Government offices have been directed to intensify energy-saving measures, including stricter air-conditioning settings, reduced electricity consumption, and full compliance with the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP), amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin, chairperson of the Inter-Agency Energy Efficiency and Conservation Committee (IAEECC), called on all government agencies to strictly implement the GEMP guidelines and relevant committee resolutions to ensure energy savings.
“To mitigate the impacts of ongoing international developments and to ensure ample electricity supply during the hot dry season, the mandatory implementation of energy efficiency and conservation measures to achieve at least 10 percent savings, as well as strict compliance with the GEMP Guidelines and relevant IAEECC resolutions, is hereby enjoined,” the committee said in its advisory issued Wednesday, March 4..
Among the required energy conservation practices are:
• Activating sleep settings on office equipment;
• Setting air-conditioning unit (ACU) thermostats to no lower than 24 degrees Celsius and ensuring doors of air-conditioned spaces remain closed;
• Adopting Flexible Work Arrangements or implementing eight straight working hours, where practical and in accordance with applicable rules;
• Turning off lights and computers during lunch breaks (except in offices with a “No Noon Break” policy), after office hours, and when not in use;
• Replacing lighting systems with LED and air-conditioning units with inverter technology, and using appliances with higher energy efficiency ratings; and
• Utilizing on-site renewable energy sources, such as solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, where feasible.*
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