Traditional lightbulbs to be replaced by 'green' bulbs in four years

Traditional lightbulbs will be switched off for good within four years.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said all homes and businesses would have to use low-energy "green" bulbs by 2011.

He told the Labour party conference in Bournemouth that banning energy-guzzling iridescent bulbs would help Britain meet its tough carbon reduction targets.

The "green" bulbs use up to 80 per cent less electricity than traditional bulbs - which use a different filament - to generate the same amount of light.

They are already becoming increasingly popular with the environmentally conscious British public.

Mr Benn told delegates: "The major retailers and the energy suppliers are now leading a voluntary initiative, with the strong support of the lighting industry and of the Government, to help phase out traditional high-energy lightbulbs. We need to turn them off - for good."

Traditional 150-watt lightbulbs would be phased out by January next year, 100-watt bulbs the year after, 40-watt bulbs the year after that and all high-energy lightbulbs by 2011.

Mr Benn claimed the move would save five million tonnes of CO2 a year - the equivalent of a medium-sized coal-fired power station.

The Government has a target to reduce carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2050.

He also urged retailers and manufacturers to phase out the least efficient electrical products - including some set-top boxes and televisions - from their ranges.

EU leaders agreed this year to start phasing out iridescent lightbulbs in a bid to tackle climate change.

Firm proposals for saving power in office and street lighting will be introduced by 2008 and in homes by 2009.

The replacement low-energy fluorescent bulbs are more expensive to buy but they are longer-lasting and work out cheaper in the long run.

It is also hard to find "green" halogen bulbs and others with non-standard fittings at present.

In most homes lighting accounts for up to 15 per cent of electricity bills and green groups claim every low-energy bulb could save householders up to £7 a year.

Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said: "We fully support the idea of phasing out inefficient lighting in favour of energy-efficient lightbulbs.

"If everyone in the UK installed three energy-saving lightbulbs, we would save enough energy to power all the UK's street lighting for a year."