|
Firms seek ways to save energy after gas price rises
A sharp increase in petrol prices has greatly affected the economy. Entrepreneurs are working on ways to save energy.
Since 1999, the Majestic hotel has worked with the French Environment and Energy Management Agency’s International Affairs Division on a project to replace 1,500 40-watt and 60-watt filament bulbs with energy-saving 7-watt and 11-watt bulbs.
In 2003, the hotel installed touch-sensitive faucets and maintenance equipment. Last May, solar hot water panels were fitted to provide hot water for rooms. As a result, the hotel has saved money on energy.
The New World Hotel and Diamond Plaza were given awards for Best Practices on Energy Efficiency and Conservation for Buildings by the Asian Center for Energy.
Saigon Plastic Packaging Co., Ltd, Unilever Vietnam won awards as production enterprises that carried energy saving policies. Mr. Vo Thanh Dai, deputy manager of the Saigon Plastic Packaging Co., Ltd, said that energy saving is needed for the survival of the company. The company used a power electronic transformer to save 0.7 kilowatt-hour per kilogram of plastic.
Such power conservation measures are used mainly by big enterprises, according to Mr. Nguyen Le Truong, technical manager of the Energy Conservation Research and Development Center.
Small and medium companies are short of capital and afraid of production activities. Therefore, only a few of them have implemented measures.
The flip side of the problem is that small and medium enterprises are using old equipment that consumes a high amount of energy.
In recent years, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Sciences and Technology have stepped up their efforts to aid enterprises.
The tightening of credit has however impeded the policy. It’s necessary to provide capital to small and medium companies so that they can implement energy saving measures and cut costs.
VNN
|
