European light bulb manufacturers have proposed the phasing out of traditional light bulbs by 2015 in a proposal to the European Commission.
Following proposals last March for a possible outright ban on the bulbs, an industry group liaising with the European Union has suggested a scheme by which their manufacture would be phased out over the next eight years.
Under the proposals, new minimum energy efficiency standards would be introduced gradually.
These would require all light bulbs to meet minimum standards, and this would effectively mean that high-watt traditional bulbs would no longer be produced from 2015.
They have said that when fully phased out, consumers will save up to €7 billion a year in lower electricity use.
The move would also reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from household lighting by up to 60 per cent.
Traditional incandescent bulbs use between five and 10 times the electricity of energy-efficient lights, converting 90 per cent of the electricity into heat rather than light.
The proposal was welcomed by EU energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs.
"It proves that energy efficiency is not only a must to combat climate change and reduce our energy dependency, but also a good business opportunity," he said.
The Government is expected to continue with additional plans to impose a tax or levy on traditional light bulbs ahead of their phasing out.
The proposal, included in the Government's climate change strategy, would see the tax being introduced at a low level, before being gradually increased annually over the coming five years to reduce the difference in price between traditional and energy-efficient bulbs.
