Danielle Murray

February 23, 2007

The Environmental Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull proposed new legislation, which would phase out incandescent light bulbs throughout the country by 2010. Australia will replace this outdated technology with energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs, which use about 20% of the electricity and produce the same amount of light as the incandescent variety. Australia is the first nation to implement the bulb ban, but campaigns are also gaining momentum in the United Kingdom and California.

By introducing fluorescent bulbs, Australia will reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions by hundreds of thousands of tons a year and over 4 millions tones by 2012. The only hurdle for the Australian government is to convince consumers to pay $ 5.00 for the efficient fluorescent bulb rather than 50 cents for the incandescent bulbs. However, the more expensive bulbs last between four and ten times longer and can reduce electricity bill by up to 66%. Overall investing in the energy efficient florescent bulbs will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and cost consumers less over time.

Both Australian politicians and environmentalists agree the proposed legislation is an innovative way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions without significantly affecting the nation's economy. The Australian Democrats leader Lyn Allison supports the plan but notes that this change will still leave Australia millions of tons short of Kyoto Protocol targets. Turnbull acknowledges the move to ban incandescent bulbs is "a little thing", but he also argues that it will make "a massive change."

For more information:

Australia pulls the plug on old bulbs, BBC News, Feb. 20, 2007, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6378161.stm.

Plan to give old light bulbs the flick, Sydney Morning Herald, Feb. 20, 2007, http://smh.com.au/news/National/Labor-welcomes-govts-light-bulb-plan/2007/02/20/1171733719014.html.

Australia will switch off less efficient bulbs, L.A. Times, Feb. 20, 2007, http://latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-bulbs20feb20,1,4941936.story?coll=la-news-a_section&ctrack=1&cset=true.