Public favours light bulb ban

Plans to replace inefficient light bulbs in homes could have been kept, a public opinion survey suggests.

Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee scrapped the Labour government's plan to phase out less efficient traditional light bulbs late last year.

National used the light bulb issue during the election campaign as an example of Labour's "nanny state" mentality.

But a poll of 2851 New Zealanders that will be presented to the Emissions Trading Scheme select committee today found the mandatory phase-out was supported by 45 per cent while 27 per cent than opposed it.

Labour planned to ban incandescent light bulbs from late this year - a move it said would save the country $500 million by 2020.

New Zealand spends $660 million on electricity for lighting each year, generating 2.65 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

The poll found the most popular strategies for reducing New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions were: More incentives for households to improve their energy efficiency (87 per cent support); incentives for businesses to develop renewable energy projects (82 per cent); lower vehicle registration fees for fuel efficient and low-emission vehicles (80 per cent); a cash incentive to encourage replacement of energy inefficient home appliances (78 per cent).