Free bulbs for 'at risk' households (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Free bulbs for 'at risk' households

12:50pm Monday 18th August 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share

MORE than two million households are to receive free energy-saving light bulbs as part of a national scheme to help combat fuel poverty.

The initiative, developed by the Housing Corporation, which regulates 2,000 housing associations, EDF Energy and eaga, one of the largest providers of domestic energy solutions in Europe, will see more than eight million bulbs, donated by EDF Energy, distributed across the country over a 12-month period.

Each "at risk" household will receive four light bulbs, which use 80 per cent less energy and have a lifetime 10 times longer than regular bulbs.

In total, the scheme aims to save 1.14 million tonnes of CO2 over a 10-year period, which would equate to taking about 114,000 cars off the road each year.

Yashin Sarnaik, commercial manager at eaga, said: "Household energy accounts for more than a quarter of all UK carbon emissions, so by working together to make homes throughout the country more energy-efficient and supporting vulnerable people in doing this, we can really make a significant contribution to tackling climate change."

• Print
• Email
• Share