Shanghai will promote electricity conservation by giving companies subsidies for using energy-saving light bulbs, Wenhui Daily reported today.

The city government will provide subsidies for 1 million energy-saving bulbs this year, the report said.

According to the report, the energy efficient light bulbs can save 190 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year, reduce coal usage 100,000 tons and cut carbon dioxide discharges 13,000 tons and sulfur dioxide by 1,930 tons.

The central government will provide 30 to 50 percent of the cost for the lights while the Shanghai government is working on its subsidy plan, the report said.

A recent spot check by the Shanghai Energy Conservation Association at 22 companies showed that most don't use energy-saving bulbs and that many bosses don't know how much they spend on electricity each year, the report said.

A company that uses 120,000 regular light bulbs can reduce energy use by 45 percent and save more than 10 million yuan (US$1.44 million) a year if it changes to energy efficient version, said the report.

(Shanghai Daily June 10, 2008)