Britain to start phasing out high energy lightbulbs

[jpak]

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL2783762420070927

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will begin phasing out energy-guzzling incandescent lightbulbs early next year in favor of low energy varieties as part of its battle against climate change, the environment ministry said on Thursday.

The aim of the as yet voluntary deal with the major makers, retailers and energy utilities is to cut up to five million tonnes of climate warming carbon dioxide emissions a year by 2012 by cutting electricity demand.

"I am delighted that major companies have said they are prepared to help deliver this ambitious timetable and offer products which will help their own customers play their part in combating climate change," Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said.

"But there are many more energy hungry gadgets on sale in shops that waste too much energy. That's why I want to see today's initiative widened," he added, urging retailers to stop stocking low energy efficiency products.

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[skids]

1. I often wonder...

...if the grocery stores were to overstock CF bulbs so there was much more shelf display space taken up by them and all the incandescents were stuffed into a tiny corner, whether people would buy them just because "well, everyone else must be doing it now."

[NNadir]

2. This, along with Britain's plan to use solar electricity at night should make

Britain a big exporter of electricity in negative 5 years.