An investigation by the Consumers Association Which ? magazine has exposed major flaws in a flagship programme that is supposed to improve the energy efficiency of our homes and cut our energy bills and carbon emissions.

Around 182 million energy saving light bulbs have been distributed by energy suppliers to customers through direct mailing and through partnerships with newspapers and selected retailers.

The light bulbs were sent out to help energy suppliers meet their Carbon Emissions Reduction Target [CERT]. The government scheme that began in 2008 and ends in 2011, is designed to reduce energy use and the suppliers will get fined up to 10% of their turnover if the targets are not met.

In January 2010 energy suppliers were banned from distributing the bulbs following concerns that people were not using them, meaning the CO2 savings claimed by the suppliers were possibly not being achieved.

The Which ? investigation reveals major flaws in the scheme and casts a shadow over the motives behind this huge distribution of 'free' light bulbs.

For the full story* go to -

 www.which.co.uk/news/2010/03/shadow-cast-on-free-energy-saving-light-bulbs-207174

It also raises questions about why people are not using them. We know that many of the bulbs supplied had bayonet [B22] caps and that most modern [European] light fittings are now supplied with Edison screw [E27] caps, but are there other, more basic reasons ?

We offer some possible answers in our earlier article   'Lights out - Ready or not'

 

*Chelsea Lighting Design is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

 

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