(Thumbnail image from prisonplanet.com) 

The European Union has banned the sale of incandescent lights bulbs. While some people say the new compact fluorescent ones are friendlier to the environment, our research shows media outlets are skeptical. We take a look at perspectives from Sky News, ITN, CBC, BBC, MSNBC and Treehugger.

SKY News speaks with a wholesaler, who says there are many advantages to using the new low-energy light bulbs, and that people should use them. 

“They save you money, they save energy, they can save a million ton of CO2, which is equivalent of taking 70 thousand cars off the road.”

But, an ITN reporter says the new bulbs, although energy-efficient, could be harmful for the body.

“There are also concerns that although they are good for the environment, eco-friendly bulbs could be bad for your health. Campaigners say they trigger migraine and exacerbates skin conditions because they use UV rays.”

But the founder of Project Porchlight, that supports the change, says wait a minute, that’s not true. He tells Canada’s CBC:

“There’s been a lot of misinformation about these bulbs. They do not cause fires. They do not explode. They do not cause skin irritation. And the technology has evolved a great deal.”

Still, the BBC says the new light bulbs are trouble for people who can’t see well. It speaks to a man who is partially sighted.

“If I try to read a book under one of the new lights, I just can’t read properly for long because the light level is not high enough. If they got rid of thee light bulbs, I would not be able to read to my children for a long period of time.”

A reporter from MSNBC says people simply don’t like the new light bulbs.

“The biggest complaint about the new ones is the quality of the light just isn’t as nice. And it takes about one minute for these to get as intense as the old ones. Some people think whoever’s forced us to use these is a bit of a dimwit.”

But a writer for environmental website Treehugger says we need to look at the big picture after all.

“Sometimes an idea seems almost too good to be true. But this one is not. If there was a worldwide shift… the drop in electricity use would permit us to close 270 coal-fired (500-megawatt) power plants that are contributing enormously to climate change.”

So what do you think? Would the ban on incandescent light bulbs benefit the world or create new problems for the EU?