'Green' Germans hoard traditional bulbs to beat ban

 

 

By David Derbyshire

Last updated at 1:34 AM on 24th August 2009

 

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Germans have been stockpiling vast numbers of energy-hungry lightbulbs

 

Germany's green credentials have long made it the spiritual home of tree-huggers across the world.

 

But those who actually live there seem reluctant to embrace the eco-warriors' latest symbol - the energy-saving lightbulb.

 

Germans have been stockpiling vast numbers of old-fashioned energy-hungry lightbulbs of the kind pictured left ahead of next week's EU ban on many of them.

Sales of conventional incandescent bulbs shot up 34 per cent in the first six months of this year as consumers hoarded the dwindling supplies.

 

In most other European countries, sales fell over the same period. In Britain, where big retailers introduced a voluntary ban on 100 watt bulbs in January, sales are down by a fifth.

 

Brussels is banning all pearl or frosted traditional bulbs and clear 100 watt bulbs from September 1 as part of its drive to cut carbon dioxide emissions and tackle climate change.

 

Stocks are expected to run out in most towns by the end of next month, forcing householders to buy energy-saving compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) or low-energy halogen bulbs.

 

The figures highlighting Germany's unwillingness to switch to CFLs have surprised some in a country with such a strong green movement and which brought the world the eco-friendly repairable Birkenstock sandal.

 

Christian Schraft, head of the consumer division at bulb manufacturer Osram, admitted he was taken aback by the figures from the German consumer research group GfK.

 

But he said: 'Germans are often sceptical about innovations and in difficult-economic times, in particular, they tend to stick to what is tried and tested.' In Austria sales of traditional bulbs more than doubled in the first six months of the year, while in Hungary they increased by 24 per cent.

 

Mr Schraft said critics of CFLs, who say many are ugly, expensive and produce a harsh light, are out of touch. 'People think about lamps that take a long time to switch on and resemble the light of train stations' lavatories,' he said.

 

'But in fact with today's technology nobody is able to tell the difference between the light of incandescent and energy-efficient bulbs.'

 

The lightbulb ban is the first big test for politicians determined to force homes into cutting energy use.

 

Hans-Georg H‰usel, a psychologist who uses brain science to explain consumer behaviour, said: ' Germans do not trust energy-saving lamps. There is a fear that they could destroy the snug atmosphere of their homes, which ranks very highly in Germany.'

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1208561/Green-Germans-hoard-traditional-bulbs-beat-ban.html#ixzz0P5J5I3Dq

hahaha, 'snug atmosphere' is the awkward attempt to translate our fabulous 'gemütlichkeit', isn't it?

hahaha, snug is the awkward attempt to translate our fabulous 'gemütlichkeit', isn't it?

 

I think you need to lighten up a bit!!:P

That one was not very bright Mark :P

That one was not very bright Mark :P

 

Glow away!!:rolleyes:

Good idea I say.

 

*points to cupboard with around 20 or so bulbs in* :P

I read the new power efficient light bulbs have mercury in them and when they break you're supposed to leave the room for 10 minutes.

I read the new power efficient light bulbs have mercury in them and when they break you're supposed to leave the room for 10 minutes.

 

And also the new ELBs don't work with dimmer switches and cause attacks in certain people as they flicker

And also the new cause attacks in certain people

 

So maybe that's what caused the Millwall-West Ham bust-up!!:rolleyes:

Yep, ignore that Millwall and West Ham have a rivalry going back years and ignore that it was the first game between them 2 in 4 years, it was all done to the lights at Upton Park

Yep, ignore that Millwall and West Ham have a rivalry going back years and ignore that it was the first game between them 2 in 4 years, it was all done to the lights at Upton Park

 

Well they did try to punch each other's lights out.:rolleyes:

The energy saving ones are bright garish and ugly tho.

I think energy-saving light bulbs are awesome, but why do we have to force them on people?

 

One of these days there will be affordable, bright, and balanced LED lightbulbs that produce a shine exactly like what the Sun produces. People will voluntarily switch to those when they're in mass-production.

 

Governments constantly do this. They make an assumption, "Everyone should have this." and then people suffer because of it for 10 years, then when the technology finally matures and becomes affordable, they point back to that law and say, "Look, if it wasn't for us, nobody would have it today!"

 

They did this with seatbelts, food safety, etc. Consumers are smarter than the government gives them credit for.

LED lights rock.