In Western countries, electricity, gas, and water are not luxuries but necessities. Companies now realize that consumers want products that will not only work effectively, but also save money.
For most North American households, lighting accounts for 10 percent to 15 percent of the electricity bill. However, this amount can be reduced by replacing an ordinary 100-watt light bulb with an energy-saving bulb. These bulbs use a quarter of the electricity of standard bulbs and last eieht times longer. Therefore consumers can save about US$7 to US$21 per bulb.
In Europe, there is a labeling scheme for refrigerators, freezers, washing machines and tumble dryers. The label tells the consumers how much energy efficiency each model has, compared with other appliances in the same category.