OBSERVING Earth Day by switching off lights for one hour does
not send the right message about saving the environment. It is also
not efficient as without lights, that one hour is wasted as no work
can be done.
A better way is to promote switching off all air-conditioners
for one day. This way, life can go on as usual and no time is
wasted. Also, switching off lights for one hour does not save as
much energy as switching off air-conditioners.
Offices are usually enclosed, so air-conditioners cannot be
switched off totally, but they can be reduced to a minimum. Many
public places like shopping centres, offices and Changi Airport
have their air-conditioners switched to imitate winter. Much of the
time, people wear jackets in offices. I am sure a lot of energy can
be saved if the air-conditioners in these places are reduced to a
more comfortable level.
Tan Lee Hwang (Ms)