Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs is planning to phase out traditional incandescent light bulbs over the next five years.

The ministry said on Friday that the move is aimed at conserving energy and protecting the environment. The ministry also said it will encourage the government and the private sectors to replace incandescent light bulbs with other energy-saving and more efficient lighting devices.

The average life span of the incandescent light bulb is between one-third and one-sixth that of energy-saving light bulbs. However, the traditional light bulb consumes five times the electricity of more efficient bulbs per unit of illumination. Meanwhile, the surfaces of incandescent light bulbs get hot when lit, pushing up indoor temperatures and making use of air conditioning more likely.

It is estimated that after the phase-out, Taiwan will save around 800 million kilowatt of electricity, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 500,000 metric tons a year.