An invitation to save time, money, energy…and perhaps even the planet!

Everyone is invited to spend just one hour to discover new ways to light up their lives while saving time, money, energy…and perhaps even the planet!

Bans on the sale of old-fashioned pear-shaped light globes and low voltage tungsten halogen lamps began on November 1.

Now new energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights and lower voltage halogens, offering a choice of brightness and colours – but more expensive to buy - are widely available.

Find out what to buy and how to save at a free talk being held across New South Wales between November 2009 and April 2010.

Organised by NECA, the National Electrical and Communications Association, and the Lighting Council of Australia, this seminarwill benefit consumers, strata and other property managers, electricians, builders, interior designers as well as wholesalers and retailers.

"Nationally, lighting accounts for about 12 per cent of greenhouse emissions from households and 25 per cent of emissions from the commercial sector," said NECA NSW chief executive, Lindsay Le Compte.

"Traditional pear-shaped bulbs have been around for more than a century and are notoriously inefficient.

"About 90 per cent of the energy they use is converted into heat, not light.

"They can also burn up to 25 per cent of a household's energy bill.

"While new compact fluorescents, known as CFLs, are more expensive to buy, they use 50 to 80 per cent less energy than incandescent lights and can last up to 10 times longer.

"This can lead to big savings in costs, maintenance, and importantly also reduces pollution," Mr Le Compte said.

More than 80 other countries are now following Australia's lead in eliminating inefficient lights.

Sydney metropolitan

Inner west 19 November @ Canada Bay Club, Five Dock

9.30am Incandescent phase-out book here

Northern beaches 19 November @ Dee Why RSL

4.00pm Incandescent phase-out book here

Eastern suburbs 20 November @ Maroubra RSL

9.30am Incandescent phase-out book here

Parramatta 3 December @ Parramatta Leagues Club

9.30am Incandescent phase-out book here

Liverpool 3 December @ Liverpool Catholic Club, Hoxton Park

4.00pm Incandescent phase-out book here

Sutherland Shire 4 December @ District Trade Union Club, Gymea

9.30am Incandescent phase-out book here

NSW regional

Queanbeyan 25 November @ Kangaroo RLF Club

9.00am Incandescent phase-out book here

South Coast 25 November @ Soldiers Club, Batemans Bay

4.00pm Incandescent phase-out book here

Nowra 26 November @ Nowra Golf Club, North Nowra

9.00am Incandescent phase-out book here

Illawarra 26 November @ Wollongong Illawarra Master Builders Club

4.00pm Incandescent phase-out book here

2010 seminars

Next year more seminars are planned for: Armidale, Bathurst/Orange, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Gosford, Hornsby, Lismore, Newcastle, Penrith, Port Macquarie, and Tamworth.

Bookings for all events can also be made at www.necansw.eventbrite.com or by emailing bookings@neca.asn.au.