Bath & North East Somerset Council has joined forces with community group Transition Bath to show local people an easy way to save money on their energy bills.
Many people already use low energy light bulbs in standard fittings, but until recently there hasn’t been a cost-effective option for halogen down-lighters, which are popular in many kitchens and living spaces.
LED bulbs are now available as an alternative to halogen bulbs, producing the same level of light while using just 10% of the electricity.
They last much longer so they don’t need replacing as often, with many guaranteed for 5 years.
By investing £60 in LED bulbs to replace your halogen bulbs, you could save up to £300 off your electricity bill in the next five years, according to Transition Bath.
For those still uncertain about investing in new LED bulbs, Transition Bath has assembled three Try-before-you-buy kits. They are now available to loan from Bath Library.
Each kit contains 33 independently tested LED light bulbs so you can quickly work out which types will work best for you.
Cllr Martin Veal (Conservative, Bathavon North), Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “This is an opportunity for those who may be a little uncertain about how LED light bulbs will look in their home to try them at no cost.
“Anyone in Bath and North East Somerset with a Library Card can go along to Bath Central Library and pick up one of the kits.
“This project, working with Transition Bath, is a great example of the broader role of libraries in our local communities – they’re about more than just books these days.
“As well loaning music, DVDs and audiobooks, our libraries host many community events and activities, and we’re always open to new ideas such as this one.”
Philip Haile, Transition Bath “Our members have found the kit useful and so were keen to offer the kits for loan more widely to local residents.
“Members of Transition Bath have borrowed the kits themselves over the last six months and, as a direct result, over 200 bulbs in homes in Bath and North East Somerset have been changed to LEDs.
“Transition Bath’s aim over the next five years is to get 1,000 households to convert their old and inefficient halogen bulbs to LEDs.
“We estimate this could save B&NES residents over £250,000 in electricity charges.”
The Try before you buy kit was funded by a grant from the Bath & West Community Energy Fund.
For more information on the kit and how to borrow it visit: http://transitionbath.org/led-try-buy-scheme-2/ or call Bath Central Library on 01225 394041.
