Mr S Iswaran at the Launch of Energy Save Roadshow, 21 Oct 2010.

SPEECH BY GUEST-OF-HONOUR MR S ISWARAN, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY AND EDUCATION, AND ADVISER TO AYER RAJAH-WEST COAST GROS, AT THE LAUNCH OF ENERGY SAVE ROADSHOW @ WEST COAST, ON 21 OCTOBER 2010, THURSDAY, 5.30PM

Distinguished Guests

Residents of Ayer Rajah-West Coast

Introduction

Good evening.I am very happy to be here for the launch of the Energy SAVE Roadshow@West Coast.

This evening’s roadshow is a joint effort spearheaded by the Housing & Development Board (HDB), National Environment Agency (NEA) and Energy Market Authority (EMA), to share energy efficient solutions with all of you. It is the fifth in a series of island-wide exhibitions planned over a 5-year period.The aim of this programme is to reduce overall energy consumption in HDB estates by 10 percent by 2013.

Over 80 percent of Singaporeans live in HDB estates, and it is estimated that the total annual energy consumption rate of HDB dwellers comes up to a staggering $1.2 billion.By reducing energy consumption, we will not only help to protect our environment but also benefit from lower energy bills.

Technology helps our estate and residents save energy

Here in West Coast GRC, steps are already being taken to move towards clean energy with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems soon to be installed on the roof-tops of Blks 58 to 61 in Telok Blangah Heights. This means that when the works are completed by the end of this year, the residents in these blocks can harness enough solar energy to run their common services such as corridor lighting. This switch to clean and renewable energy will reduce our need for conventional energy consumption, and ultimately help to reduce our overall carbon footprint as well.

The government is also exploring other means to help households reduce energy consumption through technology. One way is through the use of smart meters that will allow consumers to monitor electricity usage better. The Energy Market Authority (EMA) has recently launched a smart meter, or Intelligent Energy System (IES) pilot project to test these applications and new technologies. Please visit EMA’s exhibition booth at this roadshow to understand the IES and its potential benefits for residents.

Benefits of reducing energy at the households

To assess the benefits of adopting energy efficient appliances and lifestyles at home, eight households in Singapore were selected under the pilot phase of the Energy SAVE Demo-Households initiative. The results showed that their monthly energy consumption was reduced by up to 35 percent, which translates into savings of about $70 a month in utility bills for each household.

We have also selected a 3-room flat in Ayer Rajah-West Coast as the Energy SAVE Demo-Household. The refrigerators, air-conditioners and lights in this selected household will be replaced with Energy Efficient appliances. We expect to obtain similar positive results from this study.

Role of households and residents in energy conservation efforts

Given high energy costs and concerns over climate change, energy efficiency is a key strategy for Singapore to cope with these challenges. Households play an important role in this overall strategy and simple lifestyle changes can make a difference. For example, you can switch to Energy Efficient (EE) appliances that consume less energy, switch off the lights when you leave a room and set the air-conditioner to timer-mode. These simple practices may seem obvious and insignificant, but the benefits can add up if everyone plays his or her part in being energy efficient.

This roadshow that runs from today till Sunday, 24 October 2010, will help residents save energy by providing energy saving tips. I encourage everyone to visit the ‘My Energy SAVE Home’ and other educational booths put up by the various agencies.

And for more ways to reduce energy costs and the size of your utility bills, a guidebook entitled ‘Resident’s Green Guide to Saving Electricity’, has been mail-dropped to all households in West Coast GRC. Please look through the guide and share the energy saving tips with your family and friends.

Conclusion

Ultimately, while government agencies can roll out many good initiatives to save energy, they will only bear fruit if everyone makes some lifestyle adjustments to conserve energy. You may think your role is just too small to make a difference. However, when you multiply that with the efforts of everyone in your home, your block and your constituency, it will all add up to make a huge difference. So I hope all of you will take that first step and join others who have started to take energy saving measures in their homes.

On that note, I now officially open the Energy SAVE Roadshow@West Coast.Thank you.