Energy Conservation

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Crackdown on promotion of energy saving light bulbs
A scheme to promote energy saving light bulbs has been shelved as the new Government concentrates on insulating almost four million people's homes instead.

By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent
Published: 1:14PM BST 30 Jun 2010

Experts believe that vast numbers of the compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulb are never used Photo: REUTERS The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target or CERT was set up by the last Government in April 2008 to force energy companies to cut carbon emissions from households by a certain amount.

Already it has helped 2.5 million people insulate their homes by providing financial help for professionals to fit lagging or double glazing.


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Jonathon Porritt, the greenest of bluebloodsBut the scheme has been criticised for also allowing energy companies to count more inefficient ways of cutting energy use towards the target. Under the scheme more than 330 million energy saving light bulbs have been distributed, though watchdogs say many of them remain unused.

Chris Huhne, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary, said the next period of the scheme, from March 2011 to December 2012, will force energy companies to only use more tried and tested methods.

Already the mail out of light bulbs has been banned and he said the promotion of the compact fluorescent (CFLs) in supermarkets would also be ruled out. Most insulation will have to be carried out by professionals, rather than leaving it to households to do it themselves.

Mr Huhne said forcing energy companies to be more efficient will ensure 3.5 million homes will be insulated over the next period of CERT.

He said the scheme will concentrate on insulating homes in deprived areas first.

"This is the beginning of a massive and urgent increase in home energy insulation for the nation. We are demanding that energy companies work harder to make homes warmer, more environmentally friendly and cheaper to run, especially for those who need it most," he said.

Government advisers have recently warned that unless the UK increases the pace of home insulation, then the country will miss key climate change targets.

It comes as scientists at The Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London revealed that switching the lights off might save even more energy than was previously thought.

The study said that current Government estimates of how much carbon is saved when people reduce electricity consumption is up to 60 per cent too low.