City government offers residents a bright idea

By Chen Qian  |   2008-6-17  |     ONLINE EDITION

SHANGHAI residents will only have to pay half for energy saving light bulbs as the government has offered to provide about a 5 yuan subsidy for each one, Shanghai Oriental Morning Post reported.

It's part of a central government plan to save energy. Shanghai will provide subsidies for 1 million such light bulbs this year, the report said.

Residents can choose from three types of energy saving bulbs.

Mini 5-watt bulbs provide the same brightness as 25-watt incandescent lamps. Such bulbs can save 80 percent more energy and 14 yuan on the power bill per year. They can save a total of 58 yuan during its lifespan, the report said.

Standard 10-watt energy saving bulbs can replace a 50-watt incandescent lamp that saves 28 yuan a year and 115 yuan over its lifespan.

Double-capped fluorescent lamps, a third type of energy saving bulb, are also available, according to the report.

The use of 1 million energy-saving bulbs could save an accumulated 190 million kilowatt-hours of electricity or 100,000 tons of thermal coal and cut carbon dioxide discharges by 193,000 tons and sulfur dioxide by 1,930 tons, Shanghai Economic Commission said.