The French government is planning to give away one million LED bulbs to low income families in the country, reported French media The Connexion.

Ecology Minister Ségolène Royal proposal will encourage low income families to swap their two incandescent or fluorescent bulbs for two equivalent LEDs that would last longer and cut costs in the long run.

The ecology department is in talks with Electricity of France (EDF), a state-owned power company, on a start date for the move. Distribution of the first 100,000 LED lamps could take place in October.

In France lighting makes up 12% of energy consumption, equivalent to about 56TWh per hour, according to the report. Any energy saved with LED bulbs could prove significant.

Another part of Royal’s plans is the replacement of thousands of old inefficient radiators manufactured in 1970s and 1980s with new ones.

These household appliances “consumed an enormous amount of energy, which weighs very heavily on household budgets,” said Royal.

The measures are “to make sure that the Energy Transition law benefits people directly and that it is seen as a good thing,” she added.

According to the report, the operation will mostly be financed through the certificats d'économies d'énergie (CEE).