How to save 10 times more energy — without the ‘stupid’ change of bulb

BY banning incandescent (tungsten) lamps, the Government wants to be seen to be doing something to tackle global warming and peak oil. However, as usual, what they do is either ineffective or counterproductive and nothing more than an empty gesture to avoid effective action.

Changing all tungsten lamps to compact fluorescent lamps would save less than 1% of Ireland’s energy consumption. Transport consumes half of the country’s energy, so there is considerable scope for energy saving by reducing traffic, but far from trying to do that, the Government is doing its best to encourage more traffic, which is already growing at 7% a year. The State should first examine the mote in its own eye by tackling the unnecessary lighting of motorways (which motorists do not pay for), as well as inefficient car park, flood and security lighting which wastes energy by sending light up to the heavens as well as causing glare and light pollution. Schemes designed by qualified lighting engineers can save 50% of energy. Far lower levels of illumination could be used for much outdoor lighting.

On the domestic front, the Government would do better to ban the pretentious floodlighting of private houses. The conspicuous consumption of businesses requires high levels of unnecessary lighting. Motion detectors (PIRs) can save energy by switching lights on and off automatically. These measures alone would save five-to-10 times more energy than this stupid ban.