EDITORIAL: Will changing a bulb help improve efficiency?

With all the talk in 2007 being about climate change, global warming and carbon credits, the main topic of discussion in 2008 will be efficiencies in energy production, management and consumption.

Energy saving is no longer a matter that concerns only a handful of green geeks or school children collecting cans to be recycled. It is a bigger issue that involves everybody, from the housewife to the industrialist, as every kilowatt of energy saved does make a difference, especially in this day and age of spiraling fuel costs and the subsequent increases on values of all goods and services.

As Cyprus relies heavily on the services industry, it is up to the employers, the hoteliers and the government to conceive more efficient ways to run their operations and achieve savings by introducing the simplest of methods.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry, KEVE, has embarked on a series of seminars aimed at rational energy utilization and energy cost lowering of enterprises, organizations and hotels. In effect, the seminars will look into drastically reducing energy costs, particularly in hotels, throughout winter and summer. Just the participation in this subsidized seminar alone will save an enterprise about 1800 euros, which is as much as it will cost to use a few conventional light bulbs throughout the year. After all, almost 95% of the energy produced to generate a light bulb is wasted by the time it reaches its prupose.

While considering replacing existing equipment with more efficient systems, the real and immediately measurable benefit will come from introducing units that run on alternative or renewable sources (solar, biofuel, recycling).

In the absence of convincing energy-saving incentives from the state, any initiative, such as the KEVE workshops that will include practical experiences from Germany, is greatly commendable because it is up to the business managers and department heads in larger organizations to report savings as they will be held accountable to their superiors, particularly when it comes to excessive spending.

New buzzwords will include ‘energy management and analysis’ and ‘energy-smart buildings’, while the focus will be on efficient cooling and heating systems, containing energy waste from buildings and cleaner resources.

But it is not only a matter of energy use as we know it. Better utilization of ventilation, plumbing and water and any other office equipment will produce savings that any company will benefit in the short and long-term.

So, think about the next bulb you change. Saving energy is in your hands.