Energy Minister, David Parker with some of the latest
efficient lighting technology during the launch of the
Efficient Lighting Strategy today. Photo by Tim Hales/NZPA.
The Government launched a strategy today which will mean
lights out for old-style bulbs as it seeks to reduce lighting
energy consumption by 20 percent by 2015.
Energy Minister David Parker and government spokesperson on
energy efficiency and conservation Jeanette Fitzsimons said
the days of the traditional energy-hungry incandescent bulb
were numbered.
"The traditional light bulb is very old technology - and very
inefficient," Mr Parker said.
"Only five percent of the energy it uses generates light -
the rest is wasted as heat."
The strategy aimed to phase out the bulbs from late 2009.
Once new standards were introduced, no new stocks of the
incandescent bulbs could be imported for sale.
The Efficient Lighting Strategy was developed by the lighting
industry, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority,
and the Electricity Commission.
It aimed to achieve the 20 percent goal through more
efficient lighting, phasing out inefficient products and
setting minimum energy performance standards.
Ms Fitzsimons said technological advances in the area meant
there were more and more options.
Some are Electricity Commission subsidised.
New Zealand spent about $660 million on electricity for
lighting a year generating about 2.65 million tonnes of
greenhouse gas emissions.
Almost $500m could be saved by 2020, "just by changing the
lights", Ms Fitzsimons said.
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