By Juzel L. Danganan
MANILA, Dec. 1 (PNA) — The Department of Energy (DOE) targets to increase the energy consciousness of consumers to 6 percent by 2015, an increase of 4 percent from this year’s estimates.
”At least six as an estimate, because energy conservation measures are very simple,” said Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla in a press conference Monday during the “National Energy Consciousness Month” held at the Department of Energy Audio Visual Room in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
Petilla said the biggest incentive for conservation measures comes from the huge savings, brought by the decreased power consumption of the consumer.
He pointed out that consumers are presently not that educated in terms of conservation efforts, with the optimization of efficient technology such as inverters, citing only a 1 percent or 2 percent energy consciousness rate.
”Personally, on a scale of 1 to 10, maybe we are on a 1 to 2, in terms of energy conservation. Because we initially complain when prices are increasing, but the decreasing demand comes last,” Petilla said.
He assured that the government will do everything it can, but has stressed the conservation powers are really dependent upon the consumers, caused by their electric usage.
For his part, Energy Utilization Management Bureau (EUMB) Director Patrick Aquino has said consumers can generate as much savings through simple actions such as: cleaning the aircon filter, which may save a power potential of three to five percent; ensuring the electric fan does not have dust, another three to five percent; setting the air conditioning unit to 27 degrees celsius or on fan mode, creating an instant savings of 10 percent.
The EUMB will also hold events this December to educate consumers on energy conservation.
He added that while the Department of Energy (DOE) cannot call for the energy consciousness month on December, due to the increased use of lights, equipment and etc, it will launch a hashtag by January.
Aquino stressed that the government energy management program will be ongoing and will not automatically stop until the year end.
The National Energy Consciousness Month is celebrated, through the order of Proclamation No. 1427, to increase public awareness on energy related campaigns, activities and programs to strengthen the government’s thrust on energy efficiency. (PNA)