Light Bulbs - Switching on to Government Failure

This piece in the Times suggests a classic example of the law of unintended consequences arising from poorly thought-out energy policies. In 2008 the Government ordered the big energy companies to invest in measures for improving energy efficiency and cutting fuel poverty. The result is that 12 million low-energy light bulbs were posted to households over Christmas by an energy company as part of its legal obligation to cut carbon emissions, despite government advice that many would never be used. Over 180 million light bulbs have been issued most are gathering dust in our drawers.