I would like to applaud President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) call to the public to "switch off and save" ("Switch off and save," July 1, page 2), and his support for the "Switching off on the Summer Solstice" energy-saving campaign. Taiwan's overwhelming reliance on imported energy means that all members of society will need to find ways to conserve what Taiwan does not have in abundance.
Taiwan relies on energy imports for greater than 90 percent of its energy needs which is an unhealthy and already precarious dependence on dwindling foreign energy resources.
With that said, I was shocked to read a declaration ("Price hikes are necessary, new Taipower chief says," July 3, page 3) by incoming Taipower chairman Morgan Hwang (
He then said that the time had come to seriously consider price hikes to encourage citizens to take conservation seriously.
Being a Canadian, I grew up in a country that is blessed with an abundance of cheap energy. Canadians have long taken this for granted, and sadly our per-capita energy use leads the world.
However, this does not mean that we do not do our part to conserve energy. In Canada we rely on an intricate system of doors and windows to keep heat in and cold out or vice-versa, depending on the season.
It works like this: When you pass through a door, close it behind you. If your business or home does not have a door then consider investing in one. You will recoup the cost of the doors and windows when you consider how much you will be saving on your energy bills over the long-term.
If you are worried that you are shutting yourself off from your friends or customers, do not despair -- glass doors and windows are now available, too!
Personally, I enjoy the fact that I can walk down numerous shopping streets here in Chiayi in virtually air-conditioned comfort due to the open storefronts.
However, citizens and merchants need to realize that this wasteful practice will need to change since Taiwan's reliance on seemingly inexpensive energy cannot last forever.
Bjorn Petersen
Chiayi
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