European homes, offices and streets will have to use energy efficient light bulbs by the end of the decade, EU leaders decided. Following Australia’s ban on incandescent bulbs, EU set the deadline for office and street use by ‘08, and in homes by ’09. The switch will affect 490 million citizens of 27 countries. The decision is a potential business opportunity fro manufacturers. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, “We are not saying people should throw out all the bulbs in their house today but people should start looking at what’s in the shops.”
