Woudhuysen

Low-energy light bulbs – blaming us for energy consumption

First published by BBC Breakfast, January 2009
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BBC Breakfast: News and discussion piece on the phasing in of new low-energy light bulbs. During this item on BBC Breakfast, James Woudhuysen outlines his criticism of the government’s focus on consumer buying.

The real discussion needed is around the methods and scale of energy production. With the announcement that Tungsten filament light bulbs will be phased out and replaced by a new eco-friendly low-energy one, the old light bulbs are flying off shop shelves. People are concerned about the cost of the new bulbs and the quality of the light they provide. In order to reduce carbon emissions, the old style bulb will be phased out and it will become illegal to manufacture them.

However, James Woudhuysen gives short shrift to the focus on the bulbs and on consumer purchasing – especially given that the old ones don’t emit carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases. The real discussion needed, if the underlying issue of global warming is to be tackled, is how to fix this problem at source. Politicians should stop blaming consumers and, instead, lead the development of an energy strategy that tackles the problem of green house gas emissions at source.

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