THOSE promoting energy efficiency hope to make private and public entities treat energy efficiency measures as a resource rather than an added expense.

Martial Beck, vice president and general manager of of the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ECCP), said during the third Cebu Energy Efficiency Forum held last week that reducing the need for more energy by making sure it is used efficiently is one of the solutions to increasing energy demands.

He said relying on fossil fuels alone to meet energy demands will not do and that energy efficiency is a key solution to meeting energy demands.

Beck said using less energy for the same level of service can mitigate the high cost of energy in the country.

More profits

Allan Suarez of the ECCP Cebu Business Council said energy efficiency helps companies save on costs and generate more profits, which is why they have made it a major advocacy.

With many international companies seeking sustainability in the value chain, Suarez said becoming energy efficient gives local companies the opportunity to increase their competitiveness and become part of a community of companies that are committed to sustainable development. Major companies in Europe and the United States have made it compulsory for their suppliers and service providers to reduce their carbon emissions and comply with sustainability guidelines.

He added that companies can become key drivers in pushing suppliers and service providers towards energy efficiency.

As foreign locators search for office buildings, Suarez noted the need for local building owners to make sure their structures comply with energy efficiency measures, as most of these companies operate 24 hours a day and have energy efficiency requirements.

Compared with neighboring countries in Asia, the Philippines has been known to have expensive power costs, a fact that is not lost on foreign-owned manufacturing companies.

At the Mactan Economic Zone, companies are more pressured to come up with energy reduction measures than their Asian counterparts due to the high power rates. Engineer Edwin Semilla, past president of the MEZ Facilities, Maintenance and Environmental Association, said it is not surprising that companies located at the MEZ are serious about energy efficiency.

Semilla said that since 2008, they have partnered with a German non-government organization and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) to hold various sessions and walk-throughs to improve energy efficiency in their respective companies.

New technology

They have also conducted energy management forums to introduce new technological systems with resource speakers and vendors to help them decide on what measures to take.

Semilla said the companies there share best practices and participate in energy efficiency projects such as replacing air conditioning systems with inverter types, introducing solar-powered systems, water-cooled chillers and efficient lighting.

Semilla, though hopes the government will acknowledge the high cost of acquiring new systems to become energy efficient and expressed hopes that tariffs on research and development and equipment are reduced. He also hopes for discounted power rates and available loans for equipment acquisition.

Source: Sun Star Network(www.sunstar.com.ph); News; 21 July 2013