"Saving electricity - Making it a habit" is the message of the electricity saving program for the period 2020-2025, aimed at implementing Directive 20/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister on strengthening electricity saving. This is also the theme chosen by the Ministry of Industry and Trade to spread to the community in the Earth Hour campaign in 2024 with two objectives: contributing to ensuring electricity supply and protecting the environment. In Thanh Hoa, Earth Hour was first organized in 2013 to join the whole country and the world in spreading this meaningful message.
Thanh Hoa City Power Company has put up banners to promote the Earth Hour 2024 campaign.
In response to the 2024 Earth Hour campaign, the Center for Industrial Promotion and Energy Saving under the Department of Industry and Trade of Thanh Hoa province collaborated with media agencies to publish and broadcast reports and articles to promote and encourage the entire community and businesses to participate in Earth Hour 2024.
Along with conveying the message "Saving electricity - Make it a habit" of the Earth Hour campaign, through propaganda work, the unit calls on people, communities and businesses to take practical actions to save electricity and protect the environment, such as: limiting the number of times and the time refrigerator doors are opened, making full use of available natural light, setting air conditioner temperatures appropriately, sharing one TV, choosing energy-saving appliances, limiting the use of single-use plastic bags, unplugging electrical outlets when leaving the house or at night, turning off motorbike engines when traffic lights are on for longer than 16 seconds, disposing of garbage in designated areas and maintaining public hygiene, and actively planting trees whenever possible at home, in the office and where you travel .
According to the head of the Center for Industrial Promotion and Energy Saving, visual forms of communication have also been actively implemented. The unit has coordinated with Thanh Hoa Power Company to promote the Earth Hour campaign by having local authorities hang banners on the main streets of Thanh Hoa City and at the headquarters of affiliated power companies. This communication campaign aims to encourage all citizens to participate by turning off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances during Earth Hour, thereby spreading awareness and creating positive changes in energy saving and efficient energy use.
In response to the 2024 Earth Hour campaign, along Phan Chu Trinh street, in addition to the streetlights, many agencies, organizations, and businesses switched off all LED lights, billboard lights, decorative lighting, and other unnecessary electrical equipment.
In Thanh Hoa City, the electro-optical lighting system in Lam Son Square and along the entire Phan Chu Trinh street was also switched off. Many families actively participated in the program.
Ms. Hoang Thi Phuong, from Phu Son ward (Thanh Hoa City), shared: “Although we live in an apartment with a relatively small area, the awareness of turning off and reducing unnecessary electrical appliances not only saves costs for the family but also contributes to environmental protection. Therefore, I always remind my relatives to use electricity economically. The children at school are also educated about this issue, so they are becoming more responsible in using electrical appliances. In particular, my family regularly participates in the "Earth Hour" campaign by turning off all electrical devices during the event as requested.”
Along with individuals, many businesses are also clearly aware of and increasingly taking clearer and more responsible actions in using electricity efficiently, especially key businesses with high electricity consumption. For example, at Hanoi Beer - Thanh Hoa Joint Stock Company, the company pays special attention to optimizing operations to save energy and minimize emissions at the factory; at the same time, it encourages its staff to propose solutions and technical improvements that bring production efficiency to the company and fulfill its social responsibility in environmental protection. Many initiatives such as biogas regeneration, using renewable steam in the heating and cooling system, and investing in new high-efficiency boiler technology have reduced coal consumption by up to 15% per year.
Entering 2024, Thanh Hoa Power Company also focused on implementing a non-commercial Demand Response (DR) program for high-energy-consumption customers through proactive meetings, discussions, and agreement signing; with an emphasis on supporting energy audits to improve the grid load factor. The company's Electricity Saving Steering Committee also worked with and signed commitments with customers regarding electricity saving and load shifting. Based on this, and using the allocated available capacity, the company will calculate the capacity that needs to be regulated for each power plant as a basis for calculating the capacity that needs to be shifted for each customer, especially for customers with consumption of #1 million kWh/year.
According to forecasts, electricity supply shortages will continue in 2024 and the following years, especially during the peak dry season months in the North. Currently, many power generation and grid projects are being urgently implemented, particularly the 500kV transmission line project (circuit 3) from Quang Trach - Quang Binh to Pho Noi (Hung Yen), which will transmit electricity from the Central to the North; and the 220kV Nam Sum - Nong Cong transmission line project (the section within Vietnam) serving electricity imports from Laos, which the Government is decisively directing construction of. However, the first and most practical source of electricity that needs to be actively supported by the community to reduce power outages during shortages is the electricity obtained from efficient and economical electricity use and solutions.
Text and photos: Minh Hang
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