CFLs can bring down power bills by up to 80%

Filipino households would save at least 80 percent off their electric lighting cost by switching entirely from incandescent bulbs to energy-saving CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) or T-8 fluorescent lights, according to proponents of a multi-sectoral initiative to conserve energy, dubbed SWITCH.

SWITCH concretizes the most strategic social mobilization plans and activities arising from the  Energy Summit held earlier this year to find solutions to the skyrocketing prices of oil and other petroleum products in the world and local markets.

President Arroyo and Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes will preside over the ceremonial SWITCH to CFLs and T-8s in Metro Manila today.

“What we have here is a movement that would demonstrate how ordinary people and all sectors of our society can help address the dire consequences of skyrocketing oil prices and climate change,” Reyes said.

“What needs to be done is for people to make fundamental changes in lifestyle and energy consumption habits. The switch to CFLs is one such fundamental change we Filipinos can effect to realize big savings in fuel and in the cost of constructing power plants.”

Based on estimates, there are  15 million households in the country with each household using at least three light bulbs.

According to data from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), one million 13-watt CFLs, which have the same lighting power compared with a million 60-watt incandescent bulbs, save at least 47 megawatts (MW) at the customers’ end.

ADB data noted that the 47-MW difference in the power requirement of the million CFLs would mean the country can forego the construction of one 50-megawatt power plant costing $50 million.

Reyes also emphasized the positive impact on the environment of reducing the country’s overall energy consumption, especially energy derived from highly polluting petroleum products like oil, gasoline and diesel.