Halogen Lamp Ban: All You Need To Know

As part of the UK’s wider efforts to tackle climate change, the British Government has announced the ban on the sale of more types of halogen lamps from September 2021. Fluorescent tubes will soon follow suit, with their removal from shelves planned for September 2023. Back in 2018, the UK Government began to phase out the use of higher-energy halogen light bulbs. The drive towards cleaner lighting was successful, with two thirds of bulbs sold in Britain today being energy efficient LEDs. But what does the new halogen ban mean, and how will it affect consumers?

How does the halogen lamp ban affect me?

The removal of halogen light bulbs such as 12v reflector lamps means that consumers must opt for LED alternatives once stocks of the halogen lamps disappear. Whilst these already account for the majority of household lights sold in the UK, this figure is expected to rise to 85% by 2030. LED lights are slightly more expensive, but they’re much more cost-effective in the long run, providing many other benefits such as improved energy efficiency, longer lifespan and enhanced safety. The ban only relates to the “placing on the market” of products, this allows products in stock at manufacturers, retailers etc. to continue to be sold until stocks are exhausted. It is not an instant sales ban! At Lamp Source we will be stocking up on all the popular lamp types to ensure continuity of supply for some time in the future, should consumers wish to keep using the halogen version for a particular application. You’ll also notice that the energy labels on light bulb boxes will change. In an attempt to simplify the current classification, energy efficiency ratings wll change to a scale from A to G, removing the old A+, A++, A+++ ratings. The new labels will help consumers identify the most environmentally efficient ‘A’ bulbs more clearly.

What about fixed bulb lighting fixtures?

The halogen light bulb ban includes new measures which encourage the design of light fittings which can be repaired, or the light source and control gear replaced. Lighting fixtures containing fixed bulbs that cannot be replaced account for 100,000 tonnes of electrical waste every year and this measure is intended to reduce that waste over time.

What are the benefits of this ban?

The ban essentially speeds up the switch to LED, resulting in lowered carbon emissions and reduced energy consumption for households in the UK. Energy Minister, Anne-Marie Trevelyan notes that: ‘We’re phasing out old inefficient halogen bulbs for good, so we can move more quickly to longer lasting LED bulbs, meaning less waste and a brighter and cleaner future for the UK. The Government expects the ban to stop 1.26 million tonnes of carbon being emitted every year - the equivalent of removing half a million cars from the UK’s roads. This is part of the wider energy efficiency package currently being implemented to electrical appliances and white goods in the UK marketplace, forecast to save consumers an average of £75 a year on energy bills.

What are the next steps for me?

Don’t worry if you’re still using halogen bulbs in your home - most fixtures are suitable for an LED replacement. These eco-friendly light bulbs are widely available and designed to retrofit into conventional light fittings, such as halogen and fluorescent lights.

What can I replace my halogen lamps with?

The ban includes the following lamps followed by the replacements we can offer.

 

 

*Products that are already on the market may still be sold after the 1st of September 2023. So as long as you have plenty of stock before then you will be ok, so make sure to get stocked up! For more information, get in touch or view our full range of LED light solutions here.