The EU’s Silly Ban of the 100-Watt Bulb

Starting this week, it will be illegal to make or import 100-watt light bulbs in the European Union. And for what? New Scientist reporter Shanta Barley notes:

The ban could save the EU anywhere from 15 to 53 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, says Matt Prescott, founder of the Ban the Bulb campaign.

And the UK could save 2 to 5 million tonnes of the stuff, he says. Will it make a difference? You decide: the ban will cut Britain’s yearly emissions of CO2 by – oh, about 0.643737355 per cent.

Of course, Eurocrats will still tout this as momentous. The costs this imposes on consumers will likely be greter than the ban’s puny effect on emissions.