Energy-saving campaign launched to reduce electricity consumption in hot season
26 April 2023MOE, DEDE, and EGAT teamed up to launch an energy-saving campaign, aiming to promote energy efficiency among Thais; reduce the cost for households, businesses, and industries; and create clean air for Thailand’s sustainable future.
On April 25, 2023, Mr. Kulit Sombatsiri, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Chairman of Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), presided over the launch of the energy-saving campaign, “Save Energy for ALL,” and delivered a special talk on the topic of “Unite Power of Thais to Save Energy for ALL.” On this occasion, Mr. Prasert Sinsukprasert, Director General of the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE), and Mr. Boonyanit Wongrukmit, EGAT Governor, also attended the event held at the EGAT Headquarters in Bang Kruai District, Nonthaburi Province.
Mr. Kulit Sombatsiri said that the overall electricity usage trend for this hot season is expected to be higher due to the intense heat, especially in April, resulting in the peak demand for electricity occurring four times in the power system. The latest peak demand occurred on April 20, 2023, at 2.56 p.m. at 33,384.7 MW. Therefore, energy conservation measures are crucial to reducing electricity consumption during the hot season and lowering electricity bills. Since the electricity charge in Thailand is in progressive rate; the more electricity is used, the higher the cost per unit will be. Additionally, energy conservation can also help the country reduce the expensive fuel imports.
DEDE Director General stated that energy conservation during hot season is the easiest way to reduce energy costs using the simple principle of “adjust, clean, set, and reduce.” This means adjusting clothing by wearing short-sleeved shirts and avoiding suits and ties, cleaning air filters every 1-2 months and doing major cleaning every 6 months, setting air conditioner temperature to 26-27°C and using electric fans to circulate cool air, and reducing the working time of air conditioner by one hour per day. By cleaning air conditioner, it can save the electricity cost up to 10%, a monthly saving of 210 Baht. Additionally, adjusting the temperature of air conditioner up by 1°C can save the electricity cost up to 4.5%, a monthly savings of 100 Baht. By implementing both measures, the electricity cost can be reduced by at least 300 baht per month per unit. Furthermore, the EDED has developed comprehensive measures for both short and long terms suitable for each target group. It is expected that these measures will result in energy savings of more than 340 million units of electricity per month, equivalent to a cost savings of 1.7 billion Baht per month. Moreover, the DEDE has promoted energy-saving methods during hot season through various media channels and providing free self-cleaning air conditioner workshops for those interested through 10 academic service centers nationwide, with a total of 1,300 participants, helping to improve the efficiency of air conditioners and resulting in cost savings on electricity bills.
Mr. Boonyanit Wongrukmit, EGAT Governor, added that EGAT has been carrying out demand side management for 30 years with 3Es strategy, namely energy-saving equipment, energy-saving buildings and industries, and energy-saving behavior. For this hot season, EGAT has partnered to launch energy-saving projects to increase energy efficiency and reduce electricity costs for users through six following projects.
1. Clean Your Air, Care Your Life Project: EGAT, in collaboration with department stores and retail services, will offer 10,000 cleaning services for air conditioners at half price to the public who consume less than 500 units of electricity per month. The public will pay a cleaning fee of 300 baht, limited to one service per household for a wall-mounted air conditioner not exceeding 24,000 BTU per hour. To receive the service, participants must present their ID card and two months of electricity bills at the participating department stores which are Power Buy, The Mall, The Emporium, Siam Paragon, and Blueport from May 1 to July 31, 2023.
In addition, EGAT has also collaborated with Thai Air Conditioning Traders Association to set a goal of cleaning about 800 air conditioners in five leading large-scale state hospitals from March to April 2023 to reduce expenses and create good air quality for medical personnel and the public.
2. City Tree Project: EGAT will install air-purifying tree technology at 5 hospitals conducting air cleaning operations to handle with the city’s particulate matter problem. The project will combine using negative ion air purifiers, PM 2.5 filters, and disease-killing capabilities with a vertical garden of air-purifying trees. It can filter particulate matter and treat the air within a 200-square-meter coverage area, and can also communicate information about particulate matter and energy-saving measures through a monitor for public awareness.
3. Project to Improve Energy Efficiency: EGAT will provide an energy consultation for leading businesses and industries to create a model for energy conservation. The project will take place from April 2023 to December 2024.
4. No.5 Energy-saving Curtain Project: EGAT collaborates with 8 curtain manufacturers to develop and establish standards and criteria for No.5 energy-saving curtain, which can reduce heat from entering buildings by approximately 30% compared to regular sun-blocking curtains, resulting in a 5-6% reduction in air conditioning usage. The product will be available for sale starting on May 1, 2023.
5. No.5 Energy-saving School Uniform: EGAT Promotes the use of wrinkle-resistant school uniform, that can save energy up to 60 Satang per one ironing. The project will provide 520 sets of school uniform to students in 26 schools in Bang Kruai District, Nonthaburi Province.
6. Event of Save Power x3 EGAT: EGAT, Metropolitan Electricity Authority, and Provincial Electricity Authority, will organize the Event of “Save Power x3 EGAT” on May 2, 2023, at Siam Scape Building, Siam Square. The event will feature activities promoting energy-saving tips and encourage the public to reduce energy consumption, as well as a mini-concert by the Paper Planes band.
