Effectiveness of energy saving programme

Energy security is one of the primary concerns of many nations in the world including Vietnam. Therefore, it is important to use energy economically, look for effective renewable energy and exploit natural resources properly.

In some localities, energy saving has received active response from many agencies and businesses with positive initial results. The Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) has always considered the effective and economical use of energy as one of the most important goals in its sustainable development strategy.

In the 2006-2011 period, EVN has implemented many programmes to raise public awareness about the need to save energy and to promote energy saving products.

The group has also directed units to upgrade the national power grid through projects worth thousands of billions dongs.

From 2006 to 2009, the country saved more than 2.1 billion kWh of electricity by reducing electrical transmission loss. The state sector, the industrial production sector, and households as well as public lighting systems also saved nearly 4.5 billion kWh during the same period.

Deputy director general of EVN, Nguyen Tan Loc, said that during the five years of the energy saving programme, EVN has accelerated propaganda activities to convey the message of saving energy to households. The group has also cooperated with light bulb producers such as Rang Dong, Dien Quang, and Phillips to increase the use of compact fluorescent bulbs from 5 million to 30 million.

The energy saving programme has not only received support from businesses but also from localities through the country. Thai Nguyen is the base of the metallurgy industry and has many universities, colleges and high schools.

It has actively implemented the energy saving programme in recent years for various fields such as industrial production, offices and public lighting. Local businesses have also researched methods to improve production lines so they use less energy. In 2010 alone, the province saved a total of about 13 million kwh.

Authorities and functional agencies in Ho Chi Minh City and other key economic regions in the south that consume a huge volume of electricity are also paying due attention to saving energy.

The HCM City Energy Saving Centre has cut nearly 790 million kw/h since 2006, equivalent to 5.26 percent of the city’s total annual consumption of electricity. HCM City is aiming to reduce its electricity consumption by 5 percent a year.

Huynh Kiem Tuoc, head of the HCM City Energy Saving Centre, says that public awareness of the importance of saving energy has improved. During the past five years, nearly 600 businesses in the city have invested more than VND1,200 billion in energy saving projects. Over the long-term, he says, the State should provide assistance to local businesses to help the save energy.

Energy saving is still an important issue in Vietnam in 2011 and will continue to be one in the future. It needs to be addressed by ministries, sectors, agencies and localities. Vietnam has great potential for saving energy and many international organisations are providing assistance to help implement energy saving projects and produce renewable energy. Vietnam can successfully overcome its shortage of energy if it can learn how to make use of its coastal areas to produce wind and solar energy. – VOV

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