Environmental petitions: some results

Back in February you may remember me posting about some environmental petitions posted on the UK governments new online petitions web site. Well one of the petitions has come to an end and the government has responded.

If you signed the petition yourself then you will have already had an email with the governments response, however if you didn't then here's a link to it.

To summaries the response, they basically say that due to certain legislation they currently are not allowed to ban inefficient light bulbs, however new legislation going though the European union will mean that they will be able to begin to phase out the use of energy inefficient products by 2009.

Also they are aiming to become the first European country to stopping using inefficient lights bulbs by 2011. Part of this move involves talks to lower the VAT rate on power saving light bulbs to make them more affordable.

As with everything now a days there is always something blocking progress, however they are stating quite respectable dates for achieving some of their goals, so as long as it all goes to plan it's looking pretty good for the up take of energy efficient light bulbs across the UK.