Asia rushes to save energy - Shanghai switches off lights

copying from the ilpac maling list
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At a time when electricity and oil prices are rising its good to press home the point that outdoor lighting is normally quite inefficient, and wastes energy and money.
Colm


SINGAPORE: August 20, 2004
Story by Charlie Zhu

REUTERS NEWS SERVICE

SINGAPORE - Asian countries are scrambling to limit the impact of record-high oil prices on their growing economies through energy conservation, but analysts say such moves are unlikely to dampen strong demand for fuel imports.

The region is trying to curb its burgeoning oil consumption by cutting subsidies or raising prices, and boosting investment in renewable energy such as wind, solar or bio-gas power. China, India and Southeast Asia have vowed to pour billions of dollars into developing so-called green power.With the U.S. oil price racing towards $48 a barrel, energy conservation is becoming more important for a region that imports two-thirds of its oil needs.

However, the low per capita energy consumption in most Asian countries and the strong economic growth expected for the region in coming years mean that the impact of energy conservation will have limited impact on energy demand.

"People (in Asia) don't use fuel for leisure. They use it out of necessity," said Hassaan Vahidy, lead analyst for energy consultants FACTS Inc in Singapore.
"I don't think it (energy conservation) is going to make any significant dent on the growth of Asian consumption of energy and its reliance on imported energy."

Asia's oil demand is rising as its economy has recovered from the 1997/98 Asian crisis. Oil demand, led by China which overtook Japan last year as the world's second-largest oil consumer, is expected to grow more than 4 percent this year.
Strong oil prices are raising concerns about inflation in some countries such as India, forcing Asia's third-largest oil consumer to slash duties on oil products this week.

MANY ROADS TO SAVE ENERGY
But other countries are moving to rein in consumption. For example, Thailand will order service stations to shut down by midnight, and shopping malls and convenience stores to close earlier. Bangkok has decided to scrap subsidies on gasoline from next week, but the prime minister shot down a proposal to make motorists pay to use the main roads in the capital.

China has been rationing electricity and restricting the use of air-conditioners. Lights on Shanghai's famed waterfront Bund have been turned off for several weeks over the past two months, while the city government has told some 3,000 factories to switch production to the graveyard shift.
Complete article at
www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/26693/story.htm


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Here's a bit more on that story. It turns out Reuters didn't have their story quite right. The move to switch off lights has more to do with the heat wave they are experiencing and increased electrical demand by air conditioners. No doubt this heat wave is caused by global warming which in turn is caused by burning fossil fuels to power lights people leave turned on all night.

Beijing is also switching off lights to save energy. See article below.
Colm


www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_18-7-2004_pg5_23
The lights on Shanghai’s historic waterfront Bund are being turned off by officials when the temperature exceeds 35 degrees, and hotels, malls and other public places are being told to limit use of air-conditioning as the city tries to save electricity.



en.ce.cn/Business/Macro-economic/200407/...040705_1172748.shtml
Efforts to ease nation's power shortage
Last Updated(Beijing Time):2004-07-05 13:36

Liu Si, a sales manager from a private advertising company in Shanghai, flew to Beijing over the weekend on a regular meeting with her clients. Not long after settling in the Beijing International Hotel, she found the five-star hotel a little warmer than usual.
"What's the matter with the air conditioner?" Li called over a hotel manager.
"We raised the temperature by 2 centigrade at 26C to 28C under a local government's campaign to save electricity," the manager said.
Liu herself is familiar with such situations back in Shanghai, one of the areas most hit by electricity shortages. Local residents in Shanghai are also asked to set temperatures at no lower than 26C. To reduce consumption, the city also switched to low-energy bulbs to light up the outline of Oriental Pearl TV Tower - the city's brandname skyscraper.

As two thirds of the country is experiencing the most serious power shortage in a decade, the country is launching campaigns for energy conservation.
Beijing, which was free from a nation-wide electricity shortfall last year, now requires the turning off of half of the twin lights on roads to weather a potential power shortage this summer.

Government offices, institutions are asked not to turn on lights, if it is bright enough during the day time. They are also to switch off office lights and computer screens after work.

Local televisions are broadcasting special programs to teach tips for electricity saving. Audiences, for instance, are told to press the switch-off button on TV sets, rather than use the remote control, to turn off TV.