Africa, for once, is ahead of us. We keep on wasting energy [as much as we can afford]. If you have enough money you may let energy wasting, incandescent light bulbs burn day and night. But as to what our country could save, our politicians should look at the following. To become environmentally friendly and make the island and the population in general benefit.
The Ugandan Government is distributing energy efficient lightbulbs to the entire population. 80.000 lightbulbs have arrived in Kampala to be given away. This week also 50.000 of 400.000 ordered, arrived in neighbor country Rwanda. In the UK these special energy saving light bulbs are priced very low and in the 550 stores of the electrics company Curry, they will no longer sell incandescent bulbs at all. A traditional bulb only converts 5% of the energy it uses into light, the rest is converted into heat!
Paid for by the city of Tallahassee, with whom the SXM University has a special relation, 20-watt compact fluorescent light bulbs that use 75 percent less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs are given away by the students to the citizens! Residents could get up to four bulbs, by trading in four old ones. The event was organized by FAMU's Green Coalition, a university faculty. Staff and student groups worked hand-in-hand with high school and neighborhood groups, as volunteers went door-to-door. An idea for our SXM-University students!
Europe also sees the light in the bulb plan, European leaders governing 490 million people have decided to follow the lead of Australia and replace old fashioned light bulbs with more energy efficient bulbs.
Several countries among them Uganda, Rwanda, Australia, Cuba, Canada and Yemen are encouraging the use of energy savers either by incentives or legislation.
Just realize that $100.00 incandescent light costs you only $25.00 with energy saving bulbs!!!
To win my vote I need to know which politician is promoting this idea on Sint Maarten.
Are we getting there yet?
