Energy-saving lighting has become the mainstream of the market

So far, since no suitable energy-saving light source has yet been found to replace some decorative incandescent lamps, this still poses a small challenge for the overall withdrawal of incandescent lamps from the lighting market.

Starting from September 1st, the first phase of the EU's ban on incandescent lamps officially came into effect. This marks that merchants in 27 EU countries will no longer purchase 100-watt incandescent lamps. This is only the beginning; according to the EU timetable, from September 2010 to September 2012, incandescent lamps will gradually withdraw from the market. Our country also launched the "Green Lighting" project as early as 13 years ago, and the popularization of energy-saving lamps is also gradually advancing.

China has no buffer period for phasing out incandescent lamps

　　As early as April 2007, when the Australian government issued a notice banning the use of incandescent bulbs, countries such as Canada, Japan, the United States, and South Korea successively announced plans to introduce similar legislation. Facing the global enthusiasm for phasing out incandescent bulbs, China followed suit.

　　In 1996, China began organizing and implementing the China Green Lighting Project. This project, aimed at promoting energy conservation, protecting the environment, and improving lighting quality, has spanned 13 years. On July 24, the signing ceremony for the "China's Phasing Out of Incandescent Bulbs and Accelerating the Promotion of Energy-Saving Lamps" project — a collaboration between the National Development and Reform Commission, the United Nations Development Programme, and the Global Environment Facility — was held in Beijing.

　　The schedule for phasing out incandescent bulbs is drawing closer. According to industry insiders, the Chinese government is likely to issue a ban on the sale of incandescent bulbs by the end of the year. Relevant sources estimate that, since the government has already carried out substantial work to promote energy-saving lamps, the ban will no longer follow the EU's phased elimination model. When that day comes, the era of incandescent bulbs, which lasted over a century, will truly come to an end.

　　China is a major producer of incandescent bulbs. In 2007, China's output of incandescent bulbs reached 4.44 billion units, accounting for one-third of global production. As the global campaign to phase out incandescent bulbs has intensified, in 2008 alone, Guangdong Province's production of incandescent bulbs declined by 29.76% compared to the previous year.

Energy-saving lamps have captured the vast majority of the Guangzhou market

With the rapid transformation of the market, lighting companies that were once all the rage for producing incandescent lamps, such as "Yaming", "Philips", and "FSL Lighting", have successively transformed, channeling their energy into the development and manufacture of energy-saving lamps.

Zhang Shijun, General Manager of NVC Lighting's Guangzhou Operations Center, stated in an interview with reporters that, in response to market conditions, NVC plans to phase out all retained incandescent lamp projects under its umbrella this year. Zhang also noted that, to date, since no suitable energy-saving light source has been found to replace certain decorative incandescent lamps, the overall exit of incandescent lamps from the lighting market still poses a small challenge.

In 2008, China's first batch of government-subsidized high-efficiency lighting products exceeded 60 million energy-saving lamps. In 2009, the promotion of subsidized energy-saving lamps is expected to reach 120 million. Among them, Guangzhou will strive to promote 650,000 subsidized energy-saving lamps across the city before November this year. As the promotion of energy-saving lamps intensifies, it has become rare to see large-scale sales of incandescent lamps in the end market. During an investigation at Yibao Decoration Materials City, reporters found that every corner of the lighting shops was occupied by various models of energy-saving lamps, with incandescent lamps being difficult to find. When the reporter asked the shop assistants whether they had incandescent lamps, the answer was invariably "no." Clearly, all parties have prepared for the end of the incandescent lamp era.

(Responsible editor: zl)