Southeast Asian country Bhutan is starting to implement nationwide LED lighting upgrades with financial assistance from Norway government, reported Asia News Network.

The Norway government has financially backed Bhutan’s Energy Plus Program, which aims to convert 26,500 incandescent bulbs throughout the country with LEDs.

The Bhutan government has spent 4.7 million ngultrum (US $ 69,144.33) to purchase the 26,500 LED bulbs for the retrofit program, with a majority of 23,840 bulbs to be distributed to residents and the remaining 2,666 bulbs for public institutions.

LED bulbs under the program are being sold at a discount price of 100 ngultrum (US $1.40) to residents.

The lighting conversion is expected to generate annual savings of 2MU of energy, and additional income of 4.64 million ngultrum at the average domestic tariff price of 2.32 ngultrum per unit.

About 15,000 bulbs will be distributed through the first phase, Thimphu will receive 3,107 LED bulbs of which 2,900 bulbs will be sold to Changjiji residents starting Tuesday.

LED bulbs distributed to residents of the Changjiji housing complex on Tuesday in Thimphu were 9W bulbs with a lifespan of 25,000 hours. Residents of Changjiji housing complex are estimated to save about 75 units of electricity annually that is equivalent to around 173 ngultrum per bulb annually.

The country’s Department of Renewable Energy, Economic Affairs estimated there is about 700,000 incandescent bulbs that are lighting up 140,000 households across the country.