Saving Energy

[bkkexplorer]

Hi,

I recently heard that the television stations are going to stop transmission after midnight. Is there any truth to this? Has this law been passed or is it still only talk. Actually, I've asked a few thai friends and found out this law has been around for about ten years... For myself, having the TV off would only drive me to the computer or watch a DVD or PS2 or something else if I weren't sleeping or out partying. This then defeats the purpose of saving energy right?

May I propose that we make suggestions on more practical ways of saving energy. Slashing outdoor advertising to an earlier time for starters. Whether it be neon signs or billboards. And more importantly, sticking and enforcing whatever rules they put into place to see what effect it has...

Next...

[expatinasia]

It's apparent that the Thai government has no viable plans, either short-or-long term, to save energy. I was surprised to see that even the newest buildings had single-paned windows, and the air conditioners aren't SEER rated. Although the government will force TV broadcasters off the air at midnight, what is that going to save? Nothing. Short-term plans could include mandating interior temperatures - some places are so cold, you need a sweater. Too, as popular as a smack in the nose, the government should charge a surtax of B40/liter on gas. Both the MRT and subway would have to add cars to hold the extra passengers. Buses would be full, and the diesel-using merchants wouldn't feel the impact.

Earlier discussions regarding this had several suggestions that were hilarious, generally posted by newbies. My favorites included:

"Turn off every other streetlight". The poster evidently believed that every light has a switch and twice a day, legions of city workers turn the lights on and off.

"Open the stores later, and close them earlier". Thailand tried that 8 months ago, only to lose several billion baht in sales revenue, and not save any energy.

"Keep the air conditioning running all of the time because that uses less energy than trying to cool off a warm room". This PhD candidate is as sharp as the edge of town.

[COBBER]

"Turn off every other streetlight".  The poster evidently believed that every light has a switch and twice a day, legions of city workers turn the lights on and off.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In general most residential street lighting is put up and paid for by the resident or business next to the light and runs through their meter therefore it would not be the legions of city workers turning them on and off , it would be the householder or business owner that would flick the switch to turn them on and off.

[greenwanderer108]

I agree with the point of Thailand being too 'air conditioned'

The production and unnecessary use of ice in this country uses a lot of energy. I just hate the assumption of a bucket of ice every time I order one or two beers in many establishments, or paying 20 baht for a cup of ice with some soda.

I'm not sure I fully got the point of more passenger trains and full busses. That's a good thing right? But the tax on fuel sounds good, to add on to that, I think the overall construction of any more expressways, would save billions baht in construction and energy used to maintain/build them. If this city were more transit/pedestrian friendly, then we could walk and ride bikes to everywhere we go, ultimately saving tons of energy while making everyone more fit.

Taking the stairs: I just hate getting in an elevator and 90 percent of everyone is going to the second or third floor. Most of my Thai friends/girl friend never take the stairs even for floor 2 or 3. It really iritates me.

The last small yet major suggestion is something we all can do but usually never are thinking about it. Everytime you go to 7-11 or Family mart for a beer, snack, or cigarettes, immediately refuse the plastic bag. Sometimes we need them when our grocery list is too big to carry home, but it's too much. If half the people in this city boycotted plastic bags, think of the energy ultimately saved in having to produce more plastic bags to accomadate such a nasty product (plastic comes from oil if I'm not mistaken) Come to think about it, I have of bags/sacklets (not plastic) lying around at home useless. I should start using that for my consumer habbits.

This is a start but of course, I can be the biggest hyprocrit when it comes to my personal philosophies but anyway, always appreciate attempts to raise conciousness. Especially, when it's contructive!

[Crossy]

The trouble is, that many of the best energy saving schemes (double glazing, roof insulation, cavity walls etc) do not have the instant gratification factor that the government wants.

You might encourage people to car share by reducing the expressway toll for vehicles with 2 or more occupants. The in-town bus / car pool lanes just don't work too much abuse and no enforcement.

MRT and BTS do not have the extra cars to add, both are running at maximum peak capacity right now.

We did try turning down the aircon in the office (it's too darn cold) only to be visited about 10 mins later by building services (armed with a very large wrench) who promptly turned it to even colder. Apparently the office next door had noticed that the airflow had reduced and complained that it was busted.

Thus endeth our attempt to reduce consumption.

Edited June 27, 2005 by Crossy

[astral]

The trouble is, that many of the best energy saving schemes (double glazing, roof insulation, cavity walls etc) do not have the instant gratification factor that the government wants.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Roof insulation is easy to do, and quite effective.

Cavity walls means rebuilding the house..........

When I asked about double glazing for my house I just got blank looks

from all the window suppliers. Even the sliding windows that were fitted have great

big gaps all round and are useless for heat and sound insulation purposes.

Solar water heating, or better still power generation are not available here at all,

except at exhorbitant cost. Whereas countries like Greece and Cyprus were pushing these techniques, and giving tax breaks to encourage their use, 30 years ago.

It is all another typical government knee jerk reaction.

Planning is the name of the game, and learning from examples overseas.

Edited June 27, 2005 by astral

[Tornado]

Where I used to live, they would cut the power at 9 and put it back on at 5 regulary (once a month). To this day I think it was a government inside job

I still say we should throw mobile phone chargers out, no battery, no interuptions - bah humbug!

[Donnyboy]

install some windmills by the debating chamber in the govt building to harness the hot air coming out!!

[Jai Dee]

Fill your refrigerator to the brim with biachang... once cool it will assist maintaining temperature inside, so the fridge does not use so much electricity, so your energy bill will be lower.