CHANGE LIGHT BULB, SAVE MONEY AND HELP SAVE THE PLANET
Published Monday, 13 August, 2007 at 06:33 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Environment and Multiculturalism
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
Queenslanders can save money, energy and the environment by making the switch and changing just one household light bulb on September 1.
Launching the Change a Light Bulb Day initiative at the Brisbane Ekka, Premier Peter Beattie called on Queenslanders to take the small step of changing just one light bulb to save money and help cut greenhouse gas emissions.
“As part of Queensland Government's ClimateSmart Living campaign, we're asking householders to make the switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs on September 1,” Mr Beattie said.
“If every household in Queensland replaced just one 60 watt incandescent light bulb with an 11 watt compact fluorescent light, or CFL, it would be like switching off the power in all homes in Bundaberg*,” he said.
“If every one of Queensland's 1.44 million households changed just one bulb, we would cut an estimated 154,525 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year, and that's like taking some 42,000 cars off the road.”
A television advertisement urging Queenslanders to join the campaign and make the switch on Change a Light Bulb Day will go to air from today (August 13).
The advertisement features ClimateSmart Living campaign champions pro-surfer Stephanie Gilmore, Brisbane Lions' Jason Roe, The Biggest Loser's Big Wal and television presenter Ranger Tim.
Mr Beattie said the campaign would also invite Queenslanders to sign up to the Change a Light Bulb Challenge to help gauge how much energy and greenhouse gas emissions are saved on the day.
“To join the challenge, Queenslanders can drop into one of the special locations to sign up and swap over an old light bulb for a free CFL,” said the Premier.
Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said CFLs and fluorescent tubes were the most energy and cost-effective lighting alternatives for the home.
“Lighting accounts for around 8% of a household's total power bill,” she said.
“Every time a 60W light bulb is replaced by an 11W CFL, you cut $16 a year off your yearly electricity bill.
“CFLs last from 6,000 to 15,000 hours - that's six to 15 times longer than incandescent light bulbs, and they use about one fifth of the energy.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said Bunnings Warehouse and Phillips are supporting Change a Light Bulb Day and providing a number of free CFLs for the challenge.
To sign up, either go to any Bunnings store throughout the State on September 1 or visit Westfield Centres between 11am and 1pm.
Ms Nelson-Carr said Beacon Lighting was also supporting the campaign by offering a 20% discount on CFLs to customers who take the pledge at their stores across Queensland.
‘All people who sign up to the Challenge will be helping us track the impact this initiative will have on reducing carbon emissions,” said the Minister.
For more information, or to take the pledge online, go to climatesmart.qld.gov.au
*All figures based on a light bulb in use for six hours per day. Bundaberg has 17,000 homes.
Media contacts: Premier's Office - 07 3224 4500
Minister's Office - 07 3224 7468
Launching the Change a Light Bulb Day initiative at the Brisbane Ekka, Premier Peter Beattie called on Queenslanders to take the small step of changing just one light bulb to save money and help cut greenhouse gas emissions.
“As part of Queensland Government's ClimateSmart Living campaign, we're asking householders to make the switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs on September 1,” Mr Beattie said.
“If every household in Queensland replaced just one 60 watt incandescent light bulb with an 11 watt compact fluorescent light, or CFL, it would be like switching off the power in all homes in Bundaberg*,” he said.
“If every one of Queensland's 1.44 million households changed just one bulb, we would cut an estimated 154,525 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year, and that's like taking some 42,000 cars off the road.”
A television advertisement urging Queenslanders to join the campaign and make the switch on Change a Light Bulb Day will go to air from today (August 13).
The advertisement features ClimateSmart Living campaign champions pro-surfer Stephanie Gilmore, Brisbane Lions' Jason Roe, The Biggest Loser's Big Wal and television presenter Ranger Tim.
Mr Beattie said the campaign would also invite Queenslanders to sign up to the Change a Light Bulb Challenge to help gauge how much energy and greenhouse gas emissions are saved on the day.
“To join the challenge, Queenslanders can drop into one of the special locations to sign up and swap over an old light bulb for a free CFL,” said the Premier.
Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said CFLs and fluorescent tubes were the most energy and cost-effective lighting alternatives for the home.
“Lighting accounts for around 8% of a household's total power bill,” she said.
“Every time a 60W light bulb is replaced by an 11W CFL, you cut $16 a year off your yearly electricity bill.
“CFLs last from 6,000 to 15,000 hours - that's six to 15 times longer than incandescent light bulbs, and they use about one fifth of the energy.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said Bunnings Warehouse and Phillips are supporting Change a Light Bulb Day and providing a number of free CFLs for the challenge.
To sign up, either go to any Bunnings store throughout the State on September 1 or visit Westfield Centres between 11am and 1pm.
Ms Nelson-Carr said Beacon Lighting was also supporting the campaign by offering a 20% discount on CFLs to customers who take the pledge at their stores across Queensland.
‘All people who sign up to the Challenge will be helping us track the impact this initiative will have on reducing carbon emissions,” said the Minister.
For more information, or to take the pledge online, go to climatesmart.qld.gov.au
*All figures based on a light bulb in use for six hours per day. Bundaberg has 17,000 homes.
Media contacts: Premier's Office - 07 3224 4500
Minister's Office - 07 3224 7468