INLSA

An energy saving light bulb. Picture: Rogan Ward.

Four-million homes in SA could be supplied with electricity by 2016 as a result of a new policy launched at COP17.

The government, on Wednesday, announced a national phase-out policy for inefficient lighting, making the country the first in Africa to make such a commitment.

The en.lighten policy was launched by the UN Environment Programme (Unep) and the Global Environment Facility to tackle climate change through the transition to energy-efficient lighting.

According to the International Energy Agency, electricity for lighting accounts for about 20 percent of total global electricity, and 6 percent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.

The en.lighten policy was presented as the quickest, easiest and most effective way to save energy and combat climate change. The phase-out will start next year and is expected to be complete by 2016.

New energy-efficient lighting will be based on compact fluorescent lamp technology, which, unlike older light bulbs which produce 95 percent heat and just 5 percent light, produces an equivalent amount of light using 75 percent less energy.

The new light bulbs also last up to 10 times longer.

“If a global temperature rise is to be kept under 2°C, we need to act on multiple fronts,” said Unep’s executive director, Achim Steiner.

“Fast-tracking more energy-efficient lighting is without a doubt the low-hanging fruit, offering not only emissions reductions but also saving costs to companies’ and households’ budgets.”

According to Energy Minister Dipuo Peters, SA will be able to electrify 4 million homes with the electricity saved from phasing out old light bulbs.

“South Africa will share these ideas with other African countries and teach them about the benefits that this transition will bring,” she said.