N Power Light Bulb Giveaway Farce
The truth behind the free light bulbs….
Last week I received a free present from my gas and electricity provider, N Power. Free energy efficient light bulbs. That’s generous I thought, but was it? Why have N Power given away free light bulbs? Well sad to say it would seem that it has nothing to do with the spirit of Christmas or their determination to save the planet.
Bound by government legislation to cut emissions N Power sent out some twelve million free light bulbs despite being told that the majority would not be used and the money could be far better spent in other areas. So why did N Power ignore the advice and send them out? Failure to meet their emissions targets would have resulted in large government imposed fines on the company, as much as £40 million so by issuing these light bulbs they have saved themselves millions on the cheapest and easiest options available to them. This is far cheaper than helping homeowners to insulate their homes which is a much more effective way of saving energy but loop holes are there to be passed through and N Power it would seem have done just that.
What I would love to know is how many homeowners have actually fitted these twelve million light bulbs? Correct fitting and wattage issues aside how many people will have bothered? The government had announced that the practice of issuing free bulbs would be banned from 1st January 2010 giving a six month notice period to companies to meet their targets in a different way. N Power seized upon this period in November by posting the bulbs and meeting the criteria.
So here’s the thing with the bulbs,the lifetime of a low emission bulb saves around 0.04 tonnes of carbon whilst insulating an average sized house saves over 18 tonnes, light bulbs cost less than £3 whilst insulating a single house would set the company back nearly £9,000. N Power can achieve the 18 tonne carbon target by giving away 450 light bulbs at a total cost of £1,400.
Clever thinking, but what happens when the next targets are set?
I got some of these the other week and wondered when on earth they’d sent me something for nothing ?
There’s bound to be some kind of catch the fatalistic side of me always thinks and after reading this I see there is.
People should either forget about carbon emissions or genuinely try and do something about it. All I see at the moment is billions being wasted in lip service
Best
Rod
January 3, 2010 @ 3:51 pm
Miles,
.
We too were the lucky recipients of this ‘freebe’. They have gone the same way as the other lot that were sent to us some time ago. They basically do not fit into any lightfittings that we have. What a waste!
Government targets - don’t start me off on that one
Anne
January 3, 2010 @ 3:54 pm
Government targets
I think the government would make very good targets
January 3, 2010 @ 7:00 pm
Miles,
I haven’t received any free light bulbs but then I can’t remember who my electricity contract is with, I’ve changed so many times. Must admit I’m energy-saving bulbed to the hilt …. the variety is quite staggering and the cost too, with the demise of each bulb a definite depression hits this household because they say they’re going to last for ten years or so but in reality two seems a lot closer to the truth.
Being green costs…. my local authority has decided that the garden waste bin will only be collected for certain months of the year despite there being sufficient ‘green’ waste at other times. Of course people such as myself who receive countless bouquets of flowers throughout the year are naturally unhappy about the situation, therefore it’s high time I got a compost bin installed…. wonder if Fortnums do one
I did get one of those hemp nets for autumn leaves although I couldn’t remember if I should leave it to rot in the corner of my garden, hang it up somewhere to air or make a unique tunic with it 
Cid
January 3, 2010 @ 7:04 pm
Rod,
Good point, as usual we seem very good at talking a good show.
Miles
January 3, 2010 @ 10:00 pm
Anne,
That’s it isn’t it? What do people do with the bulbs when they don’t fit? Answer..bin them.
Miles
January 3, 2010 @ 10:01 pm
Cid,
Because of the bank holiday I had to wait three weeks for my green bin and household rubbish bin to be emptied. They need to wake up, this lot.
Miles
January 3, 2010 @ 10:04 pm
I work for a small electrical engineering company often working in low income homes, and would like the engineers to fit energy light bulbs for our customers when we are fitting new electrics, along with giving energy saving advice. Does anyone know who I might ask about where I could get some?
February 9, 2010 @ 12:15 pm
Jane,
Welcome to the site, hopefully we can get some response from this. I wish you well, sounds like a great project.
Kind regards
Miles
February 10, 2010 @ 8:28 am