Durban - South Africa today announced plans to phase out all incandescent light bulbs and replace them with energy efficient ones by 2016.
The move is linked to the global initiative by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) aimed at assisting countries to combat climate change through the transition to energy efficient lighting.
The announcement makes South Africa the first African country to undertake a comprehensive national phase out transition from inefficient lighting.
UNEP executive director Achim Steiner told reporters the move would allow South Africa to electrify over four million more homes with the power saved from phasing out incandescent light bulbs.
"Fast tracking more energy-efficient lighting is without a doubt one of the low hanging fruit offering not only emissions savings but cost savings to a company or a household budget," Steiner said.
He said the aim of achieving a global phase out of ordinary light bulbs by 2016 was not only possible but "infinitely doable".
South Africa will be working with UNEP to share lessons learned with other African countries willing to phase out incandescent light bulbs, a press release quoting Energy Minister Dipuo Peters said.
"We encourage all countries that have not yet phased out inefficient lighting to join the UNEP Global partnership and work with us to move towards an efficient lighting world to mitigate climate change," Peters said.
South Africa's power supply faces serious strain, which would be greatly mitigated by the phasing out of incandescent lamps. The electricity saved by the phase out would be directed to other social pressing needs.
Over 25 developing countries from four continents have joined the partnership, with Uruguay becoming the first nation to support the initiative in August this year.
Meanwhile, research shows that using current economic and energy efficiency trends, it is projected that global demand for artificial light will be 60 percent higher by 2030 if no switch to efficient lighting occurs.
The International Energy Agency estimates that in 2007 the total electricity consumption due to lighting was at 2 650 terawatt -hour. This represents almost 19 percent of the global electricity.
