THE stability of energy supply can be boosted by a policy framework favoring energy efficiency and conservation, the chairman of the Senate committee on energy said as he called for support for what he described as an alternative approach to securing viable and affordable power.
Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said the policy framework “will boost the stability of the energy supply by ensuring that we are able to maximize the existing power supply; enhance the sustainability of energy supply through avoided greenhouse gas emissions from power generation; and lead to consumer savings in the long run.”
He also made that call in his sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. 1531, the proposed “Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act of 2017,” which is the consolidation of Senate Bill 30, authored by Sen. Loren Legarda, and Senate Bill 525, by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.
Mr. Gatchalian said energy efficiency and conservation strategies cover all three fronts of the vision which has guided the legislative agenda of the energy committee. He referred to the vision as “3S” or stability, sustainability and savings.
Among others, the Senate bill on energy efficiency seeks to manage and restrain the growth of energy consumption. Provisions on energy conservation aim to reduce losses and wastage from energy production to consumption by adopting technologically feasible, economically sound, environment-friendly and socially affordable measures.
In his statement on Sunday, Mr. Gatchalian used as example an emerging technology — the motion-sensitive light emitting diode (LED) light bulb. He said compared with conventional light bulbs, a LED light bulb requires less electricity to produce the same amount of light, making them more efficient.
He said the motion sensor on/off switch of the LED light bulb “embodies conservation, because it eliminates wastage and makes sure that the light bulb only consumes power at times when we need the lights on.”
Mr. Gatchalian said he is confident that “employing these easy concepts to the big picture can make a fundamental change in Philippine energy policy.” He cited data from the International Energy Agency pointing to avoided fossil fuel imports, lower energy costs, and positive effects on economic growth experienced by countries which have invested heavily in energy efficiency technologies over the past three decades.
The head of the Senate energy committee included the grant of fiscal, non-fiscal and technical incentives to encourage complete compliance with the proposed energy standards. — Victor V. Saulon
