According to Marion Rae of Canberra for InQueensland, Australia’s National Standards now introduced will see the end of traditional halogen in a move to more efficient lighting technology.

Marion writes: “Australians could cut their power bills – and carbon emissions – one light bulb at a time as halogen lighting is switched off in homes and offices.

Halogen will be phased out and new standards set for digital signage displays under tougher national standards agreed with industry and announced on Monday.

Longer-lasting LED bulbs use significantly less electricity, won’t burn your fingers like traditional light bulbs, and are widely used for Christmas displays and smart lighting kits.

Since the early 2000s, Australia has replaced about half of its traditional incandescent tubes and bulbs with LED lights.

Swapping the final half could save $8 billion a year and avoid nearly eight million tonnes of emissions, according to Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Jenny McAllister.

“Calculations show that by switching 10 halogen lamps to LED lamps, Australian families could benefit up to $229 a year,” she said.

Over 10 years, the average household would be $2138 better off from greater energy efficiency and bulb replacement costs, and avoid an estimated three tonnes of carbon emissions.

The Sydney Opera House uses over 15,500 light bulbs each year and in 2014 replaced hundreds of incandescent light bulbs with 355 custom-made LED lights that each have a life-span of 50,000 hours.

This slashed the power bill by around three quarters for an estimated savings of around $75,000 a year, according to data released by the federal energy department.

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