Bruneians urged to conserve energy
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
SWITCHING off electrical appliances and switching to energy-efficient ones are common advices nowadays, but they have received more emphasis given global efforts to address global warming.
"It's common sense, everybody knows (how to save energy)," said an official from the Electrical Department, who declined to be named. Nevertheless, he recommended to members of the public to conserve energy, by switching off lights and other appliances when not in use, and to use a moderate numbers of appliances.
"For instance, corridors usually have a number of light bulbs, but we don't need to use them all," he pointed out.
The biggest culprit is airconditioning, he went on saying, which uses more than half of the total energy consumption.
He recommended that airconditioners be turned on only at night, when people are at home, and to turn them off after the room is sufficiently cool. With the fans turned on, the occupants can still stay comfortable.
Consumers can also opt for energy-efficient appliances, the official said, which give the same result, but use only a fraction of the energy compared with the standard products. However, these appliances are often more expensive than their counterparts.
According to a source from Golden Star company, which sells electrical hardware, an energy-efficient air-conditioner costs twice as much as a normal one, and are seldom bought.
Energy-saving would not only keep electricity bills low, but indirectly it also helps to conserve the country's natural resources, oil and gas. "If everybody practices energy conservation, it can help preserve our resources," said the government official.
Last year, the Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister's Office voiced the need to adopt a low-energy consumption lifestyle. Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awg Yahya Begawan Mudim DP Hj Bakar, speaking at the opening of an exhibition on sustainable energy use, noted that the country's low electricity tariffs and fuel subsidy have resulted in Brunei becoming one of the world's heaviest energy consumers. Brunei also has the most number of cars per head of population.
Given the importance of hydrocarbons to the country, the minister called for a more sustainable use of such resources. Among the measures he suggested were putting the proper price on the use of these resources, public education and the use of energy-efficient technologies and procedures.
The Brunei Times
"It's common sense, everybody knows (how to save energy)," said an official from the Electrical Department, who declined to be named. Nevertheless, he recommended to members of the public to conserve energy, by switching off lights and other appliances when not in use, and to use a moderate numbers of appliances.
"For instance, corridors usually have a number of light bulbs, but we don't need to use them all," he pointed out.
The biggest culprit is airconditioning, he went on saying, which uses more than half of the total energy consumption.
He recommended that airconditioners be turned on only at night, when people are at home, and to turn them off after the room is sufficiently cool. With the fans turned on, the occupants can still stay comfortable.
Consumers can also opt for energy-efficient appliances, the official said, which give the same result, but use only a fraction of the energy compared with the standard products. However, these appliances are often more expensive than their counterparts.
According to a source from Golden Star company, which sells electrical hardware, an energy-efficient air-conditioner costs twice as much as a normal one, and are seldom bought.
Energy-saving would not only keep electricity bills low, but indirectly it also helps to conserve the country's natural resources, oil and gas. "If everybody practices energy conservation, it can help preserve our resources," said the government official.
Last year, the Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister's Office voiced the need to adopt a low-energy consumption lifestyle. Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awg Yahya Begawan Mudim DP Hj Bakar, speaking at the opening of an exhibition on sustainable energy use, noted that the country's low electricity tariffs and fuel subsidy have resulted in Brunei becoming one of the world's heaviest energy consumers. Brunei also has the most number of cars per head of population.
Given the importance of hydrocarbons to the country, the minister called for a more sustainable use of such resources. Among the measures he suggested were putting the proper price on the use of these resources, public education and the use of energy-efficient technologies and procedures.
The Brunei Times
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