Future not bright for 'green' bulbs

December 18 2007 11:14 AM

The move by John Gormley to ban incandescent bulbs appears, at first sight, to be laudable.

However, are we yet again about to become the victims of a lack of "joined up thinking", along the lines of the rip-off that is the electronic tolling on the M50 West Link?

The reasons for concern are that there are no easily available low energy replacements for many existing light installations (for example halogen downlights, compact small envelope bulbs, cooker hoods etc).

The compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), offered as the primary low energy alternatives for standard bayonet and Edison screw based incandescent bulbs, have many limitations.

Shortcomings include high cost, poor light output and quality, slow warm-up, lifetimes less than advertised and toxic material content (mercury for example). This makes disposal difficult, hazardous and expensive.

In a little over a year -- January 2009 -- this major change will be introduced and will have a significant impact on domestic and industrial users, as well as lighting installers and manufacturers.

No guidelines or informative advice have been published regarding the changeover.

Yet again, the long-suffering public will be left to shoulder the added cost.

It will also have to endure the hassle of yet another quick and easy knee-jerk government measure aimed at cheap, "green" feel-good publicity rather than a carefully thought through measure.

DR ERIC W FIRTH

BALLYMORE EUSTACE, KILDARE