Proper light bulbs at Aldi!
Discussion
I was in the local Aldi yesterday and saw some 60 and 100 watt bulbs. 4 in a box for £1.49. The boxes are marked "not suitable for household room illumination".
We've a couple of fittings with dimmers in the lounge that now work as intended, and the stairs are now much safer than with the previous slow starting junk.
We've a couple of fittings with dimmers in the lounge that now work as intended, and the stairs are now much safer than with the previous slow starting junk.
I believe it is down to an EU regulation that the older style bulbs are too inefficient and not eco friendly enough for lighting and so a few of the suppliers managed to get around the ban by saying the bulbs are only to be used for heating purposes.
said:
From Wikipedia.
The UK government announced in 2007 that incandescent bulbs would be phased out by 2011.[27] In 2008, the Irish government announced a phase-out of the sale of any light bulbs with a luminous efficiency of less than 16 lumens per watt.[28] Shortly afterwards, all member states of the EU agreed to a progressive phase-out of incandescent light bulbs by 2012.[29] The initial Europe wide ban only applied to general-purpose, non-directional incandescent bulbs, so did not affect any bulbs with reflective surfaces (e.g. spotlights and halogen down lighters) or special purpose bulbs including those used in devices such as household appliances, traffic lights, infrared lamps and automotive lighting. The sale of the most inefficient bulbs was phased out. The first types to go were non-clear (frosted) bulbs, which were taken off the market in September 2009. Also from September 2009 clear bulbs over 100W were made of more efficient types. This limit was moved down to lower wattages, and the efficiency levels raised by the end of 2012.[30]
In practice, some manufacturers and retailers have found a loophole in the new rules so that some incandescents are still available, marketed as "rough-service" or "shock-resistant" bulbs for industrial use only.[31] Since first bans were introduced however, prices of these bulbs have risen by 20–25%.[32] A German importer simply reclassified the lamps as "mini heaters"[33] branded "Heatballs".
The EU has given the target of 2016 to phase out halogen bulbs, and any bulb available for purchase after the 2016 date must have at least a 'B' energy rating.[34]
The UK government announced in 2007 that incandescent bulbs would be phased out by 2011.[27] In 2008, the Irish government announced a phase-out of the sale of any light bulbs with a luminous efficiency of less than 16 lumens per watt.[28] Shortly afterwards, all member states of the EU agreed to a progressive phase-out of incandescent light bulbs by 2012.[29] The initial Europe wide ban only applied to general-purpose, non-directional incandescent bulbs, so did not affect any bulbs with reflective surfaces (e.g. spotlights and halogen down lighters) or special purpose bulbs including those used in devices such as household appliances, traffic lights, infrared lamps and automotive lighting. The sale of the most inefficient bulbs was phased out. The first types to go were non-clear (frosted) bulbs, which were taken off the market in September 2009. Also from September 2009 clear bulbs over 100W were made of more efficient types. This limit was moved down to lower wattages, and the efficiency levels raised by the end of 2012.[30]
In practice, some manufacturers and retailers have found a loophole in the new rules so that some incandescents are still available, marketed as "rough-service" or "shock-resistant" bulbs for industrial use only.[31] Since first bans were introduced however, prices of these bulbs have risen by 20–25%.[32] A German importer simply reclassified the lamps as "mini heaters"[33] branded "Heatballs".
The EU has given the target of 2016 to phase out halogen bulbs, and any bulb available for purchase after the 2016 date must have at least a 'B' energy rating.[34]
Edited by reaper668 on Sunday 16th March 10:37
Never, never buy cheap lamps, when they blow they blow and will more than likely blow the dimmer as well, they are not double fused like branded ones. I've a customer who has a remote controlled switch system which has worked very well for 5 years until he fitted some nice cheap Homebase lamps the result £180 of damage to it. You can still get branded lamps like Phiillps Osram and the like that will throw out good light and not take out your circuit breakers and dimmers when they give up
Simpo Two said:
s2sol said:
I was in the local Aldi yesterday and saw some 60 and 100 watt bulbs. 4 in a box for £1.49. The boxes are marked "not suitable for household room illumination".
Would be interesting to ask them why, and see them fail to come up with any practical answer.CorradoTDI said:
Simpo Two said:
s2sol said:
I was in the local Aldi yesterday and saw some 60 and 100 watt bulbs. 4 in a box for £1.49. The boxes are marked "not suitable for household room illumination".
Would be interesting to ask them why, and see them fail to come up with any practical answer.CorradoTDI said:
Simpo Two said:
s2sol said:
I was in the local Aldi yesterday and saw some 60 and 100 watt bulbs. 4 in a box for £1.49. The boxes are marked "not suitable for household room illumination".
Would be interesting to ask them why, and see them fail to come up with any practical answer.I doubt this will be good for ALDI public relations but I could be wrong.
to them I say.herewego said:
s2sol said:
herewego said:
I doubt this will be good for ALDI public relations but I could be wrong.
Why on Earth would it do ALDI public relations any harm? Like others here I have a loft-full of proper lightbulbs hopefully sufficient to see me out.
The answer to my question is that there is no practical answer, merely a kow-towing to EU eco-w
k.s2sol said:
For sure, but these are less than 40p each, and we're using them in places where they'll be on infrequently and for relatively short durations. Waiting for a CFL to warm up to go upstairs is a pain in the arse, and now I don't have to. I'm easily pleased.
They maybe cheap, but I bet they blow in a few weeks. Stop being so tight and buy some decent lamps. Fit them and forget. Decent CFL lamps now have 60% instant illumination, which I personally don't see a problem with. 
I am sure I am not alone in my hatred for the alternatives to the filament light bulb, I do not like the light that LED gives off, its too white. I don't like the feeble glow, slow warm up and eventual flicker light that the small fluorescent bulbs produce.
The filament type gives off a much more agreeable light and also give off heat which if you happen to live in Cornwall is good as you will have your heating on in the house for 10 months of the year anyway so it all helps.
I have no "energy saving" bulbs anywhere in my place. I pay the electricity bill and I wont be told what bulbs I have to have, when my bill is paid for me then someone else can tell me what to do, until then they can get stuffed.
The filament type gives off a much more agreeable light and also give off heat which if you happen to live in Cornwall is good as you will have your heating on in the house for 10 months of the year anyway so it all helps.
I have no "energy saving" bulbs anywhere in my place. I pay the electricity bill and I wont be told what bulbs I have to have, when my bill is paid for me then someone else can tell me what to do, until then they can get stuffed.
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff