Increase in the use of CFL bulbs

Ridma Dissanayake

The Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority states that the use of energy efficient CFL electricity bulbs has increased.

The CFL bulbs are saving around 80 percent of energy than the normal light bulbs.

According to the No. 1611/10 Government Gazette dated July 22,2009 the label introduced by the Sustainable Energy Authority is compulsory for all the CFL bulbs in Sri Lanka.

According to customs reports on imported electronic equipment, CFL light bulbs have rapidly increased in the period from 2005 to 2010.

Due to the use of more efficient CFL light bulbs, 574 gigawatt hours had been saved in the years of 2009 and 2010. They have saved 280 gigawatt hours in 2009 and 294 gigawatt hours in 2010. The maximum electricity demand of those years has decreased by 380 megawatts the Sustainable Energy Authority said.

While the consumption of the electricity is decreasing with the use of CFL bulbs, it will also ease a great strain on the national grid as well.

The value of electricity consumed in industrial sector per day is around Rs. 20 million and at domestic level, it is around Rs. 15 million.

The use of efficient and long lasting bulbs will save around Rs 35 million per day, the authority added.