China's national capital Beijing is to distribute 10 million heavily-subsidized energy-efficient lamps from June 22 to the end of September, which is its latest move to promote green lighting, according to the municipal government.

The move could save at least 240 million yuan (35.1 million U.S. dollars) a year in electricity bills, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform said Saturday.

The 10 million energy-efficient lamps, doubling the number in 2008, intended for public service facilities in scientific, educational, cultural, health and sports sectors, as well as households of five districts in Beijing, the commission said.

With valid registration certificates, residents in Chaoyang, Haidian, Fengtai, Tongzhou and Shunyi districts can get an energy-saving lamp at 1 yuan, 10 percent of its cost, at the stands or the after-sale service centers set up by light suppliers in their communities.

Each household is limited to five lamps. The rest of the cost will be covered by government subsidy, according to the commission.

Citizens are also encouraged to turn in waste fluorescent tubes for energy-saving lamps in return, it said.

With three of this year's five appointed districts in the suburban areas, the commission said more efforts would be made to promote energy-saving lamps in the rural areas.

The Beijing municipal government launched a green lighting project in 2004.

More than 3 million energy-saving lamps were installed by institution users or public facilities including government organs, hotels, shopping malls, schools, hospitals, and metro under the project. And another 3.7 million were installed in households, the commission's figures showed.

(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2009)