Lights out for the 100w bulb

Invented by Thomas Alva Edison and patented in 1879, the electric light bulb has become one of the everyday convenience that affects our daily lives.

Today, the European Union is banning it’s import and manufacture as part of its strategy to reduce energy consumption and, hence, carbon emissions.

In its place comes the high-efficiency bulbs as a direct plug in option. They no doubt are far more efficient than Edison’s incandescent bulbs but they bring their own problems. The use of mercury in their linings makes their disposal an issue and they still have technical shortcomings in terms of light output levels, warm-up times and, some claim, high frequency flicker issues that can trigger epileptic fits and migranes.

Sure, we need to reduce energy consumption but we also need robust strategies for replacement technologies and power generation (UK government in particular).