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THE Department of Energy (DOE) and the Visayan Electric Co. (Veco) are working together to encourage the use of compact flourescent lamps (CFLs) to help address the power shortage.
Veco will distribute 250,000 CFLs for free to its customers in Metro Cebu . The low-power usage lampswere given by the DOE.
The 15-watt lamps will replace the typical 40-watt incandescent bulb used in homes and establishments.
An ongoing national campaign will continue the replacement in government and private buildings, traffic lights and roads.
DOE Senior Undersecretary Roy Kyamko said 13 million CFLs will be distribute nationwide under the Philippine Energy Efficiency Project.
He said the energy savings nationwide would be equivalent to 450 megawatts a year or the supply of one power plant.
This would reduce the need to import crude oil mean a savings of $120 million in a year, he said.
CFLs also gives off less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which would help ease the effects of climate change.
Jaime Jose Aboitiz, Veco chief operating officer and senior vice president, said that if the 250,000 CFLs distributed to Veco customers are all used, this would save about 5 MW to 6 MW of power or the equivalent tto the energy demand of one mall.
The agreement for Veco to distribute the lamps was launched yesterday.
Veco clients can visit the utility firm’s offices in Talisay, Consolacion, and SM City to get their free CFL.
Consumers just have to bring their December 2009 electricity bill and one used incandescent bulb to exchange it with one CFL.
Veco will replace up to six bulbs per customer depending on the supply.
