Report 5 (of 5): Green Lights - China

Introduction

China is responsible for emitting the second largest amount of carbon dioxide and "greenhouse" gases in the world. If it continues to grow at its current rate, it will overtake the United States and become the largest emitter in the 21st Century. The development of the electric power industry in China has rapidly expanded and since 1978, the output of the total power generation has quadrupled. Shortages of electric power supply and low efficiencies in the use of energy remain serious problems.

Lighting accounts for approximately 10% of the total electric power supply in China today. Low efficiency devices such as incandescent lamps and magnetic ballasts still dominate China’s lighting sector, leading to high electricity consumption and environmental pollution. Saving electricity on lighting will alleviate electric power supply shortages that create tremendous lost potential for Chinese industries and protect the environment. At the same time, energy efficient lighting will reduce peak load and improve the quality of the power supply.

The Beijing Energy Efficiency Centre (BECon)

The Beijing Energy Efficiency Centre (BECon) was formally established on 3 December, 1993, as a non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation to promote energy efficiency and environmental protection in China. BECon has played an active role in designing, organising and implementing the China Green Lights Programme.

The China Green Lights Programme

The China Green Lights Programme is an attempt for China to make a significant contribution to reducing global climate change at the same time that it works to maintain its economic growth and provide a higher quality of life for its people.

The China Green Lights Programme was begun in October 1996 and aims to popularise high efficiency lighting products; to save electric energy used for illumination; to promote the manufacturing industry of the new illuminating appliances; to improve the competitive power of enterprises; and to protect the environment. It aims to install 300 million high efficiency compact lights by the year 2000. This is to be achieved through encouraging the manufacturing sector to produce high efficiency, long life Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs), and by communicating to people the financial savings possible from lower electricity bills and the need to reduce "greenhouse" gases as a society.

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs)

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) are between 50 and 80% more efficient than traditional incandescent light bulbs. An 11 Watt CFL can produce an equivalent light to a 40 Watt incandescent bulb and it lasts for an average of eight times as long. Therefore, CFCs can reduce demand by lowering electrical usage and by using a single light bulb instead of eight.

The Chinese National Light Testing Centre

It is essential to maintain high quality in the manufacturing process because the initial investment in the bulb is about 10 times the cost of a normal light bulb. The Chinese Government has created a new national standard for CFLs that at least meets, if not exceeds, international safety and performance standards. The Chinese National Light Testing Centre is preparing to test the products of over 100 of China’s manufacturers of CFLs. Those that pass will receive a new certification that should help to convince consumers that they are receiving value for money.

In order to be awarded the certification, manufacturers need to produce CFLs that last for a minimum of 5000 hours. Some very high quality bulbs can last over 10,000 hours. In comparison, traditional incandescent bulbs usually last for around 1000 hours. On average, it will require approximately eight replacements of an ordinary bulb to last as long as a single Compact Fluorescent.

Energy Saving and Environmental Protection

The popularisation of 300 million compact fluorescent lamps, small diameter fluorescent lamps and other high efficiency illumination products will enable savings of 22 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity at the terminal.

Based on calculations of saved electricity, if the Green Light Programme reaches its target, environmental pollution can be reduced by an estimated total of 200 thousand tonnes and carbon dioxide emissions cut by 7.4 million tonnes by the year 2000.

Cost and Savings

The energy savings over the useful life of the CFLs are significant compared to the incandescent bulbs. The cost of electricity used is much lower and the widespread use of CFLs has the added benefit of reducing the overall energy use which reduces the emission of climate changing "greenhouse" gases. Over the life of the CFLs and from lowered electrical bills the actual costs of CFLs are lower than traditional bulbs.

While each individual who changes bulbs makes a difference, large institutions, such as the Chinese Ministry of Railways, can have a more immediate and larger beneficial impact. The Ministry is in the forefront of large institutional users in mandating that their facilities utilise the new and more efficient bulbs. When large institutions, businesses and consumers all join together and start switching to CFLs, the savings can begin to be calculated in terms of the number of power plants not needed.

Businesses have found that they can save money by using the new lighting technology. For example, the Liang Ma Hotel and Office Complex have a much lower electricity bill and their labour costs for maintenance have been reduced because the new bulbs last up to at least eight times as long as the traditional light bulbs. The company saved over US$40,000 in the last year through replacing incandescent bulbs with CFLs.

Chinese Environmentalists

While the energy savings and conservation benefits of CFLs are the same all over the world, if the population of China decided to use CFLs instead of the traditional incandescent bulbs, it would mean 1.3 billion people switching bulbs which would have a hugely positive effect on the environment.

With the Chinese people representing one fifth of the population of the world, it is imperative that they become environmentalists and take a proactive approach to global environmental conservation in order for it to succeed. With Compact Fluorescent Bulbs, the people of China and elsewhere in the world have an opportunity to make a major contribution to energy efficiency and the reduction of "greenhouse" gas emissions.

Disposal Of CFLs

While the energy savings and the reduction of "greenhouse" gas emissions are significant, disposal of the bulbs after they eventually fade out remains a problem. There are traces of rare elements in the CFCS and there is also mercury vapour in some designs. It is vital that governments, manufacturers and consumers work together to safely dispose of or recycle the bulbs.

For further information, please contact:

Intermediate Technology would like to thank the Beijing Energy Efficiency Centre for providing the original information on the China Green Lights Programme.

Further reading available from ITDG Development Bookshop

Save Energy, Save Money
Frank Jackson
£4.50 1995 pb (Centre For Alternative Technology) ISBN 1898049051

TVE/ITDG gratefully acknowledge support for the HANDS ON programmes from the UK's Department for International Development (DFID), the European Commission (EC), the UN Foundation and UNDP/The Equator Initiative in collaboration with the Government of Canada, IDRC, IUCN, BrasilConnects and the Nature Conservancy.