Through the Department of Energy, the Ministry of Home Affairs is pleased to launch the new LED initiative, announced in July 2022 as part of the $15,000,000 stimulus package.
The distribution of 150,000 LED light bulbs will begin with the most vulnerable: seniors and low-incomehouseholds. Following this initial distribution, LED light bulb packages will be made available for those individuals who are not seniors or in the lower income bracket but still want to lower their energy costs.
The Ministry wishes to thank the following organisations for their involvement and support of this important initiative:
- Age Concern
- The Family Center
- Meals on Wheels
- The Salvation Army
- The Bermuda Housing Corporation
- The Elisa Do Little Society
Working alongside the Government, they will help ensure the first batch of LED light bulbs reach those who can most benefit from reduced electricity bills. To that end, the initial group of recipients must await contact from one of these agencies as they coordinate an organised distribution of the LEDs to their members. Members will be contacted directly by the respective organisation and notified to attend and collect their LED light bulbs.
LEDs are for everyone, and there is no instance where switching to LED lighting will not result in savings. The Ministry can advise that a single 60-Watt equivalent LED used for five hours daily at our current kilowatt-hour prices saves $37 per year. With an LED’s expected life span of four to six years, consumers could save a minimum of $148 for each LED over a four-year lifespan. Four LEDs increase household savings to around $592 over a four-year lifespan.
To put it in perspective, over the life of these 150,000 LED light bulbs, a small expenditure to the Government would have saved households $22,000,000. Money that otherwise would have been used to pay electricity bills can be used to provide families with a home, clothing and put food on the table.
However, the benefit does not stop at just monetary savings. Each bulb helps to protect the environment. A single LED, throughout its life, saves about 240 kilograms of carbon dioxide from entering our atmosphere. Together, all the LEDs will prevent thirty- six million kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions from being produced, the equivalent of taking over four thousand cars off the road.
The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of Energy hope that all residents needing savings will collect their lightbulbs and help contribute to a greener, more energy-efficient Bermuda.