Europe switches on to energy saving light bulbs

Nine in 10 UK households (88%) now buy energy saving CFL light bulbs, according to a European-wide survey of consumer light bulb purchasing habits.

Of these UK households purchasing CFL light bulbs, the majority (87%) said the main reason was due to their energy and cost saving benefits.

The survey findings of 5,000 consumers across 12 European nations put the UK in the top five in Europe for adopting energy saving CFL light bulbs - above the European average of 78%. Italy topped the European nations, with 96% always or often purchasing energy saving CFL light bulbs.

The survey also found the UK trails behind other European nations for LED light bulb purchases, with a third of households (33%) now buying LEDs. Spain knocked the UK off the top five, with the nation now sitting in the middle of the European league table for LED purchases. Around 70 per cent of UK households purchased LED light bulbs due to the cost and energy savings.

The latest survey findings and figures are helping to inform the PremiumLight project, a European-wide initiative that is testing the quality of energy saving light bulbs to help support consumers in their purchasing decisions.

Tom Lock, Certification Manager at the Energy Saving Trust, commented: "We are encouraged by these findings which show that the majority of the UK public are realising the energy and cost saving benefits of energy saving light bulbs and buying them for their home. There are clear benefits with each UK household having the potential to save up to £50 a year on their energy bills through upgrading all their home lighting to either LED or CFL energy saving light bulbs.”

Figures from the Energy Saving Trust show the UK could save as much as £1.4bn on electricity bills a year through households replacing all the remaining traditional incandescent and halogen bulbs in their homes with energy-saving light bulbs (CFLs and LED spots).