A scheme to swap old-style incandescent light bulbs for free LED light bulbs has been unveiled by the Department of Energy.

The Government offered a swap scheme for a single bulb in May, but from this week members of the public can swap up to ten light bulbs, to encourage “a greener Bermuda”.

A spokeswoman for the energy department said: “After conducting research with local retailers, the Department of Energy found that a standard 60- watt A19 bulb is the most popular choice among customers.”

The spokeswoman added that a 60-watt bulb cost about $46 a year to run based on five hours of use a day, but the LED equivalent cost $6.90 a year for the same usage.

She said: “Switching to an LED bulb generates savings of about 85 per cent in energy usage annually.”

More than a dozen retailers have agreed to take part, including:

• ATS, Lovers Lane, Paget

• Baptiste Building Supplies, Khyber Pass, Warwick

• BE Solar, St John’s Road, Pembroke

• ESC Limited, Mills Creek, Pembroke

• Gorhams, St John’s Road, Pembroke

• Hamilton MarketPlace, Church Street, Hamilton

• Heron Bay MarketPlace, Herron Bay, Southampton

• Island Electric, South Side, St. David’s

• Lindo’s Family Foods, Middle Road, Warwick

• Lindo’s Market, Brighton Hill, Devonshire

• Shelly Bay MarketPlace, North Shore, Hamilton Parish

• Telford Electric, Main Road, Sandys

• The Greenhouse Bermuda, Wellbottom, Southampton

• The Lighthouse, Happy Valley Road, Pembroke