McGuinty Government To Ban Inefficient Light Bulbs By 2012

 

TORONTO, Apr 18, 2007 -- Canada NewsWire

Ontario is banning the sale of inefficient light bulbs by 2012 and launching five province-wide conservation initiatives as part of the government's commitment to build a conservation culture, Energy Minister Dwight Duncan and Environment Minister Laurel Broten announced today.

"It's lights out for old, inefficient bulbs in Ontario," Duncan said. "By making this one small change, we can all make an enormous difference in the way we use electricity."

New efficient lighting such as compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) use around 75 per cent less electricity than standard old fashioned incandescent bulbs. Replacing all 87 million incandescent bulbs in Ontario households with CFLs would save six million megawatt hours annually - enough to power 600,000 homes.

"Together, Ontarians can - and will - do their part to fight climate change starting with something as simple as changing a light bulb," said Broten. "This is an important day for Ontario's environment - this action alone represents a huge step forward in reducing greenhouse gas emissions - it's the equivalent of taking 250,000 cars off the road."

The Ministry of Energy will meet with industry, US regulators, and federal and provincial governments to develop new performance standards for lamps and to draft regulations to ban the sale of inefficient lighting by 2012 where alternatives exist in the market. In addition, as of today, the government will only purchase energy efficient light bulbs for its own buildings.

"We support the government's initiative to improve the efficiency of all lighting," said Elyse Allan, President and CEO of GE Canada which has a lamp manufacturing plant in Oakville. "By encouraging the use of high efficiency lighting, at home and at work, all of us will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

"Friends of the Earth congratulates the McGuinty government on their important decision to ban inefficient lighting," said Beatrice Olivastri, CEO, Friends of the Earth Canada. "A regulation for the ban plus their commitment to immediately cease provincial government's purchases of out-dated bulbs is a recipe for success - good for energy conservation and good for fighting climate change."

Today also marks the launch of five innovative energy conservation programs for summer 2007 that will give Ontarians the tools they need to save energy, money, and the environment:

SOURCE: Ontario Ministry of Energy

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