LED light bulbs energy-saving capacity is being dimmed by an EU proposal to prolong the shelf life of halogen lamps from 2016 to 2018, according to a Guardian report.

The decision could cost EUR 8.6 billion (US $10.73 billion) in energy savings, according to Clasp, an efficiency standards and labelling group, which submitted the report to Belgian government and the European council for an energy efficient economy (ECEEE).

Despite LED lamps outperforming traditional halogen lamps in terms of energy efficiency, and becoming increasingly affordable, consumers still prefer purchasing halogen bulbs that are priced £1.50 cheaper than LED equivalents.

The test report highlighted while the commission expected compact fluorescent lamp sales to exceed mains voltage halogen lamps by fourfold in 2013, actual sales were four times less. As a result, the EU market will be unable to deliver the 39 terrawatt hours of energy savings as expected by 2020, the report added.

EU’s 28 members will vote on the proposed delay of halogen lamp phase-out next year, said Nils Borg, a report author and director, European council for an energy efficient economy (ECEEE).

“We’re seeing halogen becoming the default lamp and if that happens, we will have same headache in two years time as it may become so ingrained in purchasing patterns,” he said. 

According to a Lux Review report, authors of the report including Swedish Energy Agency, the Belgian Ministry for Health, Food Chain Safety and the Environment and CLASP are urging for the ban of halogen lamps.