Phl urged to adopt energy efficiency policies

The Philippines should start laying down policies for energy efficiency measures and further the switch to renewables to make good on meeting internal energy development goals and Committee of Parties 21 (COP 21) commitments, industry officials said.

Lopez-led Energy Development Corp. (EDC) president and CEO Richard Tantoco, said at the 1st Philippine Environment Summit. The government, investors and consumers, should all act collectively, decisively and quickly to switch to low carbon options in the energy sector to mitigate climate change effects.

“We have to make our choices and set policies sooner than later to stop this self-inflicted harm on both a national and global scale,” he noted.

Among the policies that can be implemented is a bridge policy to the Energy Efficiency and Conversation bill pending in Congress, energy efficiency advocate and Philippine Association of Energy Service Companies (PAESCO) president Alexander Ablaza said in an interview with The STAR.

While the Philippines has laid down an Energy Efficiency Road Map from 2014 until 2030, Ablaza noted investments in that sector has hardly made strides since the country lacks laws or mandatory policy frameworks pertaining to energy efficiency and conservation.

He also said energy efficiency and conservation has only been a stop gap measure during an energy crisis in the last 35 years.

“We could not force establishments towards certain obligations if there is no law in place. But if a [Department of Energy] circular is in place through the remainder of this administration... energy efficiency can be made viable [to meet goals under the 15-year national road map for energy efficiency and conservation],” Ablaza said.

A study made by PAESCO showed the Philippines needs to invest over P8.3 trillion through 2015 to 2030 to meet the DOE’s target of 40 percent reduction in energy intensity under the energy efficiency road map.

If investments have started in 2015, the country stands to benefit from at least P19.7 trillion in savings resulting from energy efficiency investments until 2030, the study showed.

The DOE is currently crafting a circular called “Guidelines Implementing the Minimum Energy Performance ( MEPS) and Strengthening the Philippine Energy Standards and Labeling Program ( PESLP),” which will cover a wide range of consumer products classified under three areas, namely household, lighting and motor vehicles.