Govt launches energy conservation campaign today
FE Report | Thursday, 10 July 2008
The government launches a nationwide campaign on energy conservation and use of renewable energy today (Wednesday). The campaign aims at reducing the mounting pressure on conventional energy sources and protecting environment.
"Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed is expected to inaugurate the campaign in a city hotel as the chief guest to encourage energy conservation and increase the use of renewable energy," special assistant to chief adviser on energy issues professor M Tamim told the newsmen at a press conference Wednesday.
He said a two-day exhibition on energy saving electricity equipment and renewable energy technologies and a workshop have also been arranged from Wednesday as part of the national campaign.
The campaign would later be widely publicised through electronic and print media and educational institutions, Prof Tamim said.
"Increasing efficiency in energy use, checking wastage of electricity and natural gas, installing energy-saving technologies in industrial units, energy conservation and enhancing use of renewable energy like biogas, solar home system and electricity saving compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) are among the main objectives of the campaign," Mr Tamim added.
This is the first-ever government initiative of its kind to encourage energy conservation and use of renewable energy.
The government took the initiative in the backdrop of short supply of both power and gas.
Talking about energy conservation, Prof Tamim said electricity consumption to the extent of 50 megawatts (MW) could be saved only by switching off only one electricity bulb in every house.
Around 150 MW of electricity can be saved if the air conditioners in use are adjusted to 4-5 degree Celsius upward from their existing using patterns, he said.
At present the country produces some 15 MW of renewable energy such as solar power, bio-gas, which is around 0.5 per cent of total electricity generations, through different state-run and non-government organisations (NGOs).
In developed countries at least 10 per cent of the total electricity generation comes from renewable energy sources and, in Germany, the renewable energy contributes 20 per cent of the total electricity generation, he said.
As the renewable energy technologies are expensive the government has planned to provide incentives to the consumers to popularise renewable energy use, professor M Tamim said.
Power secretary Dr M Fouzul Kabir Khan said the power ministry is now working to adopt a renewable energy policy and conservation act to ensure smooth growth of renewable energy use.
"Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed is expected to inaugurate the campaign in a city hotel as the chief guest to encourage energy conservation and increase the use of renewable energy," special assistant to chief adviser on energy issues professor M Tamim told the newsmen at a press conference Wednesday.
He said a two-day exhibition on energy saving electricity equipment and renewable energy technologies and a workshop have also been arranged from Wednesday as part of the national campaign.
The campaign would later be widely publicised through electronic and print media and educational institutions, Prof Tamim said.
"Increasing efficiency in energy use, checking wastage of electricity and natural gas, installing energy-saving technologies in industrial units, energy conservation and enhancing use of renewable energy like biogas, solar home system and electricity saving compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) are among the main objectives of the campaign," Mr Tamim added.
This is the first-ever government initiative of its kind to encourage energy conservation and use of renewable energy.
The government took the initiative in the backdrop of short supply of both power and gas.
Talking about energy conservation, Prof Tamim said electricity consumption to the extent of 50 megawatts (MW) could be saved only by switching off only one electricity bulb in every house.
Around 150 MW of electricity can be saved if the air conditioners in use are adjusted to 4-5 degree Celsius upward from their existing using patterns, he said.
At present the country produces some 15 MW of renewable energy such as solar power, bio-gas, which is around 0.5 per cent of total electricity generations, through different state-run and non-government organisations (NGOs).
In developed countries at least 10 per cent of the total electricity generation comes from renewable energy sources and, in Germany, the renewable energy contributes 20 per cent of the total electricity generation, he said.
As the renewable energy technologies are expensive the government has planned to provide incentives to the consumers to popularise renewable energy use, professor M Tamim said.
Power secretary Dr M Fouzul Kabir Khan said the power ministry is now working to adopt a renewable energy policy and conservation act to ensure smooth growth of renewable energy use.