XN000022-1992-11-19 — Page 16

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1992

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MR KWOK SAID ANOTHER REASON FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY WAS THAT THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT FROM EXCESSIVE CARBON DIOXIDE PRODUCTION FROM THE BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS WAS AN ENERGY-ENVIRONMENT ISSUE EVERY GOVERNMENT NEEDED TO FACE.

"ABOUT 27 MILLION TONNES OF CARBON DIOXIDE, WHICH REPRESENTED 75 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSION, WERE EMITTED TO THE ATMOSPHERE LAST YEAR DUE TO THE BURNING OF COAL FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATION IN HONG KONG.

"BEARING IN MIND THAT ABOUT 2.8 UNITS OF PRIMARY FUEL ARE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE ONE UNIT OF ELECTRICITY, CONSERVING ELECTRICITY USAGE HAS AN ENORMOUS EFFECT IN REDUCING THE EMISSION OF GREENHOUSE GASES, HE SAID.

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HE SAID THE OBVIOUS REASON FOR CONSERVING ENERGY WAS BECAUSE PEOPLE DID NOT WANT TO PAY MORE THAN THE MINIMUM ENERGY NEEDED TO DO THE JOB.

LAST YEAR, HONG KONG CONSUMED MORE THAN 25,000 MILLION UNITS OF ELECTRICITY. ABOUT 50 PER CENT AND 23 PER CENT OF THE ELECTRICITY WAS CONSUMED IN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND DOMESTIC FLATS RESPECTIVELY.

"IF THERE WERE 10 PER CENT SAVING OF OUR ANNUAL CONSUMPTION THROUGH BETTER HOUSEKEEPING AND OPERATION OF THE BUILDING SERVICES INSTALLATIONS, WHICH WAS PRACTICAL IN PRACTICE, THE SAVING WOULD BE OVER $1,500 MILLION, AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO BUILD TWO 50-STOREY OFFICE BUILDINGS, MR KWOK SAID.

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HE STRESSED THAT TOP MANAGEMENT OR CORPORATE MUST AWARENESS AND COMMITMENT OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENT ISSUE IMPROVEMENT WORK WOULD BE REALISED.

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POINTING OUT THAT PEOPLE SELDOM SAW THE RECRUITMENT OF "ENERGY MANAGER" OF A BUILDING, MR KWOK SAID A FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL ENERGY MANAGER WAS FULLY JUSTIFIED IN LARGE BUILDING OR ORGANISATION BECAUSE HIS SALARY AND ANY IMPROVEMNET WORK WOULD BE EASILY PAID BY THE ENERGY BILL SAVED.

HE SAID ENERGY AUDIT WAS ANOTHER ESSENTIAL KEY ELEMENT IN ENERGY CONSERVATION.

"IT HELPS YOU TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE WAY ENERGY AND FUEL ARE USED IN YOUR BUILDING AND HELPS YOU TO IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE WASTE CAN OCCUR AND WHERE SCOPE FOR IMPROVEMENT MAY BE POSSIBLE," HE SAID.

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MR KWOK SAID AN ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAMME WAS ALWAYS CONTINUOUS EXERCISE WHICH MUST BE CONSTANTLY MONITORED AND MODIFIED ACCORDING TO THE CHANGING NEEDS THROUGH ENERGY AUDIT.

"ONCE THE GOAL IS QUANTIFIED IN TERMS OF INDICATORS, WE CAN FOCUS ON THE LOWER HIERARCHY REGARDING OPERATION AND PERFORMANCE TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL," HE SAID.

PERFORMANCE SUBSYSTEMS

MEANWHILE, MR KWOK SAID THE RISK IN PROMOTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED.

/HE DREW

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