MANILA – Lower energy demand was observed in Visayas and Mindanao while consumption in Luzon did not decline during the Earth Hour 2020, an energy official said Monday.
In a Viber message, Energy Utilization Management Bureau Director Patrick Aquino told the Philippine News Agency that 35.5 megawatts of energy were saved nationwide as the country observed this year’s Earth Hour from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. last Saturday.
The 35.5 MW is equivalent to 113,600 households consuming 150 kilowatt-hours for one month.
He said the power demand in the Visayas during the Earth Hour was lower by 19.9 MW, while power usage in Mindanao was down by 15.6 MW.
“With Luzon under enhanced community quarantine, we note that while lights may have been switched off, (but) aircons were still in operation,” he added.
Energy savings during Earth Hour last year was at 195 MW. The country recorded its highest energy savings on Earth Hour a decade ago with power consumption down by 606 MW.
Earth Hour is organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature that aims to promote awareness of energy consumption and its impact on the environment.
The Philippines is one of the more than 180 countries that participated in this annual international movement.
This year’s Earth Hour is different from the past years as the world is facing the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Many countries implemented quarantine and prohibited mass gatherings. (PNA)
