RP needs comprehensive energy plan - EPA official

Washington DC—The Philippines is being encouraged to continue its efforts in coming up with a comprehensive national action plan for energy efficiency which will involve all sectors of the society.

A similar action plan has been facilitated and is being updated and modified by the US Department of Energy and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the help of more than 60 diverse leading organizations in the US.

As a vision, the plan aims to achieve all cost-effective energy efficiency in the next 15 years or so or by 2025.

Specifically, the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency presents policy recommendations for creating a sustainable, aggressive national commitment to energy efficiency through gas and electric utilities, utility regulators, and partner organization.

Stacy Angel, EPA program manager, told visiting Philippine energy reporters here that crafting of such a plan is crucial in achieving long-term solutions and address issues of high energy prices, energy security and independence, air pollution and global climate change.

“The recommendations, if fully implemented, could save Americans billions of dollars in energy bills over the next decade, contribute to enhanced energy security and improve the environment,” she said.

It would be noted that Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) had come up with its own program on energy efficiency dubbed as National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program.

The DOE adopted the so-called “EC Way of Life which stands for Energy Conservation” to promote the judicious conservation and efficient utilization of energy resources through adoption of the cost-effective options toward the efficient use of energy to minimize environmental impact.

The primary goal of the government towards energy efficiency and conservation is to make it a way of life, increase awareness and the attainment of 229 MMBFOE total energy savings from the implementation of energy efficiency and alternative fuels programs for the period 2005-2014. It is projected that about 50.9 million tons C02 equivalent greenhouse gas emissions will be avoided for the same period.

Included in the strategies to achieve these goals are: the aggressive promotion of energy conservation and energy efficient technology to effect higher energy savings both for the consumer and producer through information, education and communication campaigns.

The program also includes efforts to intensify collaboration with the private sector in implementing energy efficiency programs through voluntary agreements; continuous implementation and expansion of the appliance and equipment energy standards and labeling implementation of building energy usage standards; integration of energy efficiency concepts in the procurement practices of the government; the provision of technical assistance in identifying, implementing and evaluating effective measures to improve energy use efficiency.

Part of the EC program of the DOE is the use of alternative fuel to reduce dependence on imported oil; and periodic program monitoring and evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the energy efficiency and conservation plan.

This program also forms part of the overall PEP which encompasses all energy related matters in one plan, including energy efficiency.

Also part of the PEP is the effort to pass an Energy Conservation Bill to institutionalize energy conservation and enhance the efficient use of energy in the country.  The bill will also revitalize and strengthen the energy conservation programs developed such as the national energy monitoring program, product labeling, energy efficiency promotion and among others.

However, it was not known if the Philippine DOE also has introduced a way to monitor if this program is being implemented properly.

The National Plan that was introduced in the US particularly zeroes in on energy efficiency as one of the significant contributors towards meeting an energy requirement of one’s country as it is considered a critical component of the overall modernization of utility energy systems in the 21st century.

In that Plan, they also have a way to measure the progress of the program.

“It is more of setting standards in ensuring energy efficiency on a national level. This way, the government, private sector and the consumers can share the same vision or program towards a common goal which is to come up with cost effective energy efficiency plan,” Angel said.

Based on the latest National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, Angel the benefits from achieving this magnitude of energy efficiency nationally can be estimated to be more than $100 billion in lower energy bills in 2025 than would otherwise occur, over $500 billion in net savings, and substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy efficiency, as defined in the Plan, refers to using less energy to provide the same or an improved level of servers to the energy consumer in an economically efficient way. This also includes the use of less energy at any time, including at times of peak demand through demand response and peak shaving efforts.