Energy savings from efficient bulbs equivalent to yearly output from ten power stations

The Green Party’s spokesperson for European Affairs Senator Deirdre de Burca welcomed a vote today by MEPs that will facilitate the phasing out of environmentally inefficient light bulbs in Ireland.

Senator Deirdre de Burca, who is the Party’s Dublin candidate for the European elections and is currently in Brussels attending a meeting of parliamentarians focusing on economic recovery, said: “I am very pleased by the outcome of today’s vote. It is good for Europe, good for Ireland and good for the environment. The Irish Green Party led Europe in proposing a ban on incandescent bulbs, and our Green MEP colleagues are now pushing forward the initiative at the EU level.

“Today’s vote removes another obstacle to the phasing out of energy inefficient incandescent bulbs across the EU, and I am confident that my Party colleagues Ministers Gormley and Ryan will be successful in progressing the new laws when the European Council discusses them next month.

“Replacing incandescent lights with energy efficient bulbs will produce savings of more than €180m per year for Irish consumers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland by 800,000 tonnes – one per cent of our total.

“The proposed measure will save consumers across the EU between €5bn and 10bn every year on their electricity bills. Around 40 TWh of energy will be avoided – the equivalent of the yearly output of 10 average power stations. The phase-out will also reduce climate-damaging CO2 emissions by around 15 million tonnes per year,” Senator de Burca concluded.

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Press Release by Deirdre