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The Philippine government, through the Department of Energy (DOE), and Asian Development Bank (DBP) recently launched a campaign that would push the more efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) to replace the power-hungry incandescent light bulbs.

The compact fluorescent lamps is said to help save money while also help in saving the environment. Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes said the nationwide “Switch of CFL” campaign will reduce the country’s fuel costs by $100 million per year. The ADB also said that it will also reduce the country’s carbon dioxide emission by 300,000 a year.

It is the first large-scale “Switch to CFL” program in Asia.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and some ADB officials gave away the energy-saving CFLs to some 2,000 poor families in Manila’s Tondo district in exchange for their old-fashioned incandescent bulbs in their homes.

In the coming months, about 13 million CFLs will be distributed all over the Philippines. This is all in line with the phasing out of the incandescent bulbs by 2010. This project will be funded by a $31.1 million ADB loan, officials said.

Neeraj Jain, ADB’s Philippine country director said, “This project shows how the people of the Philippines, and the world, can benefit through such investments.”

The incandescent bulbs was said to use only 20% of the electricity they consume to produce light, while wasting the remaining 80% percent as heat. Compared to the CLFs which last for 10,000 hours, incandescent bulbs last for only about 800 hours.

The switch project will also see the government retrofitting its offices and public lighting systems with other efficient lighting options, create a lamp waste management facility, and establish an energy service company to provide financial and technical support to companies planning to reduce energy consumption.

An Energy Department facility will buy back used CFLs and recycle their toxic mercury content, said Sohail Hasnie, a senior ADB energy specialist.