Ireland could save more energy per household than any other EU country, simply by switching to efficient lightbulbs. That is because Ireland currently has the highest energy consumption per household for lighting at 920 kWh (the worst in the EU-27), compared with say Germany at 337 kWh. [1]

"We want Ireland to lead the way for the EU on this," said Eoin Dubsky, Greenpeace International Online Organizer. "France last month announced a ban on incandescent lightbulbs by 2010, but details are still hazy. Other governments recently backpedalled saying EU law won't let them set energy standards for lightbulbs. If Europe's largest lightbulb manufacturers Philips, Osram & G.E. have their way, it could be 2019 before we are finally rid of their most wasteful, outdated products,” he added. [2]

"Nobody stands to gain more than Ireland," continued Eoin Dubsky. "Up to 15 per cent of residential electricity demand could be saved by switching to energy saving lightbulbs. Furthermore, setting in motion a system of mandatory, ever-improving efficiency standards will ensure that manufacturers only make the good stuff, helping to continually cut carbon dioxide from power plants that add to global warming," he said. [3]

According Greenpeace International campaigner Sharon Becker, "It's time to change the lightbulb in Europe. Up to 477 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from power plants across Europe could easily be saved if EU governments would pass laws demanding a switch to energy savers by 2010 instead of 2019. There have been years of talk about standards and phasing-out inefficient lighting but precious little action. We need a government to pass a lighting energy efficiency law that sets the standard for the others." [4]

Setting the minimum standard for residential lighting at 25 Lumens per Watt would effectively ban energy-wasting incandescent lightbulbs and some inefficient halogen bulbs. According to a legal opinion sought by Greenpeace, properly drafted energy efficiency legislation would not fall foul of EU trade rules. [5]

Campaigners began discussions on a lightbulb law this summer with the Irish Government, dealing with issues of timing, hardship provisions, EU law, waste management, and opportunities for spreading the good example internationally.

Greenpeace's global energy scenario for the period up to 2050 demonstrates how a radical change in where we get energy from, and how wisely we then use it, can keep global mean temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius. This would avoid the worst impacts of climate change, according international climate experts. [6]

Irish Government negotiators will be attending next month's UN climate conference, in Bali, Indonesia, which will be laying the foundation for extending the Kyoto Protocol – the only international climate treaty with legally-binding emissions targets.