As of this Saturday (September 1) Portugal will be following the rest of Europe in withdrawing from sale all halogen light bulbs – the cheapest form of lighting on the market but also the least ‘long-lasting’ and most polluting in terms of CO2 emissions.
The objective is to promote more environmentally-friendly forms of illumination.
Says eco-group Quercus, it is an “historic moment” and one in which everyone should win, certainly in the long-term.
Halogen light bulbs may be cheap, but they are forever blowing and thus, over time switching to fluorescent or better still LED lighting, will save money.
Championing LED lights, the ECOCASA simulator has explained that substituting seven halogen lights for LEDS can produce an annual saving of €99.27.
But as always there are those who maintain the ban will hit the poorest consumers as these will now have to spend roughly three times the prices they have been paying for cheaper light bulbs.
Energy-saving bulbs have nonetheless become more and more popular – and progressively cheaper – since the EU prohibited the manufacturing and importation of halogen bulbs two years ago.
The “progressive elimination” of halogen bulbs will reduce CO2 emissions by 15 million tons per year, say calculations which equates to “the annual consumption of electricity in our country”, adds DECO.
Right now, only 22.4% of homes (according to INE) have resisted the move to fluorescent or LED light builds.
In those homes, on the basis that each will have “roughly seven light bulbs”, electrical consumption has been 10 times higher than it would have been if owners had changed their habits voluntarily.
Bizarrely, MEPs opposing the ban include those from the UK’s fated UKIP party. Indeed, MEP Gerard Batten has used the ban as another reason for Britain to leave the EU.
natasha.donn@algarveresident.com
