Millions of energy consuming light bulbs to be replaced
Sep 25 2008
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About 10 million high energy consuming light bulbs will be replaced nationally with energy saving bulbs, Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka announced on Tuesday. 

"South Africans need to know that the electricity crisis is not over yet. Unless we save energy, we run the risk of experiencing a situation not dissimilar to the one we were confronted with last summer," Mlambo-Ngcuka said after a meeting with the Stakeholder Advisory Council on Electricity at the Union Buildings.

The rollout of the lightbulbs will be focused on public spaces. "The programme will be staggered, you'll find that these light bulbs will be delivered to schools, to hospitals, to all sorts of public places."

The public in general will be able to get their hands on these light bulbs as part of a whole programme of energy saving programmes over the next few months.

Energy saving light bulbs have a lifespan of up to 10 years and save about 50w power use per globe. CFLs have been available on the global market since the 1980s but have not gained much popularity in South Africa. 

"South Africa must be proactive in following the global trend towards phasing out the use of incandescent lamps," says Barry Bredenkamp, Operations Manager of the CEF's National Energy Efficiency Agency. 

Adapted from Source: www.sagoodnews.co.za, 17 September 2008