Up in arms against EU's ban on indandescents

The European Union enacted its ban today on incandescent light bulbs, allowing shops to sell their current supply but not buy or import more of them.

The switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs and LEDs is expected to reduce the electricity used for lighting and help the region reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions, but the move is prompting vocal opposition from artists, parents, health advocates and even environmentalists.

The United States should take note, as its phasing-out of incandescents begins in 2012 (see Vu1 raises $5M for lighting tech).

The EU ban follows similar legislation in Australia and Cuba (see European Union to phase out incandescent light bulbs).

Part of the criticism of the lighting mandate comes from artists that use incandescents to emphasize colors, or to light existing sculptures or art installations.

"Most of these lights have been designed specifically for the art work. I cannot find a suitable energy-saving lamp to fit those requirements," Peter Orth of the Orth House Museum told Deutsche World. "Changing the system would mean major structural changes, including tearing down walls, which again requires so much expenditure. Then where's the energy savings?"

The report noted that "incandescent light bulbs bring out the entire spectrum of light, [while] the energy-saving lamps have higher components of blue and white, which can make the light appear more artificial."

The New York Times found a variety of other complaints, including parents upset that traditional fairground lights must be replaced, health advocates who say energy-saving lights can be harmful to epileptics, and environmentalists concerned that small levels of mercury in compact fluorescents could have immense impact when the bulbs become more popular. EU officials have said they want to force compact fluorescent light bulb makers to reduce the mercury content from 5 milligrams per bulb to 2 milligrams.

In the meantime, there are multiple reports of people stockpiling incandescent light bulbs. Consumer research organization GfK told the New York Times that sales of incandescent bulbs in Germany were up 34 percent during the first half of 2009.