Gov’t bans incandescent light bulbs
Published:Saturday | October 8, 2022 | 12:09 AM
The Government has imposed a ban on incandescent light bulbs, effective April 1, 2023.
On September 19, the Cabinet approved a ban on the import, export, manufacture, distribution, and sale or purchase of incandescent light bulbs.
Minister of Science, Energy and Technology Daryl Vaz said that the ban is another step in the Government’s quest for the nation to become energy efficient and reduce its carbon footprint.
“With the ban on incandescent light bulbs, we, as citizens, should experience a better lighting performance from energy-saving bulbs and also realise savings on our energy bills. We will also see a reduction in our overall CO2 emissions. Collectively, our goal should see us saving as a nation,” Vaz said.
In 2018, CARICOM made the decision to start the process of banning incandescent lighting. This move was made to promote efficiency, and energy conservation as well as protect consumers from having underperforming light bulbs, while providing tangible energy savings.
Studies were done on the use of incandescent bulbs by the Jamaica Public Service and Ministry of Science, Education and Technology in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
The studies showed that switching from 60W incandescent bulbs to 9W LED bulbs in the home could reduce energy consumption by 85 per cent.
The ministry recommends the use of LED bulbs as they are energy-saving and have greater longevity. LED lighting products typically last three to five times longer than contact fluorescent bulbs, or 30 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
It is estimated that replacing incandescent and fluorescent bulbs with higher efficiency lighting like LEDs could save Jamaica J$1.3 billion per annum.