Over the last few years, environment (climate change) and energy efficiency (scarcity, compatibility) have been important topics on the political agenda. This has resulted in changes to current and forthcoming legislation on energy efficiency, which has had a big impact on lighting in general.
One of the most important pieces of legislation on energy efficiency is the EuP Directive.
The focus of the EuP Directive is to set minimum energy efficiency requirements, which means phasing out products that cannot fulfill these requirements and developing alternative products that will. In support of the energy efficiency requirements, the lighting industry will have to give information about the energy efficiency of products in much greater detail.
The EuP Directive consists of two measures relating to consumer lighting: The principal measure is better known as the “GLS ban”. It includes the immediate phase out of all non clear incandescent lamps and gradual phase out of clear incandescent lamps as well as limiting the energy consumption of all halogen, CFLi (compact fluorescent lamps with integrated gear or energy saving lamps) and LED light sources. (active: September 2009).
The other measure includes the concept of “Ecodesign” which means that for all fluorescent lamps with external gear (being TL and CFL), minimum efficacy levels (Lumen / Watt), minimum lifetime, colour rendering etc... are defined by legislation (active: 13th of April 2010).
For an overview of these technical specifications please visit www.philips.com