China's Roadmap for Phased-Out Incandescent Light Bulbs Begins Implementation This could save billions of kilowatt-hours of electricity annually
Lighting accounts for about 13% of China's total electricity consumption. If all 1.4 billion incandescent bulbs currently in use in China were replaced with energy-saving bulbs, 48 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity could be saved annually, equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 48 million tons per year, demonstrating significant potential for energy conservation and emission reduction.
Xie Zhenhua, vice chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission, said that in order to save energy, protect the environment, and actively respond to global climate change, on November 1, 2011, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, and the State Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine jointly issued the "Roadmap for the Gradual Phasing Out of Incandescent Lamps in China," which clearly stated that from October 1, 2012, the import and sale of ordinary lighting incandescent lamps would be gradually prohibited in stages according to their power output.
On October 17, the Chinese government held a publicity event in Beijing themed "Say Goodbye to Incandescent Lamps, Light Up a Green Life," announcing the official implementation of the "China Roadmap for Phasing Out Incandescent Lamps" and banning the import and sale of 100-watt and above general lighting incandescent lamps starting in October.
Xie Zhenhua stated that the release and implementation of the "China Roadmap for Phasing Out Incandescent Lamps" will not only have a positive impact on the transformation and upgrading of China's lighting industry and energy conservation and emission reduction across society, but will also make a significant contribution to global energy conservation and greenhouse gas emission reduction. "More importantly, it will convey the concept of green and low-carbon living to every household through a single lamp."
Sources: Environmental Information Center (2012-10-18)
