• Lightbulb policy set to be scrapped.
• National favours consumer choice.
• Out of step with Aust, UK and China.

The National-led Govt is signalling a more hands-off approach to energy efficiency, with the proposed phase-out of incandescent lightbulbs likely to be overturned. Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee has asked EECA to look into the incandescent light bulb policy announced earlier this year by the previous Labour-led Govt, which would see conventional bulbs disappear by October 2009. National Party sources say the Govt is planning to scrap the policy although Brownlee will not confirm it. He says EECA is doing some work on the issue and the Govt will make an announcement “in due course.” Another of the previous Govt’s energy efficiency policies, the $1bn insulation fund for retro-fitting low-quality housing is also set for the chop under the new National-led administration. It reflects National’s philosophy of consumer choice rather than Nanny State intervention when it comes to energy efficiency.

In Opposition, Brownlee was a strong opponent of the proposal to ban conventional light bulbs and replace them with energy-efficient lighting. His argument is, essentially, if energy-efficient bulbs make good economic sense, consumers will choose them freely without the need for any Govt policy. In Parliament in September, Brownlee warned of a public backlash against the proposed ban on incandescent bulbs and claimed even some Labour MPs had reservations because it might be seen as another example of the Nanny State. When former Energy Minister David Parker announced the proposed phase-out of incandescent bulbs, he stressed consumers would not be forced to use compact fluorescent light bulbs, acknowledging some people did not like the spiral shape. Parker stressed there are other options, including energy-efficient halogen bulbs, which look identical to traditional incandescent bulbs but still save power.

Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons has condemned Brownlee’s move, claiming National has opposed every energy efficiency proposal she can think of in recent years. Fitz-simons says National’s apparent lack of commitment to energy efficiency makes a mockery of its climate change target of a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, adding National doesn’t seem to have the slightest idea of how it will reduce emissions. The previous Govt estimated for the average household, replacing the four most-used incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs would save about $50 a year on power bills and also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

If NZ goes back on the proposed ban, it will be out of step with Aust, which is planning to ban sales of incandescent light bulbs from next year, and the UK is also to start phasing them out. In fact, the choice to buy incandescent bulbs is going to be reduced soon because China, which produces 70% of the world’s supply, is also planning to ban their use domestically.

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