(12/15/2007)
Greenpeace in cooperation with the Bali Hotel Association (BHA) and the Owner of Bali's Nusa Dua Complex – the Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC) used the occasion of the United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to announce the launch of a new energy reduction program for Bali's hotel industry.
Switch Off, Unplug, Enjoy
The energy conservation program, dubbed Switch off, Unplug, Enjoy – Energy Efficient Bali, was launched on board Greenpeace's fabled Rainbow Warrior docked at Bali's Benoa Harbor.
The program, based on a survey conducted by Greenpeace among 15 hotels in Nusa Dua in November 2007, outlines the steps than can be taken by hotels to reduce energy consumption and preserve the world's natural environment.
The program which has been strongly endorsed by Indonesia's Minister for the Environment, Rachmat Witoelar, is aimed at all hotels, guest houses, restaurants, cafes and entertainment venues in Bali. Socialization of the program will be done through a series of educational seminars conducted among tourism industry members.
The Bali energy conservation program has set for itself an ambitious energy reduction target of 40% within one year of its commencement.
Data published by the Jakarta Post states that 70% of peak hour electricity consumption in the Badung regency of Bali is sourced to hotels. Under the new program a number of energy reduction steps will be introduced, including the installation of solar panels for hotel hot water production.
One Bali hotelier estimated that a medium-sized property could cut electricity costs by as much as US$30,000 in a single year through the use of solar panels for hot water generation.
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