News

May 9, 2021 EnviroNews Nigeria

African countries lead in global effort to eliminate mercury-based lighting

All fluorescent lights contain mercury. Broken or discarded bulbs haphazardly release this toxic substance mainly into the air, where it can bioaccumulate up the food chain, posing a risk to human health, wildlife and the environment.

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May 3, 2021

PRESS RELEASE: African Countries Lead in Global Effort to Eliminate Toxic Lighting

The Zero Mercury Working Group and the Clean Lighting Coalition applaud a proposed amendment by the African Region to phase out most fluorescent lamps at the next meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. “We congratulate the leadership of the Africa Regional Group in accelerating the global transition to clean, mercury-free lighting,” said Rachel Kamande, Africa Lead, Clean Lighting Coalition

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April 14, 2021 BusinessTech

Government wants to introduce new rules for lightbulbs in South Africa – what you should know

South Africans have until 30 April 2021 to comment on the recently gazetted specifications for general service lamps. The specifications aim to improve the safety, performance and energy efficiency of lightbulbs approved for use in South Africa by phasing out inefficient and environmentally harmful lighting products.

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January 29, 2021 European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy

€5,5 bln lost in a year as EU fails to act on mercury-based lighting ban

The delay to ban mercury-based light sources will cost at least 5.5 bln euro in missed energy savings the first year, with rising annual costs for each year of delay. Banning mercury-based light sources by September 2021 would save more than 300 TWh of electricity by 2035 in the EU

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January 26, 2021 Energy Saving Trust

How to save energy and carbon through energy efficient lighting

A quick guide to help you pick the best LED lighting for your home and reduce your power bill.

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January 26, 2021 The Conversation

Light in the darkness: How S.A schools can cut their electricity cost

Findings from a research conducted by The Conversation, found out that schools in South Africa could cut their power bills by between by 21%-39% just by replacing fluorescent lights with the more clean and efficient LED lighting option available.

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November 29, 2020 The Irish Times

Millions of non-recycled lightbulbs potentially creating health hazards

"If broken, fluorescent and CFL bulbs can release harmful mercury vapour and metal dust into the air that can be hazardous to health and the environment.”- Leo Donovan, Chief Executive, Waste, Electrical and Electronic Equipment, Ireland.

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September 18, 2020 Wales247

The Benefits of LED Lighting Over Fluorescent Lighting

While fluorescent lighting had its reasons for being popular back in the day, nowadays LED is almost always a better option for both commercial and residential properties. If you haven’t made the switch already, now is a great time to do so.

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July 24, 2020 European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy

Public health benefits of phasing out fluorescent lamps

The European Commission is currently assessing whether to ban mercury-based lighting under the RoHS Directive. A new report by the Swedish Energy Agency and CLASP on the availability of LED lamps in Europe shows that there is no technical or economic justification for mercury-based fluorescent lamps to remain on the market.

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February 11, 2020 European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy

Contested ban of mercury in lamps could retire four European coal-fired power plants

A ban on mercury in lamps would cut EU’s CO2 emissions by more than 40 megatons and electricity use by 138 TWh between now and 2030. “Plug and play” LED lamps are now good enough to replace almost all fluorescent lamps with good economics, a recent report to the European Commission claims.

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