After July, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of the world’s largest oil producers, will no longer import high energy incandescent light bulbs. And by the end of the year, it will be impossible to buy them.
Albeit somewhat late (the UK first announced its ban of incandescent light bulbs in 2007), the UAE’s ban is a progressive move that is expected to save up to 500 megawatts a year.
To put that into perspective, that is about five times as much energy produced annually by the Shams 1 concentrated solar power plant (CSP) located outside of Abu Dhabi.
That equates to enough energy to power 100,000 homes and divert nearly one million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere every year.
In addition to the environmental benefits of phasing out the incandescent bulb, the UAE is also expecting to save roughly $182 million a year.
“This standard will ensure that the market carries only high-quality indoor lighting products that meet requirements,” Mohammed Badri, acting director general of Esma, the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology, said.
“These include electrical safety, energy efficiency, functionality and a limit to the content of hazardous chemicals.”
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