DOE
conducts spot checks
KALIBO, Aklan – The Department
of Energy (DOE) recently conducted spot checks in government
offices and buildings here as part of its Government
Management Program (GEMP).
GEMP is one of the government programs
aimed to reduce the monthly consumption of electricity
(by kilowatt-hour) and monthly petroleum products (by
liters) by at least 10 percent in all government entities.
The spot check or energy audit will
focus on energy efficiency measures and practices among
government agencies here, specifically on electricity
and vehicle fuel usage.
Roland Meneses, member of the DOE inspecting
team, said under this program, the government was able
to save P1,009,379,074 from September 2005 to May 2008.
This, he said, was based on the monthly
consumption reports of 120 government agencies in National
Capital Region and 200 from the other regions.
The DOE has already conducted spot checks
in Capiz and Iloilo provinces this year, and is continuously
conducting the activity nationwide.
WAYS TO SAVE
DOE said some of the implemented measures aided by spot
checks were operating air conditioning (aircon) units
for only six hours; setting of aircon units to “fan”
during lunch time; maintaining room temperature not
lower than 25oC, replacing incandescent bulbs with compact
fluorescent light bulbs and 40-watt fluorescent lamps
with 36- or 32-watt slim-type fluorescent lamps; turning
off of lights from 12 noon–1 p.m. and turning
off of computers/office equipment /appliances when not
in use.
The Department said all these generated
energy savings.
As for fuel conservation, owners should
have regular maintenance of all vehicles; retire old
and inefficient vehicles; trips scheduling; and reduction
of fuel allocation for each vehicle by 10 percent.
In relation, Gov. Carlito S. Marquez
released Memorandum No. 2008-108 in June 2008.
He “appealed” to all provincial
department heads and heads of national offices to economize
in water and power consumption.
The water and electric bills of some
of these offices are paid for by the provincial government.
“Turning off lights, water taps and appliances
when not in use should be made a habit. Air conditioners
should be turned off at least two hours before 12 noon
and 5 p.m. as air-conditioned offices retain their coolness
for that long,” Marquez said in the memorandum.
Marquez also said the money saved from
the economical use of water and power is better spent
for the hiring of urgently-needed provincial school
board teachers, tuition fees of provincial government
scholars, and other basic service expenditures. (With
a report from the Philippine News Agency/Venus G. Villanueva/PIA)/PN
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