On Sun, 02 Jul 2006 16:55:13 +0100 Timothy Murphy wrote :
This seems to me absurdly pessimistic.
Governments have promised (in effect) to reduce energy consumption,
so it is up to them to work out how to do it.
This seems to me a very simple way to make a non-negligible impact.

You can't make people reduce their electricity usage: "Up to 3 low
energy lamp fittings had been specified in the original proposals for
the dwellings in the sample. The fittings had generally been installed
in hallways, landings and some bedrooms, but few remained in the
completed and occupied dwellings. Most had been removed by the
occupants, and occupants expressed their intention to replace soon
those few that remained." BRE Survey 2004

http://www.est.org.uk/uploads/docume...ort_Oct_04.pdf
(PDF)

At the minimum, VAT could be removed on energy-saving bulbs.

That will only make a difference if the selling price reflects the
cost of production rather than being based on an assessment of what
the market will bear,

--
Tony Bryer SDA UK 'Software to build on' http://www.sda.co.uk