Pinoys urged to conserve energy
Sen. Loren Legarda is urging Filipinos to practice energy-saving measures and has filed a bill providing incentives to companies that conserve energy.
“Energy conservation must be a way of life. It is economical and also environment-friendly. By practising energy conservation measures, we also contribute to reducing our carbon footprint, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation,” said Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on climate change.
“Traditional energy conservation measures remain relevant – use of low-wattage appliances, unplug electron- ics when not in use, turn off lights when leaving a room, open curtains for natural lighting, do all the ironing at one time, avoid frequent opening of the refrigerator door and defrost it once a week. These are simple and practical measures that all of us can do,” she added.
Legarda also filed a bill providing fiscal and nonfiscal incentives to private firms implementing energy-saving practices and requiring manufacturers and dealers to comply with the energy efficiency rating of the Department of Energy (DOE).
“This bill provides for incentives in the form of tax breaks, duty-free imports to support suppliers of renewable technology as well as non-fiscal incentives such as awards or recognition for energy efficiency and conservation and technical assistance from government agencies in the development and promotion of energy-efficient technologies,” she explained.
Under the bill, companies must conduct regular energy audits on establishments where energy consumption and costs will be assessed.
All government agencies and local government units shall also ensure the efficient use of energy in their respective offices, facilities and transportation units by incorporating energy-saving methods in their local development plans.
The DOE shall develop a National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan and a system of monitoring the targets that are established.
It is also tasked to maintain collaborative efforts with the business sector and require manufacturers, importers and dealers to comply with the standards and make sure that their packages are labeled accordingly.
The DOE shall conduct a fuel economy performance test for motor vehicles to ensure that vehicle manufacturers, importers and dealers comply with fuel economy performance requirements.