Financial Advice UK - Household bills News - Bright idea to cut household bills

News that Alex Salmond, the leader of the ruling SNP in Scotland, has been somewhat liberal with his recent comments about housing budgets and assistance has caught the attention of opposition...
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Household bills News - Last Updated Thursday 27th September 2007

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Bright idea to cut household bills

Thursday 27th September 2007

Energy-guzzling, old-fashioned light bulbs will start to disappear from shop shelves early next year, as part of efforts to cut CO2 emissions, the secretary of state for the environment Hilary Benn, has announced.

However, this move will have a knock-on effect on household bills too - the energy-saving bulbs that are available instead use far less energy, meaning a lower electricity bill for many households.

Energy saving compact fluorescent light will last up to ten times longer than a traditional bulb, and one bulb alone could save around £60 before it needs replacing and switching to energy saving bulbs throughout the house could save up to £600 over the lifetime of the bulbs.

In the UK, an estimated £140 million a year is wasted by leaving lights switched on unnecessarily, which also produces 900,000 tonnes of polluting CO2 emissions.

The initiative, which aims to see old-fashioned bulbs phased out by major retailers over the next four years, hopes to save up to five million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year by 2012 - the equivalent to the carbon emissions of a typical coal fired power station.

Mr Benn said: "Britain is leading the way in getting rid of energy-guzzling light bulbs and helping consumers reduce their carbon footprint.

"Choosing energy saving light bulbs can help tackle climate change, and also cut household bills, with each bulb saving up to £60 over its lifetime.

"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."