Industry seeks leadership on light-bulb efficiency

Energy efficiency measures are a central part of the EU's strategy to reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions, particularly in light of the 8-9 March European Council Conclusions, which called for a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions in the EU by 2020. In respect of lighting, the European Council called on the Commission "to rapidly submit proposals to enable increased energy efficiency requirements on office and street lighting to be adopted by 2008 and on incandescent lamps and other forms of lighting in private households by 2009".

The importance of efficient lighting was also highlighted in the June 2005 Green Paper on Energy Efficiency, and in the October 2006 Energy Efficiency Action Plan, which signalled the Commission's intention to tighten standards for energy-using products, including home, office and street lighting. 

Efficiency standards for lamps and lighting are laid out in the EU’s 2005 eco-design of energy using products directive, the EuP or 'Eco-design' Directive. As a framework Directive, the Eco-design directive applies to 20 product groups (including lamps) but does not provide specific targets or measures for each group: these are set at a later stage in separate implementing measures, after an impact assessment and consultation with stakeholders.