A practical class

Le Thi Ut Van (head of Group 21, KP2, Ward 2, District 6) confides: "I often read newspapers, watch television programs on energy efficiency so I know much about the risk of energy shortage. Previously, my family did realize the need to save energy, but back then, I thought it was simply to reduce electricity cost only. After participating in training sessions of the Association, I realize that besides electricity there’s petrol, gas stove ... which also need appropriate use to save natural resources and reduce environmental pollution”.

Not only Van had the opportunity to participate in the energy efficiency training sessions, but over 90 thousand members of Women’s Associations at 24 districts of Ho Chi Minh City has ‘graduated’ from the course. The training focused on some issues such as how to choose, design and install household devices, how to use household energy efficiency equipment like lighting system, air conditioner, refrigerator, washing machine, television, motorcycle.

After the training sessions at the Women’s Union at Binh Thanh District, Luu Thi Trang happily said: “During the days of increasing prices, besides food and clothing expenses, energy usage should be calculated carefully. Before, my family used to pay 200,000 dong per month for electric bill; now after the training, I feel we can totally achieve the goal of reducing power consumption to below 150 thousand dong just by using more economically and efficiently without having to cut down our electricity demand.

Saving and competing

When we visited  Doan Thi Thu Hang’s in Phu Loi Hamlet, Phu Hoa Dong commune, Cu Chi District, she was glad to say that her family has received support from the District’s association to build a biogas pit. As her family’s main income comes from pig raising, she has a pig sty that had always been complaint of foul smell; but she had not known how to fix it. After participating in the energy efficiency training sessions of the District’s association, she found out that biogas pit could be a practical and economical resolution. So without delay, she drew up petition to borrow money to build the pit. So far her family has saved an average of 250,000 to 300,000 dong of gas cost per month.

Before, without the financial support from the City Women's Union, some counties of Ho Chi Minh City already funded the implementation of a model using electricity from solar energy for many years. The model has been achieving very satisfying results. Using a set of Solar Panel panels, solar energy systems at home can convert solar energy into other forms of energy such as heat and electricity for daily use in the family. So far, the city’s authority has supported a million dong for each household using this model.

"The total electricity bills that all households in Vietnam have to pay is VND5,200 billion/year. If each household just saves 10% of their electricity consumption, the amount saved will be a really big number. So, since July 3th 2010, ECC together with Ho Chi Minh City’s Women’s Union have called for 100,000 households to practice power saving. This is the first time the program has been implemented in a large scale – throughout the city. So far, about 90,000 households registered with the call for lower electricity bills by 9% in 2010", said Mr. Huynh Kim Tuoc – Director of Energy Efficiency Center (ECC) in Ho Chi Minh City.

Energy efficiency has no longer been theoretical or short-time response, but has deeply become the consciousness of citizens and come into the life of each household. By the end of November 2010, eight teams and 100 individuals of 24 districts will be awarded by the City’s Women’s Union for having many initiatives in practicing energy efficiency – a program launched by the City’s Association since March 2010.

By Nguyen An