35 state buildings to have better lighting system

THE Department of Energy is set to retrofit more government buildings with energy-efficient equipment.

The department said that it will replace the lighting systems of 35 state buildings with energyefficient ones. The retrofitting is projected to generate savings of up to P20 million.

The agency has replaced the lighting systems of 22 other state buildings with efficient lamps and electronic ballast as of January 16, 2012. This move will result in monetary savings of as much as P10 million ( at P10 per kwh) per year.

The project is part of the Asian Development Bank-supported Philippine Energy Efficiency Project, which seeks to promote energy- efficient technology, lamp and mercury waste management in the country.

Undersecretary Loreta Ayson, project director, said that final impact of the project will be reduced cost of power generation through reduction of peak demand, or the time of day when electricity use is at its highest.

“A pragmatic lifestyle change is also key to our campaign. It is not only about changing our appliance to more energyefficient ones but also to have these best practices inculcated in each one of us,” she added.

The 22 government buildings/ agencies which have benefited from the program are National Dairy Authority, National Housing Authority, Environmental Management Bureau, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, National Food Authority, Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippine Information Agency, National Telecommunications Commission, Philippine Coconut Authority, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Agriculture, Tourism Infrastructure and Entrepreneurship Zone Authority, Department of Tourism, National Electrification Administration, National Printing Office, National Irrigation Administration, Land Transportation Office, Department of Science and Technology and National Economic and Development Authority.

EUAN PAULO C. AÑONUEVO