By MYLA IGLESIAS

The Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that households using compact fluorescent lights or T-8 flourescent lights instead of incandescent bulbs can save as much as 80 percent of their lighting cost.

And if 1 milllion households use this type of energy saving fixture, it will mean the government need not put up a 50 megawatt plant and instead use the P2 billion it will save for other social services.

"What we have here is a movement that would demonstrate how ordinary people and all sectors of our society cope with skyrocketing oil prices and climate change," said Angelo Reyes energy secretary.

Data from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) showed that one million 13-watt CFLs, which have the same lighting power compared with a million 60-watt incandescent bulbs, save at least 47 megawatts at the customers' end.

The 47-megawatt difference in the power requirement of the million CFLs would mean the country can forego the construction of one 50-megawatt power plant costing $50 million, it said.

DOE estimates put the number of Filipino households at 15 million, with each household using at least three light bulbs.

"What needs to be done is for people to make fundamental changes in lifestyle and energy consumption habits. The switch to CFLs is one such fundamental change we Filipinos can effect to realize big savings in fuel and in the cost of constructing power plants," he added.

A former environment secretary, Reyes also emphasized the positive impact on the environment of reducing the country's overall energy consumption, especially energy derived from highly polluting petroleum products like oil, gasoline and diesel.

President Arroyo and Angelo Reyes energy secretary will preside

today over the ceremonial SWITCH to CFLs and T-8s of 16 Metro Manila cities and one municipality.

SWITCH has brought together critical players in the social mobilization for energy security, including those from the national and local governments, non-government organizations, civil society, business, transportation, church, youth and the academe.

The movement aims to switch from: Inefficient to efficient energy practices - starting with lighting, in workplaces, buildings, homes, public places; Petroleum-based fuels to alternative fuels and cleaner technologies in the transport sector; Kerosene to renewable energy sources for lighting and basic electricity in remote rural areas; Fossil fuel-based technologies to renewable energy technologies in power generation, where feasible at the local level; Vestiges of centralized consultative energy planning to more participative bottom-up energy planning at the local level

The main ceremonial venue for the launch today of SWITCH will be the PICC where President Arroyo will preside over the ceremonial switch to CFLs.

Activities in the city halls of four of participating Metro Manila cities will be seen at the screens set up at the PICC.

Simultaneously, the cities led by the mayors will change incandescent bulbs and 40-watt fluorescent bulbs to CFLs and T-8s in their city halls, while the vice mayors and councilors will make the switch at a designated public school and public market.

SWITCH concretizes the most strategic social mobilization plans and activities arising from the Jan. 28-Feb. 5 Energy Summit organized by Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes to find solutions to the skyrocketing prices of oil and other petroleum products in the world and local markets.