10. GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam) Link to this
to the Minister of Energy
Does the Government still intend to introduce minimum energy performance standards for incandescent light bulbs?
Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister of Energy) Link to this
Yes. The standard is for all lighting, not just for incandescent light bulbs. Under CER, together with Australia, we ensure a wide range of imported electrical goods meet prudent energy-efficiency standards. The standards for energy-efficient light bulbs are scheduled for October 2009.
Is the Minister telling the House and the hundreds—thousands, in fact—of New Zealanders who are storing up incandescent light bulbs that he has to go ahead with this because the Australians have told him to?
No, I am not. Also, contrary to the member’s other assertions, these standards do not force consumers to use compact fluorescent light bulbs. There is a range of choice other than the compact fluorescent light bulbs, including more energy-efficient halogen bulbs that look identical to the traditional incandescent bulbs but still save power. Also, incandescent bulbs will still be available where there is not a range of cost-effective energy-efficient alternatives.
Su’a William SioWhat savings to consumers are likely to result from the change to energy-efficient light bulbs, and are these in addition to the savings from the $1 billion energy saver fund?
Each year New Zealanders spend around $660 million on electricity for lighting. Changing to more efficient bulbs is expected to help New Zealanders save hundreds of millions of dollars. For the individual homeowner, replacing the four most-used incandescent bulbs with the most energy-efficient bulbs saves around $50 a year, and if one changes the whole household the saving is around $140 a year. These savings are separate from the $1 billion efficiency fund savings.
If energy-efficient light bulbs—[ Interruption] He certainly was not talking about the Labour backbench when he was talking about a bright future. [ Interruption]
Madam SPEAKERIf energy saving light bulbs are so brilliant at saving money, why is there a necessity for the Government to ban other sorts of light bulbs?
The old-fashioned incandescent bulbs are a bit like the National Party: 95 percent of the energy is wasted as heat. New technology light bulbs use a far higher proportion of the energy for light.
Can the Minister confirm reports that his Labour colleagues have been asking him to change his mind on the ban on incandescent light bulbs because they are receiving calls from their constituents bemoaning the Government’s nanny State mentality; and when will he decide to drop this foolish ban, given that he has just said people can save money if they make the choice themselves?
Jeanette Fitzsimons Link to this
Has the Minister had any calls from his colleagues to reverse the energy-efficiency standards for refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, and several dozen household appliances that have been coming in over the last 7 years; if not, why is it that New Zealanders were not able to access those cost savings without a standard actually being put in place?
I have not heard even the National Party calling for the reversal of those standards, which are identical in principle, and were it not for the standards that this Government has introduced in concert with the Australian Government, New Zealanders would be wasting a lot more money on electricity.
Does the Minister accept that although energy efficiency is important and something to be strived for, it is also important to take the public along with him, otherwise the whole aim of the policy is undermined because of the backlash it causes; if so, why will he not listen to what the public are telling him?
There have been two or three underlying issues for the public, which have been based on misrepresentations of what we are doing. One of them was a concern that these things are ugly. We have now shown that there are alternatives for those who do not like the curly shapes of some the compact fluorescent light bulbs, and there are similarly good explanations in respect of other issues. The assertion that there is a fire risk in respect of these things has been well and truly disproved. There are approximately 13 million compact fluorescent light bulbs in New Zealand, and overall they reduce fire risk because they run at lower temperatures than traditional incandescent bulbs.
Does the Minister recall the Labour Government’s 1975 policy of banning cats in dairies, which caused a huge public backlash, and does he see that his ban on incandescent light bulbs is heading Labour towards exactly the same position?