Pulling the plug on wasteful lighting (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Mark Kinver
Science and nature reporter, BBC News

Once the symbol for inspiration or a eureka moment, the incandescent lightbulb has taken on a whole new iconic status - that of public enemy number one in the battle against climate change.

In a speech to the recent Labour Party conference, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn outlined government plans to phase out the sale of the traditional bulbs in the UK by 2011.

Mr Benn's announcement follows on from the decision made by the Australian government in February to ban the bulbs by 2009.

The European Commission is also toying with the idea of an EU-wide ban as part of its target to cut energy consumption by 20% by 2020, as outlined in its Energy Action Plan.

Even the lighting sector's representative body, the European Lamp Companies Federation (ELC), is calling time on the technology that has lit the world since the 19th Century.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7018575.stm