The arrogance of the previous government was highlighted by their announcement to ban traditional incandescent light bulb sales from October 2009. What started off as a warm and fuzzy announcement quickly turned into a public relations disaster that demonstrated the "do as I say" Nanny State always knows best"culture of old. See our post HERE
We have been using energy efficient bulbs in our motel for many years, particularly in outside areas where continuous overnight lighting is required.
In recent years the purchase price for energy efficient bulbs have fallen and the light output and quality have improved immensely. After testing several brands, we made the decision some time ago to replace all light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs and dumped all of our "old style" incandescent bulbs.
For us this was a simple business decision. The ROI was appealing, we are lucky that our light fittings could accept the new style bulbs and are happy with the look, longevity and light performance.
While we made this decision, we respected others that do not wish to use energy efficient bulbs in their specific circumstance.
It is pleasing that the present government looks likely to return freedom of choice to businesses and households. Believe it or not, most people aren't stupid. Some people may chose to save money and buy new energy efficient light bulbs, but being bullied into it by smug bureaucrats rankles.
Dec 02 2008
New Zealand Herald
By Maggie Tait
A proposal to phase out incandescent lightbulbs is extremely unlikely to go ahead under the new National Government.
Prime Minister John Key stood by National's policy in opposition against the Labour Government's plan to implement a new standard for lightbulbs, which would see old incandescent lightbulbs phased out by the end of next year.
"We have real concerns about telling people that they have to move to energy efficient light bulbs by decree," he said. "We want to encourage people to do that, we think there may be benefits for them to do it, but it should be a choice they make as consumers."
Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee last week said he had asked Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority officials to look into a proposed phase out of incandescent lightbulbs. Yesterday he said officials' work was continuing and an announcement would be made "in due course". "It's our policy to get rid of it and we are working towards that."
Labour Party climate change spokesman Charles Chauvel last week said the standard was a sensible policy developed with the Australians. "If we are going to take our obligations seriously, we do have to do work in this area so we'd be pretty disappointed if there was a retreat from the policy."
Australia plans to ban the sale of incandescent light bulbs from next year, when Britain will start phasing them out. China, which makes 70 per cent of the world's lightbulbs, recently agreed to phase out incandescent bulbs.
The minimum efficiency performance standard for lightbulbs was developed with Australia.
Under the standard people can use halogen bulbs, which look like incandescent bulbs, or compact fluorescents.
The new bulbs are more expensive but are about 30 per cent more energy efficient.
There has been argument over whether the new bulbs were not as good to read by, or more flammable.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10546106&ref=rss
