Shame on the EU's CFL Tariff
11/19/07 11:33
My parents live in Britain. They wondered why CFL lightbulbs that reduce energy cons cost three to four times what they cost in the rest of the world. The BBC revealed that the EU renewed its 66% (!) tariff on Chinese......made CFL bulbs despite the fact that only one of the five European CFL producers wants the tariff.
In England, a common CFL bulb costs around $4 (£2.99) vs. about $1.50 in the United States. The EU's own CFL policy paper shows that the fox is guarding the henhouse: Eurelectric, the European association of electricity producers is a director of European lighting policy. Perhaps they are not keen on seeing electric bills reduced 5 to 8 billlion Euros per year.
A cursory glance at CFL adoption rates shows the EU dramatically lags CFL adoption vs. Canada, an otherwise similar market.
• Canada had a CFL adoption rate of 32% in 2003 (Source: Natural Resources Canada)
• EU adoption rate in 2007 is about 15% according to Philips
The EU's own 2007 Residential Lighting Paper admits that "Purchase price is still the most important factor" but is careful not to mention the punitive tariff that is the single biggest factor in CFL price. It goes on to point out that high adoption of CFLs could save 20 million tons of CO2 per year and save consumers 5 to 8 billion Euros per year.
On the flip side, the EU is proposing to eliminate incandescent bulbs from stores by 2010 which seems punitive to European consumers if the CFL tariff is not removed. If the 66% tariff is continued, EU coffers will grow fatter at the expense of European consumers.
For these oxymoronic regulations that hurt consumers and the environment at the benefit electricity producers, the EU bureaucrats get UseHalf's Dim Bulb award for 2007.
In England, a common CFL bulb costs around $4 (£2.99) vs. about $1.50 in the United States. The EU's own CFL policy paper shows that the fox is guarding the henhouse: Eurelectric, the European association of electricity producers is a director of European lighting policy. Perhaps they are not keen on seeing electric bills reduced 5 to 8 billlion Euros per year.
A cursory glance at CFL adoption rates shows the EU dramatically lags CFL adoption vs. Canada, an otherwise similar market.
• Canada had a CFL adoption rate of 32% in 2003 (Source: Natural Resources Canada)
• EU adoption rate in 2007 is about 15% according to Philips
The EU's own 2007 Residential Lighting Paper admits that "Purchase price is still the most important factor" but is careful not to mention the punitive tariff that is the single biggest factor in CFL price. It goes on to point out that high adoption of CFLs could save 20 million tons of CO2 per year and save consumers 5 to 8 billion Euros per year.
On the flip side, the EU is proposing to eliminate incandescent bulbs from stores by 2010 which seems punitive to European consumers if the CFL tariff is not removed. If the 66% tariff is continued, EU coffers will grow fatter at the expense of European consumers.
For these oxymoronic regulations that hurt consumers and the environment at the benefit electricity producers, the EU bureaucrats get UseHalf's Dim Bulb award for 2007.
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