More than 6.5 million Ukrainians have joined the All-Ukrainian light bulb exchange programme implemented by the Government of Ukraine with the support of the EU from January 2023.

Within a year, Ukrainians exchanged more than 33 million incandescent light bulbs at Ukrposhta offices, of which 10 million power-hungry bulbs to LEDs were replaced by pensioners just a month after the additional exchange was announced in December 2023. Currently, about 7 million LED light bulbs are available at the post office outlets. The demand is boosted by the heating season, so Ukrainians are urged to exchange them sooner rather than later.

Introduced by the Government, the incandescent-for-LED light bulb exchange programme continues for both individuals and legal entities. Special conditions still apply to pensioners who have already benefitted from the opportunity – they can now receive up to 5 additional LEDs by presenting a pensioner identity card, passport and tax ID. Ukrainians who have not yet embraced the programme can also exchange up to 5 bulbs in Ukrposhta offices. As it was mentioned, the programme will continue to be available to legal entities – healthcare facilities, schools, kindergartens, polyclinics, and housing co-ops. They can get LED light bulbs by applying on the DIIA portal.

At Ukrposhta, they assure that LEDs are available at almost all postal offices in major cities, towns, and villages, and urge Ukrainians not to worry about possible temporary lack of bulbs for exchange at this or that particular outlet. In Ukrposhta offices where the exchange is most busy, LED bulb stocks will be replenished as long as they are available. In case one outlet has run out or there are no bulbs with the required socket, they recommend going to another closest Ukrposhta office without delay, because the programme for replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving LED ones is coming to an end.

During the time of the light bulb exchange programme, Ukraine’s citizens amazed many with their public commitment having proved again their reputation of the most united nation in the world. In order to save energy and reduce the burden on the country's power grid, they actively replaced energy-demanding incandescent bulbs with energy-saving LEDs in their homes, institutions, and organizations. Old-fashioned filament bulbs consume 8 times more power than LED lamps, and each replacement is a contribution to the country's energy security.

Background

The Light Bulb Exchange Programme is supported by the European Union and implemented by the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Digital Transformation, Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine and Ukrposhta across all the regions of Ukraine with the exception of the war zone and temporarily occupied territories. This EU-funded programme is part of the European Union's support for the Ukrainian energy system.

Media contact:

Tetiana Voronina, Media Expert, 'Communicating the European Union for Ukrainians' (CEU4U), an EU-funded project implemented by Ecorys, tvoronina9@gmail.com , +38 067 501 11 83