An estimated 300 companies are participating in the energy conservation program after initial results showed a 30 percent reduction in energy consumption of program participants, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) said.

ECCP vice president for external affairs Henry Schumacher said close to 300 companies nationwide are expected to take part in the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) annual forum aimed promoting energy efficiency in the country.

Already on its fourth year, the Philippine Energy Efficiency Forum (PEEF) with the theme "Sustaining the  Energy Efficiency Initiatives in the Philippines" is expected to gather companies from across all industries with the ECCP staging the event in Manila, Cebu, and Davao next month.

Schumacher said this year's edition of the event will focus on the initiatives and projects the chamber has accomplished together with its partner companies.

"Over the last three years, the ECCP conducted energy audits for companies and held continuous best practices seminars,  forums, and workshops on energy efficiency. We believe there is already an under-standing among companies in the country on the importance of being energy efficient," Schumacher said.

Last month alone, the ECCP signed the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to an agreement that aims to encourage locators in eco zones nationwide to invest in energy efficiency.

The ECCP's Energy Smart Program, which has been established in 2010 during the initial PEEF, has been tasked to promote good housekeeping and appropriate investments that will lead to reductions in energy usage among PEZA companies.

Outside of PEZA, the ECCP has been conducting for the last three years at the very least walk through audits of companies that voluntarily asked for assistance on how they could become energy efficient.

Signed under a non-disclosure rule, the companies are from the information technology, property, hospital, SME, logistics, electronics, utility, and hospitality industries.

Schumacher expects to have top government officials, local government units, non-government organizations, and the academe to also take part in this year's forum.

"The ECCP wants to have a broad alliance with various stakeholders to ensure that we sustain the growth we have achieved and to further the innovative approaches and sustain¬ able solutions on energy efficiency," Schumacher said.

This year's edition of the PEEF is in partnership with the International Finance Corporation and the International Copper Association.

Source: Manila Bulletin; News; 02 July 2013