Lighting can account for up to around 10% of household energy consumption - see SR221 Energy use in New Zealand households- final HEEP report [PDF, 11.2 MB].
The appliance use questionnaire, commissioned by EECA, asked householders about the number and types of different fixed light fittings and bulbs in different rooms of the house. This was the first time this information has been recorded in the survey.
Houses had an average total of 23 bulbs excluding bulbs in light fittings that plug into a power point. Incandescent bulbs accounted for just over one-third (34%) of all bulb types, compact fluorescent lamp (CFLs) accounted for 28%, halogen 21% and LEDs 14%.
At an average of eight incandescent bulbs per house, this could represent some 12 million incandescent bulbs in use in New Zealand dwellings. Of the different bulb types available on the market, these represent some of the least efficient.
CFLs use up to 80% less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs and last more than six times longer, while LEDs use up to 85% less electricity and can last more than 15 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
Replacing incandescent bulbs with more efficient options can help reduce household energy consumption and bills. For example, replacing a 60 W incandescent bulb with an LED could save $13-15 per year per bulb. For a house with an average of eight incandescent bulbs, that's an annual saving of over $100.
