The tungsten lightbulb will soon be no more. Well, in the UK at least.
Three years ago then Environment Minister Hilary Benn announced the UK was replacing the trusty tungsten light bulb with environmentally-friendly low energy bulbs.
The phase-out of bulbs which had lit up the country for a remarkable 100 years – they were introduced in 1910 - is now almost complete.
Supermarket giant Tesco has just announced it will not be stocking any more tungsten bulbs following a big sell-off which has just got under way.
First to go under the bulbs purge were 100 watt and 60 watt versions. You’ll still find them in various hardware stores and pound shops, but they will not be around for much longer.
Tesco only has 40 watt tungsten bulbs left in stock and it reckons they will sell out within the next two months.
The aesthetics might not be great, but people will just have to get used to seeing those low energy spiral or stick bulbs teamed up with their lampshades. Of course, some ‘green’ bulbs now look like traditional bulbs, but most are of the spiral or stick variety.
The good news is that they will save you money in the long run. Low energy stick, spiral and halogen light bulbs can reduce electricity bills by up to £8 a year per bulb.
And they are, of course, also good for the environment. They will cut carbon emissions in the UK by an estimated five million tonnes a year.
Posted: 25. January 2011 15:57