XN000022-1974-01-04 — Page 5

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Friday, January 4, 1974

GOVT. RESIDENTIAL QUARTERS DIMMED TO SAVE FUEL

Public lighting in government residential quarters has been

reduced as part of the drive to save fuel.

An order has gone out to caretakers that all public light are

to be switched on 30 minutes later than usual in the evenings and switched

off 30 minutes earlier in the mornings.

In addition, public lights in quarters which are not strictly

necessary for safety are not being turned on at all.

The Public Works Department, which issued the order, said that

wherever possible light bulbs of lower wattage have been installed as

another measure to reduce power consumption.

A spokesman for the department said today that checks were carried

out to ensure that these measures did not reduce the degree of security

in the buildings.

In office buildings shared by the government and other organisations,

instructions have been issued that lights in public areas, including lift

lobbies and staircases which have adequate natural lighting, are not to be

switched on at all except during bad weather. This, of course, does not

apply to lights in main entrance halls.

These measures have already been introduced in all government

offices, and the savings in electricity consumption have been quite significant.

A spokesman said that there is a genuine effort in all government

office buildings to save fuel. Lights are being switched off wherever

possible and are not turned on unless absolutely necessary.

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