Sunday 9/11/2008 Page: 9
ABOUT 80,000 homes are expected to install energy-saving light bulbs for the first time, thanks to The Big Light Switch campaign, which starts today. The Queensland Government is giving away a million environment friendly light bulbs and 500,000 of them are going to readers of The Sunday Mail. The compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) come in twin packs valued at $20 each.Replacing two traditional bulbs around your home with the energy saving lights will cut $22 a year off your electricity bill and reduce your household greenhouse gas emissions by 144kg a year. Premier Anna Bligh said the $3.5 million scheme would reduce Queensland's greenhouse gas emissions by 72,000 tonnes a year.
Ms Bligh hoped it would also motivate people to change other light bulbs in their home. "The roll-out of this energy saving technology has always relied on voluntary uptake. With this campaign we can deliver it into homes that have never previously used these bulbs," she said. "We can see that as many as 80,000 homes will use these bulbs for the first time as a result of the campaign.
"In these uncertain economic times, something as simple as a light bulb can save you money, energy and the environment. It's the perfect trifecta." A study by Research International, commissioned for The Big Light Switch campaign, revealed 21 per cent of Queensland homes had no energy-saving bulbs at all.
The research showed that those that did use CFLs had them in less than 40 per cent of the compatible light sockets. Office of Climate Change executive director Greg Withers said he was surprised more people had not installed compact fluorescent lightss as they were one of the cheapest and easiest ways to make a home more energy-efficient. Mr Withers said installing compact fluorescent lightss where possible could drastically cut the cost of home electricity bills.
Queenslanders can slash up to $350 a year off their bills by replacing incandescent bulbs around the home. Most houses have about 25 compact fluorescent lights compatible light fittings and the energy-saving bulbs use up to 80 per cent less electricity than traditional bulbs. Take the token from today's paper to a participating newsagent to get your free light bulbs. When you install your bulbs, some specially selected ones will glow green.
If yours glows green you will win a 12-month subscription to The Sunday Mail and a ClimateSmart home energy audit, as well as going into the draw to win one of three major prizes. There is a Honda Civic hybrid car worth $37,000 to be won by one lucky reader, as well as a 1.05kW home solar system from Infinity Solar and a nine-day holiday for two to Daintree Eco Lodge and Spa, including return flights to Cairns. Readers are reminded that bulbs should not be used in dimmer light fittings.
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