THE Department of Energy (DoE) on Thursday ordered all government agencies, including foreign service posts, to draft Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programs.
The DoE said the plans are a requirement of the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP).
In a resolution published on its website, the DoE, which heads the inter-agency committee on energy efficiency and conservation, ordered the implementation of the newly approved GEMP guidelines.
The Inter-Agency Energy Efficiency and Conservation Committee (IAEECC) Resolution No. 5 Series of 2022 covers all government entities including local governments, government-owned and -controlled corporations, government subsidiaries, state universities and colleges, and foreign service offices.
The government agencies are expected to outline their energy conservation measures, set energy cost reduction targets, and prepare similar measures for their motor vehicle fleets.
All government entities are encouraged to reduce electricity costs and fuel consumption by at least 10% from a base period set by the DoE.
Government entities have also been ordered to manage their electricity consumption by setting their office air conditioners to 24 degrees Celsius at the lowest setting, and for only six hours daily. The allowed operating period is eight hours during the dry season.
Air conditioning units should also be set to fan mode during lunch breaks, except in offices with no noon breaks.
Government agencies are also encouraged to purchase energy-efficient vehicles such as those using alternative fuels.
Agencies that reduce their electricity and fuel costs by 10% or more can apply their accumulated energy savings to upgrade their facilities, while those that fail to meet the norm can only use 50% of savings for such upgrades.
Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance (PE2), an association of energy efficiency entities, welcomed the resolution.
“PE2 sees this as an enabling policy (allowing the) concerned national government agencies, especially those represented in IAEECC, to craft their respective implementing guidelines to finally allow private sector expertise and capital investments to be mobilized for energy efficiency projects in the public sector through the energy service companies (ESCO) performance contracting model,” PE2 President Alexander D. Ablaza told BusinessWorld in a Viber message.
Mr. Ablaza added that the alliance hopes that the GEMP guidelines trigger long-term policy measures which effectively remove the policy, procurement, financing and budgeting barriers which have prevented energy service companies in the last few decades to sign energy performance contracts with government entities.
The resolution sets guidelines for the evaluation, approval, procurement, implementation, and financing of government energy efficiency projects under the broader scope and objectives of GEMP. — Marielle C. Lucenio
