49 Singapore energy-intensive firms join new programme to become energy-efficient

Mustafa Shafawi Channel NewsAsia 29 Apr 10;

SINGAPORE: 49 local companies could be one step closer to becoming energy-efficient.

A new voluntary programme has been launched to help them improve energy productivity.

It's called the Energy Efficiency National Partnership, and the public-private sector initiative aims to reduce wastage.

The founding partners stand to benefit from efficiency incentive schemes offered by the National Environment Agency (NEA).

Also new - a recognition scheme for companies that have achieved substantial savings through effective energy management practices.

The NEA says the partnership prepares them for the Energy Conservation Act, to be introduced in 2013.

- CNA/jy

49 firms here to go greener
Today Online 30 Apr 10;

SINGAPORE - Forty-nine companies took one step closer to becoming more energy efficient. They have agreed to participate as founding partners in a new voluntary programme to drive energy efficiency in Singapore. They include 3M Singapore, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer Asia Pacific and Shell Eastern Petroleum.

The Energy Efficiency National Partnership (EENP) seeks to help companies put in place energy productivity improvement projects at the organisational level.

EENP partners can look forward to preferential rates for EENP learning events and benefit from National Environment Agency (NEA) incentive schemes, such as the Grant for Energy Efficient Technologies.

They will be given opportunities to network and take part in benchmarking studies with peers, workshops and seminars.

Recognition will be given to companies that have implemented excellent energy management practices and achieved substantial savings as a result.

EENP partners will be expected to work towards the adoption of an Energy Management System. Each company will appoint an energy manager, establish objectives and targets, develop policies and implement projects to meet these targets.

NEA's chief executive officer Andrew Tan said he hoped the programme would inspire more firms to take the initiative to improve energy efficiency in their operations and, by doing so, reduce their costs and enhance their business competitiveness.

Meanwhile, a pioneer batch of 23 candidates received their certifications under the Singapore Certified Energy Managers programme yesterday.