ITRI takes steps to cut electricity use by 6 percent

The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has implemented measures to save energy and cut carbon emissions, with the goal of reducing the research institution’s electricity consumption by around 6 percent.

The measures are expected to help the ITRI reduce its carbon footprint by 4.6 million tonnes, which is equivalent to planting 400,000 trees, the institute said.

Peng Shen-hsuan (彭申炫), head of the engineering division of the institute’s administrative services department, said that the program focused in part on the air conditioning and lighting systems.

The measures include keeping air conditioners at no lower than 26°C to 28°C, as well as integrating the pipes for air conditioning and cold water, which should cut the institute’s electricity bills by 30 percent, Peng said.

The institute has also replaced standard incandescent light bulbs with more environmentally friendly T5 fluorescent light bulbs, which is expected to cut electricity costs by 30 percent, he said.

The institute has also installed motion-sensor lighting as well as timers in outdoor areas and hallways and has replaced 50 watt halogen spotlight lamps with energy-saving 5 watt light-emitting-diode (LED) spotlights, which should cut the amount of electricity used on this lighting by 80 percent to 90 percent, he said.

Meanwhile, Tsai Ying-hsiung (蔡英雄), director of the ITRI’s administrative services department, said the institute was developing a power distribution control system that was expected to cut electricity costs by about NT$12.8 million per year.

Huang Yi-hsiao (黃奕孝), head of the environment and health research division at the institute, said most companies had equipment like copy machines and dispensers for drinking water, but most managers were unaware of how much electricity they consume. He said that automated shut-down devices and timers on such machines could help a company save about 20 percent on its electricity bills.

The ITRI is also installing displays in elevators that show how much electricity the elevator has consumed that day to encourage staff to take an eco-friendlier form of transport: the stairs.