CFL energy saving bulbs to save power, lessen bills

CEBU, Philippines - The Visayan Electric Company says the use of Compact Fluorescent Lamps would save not only substantial supply of energy for Cebu but it would also lessen the monthly electric bills in each household.

Yesterday, during the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Energy and VECO as the main distributor of CFLs in Cebu , VECO Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President Jaime Jose Aboitiz said that they are happy to be part of the campaign to promote the use of CFLs.

Aboitiz said that they are promoting the use of CFLs because it has a lot of benefits for the consumers, the community and especially the environment.

He added that though it is a very significant amount of supply saved for Cebu, they see that it would save them around 20 to 25 percent of VECO’s energy load for the province.

VECO will initially be distributing 250,000 CFLs for Cebu consumers. One incandescent bulb would be equivalent to one CFL and each household could trade a maximum of six incandescent bulbs.

Aboitiz explained further that 250 thousand incandescent bulbs in exchange for CFLs would already be equivalent to the total demand of a big mall in Cebu City.

He said that since CFLs also produce less heat than other bulbs, “CFL-lit rooms are much cooler which would help lessen the use of airconditioners and other cooling equipments.”

Aboitiz said that aside from the savings in energy supply and money paid for electric bills, the shift to CFLs is also part of their means to mitigate climate change.

“This is a historic program since it fits the requirement of VECO and the Aboitiz power corporation (Veco is a subsidiary of Aboitiz). It means less demand, less greenhouse, and less climate change.”

Department of Energy Chief of Staff and Senior Undersecretary Roy Kyamko said that they aim to switch 13 M CFLs in the coming year where the launch was already started in Manila in September and would soon be brought to Mindanao.

Kyamko said that other than the different advantages brought about by the use of CFL, the Philippines would also be saving almost $120 million every year of P6 billion for the amount used to pay for fuel import which some of the energy suppliers are still using for their operations.

The distribution of the CFLs in Cebu will take place in three VECO branches- SM, Talisay and Consolacion.