Twelve million low-energy light bulbs were posted to UK households over the holiday season by an energy company as part of its legal obligation to cut carbon emissions, despite government advice that many would never be used. Npower sent out the packages last month to escape a ban on issuing unsolicited bulbs which came into force on January 1st.

The German-owned company saved millions of pounds by giving away the bulbs.

Alternative ways of meeting its obligation, such as insulating homes, are much more effective but up to seven times more expensive.

It faced a fine of more than £40m, or 10 per cent of its turnover, if it failed to meet its target for improving efficiency in homes under the carbon emissions reduction target scheme.

Households have received more than 180 million free or subsidised low-energy bulbs in the past 18 months.

A survey in July by the Energy Saving Trust found that the average home had six unused ones lying in drawers.

In 2008 the government ordered the big energy companies to invest in measures for improving energy efficiency and cutting fuel poverty. Companies can choose how to meet their obligations. Each measure they fund is given a score for the lifetime carbon savings it achieves.

Companies were allowed to register immediate carbon savings from every bulb issued on the assumption that all recipients instantly installed them in some of their most intensively used light sockets.

In reality, many people either stored the bulbs or threw them away, often because they were the wrong fitting or wattage.

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