Turning off the lights on wasted energy

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Written by Mark Burton
Know Your Money editor

As off this week, incandescent bulbs will begin disappearing from supermarket shelves as part of an EU-wide switch to greener, low-energy bulbs.

The phase-out, which was agreed upon by member states in December last year, comes as part of the union's efforts to tackle climate change and is also in line with UK targets to cut CO2 emissions by 20 per cent by 2020.

Commenting last month ahead of the start of the phase-out, environment minister Dan Norris said that incandescent bulbs, which waste 95 per cent of their energy as heat, have no part in the UK's greener future.

"We are glad the EU has put this measure in place to stop the waste of energy and money from old-fashioned high-energy bulbs. The UK has had a successful voluntary initiative in place for a few years and now the rest of the EU will follow suit on a mandatory basis," he added.

Mr Norris concluded that the switch to low-energy bulbs would be great news for consumers looking to avoid high electricity bills, as well as those keen to do their bit to help limit the rate of climate change.

However, the move has sparked anger among consumers fond of the traditional bulbs, while a number of health groups have aired concerns about using the new halogen bulbs.

Responding, the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) set out on a myth-busting campaign, looking to dispel the gamut of rumours surrounding use of new low-energy bulbs.

The department declared that there is not enough evidence to prove that the bulbs have an adverse effect on people suffering with epilepsy or migraines, while every effort has also been made to limit the impact of the bulbs on people with light-sensitive skin.

Switch on to greater savings

While Defra is working hard to soothe the concerns of those wary of switching to greener bulbs, it is also actively campaigning to help people understand the benefits of doing so. As well as helping to reduce overall carbon emissions, the department estimates that switching to new bulbs will help to knock £3 to £6 pounds per lamp off annual electricity bills.

At a time when the Department of Energy and Climate Change has urged people to brace themselves for a rise in electricity prices as the country moves over to a greener energy network, the cost savings of energy efficient devices such as halogen bulbs may become an increasingly important issue for average Britons.

For those who are considering a green makeover in the coming months to protect themselves against rising electricity and gas costs, investing in insulation may also be a particularly effective way to cut bills down to size.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, around half of all heat lost in a home occurs through walls and the loft, making them the biggest source of heat loss.

By investing in cavity wall and loft insulation, consumers can save an average of £115 per year on their heating bill, helping to ease the strain on household finances as well as cutting carbon emissions to the tune of 610kg every year.

And with subsidies available under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target, consumers could find that the £250 cost of installation is recouped in a little over two years with the fall in heating costs.

The Energy Saving Trust also identifies boiler tank and pipe insulation as another cost-effective way to trim average heating bills, with a British Standard boiler jacket saving on average £35 a year.

Glaze your way to lower bills

For consumers intent on carrying out a wholesale green makeover, the Energy Saving Trust also recommends double glazing as one of the most effective ways to reduce heat loss in a home, while investing in double-glazed windows can also help to reduce ambient noise pollution and condensation problems.

According to the organisation, if every household in the UK was fitted with double glazing, the collective annual saving on electricity bills would be in the region of £700 million, while the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere would also be reduced by four million tonnes.

On an individual basis, consumers can expect to save around £135 on annual bills and cut their carbon emissions by 720 kg, the equivalent of four double decker buses full of CO2.

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