ILOILO CITY – Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes on Friday announced the launching of a campaign to switch from incandescent bulbs to fluorescent lamps as part of the country's energy-saving efforts.

Reyes, also chair of the Presidential Task Force on Climate Change, said the “Switch” campaign will involve “fundamental changes in lifestyle, behavior and standard practices” that will contribute to efforts to address the massive impact of skyrocketing oil prices and climate change.

He made the announcement in a speech during the opening of the multi-sectoral regional dialog on climate change, energy and development here.

The campaign, which will be conducted in the next six months, will also involve community-based efforts to shift from traditional sources of energy to renewal sources.

Changes in the use of lighting facilities will result to savings of energy amid record high prices of oil products in the world market.

The public will be encouraged to switch from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent lamps and other energy-efficient lighting technologies.

Replacing 60-watt incandescent bulbs with equivalent 13-watt CFLs would be equivalent to savings of at least 50 mw in equivalent power generation, said Reyes.

He said that by shifting to a $1.5 million worth of CFLs, the country can forego the installation of power station worth $50 million.

The campaign would also involve switching to more energy-efficient appliances and practices in homes and workplaces and from petroleum-based fuels to alternative fuels.

Reyes said the country should prepare for the impact of global warming by drafting plans and programs to mitigate the impact and adapt to changing environmental conditions.

The dialogue is the first of a series that will be conducted in regions that seek to assess the degree of vulnerability to the effects of global warming and to design appropriate response programs.

Global warming is a worldwide phenomenon involving the continued increase in atmospheric temperature, which has caused significant changes in weather patterns including rising sea levels, intense storms, flash floods and extended droughts.

Scientists and environmentalists have blamed the this phenomenon on human activities and mainly to emission of rising volumes of carbon dioxide and other toxic substances.*NPB

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