djweeble Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 A couple of Germans (they bombed our chippy) have come up with a novel and LEGAL way around the EU ban on light bulbs bigger than 60 watts . . . http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20101015/tsc-oukoe-uk-germany-heatballs-011ccfa.html A German entrepreneur is bypassing a European Union ban on light bulbs of more than 60 watts by marketing his own brand as mini heaters. Siegfried Rotthaeuser and his brother-in-law have come up with a legal way of importing and distributing 75 and 100 watt light bulbs -- by producing them in China, importing them as "small heating devices" and selling them as "heatballs." To improve energy efficiency, the EU has banned the sale of bulbs of over 60 watts -- to the annoyance of the mechanical engineer from the western city of Essen. Rotthaeuser studied EU legislation and realised that because the inefficient old bulbs produce more warmth than light -- he calculated heat makes up 95 percent of their output, and light just 5 percent -- they could be sold legally as heaters. On their website, the two engineers describe the heatballs as "action art" and as "resistance against legislation which is implemented without recourse to democratic and parliamentary processes." Costing 1.69 euros each (1.49 pounds), the heatballs are going down well -- the first batch of 4,000 sold out in three days. Rotthaeuser has pledged to donate 30 cents of every heatball sold to saving the rainforest, which the 49-year-old sees as a better way of protecting the environment than investing in energy-saving lamps, which contain toxic mercury. :Thumbs_Up1: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alloneword Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 A couple of Germans (they bombed our chippy) have come up with a novel and LEGAL way around the EU ban on light bulbs bigger than 60 watts . . . :Thumbs_Up1: Had to got to Forest Hill this morning and on the way back home got kicked of at Catford (that place hasn't improved) but was able to pick up these goodies. 21 of them for £7.00 (he threw in a freebie bulb) Bargain IMO All1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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