When it launched its online petitions site, the government can have had little idea of the trouble it would be letting itself in for.

Almost 1.8m British citizens signed up to the campaign against distance-based road charging. The government promptly said it would ignore them, so you have to wonder what was the point of the site anyway.

A quick hunt through the currently active petitions, though, shows that there are several green causes up for debate, and in particular focus is the energy inefficient lightbulb debate. Typing ‘bulb’ in to the petitions search engine turns up seven relevant campaigns, several of which overlap each other, effectively splitting the vote and counting against each other.

To ensure that they each get a fair hearing, I’d encourage you to follow these links and add your details to each of the campaigns below, all of which are in favour of long-life, low-energy bulbs. Note, however, that these petitions are only open to British citizens:

Petition to levy a tax on energy inefficient light bulbs so that their long term financial and environmental cost is visible in their retail price
Old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs contribute to climate change, and cost more in the long term for the consumer. New fluorescent bulbs are better for the environment, and the pocket. We would like the Prime Minister to make these long terms costs visible in the retail price of lightbulbs. This would be done by levying a tax on inefficient bulbs, and subsidising efficient bulbs. (this petition currently has the most support, so if you sign up to only one, make it this one)

Petition to Remove VAT on energy efficient electronics and ban energy in-efficient devices
VAT on energy efficient devices such as low-energy light bulbs and white goods rated “A” or above should be removed. This will promote the buying public to buy these. In addition VAT should be removed on solar-thermal panels, solar-electric panels and wind turbines. In parallel, a ban on normal light bulbs must be in place by 1st January 2009. Lastly, white goods with an energy rating of “D” or below must be phased out by 1st January 2009.

Petition to persuade the EU Commission to abolish Regulation (EC) No 1470/2001 imposing import duties on Chinese low-energy bulbs
EC Regulation 1470/2001 imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of compact flourescent lamps (low-energy bulbs)from China of up to 66.1%. EC By Regulation 866/2005 this was extended to cover imports from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of the Philippines. There was a slight revision in 2006 by EC Regulation 1322/2006. Given the overwhelming scientific evidence of global warming, the Prime Minister and the EU ought to scrap such duties to encourage the greater up-take of this technology.

Petition to Ban the sale of non-efficient light bulbs in the UK
While individual energy-efficient bulbs are more expensive, the total cost of ownership is less as they fail less often and use less electricity. There now exist such bulbs that retain the traditional look and quality of light of normal bulbs.

Petition to Ban non-energy efficient light bulbs
Let’s ban the sale of non-energy efficient lightbulbs and make a real difference. And before anyone asks.. it will cost me too - I’ve just moved into house with halogen bulbs! I know the argument will be that it will punish people who can’t afford energy efficient light bulbs (even though they are much cheaper in the long run) but the government has forced people to switch from analogue to digital television, meaning that everyone has to buy a set top box - and yet we still have the option to buy lightbulbs which are (by the governments own admission) causing global warming. The government are always banging on about energy savings in the home being the key to saving us from disaster - make the decision for us.. ban non-energy efficient light bulbs!

Petition to mandate energy efficiency in consumer electronics
Currently some consumer electronics (for example washing machines) are sold with efficiency ratings. But the majority of household goods are subject mainly to safety regulations only. By creating a set of permissible guidelines for efficiency for a range of goods starting at some set point in the future - manufacturers will have a clear target at which to aim for. This might be in the form of maximum standby current, or maximum power consumption for each category. High power consumption items (such as incandescent light bulbs) where more efficient alternatives are already available should be banned altogether. The aim of this is to lower the average household energy consumption; the advantages of this are obvious.

Petition to legislate for local authorities and housing associations to provide at least one energy efficient lightbulb to its tenents
In order to decrease the amount of CO2 generated within the country social housing providers (local authorities, the church and housing associations and the government (armed forces housing) should given the funding to provide their tenants with at least one energy efficient light bulb.