Computer users learn energy-saving tips at Nee Soon East event

Gladys Ow, Channel NewsAsia 13 Sep 09;

SINGAPORE : A campaign to educate the public on proper energy-saving practices was launched at Nee Soon East on Sunday, as part of the Energy Challenge Week.

Known as the "PC Goes Green @ North West - Click & Save" programme, it is jointly organised by the National Environment Agency, North West CDC, and Nee Soon East Constituency.

The standby power on a computer is said to take up about 10 per cent of an average household electricity bill. One way to save energy is to turn off the hard disk when the computer is idle.

But a poll conducted last month showed that 58 per cent of respondents did not know how to do so, even though 94 per cent of them were aware that they should.

Most people also do not know that the hibernate mode instead of the stand-by mode saves more energy.

But a vast majority - 95 per cent of those polled - said they would like to learn more energy efficient tips.

Organisers hope to reach out to some 200,000 households and 70 schools in the North West district by June next year.

It is hoped that the campaign will support the national 10 per cent Energy Challenge campaign, which aims to reduce household energy consumption by 10 per cent from 2008 to 2012.

Under the Sustainable Development Blueprint announced by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Sustainable Development in April 2009, Singapore has targeted to achieve a 35 per cent reduction in energy intensity (consumption per dollar GDP) from 2005 levels. - CNA/ms