CFL bulbs under scrutiny

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) has taken a decision to ban the sale of low quality Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs. The decision will come into effect in January 2010.

A high level meeting and workshop to create awareness about the ban among local CFL bulb importers and bulb producers will be held in Colombo on September 29 (Tuesday) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Standards Institution and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).

Accordingly, the SEA will register all CFL bulb importers at this workshop to ensure the quality of bulbs they import from next January.Under the new laws, a star would be clearly reflected on all high quality CFL bulbs; only high quality CFL bulbs increase energy efficiency.

It is reported that out of four million electricity consumers in the country, over 40 per cent still use low quality CFL bulbs at their homes and business premises, without realising the negative impact of such bulbs.Meanwhile, a senior CEB official said the Power and Energy Ministry is also expected to distribute high quality CFL bulbs to electricity consumers at reduced prices through countrywide CEB offices. The cost of the bulbs will be deducted in instalments through the monthly bills of consumers.Describing the Government's electricity conservation program, he said steps have also been taken to ban the use of street lights at certain Local Government Divisions that did not adhere to the CEB directive of switching off street lights after 6.00 a.m. everyday.