New Zealanders Can Save More on Power Bills

media release

16 April 2013

New Zealanders Can Save More on Power Bills

New Zealanders are being encouraged to replace more of their standard light bulbs with energy efficient light bulbs following new research revealing Kiwi homes typically only have energy efficiency light bulbs in a quarter of their fittings – and one in ten have no energy efficient light bulbs at all.

Residents are still missing out on savings if the majority of their bulbs are traditional incandescents, says the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

“As lighting is usually around 12 per cent of the household electricity bill, this is somewhere people can really save,” says EECA Lighting Programme Manager Bill Brander.

“If you’ve only got traditional incandescents in your home, you’re probably spending 400 per cent more on lighting than you need to.”

“The end of daylight saving time signifies longer nights and more time spent at home, so lighting use goes up – typically doubling from summer to winter. Running at less than a quarter of the cost of standard light bulbs, energy efficient lighting represents a simple way to save money.”

“Replacing five high-use 100W traditional incandescents with energy efficient lighting can mean savings of $100 a year, and their long life means you can look forward to those savings for years to come,” says Mr Brander.

Recently introduced standards mean that all CFLs must meet performance requirements, so consumers can be assured of the energy efficiency, light quality and durability of products they buy. The top performing bulbs are ENERGY STAR qualified.

The research was commissioned by EECA and carried out independently by Ipsos, a global market research company, who audited 149 homes across New Zealand.
Background information

EECA is working to provide New Zealanders with all the information they need to make good lighting choices, as well as online interactive tools for evaluating costs and potential savings.

Advances in lighting mean there is now a range of efficient light bulbs available for every situation, and changing old incandescent light bulbs to energy efficient ones is a simple and effective way to reduce electricity use.

The range of energy efficient bulbs includes CFLs, LEDs (light emitting diodes) and new generation halogens. These are now available in attractive designs, colours and shapes to suit different settings.

- CFLs and LEDs offer major energy savings in high use areas such as lounge, dining and family rooms, and are available in covered and dimmable forms. ‘Warm white’ will offer a close colour match for any standard light bulbs being replaced.

- New generation halogen bulbs are ideal for areas such as cupboards and hallways where lights are on for short periods of time, and work well with dimmers.

- Fluorescent tubes, which come in an increasing range of sizes and shapes, are designed to work especially well over kitchen work benches and bathroom mirrors.

ENDS

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