C9 Halogen? I don't think I've ever heard of them...
As for old flu fittings, in the very early years of my schooling while I was in Infant school (but the building had primary school upstairs) they had really big old fluorescent fittings on old and rather rusty looking chains. I remember teachers telling us one year that the new school year would start a week or two later as a new electric system was being installed. When school did restart (sadly too soon for me as I hated school!) there was all metal conduit snaking up the walls, no cables visible at all, and gridswitches, new exit lights, and the fluorescent lights were twin T8's with prismatic diffusers on metal tube suspension.
Who knows, maybe that kicked off my interest in electrical work......
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Oh yeah, an interesting BBC article to read here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8406923.stm--
Some info regarding the domestic side of potential lamp bans:-
For Domestic Lighting
01.09.2009:
Clear lamps: Minimum requirement Energy Class C for
lamps ≥ 950 lm, Class E for other lamps (e.g. phase out
GLS 100 watts and above)
Non-clear lamps: Minimum requirement Energy Class A
for all lamps (at present some CFLi and LEDs)
Requirements for new product information on the
packaging New technical specifications required for each
technology
01.09.2010:
Clear lamps: Minimum requirement Energy Class C for
lamps ≥ 725 Im (e.g. phase out GLS 75 watts)
01.09.2011:
Clear lamps: Minimum requirement Energy Class C for
lamps ≥ 450 Im (e.g. phase out GLS 60 watts)
01.09.2012:
Clear lamps: Minimum requirement Energy Class C for
lamps ≥ 60 Im (e.g. phase out GLS above 7 watts)
01.09.2013:
Increased requirements for technical specifications,
defined in 2009
Phase out of Decorative Lamps with S14, S15 or S19 bases
2014:
Review of the regulations by the EU Commission
2016:
Clear lamps: Minimum requirement Energy Class B
for all lamps except those with G9 and R7s bases
(= phase out the current Class C HALOGEN ENERGY SAVER Lamps)
Phase out all lamps with E14/E27/B22d/B15d bases and
voltages above 60 volts The only Lamps that are not affected by the ban under the EU directive, are as Follows:-
Aircraft & Airport Lighting such as Filament/Halogen Lamps for Approach, Runway, Taxiway, and Obstruction Lighting, and Aircraft Lighting, and Discharge Lamps for all Exterior Airport Applications, Pet Care such as Aquarium and Terrarium Lamps, Germicidal lamps, Infrared Heat lamps (all types), Stage and Studio lamps - Theatres,Television and, Film Studios, Photographic lamps – (Studio, Enlarger and Darkroom Lamps),
Projection lamps, Train lighting, including Signal Lighting, Traffic Signal lamps, Automotive lighting/lamps, Oven lamps, Fridge lamps, Temperature Shock-Proof and Rough Service lamps, Mirror lamps.
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Also, some eco-nutjob wants us to wash less and stop drinking coffee, because we're killing polar bears.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/12/08 ... t_for_you/