Solving Electricity Problems Without Banning Light Bulbs Or Other Products

Energy and emissions problems should be dealt with using top-down politics, major change before minor change, that sees bans on products as a last rather than a first resort. 
If individual products are nonetheless to be targeted for the consumption reasons given for bans, taxation is a much better option:
Consumption is cut, consumer freedom retained, government gets income, and that money can be spent on reducing energy/emission  problems, more than remaining product use increases them.

by  Dr. Peter Thornes,  Dublin,  Ireland     p@dublin.ie

Recent European Commission Ecodesign Committee press release:
"The regulation [to ban ordinary light bulbs] is only one of the Ecodesign measures that will be adopted by the Commission over  the coming months, targeting many more products such as consumer electronics, white goods or heating appliances."

It may sound good to some people, to "ban inefficient products" and provide "suitable replacements".
However, the ominously named "Ecodesign Committee" (shades of Soviet Union rather than European Union) forgets that not  only are all products are on the market because they have different advantages:
Inefficient products need to have particular advantages, or noone would buy them. For example rendering advantages that large plasma TV screens may have, or fan heaters that heat a room quickly, or light bulbs with a warm bright light quality at a low price. Similarly with bans on any other product.

Everyone loses out with all these bans.
Consumers can no longer buy the popular products they want (no need to ban an impopular product!).
Politicians lose popularity, and people become less and less inclined to follow any of their lifestyle changing advice.
After all: If people really believed the savings and other arguments relating to switching from light bulbs, at least some would have stopped buying them, yet 9 out of 10 lights bought all over the EU remain ordinary light bulbs, from the Commission's own research (in fact that's a given reason for "making a phase-out necessary").
What does this mean?
Panic buying and hoarding will take place all over Europe late this summer, as the reality of a ban hits home.
This of course just works against the point of a ban, and reinforces the unpopularity of politicians, all the more so when the necessity of bans starts getting seriously questioned: Because the sad part of all this is that it is all so unnecessary.
To be against bans does not mean being against dealing with energy and emission problems.
On the contrary, that's exactly where the focus should be:
To deal with whatever energy and emission problems there may be, using a clear top down strategy, major change before minor change with a cost-benefit-time analysis, instead of using them as excuses for bans.
Going around people's homes banning popular products they want to use should not be the first course of action, it should be a last resort.

When we start to focus on energy/emission problems themselves,
it also becomes apparent how unfair blanket bans are:

First of all between countries, or states in say Canada or USA.
In the EU for example some countries (Sweden, France) are virtually emission-free, while others (Austria, Finland, some Baltic states) are not far behind; again, some countries have well organized renewable energy distribution and others don't.
The notion is that "solidarity should be shown" to weaker states. Why?
Why this notion of needing to drag everyone down, rather than raising relevant states to a superior level?
Why all this let's-all-cry-in-our-Belgian-beer negativity, let's all "cut down and sacrifice", rather than positively moving forward?

Secondly, within countries: Why should those homes already using emission-free/renewable energy be punished regarding the popular  products they want to use? Again, the aim should of course be to get others to their level.

Part 1   A proper top-down strategy
Part 2   Wrong to ban electrical products: Light Bulbs
Part 3   Taxation better than bans

Part 1   A proper top-down strategy 

1. Energy/emissions in society should constantly be compared, to see where action is most needed.
Transport, such as cars for example, directly cause considerable amounts of CO2 emissions.
In the UK 4/5 of electricity generation gives out emissions, more than most other European countries. Even so, UK Department of the Environment figures gives   0.5kg CO2 per kWh electricity compared with 2.3kg CO2 per litre of petrol. 
Cars are taxed rather than banned on related emissions, so can electrical products be.

2. Electrical products, unlike most cars, do not themselves give out CO2 emissions:  power stations do!
Recent technology advances can deal directly with CO2 emission filtering and processing, apart from more well known, costly and  complex CCS (carbon capture and storage) solutions.   See  http://www.ceolas.net/#gg2x 
Similarly renewable energy can be stored and distributed effectively, with proper organization of competition keeping down prices.
See http://www.ceolas.net/#em1x  onwards.
Money is the problem, which the various taxation solutions here can help provide.

In other words, the positive politician says: 
"Let's deal with the problems themselves, let's not use them as excuses to ban things that people want to use!"

3. Next stage: Targeting electricity consumption.
Price rise (taxation) on fossil fuel derived electricity may not politically be popular, though of course neither are bans.
Tax money can however go towards insulation and energy conversion schemes cancelling price rise effects, it can also itself finance solutions to emission/energy problems (see above) - and to a greater extent than individual product use  causes such problems.
More on  http://www.ceolas.net/#gg3x 

Notice the multiple advantage of such a tax:
Lowers fossil fuel derived consumption, 
increases renewable energy viability and use, 
it is simpler, quicker and more effective than working out complicated bans and replacements,
it retains consumer freedom in how they use their electricity,
it gives considerable government income, unlike bans.

4. Next stage: Targeting  electrical products on efficiency.
This reflects what is said on http://www.ceolas.net/#gg5x 

When considering electric appliances, there are 3 levels of encouraging effective use, 
information, then taxation, then banning. They are done in that order. You don't just jump to banning. The reason isn't just because of progressive strategy, it is also out of consideration to consumers.

Information
Information is the first step.  For example, public information campaigns and energy efficiency labelling, as is already applied.

Taxation
Taxation is the next step, if necessary.
Raising the fossil fuel electricity price rise may not have led to sufficient emission reduction, and political reasons against such a price rise may involve this action being taken.
There may also be a need to (further) raise government income, and this in itself is a reasonable option.
Existing efficiency labelling can conveniently be used for a new "carbon tax", similar to new car taxation.
In a more striking move, VAT (Value Added Tax) on the products is altered at the same time, so that with both taxations, the most efficient "A" classed products (such as CFLs and LED lighting) are zero rated, making them cheaper than today.

Advantages:
Governments can make money, consumers can save money, consumers keep free choice, and the manufacture of green eco-friendly  products is stimulated.

Governments gain income: 
As mentioned, inefficient products (like fan heaters, plasma screens) will still be bought, as they need particular attractions to survive on the marketplace because of their inefficiency. Consumers don't buy them to save on running costs anyway, and if low price is an attraction, that itself gives scope for considerable taxation  (efficient, durable products tend to cost more).

Green ambitions are not sacrificed:
Consumers are lured towards green choices, when they pay less or no tax. 
They save more money than today in buying "A" classed products.
Meanwhile, if they do pay the taxes, funding can, as before, go towards energy/emissions solutions, or energy and insulation  schemes that lower emissions more than product use causes them.
In a way, products are charged to "deal with the energy inefficiency and carbon emissions of their use", similar to say a recycling charge on other goods, the difference being that here, the problems are gradually solved. 
Manufacturers make good eco-friendly products in their relationship with consumers and what they want on the marketplace, rather than through bans and directives.

5. Next stage: Targeting individual inefficient electrical products.
Again the order is information-taxation-banning, as stated above.

Why is taxation still more important than a ban? 
Well let's answer that with a question: Why are the electrical products to be banned?
Not for normal safety reasons: These are not like bans on fireworks or lead paint.
The underlying reason for the bans is consumption.

Compare with big duties or taxes on petrol (gasoline) and alcohol, 
which controls consumption and gives government income at the same time. 

If  individual products really need targeting, taxation is therefore more logical and better for all.
The specific taxation is here much larger than before, driving down consumption, while still raising government income.
See the light bulb example that follows in the last section.

Part 2    Wrong to ban electrical products:  Light Bulbs

Let's see why it's wrong to ban light bulbs with given "energy wasting" reasons.
These are only a few of all reasons against a ban, as seen  from http://www.ceolas.net/#li2x   onwards.

First of all, 
in considering the banning of individual energy consuming electrical products,
one might note that it's more applicable to target heating and hot water than lighting (15% of average EU household electricity use).

Secondly,
when it comes to lighting, ordinary light bulbs do not necessarily waste energy
(often misunderstood but proven heat benefit, see http://www.ceolas.net/#li6x , for example American building norms measure the heating effect in considering negative effects with air conditioning cooling, and positive effects when and where it's cold; 
as for "the bulb near the ceiling", it should be remembered that room heat substantially rises towards the ceiling and spreads downwards from  there).

Conversely the main CFL ("energy saving" light) replacements do use up considerable energy,
in more complex manufacture (more than the assembly of parts, since the parts themselves are complex to manufacture),  transport  (from China) and recycling reprocessing with associated transport.
(More on this http://www.ceolas.net/#li16x , lifespan/brightness/power rating and other reasons against supposed energy savings http://www.ceolas.net/#li13x )
If unrecycled, mercury leakage on dump sites is a significant problem,
not mitigated by any coal power station mercury emissions. See http://www.ceolas.net/#li19x , CFL health aspects  http;//www.ceolas.net/#li18x  

Thirdly,
In still considering a ban on light bulbs, 
is a ban really worth any remaining energy/emissions gain in an overall perspective?
As mentioned, all electrical products have different advantages.
That's why they exist for people to choose.
You can't just "replace" one with another and think it is the same.
The problems with the EU ban proposal in this regard  include needlessly banning all frosted light bulbs and halogens, regardless of their efficiency, regardless of frosted lights being the most popular types in Europe, and regardless of the fact that small size frosted light bulbs have no equivalents in either CFLs or LEDs).
For more see http://www.ceolas.net/#li21x 
As said, 9 times out of 10, EU consumers are seen to choose ordinary light bulbs.
You do not keep buying a product only because it's cheap, nor do you avoid buying a CFL or other product just because it's expensive, or no alternative expensive products of any kind would be sold on the market!
Regarding the different useful f eatures  of ordinary light bulbs and other lights  see    
http://www.ceolas.net/#li5x  onwards.
Ironically, a ban on 100W+ light bulbs is particularly wrong:
Such bulbs have especially good brightness as well as heat benefit,
with 100W bulbs also being at the same low price as other bulbs.

Fluorescent ("energy saving") lights are harder to make bright in small compact tubular form,
bright lights are more expensive than other ones,
and such lights dim with age.
Regarding fluorescent light output quality, while there are daylight similarities, and new gas mixtures and filters on the market, the colour omissions and colour spikes in the spectrum of all ionized gases make such lights seem unnatural and/or cold to some.
They are inavoidably (due to ionization time) slower to respond, particularly when cold, and are for example problematic with dimmers unless expensively specialized.

Halogens also have a different light spectrum quality, even though they are related to ordinary light bulbs.
Most are up for banning too: banning frosted ceiling replacement halogen lights makes no sense, because the bright shining exposed filament in clear halogens makes them unsuitable for such use!
Halogens also cost more than ordinary bulbs, need more handling care, usually look different, and may need transformers as well as different fittings. 
Still different, then.

What about LED lights?
Again they look different, cost more and give out a different light spectrum: they usually come in pure colour light combinations to produce white light.
While showing good promise they are not ready for extensive use.
Ironically people might actually want to buy these lights! 
That of course still does not justify banning light bulb alternatives, that have  different light quality and lamp applications. 
Conversely if light bulbs became unpopular with few buying and using them there’d clearly be no need to ban them either!
It should not be forgotten by politicians that consumption based bans only make sense if most people want to buy what the politicians themselves want to ban.

In other words if LEDS became popular there might be a natural market replacement, by people's own choice, like say transistors for radio valves, rather than by clumsy political directives.
LED lighting might in fact revolutionize interior design, as sheets on ceilings, walls and other areas ( http://www.ceolas.net/#Led ).
Politicians who are nevertheless inclined towards a ban could of course wait and see what happens on the market, before deciding on any course of action. If they want to act sooner, taxation is a much better route, as explained in the next section.

 
Part 3   Even if you still want a ban:  Why taxation is better for everybody than bans.

Light bulb example, using EU data.
(taken from   http://www.ceolas.net/LightBulbTax.html ) 

As mentioned in point 5 above, the bans are fundamentally for consumption - not product safety - reasons, which makes taxation a superior choice of instrument.

A large tax on light bulbs is like a ban in causing lower sales, 
with the important difference that a government makes money with taxation, but loses money with a ban (given that other lights can't absorb such taxation and given possible external sales).
Taxation is also easier, more efficient, and more adaptable to apply than working out complicated bans and replacements, since all products remain available, thereby also avoiding the problem that one light type can never fully replace another. The need for government income can be balanced against the need to lower consumption, a win-win situation since government objectives are reached with both lower and higher sales.
Rates can be adjusted over time, taking account of changing electricity markets and new light developments for optimal desired effect.
In turn it means a more popular measure than a ban since consumer choice is maintained, while the manufacture of eco-friendly  products is stimulated by what consumers themselves want in such products, rather than by what is dictated to them by EU committee or other political decrees.

Light bulbs can absorb high taxes and raise very large revenues: 

Light bulbs are
cheap (70 European cents or so) 
popular (9 out of 10 lights bought), 
everywhere (4 billion in the EU), 
short-lived (1000 hours).

Basic idea:
A large tax on light bulbs.

1. Great fall in light bulb sales,
aiming for say 1/4 of today's sales, effectively solving any energy waste associated with light bulbs, also when compared to other wastages and emissions.
The tax can of course subsequently be adjusted to achieve a more exact desired fall in light bulb purchases.
This is a much easier and more efficient way to solve the consumption problem, compared with complicated bans and "replacements".

2. Continued availability
Taxation ensures continued legally allowed availability of ordinary light bulbs, according to the demand left at a higher price, for example in specialty shops, for UV-light sensitive and other keen users.
So people will buy far fewer than the 20-25 or so light bulbs they use in their houses today, but most houses will still have a couple, perhaps for the warm bright light quality, otherwise for use as dimmers and in unheated areas like garages, porches and 
the like, where the slow cold response of energy saving lights makes them less useful. They are also (in the EU) free to use frosted (non-transparent) light bulbs and halogen lights, the most popular and practical types, that will be banned in the current EU proposal.

A National Government can say: 
"We acknowledge the concerns raised and are showing consideration for those who really want to or need to continue using these lights, but we need to maintain our policy of cutting consumption and we will use the funding raised for appropriate emission and energy measures in society, releasing funds for health, education and other spending in these bad economic times."

3. Significant government income
2 billion EU sales (Lighting industry data 2007-8) cut to some hundred millions raising up to 2 billion euros annual income for EU Finance, Energy and Environment Ministers, when they need it most in these bad economic times. 
Added to this, according to ban proponents, is the billions of euro savings that EU consumers make in buying more energy saving lights (in other words for most consumers the stated ban savings benefits are added on top of the government gains).

With a ban on a popular product, people will try to secure non-EU supplies where possible. This will mean government tax loss and shop revenue losses. This is less likely even with expensive light bulbs, the effort of gaining some euros not being worth it, for most people.
Panic  buying and hoarding ahead of a September deadline -taking away from any energy saving benefit - would occur with both ban and tax scenarios, but again be less with a tax, since light bulbs continue to be available.

4. Accepted taxation
National governments are in an ideal position to impose a large tax that the public will accept, unlike other taxation:
Given the publicized ban deliberations, the public will see it as a preferable alternative to a ban. After all, we are talking about an immensely popular product, overwhelmingly preferred in every EU country.

5. A win-win situation for a government 
If people buy less bulbs = Good for the environment, according to ban proposition logic.
If people buy more bulbs = Governments make more money, can fund energy/environment solutions to problems more than any remaining light bulb usage causes them, or funding can go to any other Budget priorities. 
In Practice:
Bulb taxation like the previously mentioned general carbon tax, according to efficiency rating, but with likely higher rates.

For example: 
Class F/G (light bulb) a single +3 to 4 Euro tax for both classes, or separately ranged between them
Class D/E (light bulb/halogen) +2 to 3 Euros
Class B/C (halogen) +1 to 1.50 Euros
Class A (CFL "energy saving"/LED lights) +0 Euros 

The rates are easily adjusted to reach desired income/sales effects between different classes, and -unlike bans- taxation rates can speedily and easily be adapted to future electricity markets and new lighting developments.
The reason for a likely relatively lower halogen addition is not just their greater efficiency, they also cost more to begin with.

"But 4 euro on a class F bulb effectively kills it!"
Well there you go - that is the power of taxation, and 3 euro may be more relevant if you want to keep a market.
There's a limit to what manufacturers and distributors will accept, but even approaching such situations, the legal position means that such bulbs might be available in one or two special shops in a country, like old radio valves, perhaps imported from one or two world manufacturers, or they might be made to order for whatever special use. There are also small, special, ornamental, or photographer lamps (not directional) taking inefficient and perhaps unusual types of light bulbs, that would continue to be legally allowed in this way.

What about different taxes in different countries?
Since all EU governments have signed up to a cut in light bulb use, presumably they would all see the value of taxation in cutting use and gaining government income at the same time. Differences in taxation between countries is already a reality for other products, and a euro here or there on light bulbs does not change much.

Generally:
National governments can opt out of a common light bulb ban and decide on taxation instead, taxation is a national decision, and better for all the reasons given.

Finally:
Should a national ban nonetheless be implemented,  opposition politicians should see how and why a ban is wrong, and seek to reverse it.
Light bulb ban proponents themselves might at least see why any ban that is imposed should be temporary, the assumed necessity being reviewed as underlying energy/emission problems are dealt with.

The imposition of any other electrical product bans are of course wrong for similar reasons,
and should be opposed not just by those in favour of consumer freedom,
and not just by those who might question the need for energy or CO2 emission controls,
but also by those who want such problems to be dealt with properly and effectively.