The Wire

The traditional light bulb is becoming a thing of the past. From this month, the European Union is phasing out old light globes, only allowing wholesalers to sell off existing stock. German consumers have responded by stockpiling – sales of old light globes have risen by 34% in the first six months of 2009. A popular German consumer group called Ökotest, published a report last year contributing to the fierce debate in Germany about the possible side effects of the new light globes, referred to as CFLs, compact fluorescent light globes.