Canada to ban incandescent light bulbs by 2012

Electrical salesman Dave Ehret poses with an old-style incandescent light bulb (R) and a new energy-saving compact florescent bulb (L) at a warehouse in Sydney, Australia, February 27, 2007. Canada will ban the sale of inefficient incandescent light bulbs by 2012 as part of a plan to cut down on emissions of greenhouse gases, Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn said on Wednesday.

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada will ban the sale of inefficient incandescent light bulbs by 2012 as part of a plan to cut down on emissions of greenhouse gases, Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn said on Wednesday.

Canada is the second country in the world to announce such a ban. Australia said in February it would get rid of all incandescent bulbs by 2009.

"Making the switch to more efficient lighting is one of the easiest and most effective things we can do to reduce energy use and harmful emissions," Lunn told a news conference.

If households installed compact fluorescent bulbs -- which use about 75 percent less electricity than old-style bulbs -- they could save C$50 ($44) a year, he said.

"By banning inefficient lighting, we can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by more than 6 million tonnes per year," Lunn said.

The ban will not apply to uses where incandescent bulbs are still the only practical alternative.

The Canadian province of Ontario last week announced it would ban inefficient incandescent bulbs by 2012.

($1=$1.12 Canadian)