Schneider Electric to foster awareness on energy usage

CEBU, Philippines - Making Cebu as one of its top priorities for its expansion plans, Schneider Electric president Philippe Reveilhac said SE plans to partner with local industry sectors here to drum up awareness on energy efficiency across company operations.Although private companies have shown significant improvements in putting in place effective energy management system in their operations, the Philippines should focus on this area to be more competitive in the world business environment.

Reveilhac said in a press conference Tuesday that Cebu for instance should have a strong stand on energy usage reduction, as it is considered as one of the most attractive areas of investments in the Philippines.

Reveilhac was in Cebu recently to grace the 2nd Philippine Energy Efficiency Forum (PEEF) organized by the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ECCP).

Reveilhac said that his company’s largest clients include the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firms, companies in the manufacturing sector, as well as buildings, and offices.

The French company will be intensifying its efforts to share active energy efficiency solutions that can help Cebuanos save up to 30 percent in power costs.

During his speech, Reveilhac emphasized that SE is committed to bringing the same savings to Cebu as they have done in other cities such as Mandaluyong and Cavite. Citing SE’s APC manufacturing plant in Cavite, he mentioned that by fixing the basics alone, businesses can already attain at least 15 percent energy savings or appropriately P8 million in energy cost.

 He said with the power rates in Cebu driven higher by scarcity and increasing demand, he said that SE is looking forward to working with various local businesses and help them measure, fix the basic, automate, and monitor their energy consumption to make them achieve energy savings while maintaining optimum performance and efficiency.

“We have always considered Cebu as a key market for our solutions. The city’s rapid development means that there is an increased demand for energy, and that’s where Schneider Electric comes in. We are bringing our solutions here to help Cebuanos achieve more and make the most of their energy,” he said.

He emphasized that many people think that unplugging devices when not in use and using low-consumption devices is tantamount to being energy efficient, however, Reveilhac said that achieving continual energy savings takes more than just that.

He said that “active energy efficiency” or the process of affecting permanent change through the measurement, monitoring, and control of energy usage as a means of achieving sustainable economic development.

Reveilhac added that the Philippines, specifically in Metro Manila, which electric rate is considered as one of the highest in Asia, should do something about it, in order to fight its competitive edge over other countries.

If the rates can’t be controlled, corporations, and energy users including residential should help in embracing the culture of conserving energy consumption that will include changing of devices, right practice in energy conservation, while developers are urged to construct building structures that are energy efficient, adopting a professional method in energy consumption reduction. (FREEMAN)