XN000022-1979-07-29 — Page 2

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SUNDAY, JULY 29, 1979

MAJOR COMPANIES BACK GOVERNMENT'S SAVE FUEL CAMPAIGN

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A STEADY STREAM OF LETTERS TO THE GOVERNMENT SHOWS THAT MAJOR LANDLORDS AND CONSUMERS OF ELECTRICITY ARE ACHIEVING SUBSTANTIAL FUEL SAVINGS.

THEY ARE REPLYING TO A LETTER FROM MR. DAVID JEAFFRESON WHO, AS CHAIRMAN OF THE OIL POLICY COMMITTEE, RECENTLY WROTE TO MORE THAN 400 MAJOR COMPANIES, ASKING THEM TO LOOK AT WAYS TO ACHIEVE SAVINGS - PARTICULARLY BY REDUCING NON-ESSENTIAL LIGHTING AND CURTAILING AIR-CONDITIONING - AND SAID HE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HEARING OF THEIR SUCCESSES.

FROM FACTORIES, HOTELS AND HOSPITALS TO BANKS, NEWSPAPERS, TELEVISION COMPANIES AND RECREATION CLUBS ALL ANSWERS GIVE A CLEAR PICTURE OF CONCERTED EFFORTS TO SAVE ELECTRICITY.

THE BRITISH-AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY REPORTED A DROP OF 17.4 PER CENT IN MAY COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS MONTH'S CONSUMPTION, AND SAID THEY EXPECTED A CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT IN JUNE WHEN THE IR ENERGY SAVING PROGRAMME HAD BEEN IN OPERATION FOR A FULL MONTH.

HOTELS HAD ADOPTED WIDE-RANGING CAMPAIGNS, WHICH IN THE CASE OF THE HYATT REGENCY HAD RESULTED IN A SAVING OF MORE THAN 117,000 UNITS IN JUNE-OVER 10 PER CENT OF THEIR CONSUMPTION COMPARED TO JUNE LAST YEAR.

NOTICES AND STICKERS IN ROOMS IN THE HILTON, HOLIDAY INN AND THE HYATT REGENCY HOTELS ASKED GUESTS TO CO-OPERATE IN THE CAMPAIGN BY TURNING OFF LIGHTS AND AIR-CONDITIONING WHEN IT WAS NOT NEEDED.

MANY OF THE HOTELS HAD SET UP THEIR OWN ENERGY SAVING COMMITTEES WHICH MEET REGULARLY TO CONSIDER NEW ECONOMY MEASURES. THESE RANGE FROM TURNING OFF HOT WATER IN THE AFTERNOONS OR IN THE CASE OF THE LEE GARDENS HOTEL, BY REDUCING THE TEMPERATURE OF HOT WATER AND ONLY TURNING ON DISH-WASHING MACHINES WHEN THEY ARE FULLY LOADED.

THE MANDARIN HOTEL REPORTED THAT THE ENTIRE HOTEL WAS BEING DOUBLE-GLAZED, USING A LIGHTLY COLOURED GLASS TO REFLECT SUNSHINE, AND THIS HAD PRODUCED DRAMATIC SAVINGS IN ELECTRICITY. TRADITIONAL LIGHT BULBS WERE BEING CONVERTED TO FLUORESCENT LIGHTING TO REDUCE CONSUMPTION.

THE HILTON HOTEL HAD SET THE AIR-CONDITIONING AT 26 DEGREES CELSIUS, AND WERE OFFERING PRIZES TO EMPLOYEES WHO PRODUCED CREATIVE IDEAS ON ENERGY CONSERVATION.

THE AIR-CONDITIONING IN THE CARLTON HOTEL WAS TURNED UP DURING THE LUNCH HOUR, BUT AFTERWARDS WAS TURNED DOWN TO 50 PER CENT CAPACITY, AND TOWARDS THE EVENING FURTHER REDUCED TO 25 PER CENT CAPACITY.

THE HOTELS