MPs offered energy efficient lighting

RS Components, Europe’s largest supplier of Electronic Components, today offered David Willetts, Shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities & Skills and MP for Havant, 30 free energy efficient lamps. The lamps will do away with Willetts’ need to spend £240 of tax payer’s money on replacing his lights, as reported in the media this week.

Willetts allegedly spent £150 of tax payer’s money to replace 25 lamps in his second home in West London and another £80 to change the lights in his bathroom. Energy efficient LED lamps require up to 80 percent less electricity than a standard lamp, and typically last up to 50,000 hours. Had these been used in the first place, the tax payer would only need to foot the bill for their replacement every 11 years*.

In addition to the lamps offered to Willetts, RS Components is offering to send a free energy efficient lamp to any other Parliamentary Member.

“It’s so easy to save huge amounts of money by simply switching to energy efficient lamps,” said Neil Harrison, Customer Marketing Manager at RS Components. “We would be happy to speak with Mr. Willetts to provide the right energy efficient lamps for his home.

“Perhaps if every MP switched to energy efficient lamps further embarrassment on related expense claims could be avoided. The potential savings for tax payers on energy bills and maintenance would run into the millions over time,” he said.

LED lights typically replace household-standard low voltage halogen lamps, which have a life span of around 4,000 hours (less than one year).

MP’s can get more information about Energy Efficient Lighting at rswww.com/buildings.


* Calculation based on an LED lamp used for 12 hours per day, seven days a week, at £0.10kWh





About RS Components

RS Components is a catalogue based distributor of Electronic, Electrical, Electromechanical and Industrial Components. Founded in 1937, RS is part of Electrocomponents plc, and is a global business supporting over a million engineers. It has operating companies based in over 25 countries and distributes to over 160 countries worldwide.

Since it began RS has had the simple objective of providing a part for every job, from research and development though pre-production to maintenance and repair. As industries have evolved, so too has RS to offer expertise, advice and value-add services that best support its customers’ needs.



RS Components offers the industry’s broadest range of products from a single source, plus unrivalled choice, support and reliability underpinned by outstanding customer service, technical advice and free delivery as standard.



In Energy Efficiency, RS has been serving the needs of buildings, facilities and energy management professionals for decades. Our understanding of industry requirements and a comprehensive knowledge of energy efficient products in lighting, heating & plumbing, control & metering, test & measurement, insulation, IT and renewable energy offers a unique ability for our customers to ensure compliance and return cost savings through energy efficiency projects through a single source.

Based in Corby, Northamptonshire, RS employs over 2000 employees nationwide. Recent awards achieved include Regional Winner at the East Midlands National Training Awards 2008 and the award for Contact Centre of the Year at the Customer Service Awards 2008.


For more information on RS Components, log on to www.rswww.com