Gov’t offices urged to lead in DOE’s energy conservation drive

GOVERNMENT offices are encouraged to lead in implementing energy efficiency and conservation measures and help the energy department in its campaign to mitigate adverse effects of climate change in the environment.

Artemio Habitan, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Division (EECD) chief of the Department of Energy, challenged government representatives during a seminar to implement government energy management program (GEMP) in their respective offices.

The GEMP was a reiteration of the Administrative Order (AO) No. 110 of former pres. Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo last 2004, said Habitan during the “Seminar On Energy Efficiency and Conservation in Government Buildings in Cebu City recently.

Stipulated under AO No. 110 was for the government to undertake a program promoting the sensible use of energy resources through intensified conservation efforts and efficient utilization.

Under GEMP, government offices would undergo spot checking conducted by DOE and evaluated whether or not an office had energy efficiency and conservation practices.

Aside from spot checking, GEMP include information drive, trainings and workshops.

Habitan said an office that underwent spot checking will be graded according to the set of guidelines.

To meet with GEMP standards, science research specialist Crizaldo Santos of EECD had showed tips to efficiently conserve energy among offices.

Among the tips include operating time of airconditioning unit from  9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., setting room temperature to 25 degree Celsius, purchasing of light-emitting diode (LED) monitors instead of cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors and using of fluorescent or LED lights.

Santos said that these tips would not only help in minimizing energy consumption in the government but in mitigating effects of climate change in our environment.

With the increasing demand of power supply, Habitan said that there is a need for energy conservation.

Habitan also encouraged local government units (LGUs) to use alternative fuels and set Mandaue City as good example of LGUs with low carbon use in the Visayas.