LEDs are designed to last for extended periods of 15,000 to 35,000 hours which is 15 to 35 times longer than halogen. The price of a high quality dimmable GU10 LEDs from leading brands like Aurora and Philips range from just £2.21 including VAT. Making the transition from halogen to LED has never been easier or more economical to do. It just takes that initial investment and its money in the bank. I think it’s strange that consumers even need this ban to force them into becoming energy efficient as LEDs pay for themselves. A 50 watt halogen GU10 can now be replaced by an LED that consumes as little as 5 watts! That’s an energy saving of over 90%. Halogen lighting technology is grossly inefficient. Still used in offices and warehouses flourescent is not only around 50% less energy efficient than LED, but it also contains mercury which can be toxic to humans and very bad for the environment especially if its not disposed of correctly. Next on the hit list of the legacy lighting technology is flourescent which is being banned from September 2023. An interesting statistic from this ban is that they expect to cut 1.26 million tonnes of CO2, which is like removing over half a million cars from the UK's roads. In 2021, the UK Government went another step further in their persuit for a greener country by totallng ending the sale of halogens from September 2021, more information here. Many consumers opted for CFL and halogen but with LED prices plummeting by as much as 70% in the 5 years that followed maybe the ban increased the demand which helped to reduce LED prices to the masses? The ban happened when LED technology was still in its infancy and very costly. This follows on from the 2011 ban of incandescent lamps, it’s difficult to believe that’s its been so many years ago. GU10 halogens and other reflectors like R63, R80 and GLS style light bulbs can still be continued to be sold after this date but manufacturing will cease. This includes popular cap types like GU10, E27 and B22.

This means that from September the 1st 2016, mains voltage halogen light bulbs will no longer be manufactured or imported for sale within the EU.

Whilst there was a plan to delay the ban until September 2018, following a review by the European Commission, it was concluded that mains-voltage halogen directional lamps should be phased out from September 1st 2016. halogen, but don't panic, find out what you should do next. In September 2016 AD mains voltage halogen light bulbs were banned from the EU. Halogen Bulb Ban 2016 – What Does It Mean for You?

Gu10 halogen bulbs