A government initiative will help Bermudian households to save money on their electricity bills, the Minister of Home Affairs announced yesterday.

Walter Roban, who is also the Deputy Premier, said people can receive a free package of four LED light bulbs from their post office starting next week.

According to the minister, this initiative, part of the Government’s $15 million economic relief package announced last year, could save families $37 on their energy bill each year and $1,000 over time.

Some of the approximately 150,000 bulbs, which arrived on the island this year, have already been distributed to some senior citizens and lower-income households.

Mr Roban said: “We are now in the second phase of this initiative and ready to open it to the rest of Bermuda.

“Next week, people will receive a flyer in their mailbox. All they need to do is write their name and address and take it to their nearest post office.

“The limit will be one package per household.”

Each package has four bulbs.

People can submit the completed flyer at any time for as long as supplies last.

The 60-watt bulbs can be used to replace any existing bulb in a home or office.

They last 25,000 hours before needing to be replaced, which is much more than incandescent bulbs, which have a 1,000-hour life span.

The bulbs also emit less heat than incandescent bulbs, which means air conditioners will not have to use much energy to cool an area.

Mr Roban added: “It is conservatively projected that this initiative will save cumulatively $37 million total, or more in some cases.”

He also hopes this initiative will inspire people to explore other ways to save money on energy.

He explained that the Government is going to be doing more education to assist individuals to save money on energy.

“That is something that we are going to be focused on, because we know that conservation of electricity is one of the most effective ways to lower the cost, rather than making a huge investment in solar panels or something else.

“Energy efficiency is not defined by deprivation or abstaining from the use of energy, but rather by using electricity more wisely and using the best available technologies.”

The light bulbs shown at the press conference are made by Satco, a private company based in Brentwood, New York.