Every household in New Zealand can take the small step of changing a standard incandescent bulb to an energy efficient alternative. Based on the 1.65 million homes in our country, if we changed between 1 and 28 bulbs in each home, we could make a big difference.

On average, a New Zealand household uses 9,370 KWh of electricity per annum. Based on studies by KEMA and BRANZ, 920 KWh (or nearly 10%) of this total is consumed by lighting. So if everyone in New Zealand adopts energy efficient lighting habits we could save a huge amount of power.

To see how much New Zealand can save, click here >>

Here are some scenarios, based on all 1.65 million New Zealand households achieving the same level of savings.

The more energy efficient we are, the fewer power stations we need to build.

Building power stations is expensive and the cost is recovered from all power users via increases in the cost of electricity. It costs a lot less to use electricity more efficiently than it does to build new power stations.

For example, Project West Wind – Meridian Energy's wind farm currently under construction west of Wellington – will cost over $440 million to complete. When fully operational at the end of 2009, the 62-turbine development will have a capacity of 143 megawatts and will power the equivalent of 70,000 average New Zealand homes: that’s all the homes within the territorial boundaries of Wellington City.

When we use energy efficient lighting, we burn less fossil fuel.

In 2008, 20% of New Zealand's total electricity generation came from burning fossil fuels that release carbon dioxide into the air. Home lighting in New Zealand is mainly consumed during peak periods such as mornings and evenings. Because the generation and transmission capacity needs to be built to cope with maximum demand times, reducing lighting during these times can have real benefits. So by using energy efficient lighting that requires less electricity (energy) we can make a real difference.

By simply replacing one standard incandescent bulb with one equivalent CFL, you can keep half a ton of CO₂ out of the atmosphere (over the life of the CFL bulb).

Energy efficient lighting means less mercury in the environment.

CFLs contain a small amount of mercury which makes them operate much more efficiently than incandescent and halogen bulbs. Mercury is toxic to human health and the environment but the amount inside an individual bulb is not large enough to pose a hazard to users.

Plus, because of their energy efficiency, energy saving CFL bulbs have the greatest overall environmental life-cycle benefits, despite containing a small amount of mercury.

To find other ways to reduce your environmental impact by using energy more efficiently, visit the EECA Energywise^TM website.

CFL Disposal

CFL's contain a small amount of mercury. Mercury is an element that occurs naturally in the environment and can be found commonly in areas which have high volcanic and geothermal activity. Other sources of mercury include thermometers, barometers, mercury switches in older vehicles, some batteries (rechargeable and single-use), dental amalgam and even medicine. One CFL contains less than 1% of the mercury in an old thermometer and a CFL does not release any mercury – so long as the glass tube is not broken.

There are different disposal options available for CFLs.  To find the best disposal option in your area: 

• Ask your lighting supplier if they provide a drop-off service for CFLs.

• Ask your local council if they operate a hazardous waste service. Some offer a drop-off service at the transfer station, such as Wellington City Council and Christchurch City Council. Others offer an annual hazardous waste collection, like Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay and Palmerston North. Check out www.hazmobile.govt.nz for more information.

• Alternatively, visit the Interwaste website (Interwaste is recycling provider for mercury-containing lamps) and buy a prepay box to fill and send then in to be recycled.

If there are no CFL disposal facilities in your area, the dead bulb should be disposed of in the same way as any other light bulb i.e. wrap it in newspaper and dispose with your household rubbish.

Learn more about light bulb safety, including how to clean up a broken bulb >>