Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs Have Significantly Reduced Electricity Consumption

Increased use of more energy-efficient light bulbs has reduced power consumption by about 8% in just five years.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Industries and Innovation, household electricity consumption went from 4.9MWh in 2009 to 4.5MWh in 2014, marking a reduction of about 8% in just five years. The reason behind it: increased use of energy-efficient light bulbs, and more efficient appliances in general.

This reduction has been ongoing since 2008, and it is expected that consumption will reduce to 4MWh in the coming years. Further, the Ministry predicts that if the trend continues, the use of these bulbs could save the government as much as 2 billion ISK per year.

The switch to energy-efficient bulbs from incandescent ones was made in 2013 in Iceland. At that time, some members of parliament ridiculed the switch, with Progressive MP Vigdís Hauksdóttir referring to it as “EU nonsense”.