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Government finally catches up to retailers on light bulbs
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn announced government plans to phase out the traditional light bulb by the end of 2011, at the Labour conference yesterday. But most retailers had already agreed to make the switch to environmentally-friendly bulbs before that date anyway.
Incandescent light bulbs emit light as a by-product of heat, meaning they are responsible for the emission of 70% more carbon dioxide than energy efficient bulbs. Furthermore, the BBC estimates that switching could save the average household around £9 a year in energy bills, or up to £100 over its lifetime, and can reduce the electricity used by about 80%.
Mr Benn said he would like to see an end to the sale of 150-watt bulbs by January 2008, 100-watt bulbs the year after and 40-watt bulbs the year after that. The government estimates that the move would save five million tonnes of CO2 a year and take the UK closer to its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2050.
“The major retailers and the energy suppliers are now leading a voluntary initiative with the strong support of the lighting industry and of the government to help phase out traditional, high-energy light bulbs,” said Mr Benn in Bournemouth. However, Greenpeace called the move “pretty weak” given that its league table campaign has already provoked most of the major retailers into action prior to the government announcement.
This week, Woolworths, which had been bottom of the table, announced that it would phase out all incandescent bulbs by 2010. This follows similar pronouncements from Tesco, Waitrose, Asda, Morrisons, Currys, the Co-Op, Ikea and several other retailers, who are all matching the government’s target or in some cases doing far better. Currys is phasing out all incandescent bulbs by the end of this year.
Topics: Going Green |
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