Seven business groups vow to trim energy consumption

This article was published by the Macroview Weekly on August 22, 2007. It reports that seven business groups representing various industries in Taiwan recently promised to reduce energy consumption as part of a national effort to improve energy conservation and energy efficiency.

The seven groups made the pledge during a symbolic flag presentation ceremony that marked the establishment of energy service teams among their organizations to promote energy conservation.

The goal of the campaign is to cut power consumption by 2 to 3 percent, which would result in savings of the equivalent of approximately 170,000 tons of oil, and thereby prevent the release of 460,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

The effect of the reduction in emissions would be equivalent to planting enough trees to fill 1,200 parks the size of Taipei's Daan Forest Park. If the target is reached, then it is expected to save NT$2.1 billion in expenditures.

According to the Bureau of Energy, the government has developed various energy conservation promotion projects over the past few years. In 2007, the government has invited many private enterprises to join in its conservation drives in the hope of encouraging them to take the lead in voluntary energy conservation among business organizations.

Under the project, the government will help those business groups train energy conservation experts and set up energy management systems.