandescent bulbs which incorporate more efficient technologies, such as halogen, can still be used as long as they meet level C. Currently LED and CFL alternatives do not as yet provide the same quality of light as incandescent bulbs.
All transparent lamps at all wattage levels must reach a minimum of energy-label class C by September 2012. All non-clear lamps have, since September 2009, had to achieve the highest class of A.
It’s also important to note that the Eco Design Directive currently only applies to non-directional lamps but the European Commission is working on extending this scope to include directional lighting too.
Solid state lighting
In December 2011 the EC released a Green Paper called ‘Lighting the future: Accelerating the deployment of innovative lighting technologies’. The purpose was to encourage the take up of Solid-State Lighting (SSL) by member states.
The report did identify that part of the challenge was to make sure new technology worked with electronics legislation. As a result, the EC is working on a specific Eco Design regulation that will deal with directional light sources and lay down minimum functionality requirements.
Energy label regulations will also be developed for SSL. The labels will allow consumers to see the efficiency of products and encourage them to use this as a factor to decide between which products to use.
Part of a bigger picture
Of course what needs to be remembered is that whilst energy efficiency may be the most marketable aspect of innovative lighting, all lighting technology within scope must comply with a variety of legislation including CE Mark (including RoHS and Low Voltage), REACH and WEEE.
Should incandescent bulbs have been banned? Are the alternatives viable? Let us know.
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