Change a light bulb, change the world
0 
For a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle, sometimes the effort is as simple as changing a light bulb.
Incandescent lighting, invented by Thomas Edison, represented the cutting edge of science 100 years ago but in recent years has become increasingly at odds with objectives like energy efficiency and carbon emissions reduction.
|
|
| UNDP and NDRC jointly hold the Phase-out of the Inefficient Lightening Int'l Workshop, June 24, 2010 in Beijing. [Pierre / China.org.cn] |
![UNDP and NDRC jointly hold the Phase-out of the Inefficient Lightening Int'l Workshop, June 24, 2010 in Beijing. [Pierre / China.org.cn]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20100625/001372a9a93f0d8e7fe910.JPG "UNDP and NDRC jointly hold the Phase-out of the Inefficient Lightening Int'l Workshop, June 24, 2010 in Beijing. [Pierre / China.org.cn]")
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) have jointly launched a project called Phasing-out of Incandescent Lamps and Energy Saving Lamps Promotion (PILESLAMP), to promote green energy in China.
"Sustainable energy is fundamentally a pre-requisite to achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals, and for China, green energy is central to achieving its Xiao Kang Goal," Silvia Morimoto, deputy country director of UNDP China, said at a symposium in Beijing yesterday.
"To phase out inefficient lighting isn't only possible but is happening all over the world, and on a grand scale right here in China," said Ms. Morimoto, quoting the ratio between the number of incandescent bulbs and fluorescent bulbs in 1995 was 6.25:1 but declined to 1:1.4 in 1999.
Lighting accounts for 19 percent of energy consumption worldwide – in China the figure is 12 percent. Changing light bulbs can reduce that number by one third or more.
"By changing a light bulb, and changing our mindset, we can change the world," said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the signing ceremony of the Green Lightening project in July last year.
One factor affecting the popularization of energy saving bulbs is the price issue, as incandescent bulbs cost much less than energy saving bulbs. And people tend to forget that fact a bargain in the store can mean much higher electricity charges.
Concerns have also been raised by environmentalists about the safe disposal of the small amounts of mercury used in low-energy light bulbs.
The UNDP and NDRC have both called for stricter controls on the use of mercury. They are encouraging the use of solid rather than liquid mercury, which reduces the amount used in each bulb and reduces workplace pollution which, in the past, has sickened dozens of workers.
They are also calling for public education on the safe disposal of used bulbs.
Go to Forum >>0 Comments