The Hindu : New Delhi News : New scheme to ensure safe disposal of CFLs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 29, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

New scheme to ensure safe disposal of CFLs

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Taking the first steps towards safe disposal of compact fluorescent lamps, power distribution company BSES on Friday launched a new programme wherein consumers can turn in their discarded CFLs and incandescent bulbs in exchange for incentives.

The scheme, launched by Delhi Power Minister A.K. Walia, is aimed at fostering the ongoing energy conservation drive and ensuring safe disposal of CFLs.

It will allow customers to buy CFLs at heavily discounted prices and reward them for turning in discarded CFLs and energy-guzzling incandescent bulbs.

“It is good to see BSES actively participating in the Delhi Government’s mission to conserve electricity. I once again appeal to all the Bhagidari partners and citizens of Delhi to take the lead in conserving electricity – the need of the hour,” said Mr. Walia.

Under the scheme, BSES customers will be able to buy CFLs at a discounted price. For instance, a energy saving pack containing two 20-Watt CFLs has been priced at Rs.200.

Additional discount

“Customers turning in discarded but not broken CFLs and incandescent bulbs of any make will be eligible for an additional discount of Rs.5 to 12 on the twin energy saving packs.

“All that a customer needs to do is visit any of BSES’s 33 Customer Care Centres and 33 select Cash Counters – where special kiosks have been set up, show a copy of the last paid bill and avail of the offer. There is no restriction on the number of CFLs a customer can buy,” a BSES official said.

“According to studies, use of CFLs will go a long way in reducing mercury emissions from electricity. A power plant will emit 10 mg of mercury to produce electricity to run one incandescent bulb compared to only 2.4 mg of mercury to run a CFL for the same time,” he added.

According to a BSES spokesperson, “BSES’s earlier scheme where the consumer got two CFLs on purchase of one, saw over 4 lakh CFLs being sold – reducing the electricity demand by over 25 MW and reducing CO2 emissions by around 1.44 lakh tonnes a year.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi