Ban the Bulb campaign near to success

5.23.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 4th Nov 2006

Modern bulbs can save up to £9 a year on electricity bills

Traditional light bulbs could taken off the shelves of UK shops by 2009 and replaced with energy-saving alternatives. Park Ward candidate Robin Lawrence welcomed this progress and said "Modern bulbs last longer and cost less overall. Energy-saving lighting products have an average lifespan of up to 12 times longer than traditional products with modern bulbs saving up to £9 a year on electricity bills".

Work is under way in Europe to investigate the scope for setting minimum standards for 14 energy-using products including commercial lighting. The European Commission will then bring forward proposals for a minimum standard that would prevent the sale of the least energy-efficient products within the EU. In the UK, retailers and manufacturers could remove inefficient lighting products from shop shelves in advance of European regulations.