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              A campaign to save money and help the environment by using energy efficient light bulbs

Sunday, April 22, 2007


Ontario ban by 2012 plus free CFLs + procurement
Suzanne Fraser from Project Porchlight has been in touch to let BTB know that the government of Ontario in Canada has announced a ban of inefficient light bulbs by 2012.

A total of $1.5 million has also been allocated by the province for Project Porchlight volunteers to deliver 500,000 bulbs door-to-door in communities across Ontario.

The phase-out period is designed to give Ontario residents a chance to adapt to more efficient lighting technologies, such as compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, and to start the public on the road to more complex energy conservation actions.

“Phasing out inefficient lighting will stimulate and sustain public dialogue about energy efficiency in general,” said Stuart Hickox, executive director of Project Porchlight, which a One Change campaign. “There is a profound sense of urgency about climate change that can only be sustained by giving everyone something to do. The simple act of changing a light bulb takes people from awareness to action; people become part of the solution.”

This move has occurred because the incandescent light bulb is amongst the most inefficient technologies in use in Canada.

Changing all of the 87 million light bulbs in Ontario will result in a savings of approx 6,000,000 MWh annually, enough to power 600,000 households.

Switching to CFL bulbs will prevent 43.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gases over the lifetime of the bulbs.

Changing light bulbs is the universal starting point for broad public action to reducing energy use. Polling done by Ekos Research following recent Project Porchlight campaigns (Ottawa, Guelph, Thunder Bay) shows that once people receive a CFL bulb, up to 65% say they will either change all their bulbs to CFLs right away or as old bulbs burn out. Up to 80% of respondents say that because of switching one bulb, they will now consider “energy efficiency” as a factor in all their future purchases.

“Switching to energy-efficient light bulbs is the first choice that we can make in becoming energy efficient consumers,” continued Mr. Hickox. “The government’s action shows that they understand that the bulb is just the start. Once people change bulbs, they will quickly move to more complex energy conservation actions.”

Innovative social marketing programs such as Project Porchlight offer people a chance to adapt to and appreciate new technologies such as CFL bulbs. In addition to funding from the Ontario government, Project Porchlight campaigns are also sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Energy, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Hydro Ottawa, Thunder Bay Hydro, the Yukon government, and Natural Resources Canada.

Before we get too excited, it is worth noting that critics have said that the provincial government of Ontario has a poor record at delivering on commitments and that they have back-tracked on the closure of coal-fired power stations by 2007, some of which will now be staying open until 2014.

On the bright side, as part of this initiative, the provincial government has vowed to stop purchasing standard incandescent light bulbs, which currently represent less than 1% of lighting in government buildings.

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Wednesday, February 21, 2007


Ontario in Canada considers a light bulb ban...
Ban The Bulb is pleased to see that the enthusiasm for banning incandescent light bulbs is proving contagious...

According to www.CBC.ca, Ontario in Canada is the latest place to suggest a willingness to get things moving.

Let's just hope that more politicians start to mention how they intend to decide which light bulbs should be banned (and by when!), what they are going to do to ensure that all CFLs are responsibly recycled, how they are going to help the poor to change their lighting, whether any heavily-taxed incandescents are going to remain available for specialist purposes, which other wasteful technologies they would like to get banned and/or which other energy-efficient technologies they would like to help get established...

Ontario is impressed by Australia's decision to ban old-fashioned incandescent bulbs.

The province is in the midst of drawing up plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions and Environment Minister Laurel Broten says the government hasn't ruled out following in Australia's footsteps.

She said banning incandescent bulbs is just one of many great ideas being put forward.

Australia announced Tuesday it will ban incandescent light bulbs in three years, estimating the move to fluorescent bulbs will cut 800,000 tonnes from the country's current emissions levels by 2012.

Premier Dalton McGuinty says replacing older energy-draining bulbs across the province with more efficient ones could help Ontario shut down its coal-fired power plants.

Among Canadian groups pushing for a move to fluorescent bulbs is the not-for-profit organization One Change in Ottawa.

The group has the backing of Hydro Ottawa and has replaced 250,000 bulbs in Ottawa. Similar campaigns are underway in Whitehorse, Guelph and Thunder Bay.

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