The National Environment Agency (NEA) is leading a multi-agency taskforce to further enhance energy efficiency in major sectors of energy use in Singapore.

Chaired by the NEA, the Energy Efficiency Programme Office or E²PO comprises the Energy Market Authority (EMA), Economic Development Board (EDB), Building and Construction Authority (BCA), Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) as members.

The agencies will oversee various key sectors under their charge: the EMA for power generation, the EDB for industry, the BCA for buildings, the LTA for transport, the NEA for households and A*Star for research and development.

The E²PO will harness the combined expertise of the agencies to develop a holistic energy efficiency national plan for Singapore, which will have a strategic focus on the following areas:

• Promoting the adoption of energy efficient technologies and measures by addressing existing market barriers to such adoption
• Building capability to drive and sustain energy efficiency efforts and to develop the local knowledge base and expertise in energy management
• Raising awareness of energy efficiency among businesses and the public so as to stimulate energy efficient behaviour and practices
• Supporting R&D to enhance Singapore’s capability in energy efficient technologies

NEA’s Chief Executive Officer Lee Yuen Hee said: “An inter-agency approach to promoting energy efficiency is crucial because there is no one size fits all solution. Different sectors and companies face unique circumstances which are best addressed by sectoral responses.” Explaining the importance of energy efficiency as a strategy to mitigate climate change, Mr Lee added: “We are focused on energy efficiency because it helps conserve resources, improves the cost competitiveness of our businesses and enhances our air quality. A 2006 report on the world’s energy outlook by the International Energy Agency noted that energy efficiency can reduce the projected CO2 emissions by over 60% by 2030.”

Singapore has made great strides in energy efficiency. Its energy intensity, often taken as a proxy for energy efficiency, improved by 15% between 1990 and 2005 because of a series of effective macro-policies and initiatives which have led to more efficient use of energy in industries and households.

Among these is the adoption of better technology in power generation. Singapore’s implementation of a competitive electricity market that incentivises efficient power generation has led to a switch from less efficient and carbon intensive oil-fired plants to more efficient, clean and low carbon gas-fired systems.

In 2006, 78% of Singapore's electricity was generated by natural gas-fired combined cycle generation technology, the most energy efficient technology currently available. Between 2000 and 2006, overall power generation efficiency improved from 38% to 44%.

Mr Lee noted that the formation of E²PO comes at a time when there has been a sea change in attitude towards climate change and the term is no longer an exclusive term understood only by environmental experts, scientists or activists.

There is now broad support and universal recognition that we all have a responsibility to mitigate climate change. Whether you are the proverbial man in the street or a multinational corporation with businesses spanning many continents, everyone has a role to play in making energy efficiency part of our daily lives and business

The E²PO is pleased to present E² Singapore, which is a compendium of the current measures and some of the future plans for our various sectors, to mitigate carbon emissions and improve energy use.