Details of the phase-out

Why is the Australian Government phasing out inefficient incandescent light bulbs?

Lighting represents around 12 per cent of electricity usage from households, and around 25 per cent of the electricity used by the commercial sector. The Australian Government recognises that this is an area where energy savings can be easily made by replacing inefficient incandescent lights with more cost-effective and energy efficient alternatives.

These energy efficient alternatives include compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) which use only 20 per cent of the electricity to produce the same amount of light. Using less energy means reduced greenhouse gas emissions and lower electricity bills — benefiting both the environment and individuals.

How will inefficient incandescent light bulbs be phased out?

The Australian Government has implemented the phase-out by introducing minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for lighting products. MEPS are the minimum efficiency standards that products must meet in order to be sold in the Australian market. MEPS are used for various product ranges, including refrigerators, freezers, washing machines and other household appliances. More information about MEPS is available on the Energy Rating website.

More efficient types of incandescent bulbs called halogens will continue to be available, but the least efficient of this group will be phased out. Halogen bulbs are more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, but are significantly less efficient than compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). More information is available about the phase-out, as it applies to specific lighting products on the Energy Rating website. The purpose of this report is to outline a plan for applying MEPS to incandescent and compact fluorescent lamps.

Further, the consultation draft of the regulatory impact statement: Proposal to Phase-Out Inefficient Incandescent Light Bulbs was released on 12 September 2008 for public comment. This document outlines the details to introduce minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for inefficient incandescent light bulbs, CFLs and extra low voltage converters.

Find out more about the Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement.

Please note that the up to date timing of the phase-out is set out in the table below.

Which incandescent light bulbs will be phased out?

The Australian Government is targeting any light bulbs that have an efficiency level of less than 15 lumens per watt (lm/w). Lumens (lm) are a measure of light output and watts (w) are a measure of energy input.

The traditional pear-shaped incandescent bulbs (GLS) are the least efficient — these bulbs waste 90 per cent of the energy they use, mainly as heat. They were phased out first, with an import restriction that applied from 1 February 2009, this was followed by a sales restriction from November 2009.

More efficient types of incandescent bulbs — known as halogens will continue to be available, but the least efficient of this group will be phased out over time. Mains voltage (240V), and low voltage bulbs (12V — typically used in down lighting), are the common types of halogen bulb. Low voltage does not mean low energy use.

What are the projected dates for the phase-out as they apply to specific lighting products?

The projected dates provided within this table for the application of minimum energy performance standards to specific lighting products are dependent upon the availability of effective and efficient alternatives being readily available in the market place.

Products brought into the country after the date of the sales restriction must meet both specific minimum energy performance standards and be registered with the relevant state regulatory authority – information on registration is available on the Energy Rating website.
 

Lamp Type Sales restriction from
  • Tungsten filament incandescent general lighting service (GLS) light bulbs
  • Extra low voltage (ELV) halogen non-reflectors
  • Self-ballasted compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)

1 November 2009

  • >40W candle, fancy round and decorative lamps
  • ELV halogen reflectors*
 October 2010
  • Mains voltage halogen non-reflectors**
1 January 2011
  • >25W candle fancy round and decorative lamps
 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 25W 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 37W — effective 14 April 2012.

** Refer to Regulatory Ruling #30

*** Refer to Regulatory Ruling #43C

Sale of existing light bulbs

In all states and territories, except South Australia, the following conditions apply:

  • Incandescent light bulbs subject to Minimum Energy Performance Standards (see above) can be sold if the seller can prove that they were imported into the State or Territory they are being sold in prior to the date the Minimum Energy Performance Standards legislation on incandescent lighting products was introduced. In the case of tungsten filament General Lighting Service light bulbs the seller would have to prove they were imported before 1 February 2009.
  • Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) or halogen lamps that require Minimum Energy Performance Standards registration but are not registered for them can be sold if the seller can prove that they were imported into the State or Territory they are being sold in before the date the legislation was introduced (1 November 2009).

In South Australia products are only allowed to be sold for 6 months after the Minimum Energy Performance Standards legislation was first applied.

For further information please contact your state regulator.

Will streets lights and other public lighting be affected by the phase-out measure?

Most street and public lights do not use incandescent technology, so the phase-out will not affect them.

Street and road lighting in Australia is very efficient compared to other countries, however, the Government is working with industry and the relevant Australian Standards Committee to reduce the amount of energy used by street lights.