A LEADING furniture retailer has cut its annual energy bill by more than £47,000 a year by introducing low-energy lighting rigs in its showrooms.

Barker and Stonehouse still has to introduce them in its Newcastle store where the largest savings are expected to be achieved.

In its Darlington store, they have cut the energy bill by £8,000 a year and saved the equivalent of 49 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year - enough to power 93 three-bedroom houses.

All the company's showrooms are replacing standard 75 watt bulbs with fewer 35 watt lamps. They have a long life span of two years and produce a softer lighting effect.

The scheme has so far been introduced in the company's showrooms in Knaresborough, Hull, Leeds and Darlington.

The early indications are that the low-energy lighting will save 441,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy, 189 tonnes of CO2, and reduce the energy bill by £47,200 a year.

Now the company is turning its attention to the Newcastle showroom which could provide the biggest savings to date.

The drive to reduce the company's carbon footprint is part of a five-year strategy begun in 2006 which aims to cut the company's energy usage by 40pc by July 2011.

Readings indicate a total reduction of just under that target figure, with a year still to go, and the Newcastle store phase yet to be started.

Vince Lithgo, company operations manager, said: "We're always looking at ways of reducing our carbon footprint, and we got to the point where we couldn't reduce it any more without doing something major.

"That was when we decided on changing the showroom lighting its the biggest reduction we can possibly make."

In addition, thanks to a partnership with Hartlepool-based charity OFCA (Owton Fens Community Association), Barker and Stonehouse has helped customers recycle up to 70 tonnes of unwanted mattresses, sofas and large cabinets.

Mr Lithgo said: "Its been a huge success. We take away customers unwanted furniture when we deliver their new items, and so far, with help from OFCA, weve been able to recycle a significant amount."

The schemes have been made possible thanks to the Carbon Trust, which offers interest-free loans to companies wanting to upgrade to fuel efficient equipment.