Economy

Companies volunteer to reduce carbon emissions

Vice Premier Sean C. Chen (third right) announces the energy-saving and carbon reduction program Aug. 9. (CNA)

• Publication Date：08/10/2010
• Source： Taiwan Today
• By  Kwangyin Liu

Nineteen Taiwanese firms have volunteered to join a government energy-saving and carbon reduction program, the Bureau of Energy under the Ministry of Economic Affairs announced Aug. 9.

The participants, including 12 telecom companies and seven home appliance chain stores that altogether own over 1,700 shops, will aim to cut electricity use by five percent within three years, conserving 53 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 33,000 metric tons each year, the bureau said.

“As Taiwan’s service sector has reduced energy use by 3.6 percent in the past two years, other industries should follow suit, ” Vice Premier Sean C. Chen said.

“Taiwan’s industries must continue to lower environmental costs while seeking economic growth,” Chen added.

Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang said, “The companies are expected to invest NT$450 million (US$14 million) in carbon reduction, and save as much as NT$150 million in electricity bills each year.”

This marks the second phase of the MOEA’s energy-saving program, the first phase of which was launched in 2006 and involved wholesale stores, convenience stores, department stores, supermarkets, shopping malls, hospitals and hotels, the bureau added.

According to the bureau, by the end of 2009, these businesses had saved 720 million kwh of electricity and cut carbon emissions by 456,000 metric tons each year, equivalent to 2.2 times the annual carbon absorption capacity of Kenting National Park on Taiwan’s southernmost Hengchun Peninsula, covering land area of 18,084 hectares and coastal waters stretching over 15,185 hectares. (THN)

Write to Kwangyin Liu at kwangyin.liu@mail.gio.gov.tw