Friday, March 29, 2024

Bill seeks mandatory use of LED lights in gov’t offices

A Metro Manila congressman is proposing the mandatory use of light emitting diode (LED) lights in all government offices to lessen energy consumption by as much as 70 percent.

Paranaque City representative Eric Olivarez filed House Bill 262, to be known as the “LED Light Savings Act of 2013,” which calls for the use of LED technology in the public sector.

Olivarez said LEDs, which are small and efficient solid bulbs, were first developed for single bulb use in applications such as instrument panels, electronics, pen lights and strings of indoor and outdoor Christmas lights.

Today, Olivarez said, LED bulbs are made using as many as 180 bulbs per cluster and now available with standard bases, which fit common household light fixtures. They are dubbed as the next generation in home lighting and eventually office lighting, Olivarez said.

Citing studies, Olivarez said compared to the fluorescent tube bulbs or the compact fluorescent lights (CFL) used in homes and offices, LED lights use only 2 to 17 watts of electricity, thus reducing energy consumption by almost 70 percent.

“They are more durable and can withstand jarring and bumping and has a lifespan of 50,000 hours, compared to CFL lifespan of 8,000 hours. They also do not cause heat build-up, which makes the air conditioning system work more efficiently,” Olivarez said.

Another advantage of the LED lights is that they do not contain mercury, a chemical used to run CFL bulbs, Olivarez added. Mercury is a toxic metal that contaminates water, fish and food supplies.

Under the bill, all government offices are required to replace all incandescent and CFL bulbs and fluorescent tube lights with LED bulbs to promote economy in governance and protect the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology.

It mandates the Department of Energy to issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations

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