Proposals sought to expand lighting efficiency

07 April 2006

Electricity Commission seeks proposals to expand lighting efficiency

The Electricity Commission is calling for proposals to introduce household compact fluorescent lighting programmes nationally. It will spend up to $3 million to expand its household lighting-efficiency programme across New Zealand.

The commission’s request for proposals follows its successful lighting-efficiency pilot programmes launched in Christchurch, central Canterbury and Wellington late last year. In partnership with the electricity industry, lighting suppliers and supermarkets the programmes offered householders high-quality energy-saving compact fluorescent lamps at a reduced cost.

The commission is considering partnerships to introduce regional residential lighting-efficiency campaigns aimed at installing 3.5 million compact fluorescent lamps across New Zealand. The request for proposals document is on the government electronic tender services website www.GETS.govt.nz or on a link on the commission’s website http://www.electricitycommission.govt.nz/opdev/elec-efficiency/rfp .

The commission estimates that just five energy efficient lamps used in half of New Zealand’s households could save the country around $500 million dollars in power bills over the life of the lamps.

“If householders put efficiency lamps into high lighting-use areas of their homes, some three and a half million lamps could reduce the peak demand on New Zealand’s power system,” commission chair Roy Hemmingway said.
“Each good-quality compact fluorescent lamp can produce the same light output as an incandescent light bulb while using one fifth of the energy, saving householders up to $100 over the life of each energy efficient lamp.”

He said the environmental benefits of replacing incandescent lamps with energy efficient lamps would be a reduction in New Zealand’s estimated Kyoto Protocol first commitment period CO2 deficit by as much as 2.5 per cent.

The commission is working with the lighting industry and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority to expand the types of high-quality fluorescent lamps available in the market and to promote their benefits to consumers.

“We are encouraged by the increasing co-operation among electricity retailers, lines companies, power trusts, community-based organisations and the lighting industry in delivering energy-efficient lighting to New Zealand households," Mr Hemmingway said.

The Electricity Commission is a Crown entity set up in 2003 under the Electricity Act to oversee New Zealand’s electricity industry and markets.

ENDS

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