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NewsAsia, 7 Apr 05 Government launches new initiatives to promote efficient use of energy Eight government agencies and ministries will be engaging energy service companies (ESCOs) in a pilot project to improve energy efficiency of buildings in the public sector. The project is undertaken as part of the government's Economy Drive Initiative. Tenders are expected to be called in the second half of the year. This was announced by the Chairman of the National Energy Efficiency Committee, Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee. Speaking at a seminar on energy management best practices and technologies, he said it was one of three initiatives being launched to nurture new enterprises in the energy services sector. This would also help businesses overcome barriers to adopting energy-efficient technologies. Another initiative, the Energy Efficiency Improvement Assistance Scheme, allows companies to get funding from the National Environment Agency (NEA) for engaging consultants or energy service companies to carry out energy appraisals and recommend improvement measures. Professor Koo, who's also Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and the Environment and Water Resource, hoped this would not only stimulate local demand for energy solutions, but also boost the development of an energy services sector in Singapore. An accreditation scheme for energy service companies is also being launched. The objective is to enhance the professionalism and quality of services offered by ESCOs, including energy audits, which, in turn, will increase confidence in the energy services sector and promote its growth. NEA says these initiatives are estimated to reduce up to 190,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions by 2012 and help achieve the target of 25% improvement in carbon intensity between 1990 and 2012. - CNA Today, 8 Apr 05 $10m for energy audits: No excuse for companies not to reduce power consumption Sheralyn Tay THE National Environment Agency (NEA) is offering a $10 million assistance scheme to nudge local companies into taking the first step towards reducing their energy consumption. Companies in the manufacturing and building sectors can now apply to the Energy Efficiency Improvement Assistance Scheme to fund half the cost of their energy audits, up to a maximum of $200,000. An energy audit is carried out by energy service companies (Escos). A proposal is then drawn up that lists the estimated investment costs and savings of implementing new systems for chillers, boilers and generators, as well as a target timeframe for investment returns. To help companies make their decision and to professionalise the industry, an accreditation scheme for Escos will also be put in place. Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) Professor Koo Tsai Kee made the announcements at yesterday's Energy Management Best Practices and Technologies Seminar. He added that these initiatives are intended to "jump-start interest in energy efficiency". . Eight public sector agencies including MEWR will also engage the services of Escos in a Pilot Energy Saving Project, to lead by example and "prove (the Government's) conviction", Prof Koo said. NEA's move serves to address the main barriers — scepticism, disbelief and cost — to energy audits, said Mr Edwin Khew, chairman of the Singapore Association for Environmental, Occupational Health and Safety Companies. Even companies that have conducted the audits are sometimes reluctant to implement energy-efficient technologies. This is despite projections of quick returns on investments in as little as two years, and long-term energy savings of 20 to 30 per cent, said Mr Vincent Low, chairman of the Industry Committee for Energy Efficiency. Kimberly-Clarke Asia-Pacific, for example, has saved about $500,000 and received a return on its investment in less than a year. It did this by replacing its diesel-powered boilers with chiller optimisation systems. Currently, manufacturing and building sectors in Singapore take up more than half the total electrical consumption in Singapore. It is hoped NEA's initiatives will eliminate an estimated 190,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions by 2012 and achieve Singapore's target of reducing carbon intensity by 25 per cent. links Related articles on Global issues: global warming issues, policies |
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