The Australian Government is working with states and territories to gradually phase out inefficient incandescent light bulbs.
Savings to the environment
The phase-out will deliver considerable savings to the environment and the economy. Across the country, the move to more efficient lighting such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) is expected to save around 30 terawatt hours of electricity and 28 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions between 2008 and 2020.
This is equivalent to permanently decommissioning a small coal-fired power station or taking more than 500,000 cars off the road.
It is expected to result in savings of:
- around $380 million per year by 2020 to the Australian economy
- more than $50 per year for each household that changes all incandescent light globes to CFLs.
Phase-out stages
The phase-out of inefficient light bulbs has been implemented over a number of stages.
The first stage was the introduction of an import restriction on inefficient incandescent general lighting service (GLS) light bulbs from 1 February 2009. Further information about import controls of GLS electric filament lamps is set out in Australian Customs Notice No. 2009/04 available from Australian Customs Service.
Minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) have been introduced in a staged approach at point of sale to the following lamp types.
|
Lamp type |
Sales restriction from |
|---|---|
|
Tungsten filament incandescent general lighting service (GLS) light bulbs Extra low voltage (ELV) halogen non-reflector lamps Self-ballasted compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) |
1 November 2009 |
|
>40 watt candle, fancy round and decorative lamps ELV halogen reflector lamps* |
1 October 2010 |
|
Mains voltage halogen non-reflector lamps** |
1 January 2011 |
|
>25 watt candle fancy round and decorative lamps |
1 October 2012 |
|
Mains voltage reflector lamps, including halogen (PAR, ER, R, etc)** |
October 2013 Date to be reviewed and determined dependent on availability of efficient replacement products |
|
Pilot lamps 25 watt and below |
To be determined dependent on the availability of efficient replacement products |
* For ELV halogen reflector lamps, the average measured wattage shall be no more than 37 watt – effective 14 April 2012.
** Refer to Regulatory Ruling #43C.
Imported products
Products brought into Australia after the date of the sales restriction:
- must meet specific MEPS
- be registered with the national regulator.
Read more about product registration on the Energy Rating website.
The dates provided for the application of MEPS to specific lighting products are dependent upon the availability of effective and efficient alternatives being readily available in the market.
Further information