Asia's developing countries urged to switch to energy efficient lighting

Melissa Goh, Channel NewsAsia 27 Jun 08;

KUALA LUMPUR: Faced with rising energy costs as a result of runaway oil prices, environmentalists are urging Asian governments to abandon fuel subsidies.

Loh Chee Leong, Executive Director, Malaysia Nature Society, said: "The fuel subsidy is what we called perverse incentive. We all are actually using surplus to live more extravagant life because we don't know the price of petrol."

Instead, the environmentalists are suggesting that incentives be given to encourage people to switch from conventional lighting to energy efficient ones.

Mr Loh continued: "We must give the people the means by subsidising energy efficient light bulbs, which we have not done."

Joining the environmentalists in making the push is an expert from the lighting industry.

Barbara Kux, Chief Procurement Officer, Royal Philips Electronics, said: "Applying energy efficient lightings to all of Asia would basically mean you can build 190 power plants (fewer) than you'll need with normal lightings. Every year you will save 30 per cent or more in energy cost and with increasing energy prices, the equation gets even better."

Ms Kux, who chairs the sustainability board of Amsterdam-based Royal Philips, said 20 per cent of the company's revenue last year came from green products and she sees great potential in the energy saving business.

She said: "Overall, the revenue for energy efficient lightings in Asia today is already 1.9 billion euros. It's already a big business, but you need change and you need support from governments, businesses and from societies at large. There's an issue of awareness, but the awareness is not the same everywhere."

But not all have pledged their commitment. While Thailand has set a national target to switch to energy efficient lighting by 2010, and the Philippines too by 2012, response from other countries has been lukewarm.

With energy efficient lightings priced at at least five times more than conventional ones, it is understandable why consumers are hesitant. That is why environmentalists hope that governments will take the lead by encouraging people to make the switch instead of just focusing on how to generate power more efficiently. - CNA/vm