Thomas Edison’s greatest invention was a major breakthrough. Electric light was a miracle: the sensation of the World Exhibition in Amsterdam of 1883.
 
In the year 2009 the traditional light bulb is a relic of the past: everybody understands that a light wasting 90 percent of its energy by producing heat is inefficient. It is a waste of money and causes needless CO2 emissions.
 
But the effect of abolishing the old-fashioned light bulb is in danger of being overestimated. Indeed, if people replace all their old light bulbs with low-energy light bulbs or with the even more efficient LED lights, they will save around 80 percent electricity on their lighting.
 
However, the energy use for the television, fridge, washing machine and computer remains the same as it was. Overall the advantage for the individual consumer is not great.
 
Meanwhile, the Dutch government wants to make a good impression with ‘eco lighting’. But the large-scale power consumption will only go down if we, for example, use LED lighting to light all the motorways. And even then it won’t save the planet.

RNW Translation (hs)