Nova Scotia ponders light-bulb switch

Retailers in Nova Scotia could have about four or five years before they'll have to get rid of incandescent light bulbs.

Energy Minister Bill Dooks says the ban is one way to make low-energy fluorescent bulbs standard, but it won't happen soon.

"We're certainly moving towards that, but we're not going to make them mandatory just now. We have to be very sensitive to a whole bunch of things that surround that —wholesalers, retailers," Dooks said Tuesday.

He expects it could be four or five years before a ban is in place.

Dooks said changing to newer bulbs will help save money and be easier on the environment in the long run by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Australiais banning incandescent light bulbs in three years, a move thegovernmentsays would cut 800,000 tonnes fromthe country'scurrent emissions levels by 2012.