FAISALABAD, Dec 19: Economics policies introduced in 2005 resulted in import of non-productive electric appliances which widened the gap between electricity demand and supply in the country.

According to speakers who spoke at a seminar on `energy conservation’ here on Friday, efforts were needed to raise heat resistant buildings besides promoting greenery to conserve energy.

The seminar was hosted jointly by the Faisalabad Electricity Supply Company (Fesco) and University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, jointly at the UAF New Senate Hall.

Among the speakers were Fesco chief Ahmed Saeed Akhtar, UAF Vice-Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmed, Faisalabad Chamber President Hamid Javeed and Council of Looms Owners Chairman Waheed Khaliq Ramay.

Saeed Akhtar said conscious efforts were need to be practiced at all levels, including offices, residences, factories and schools to save even a unit for sustainable growth of industries.

He said the Asian Development Bank had granted Rs 2 billion credit to Fesco for revamping the infrastructure to cope with the emerging global trends.

He said the Fesco had initiated the establishment of an `energy audit cell’ at every factory to recommend owners workable measures for energy conservation.

The Fesco chief stressed the need for harnessing all sources of energy generation, particularly coal. UAF VC Dr Iqrar Ahmed said consumers needed to be informed on energy conservation. He said students and housewives should be sensitized on using spotlight instead of illuminating the entire room.

He was optimistic that by successfully conveying the message of energy conservation and by taking at least half of the 2.7 million Fesco clients on board “we can overcome power crisis in the region.”

The FCCI president suggested power generation through gas and coal instead of costly imported furnace oil. He said energy demand was surging with every passing day and the country had to use its Thar coal.

Mr Ramay said power looms had to suffer badly due to current spell of loadshedding as income of 500,000 workers engaged with this sector had reduced by 70 per cent.

He urged the participants to employ every possible mean for energy conservation right from homes to schools and industries.

Fesco engineer Muzaffar Abbas urged people to use maximum daylight in rooms, avoid over-illumination which had negative impacts on human health, use spotlights at reading and working tables, install energy savers instead of bulbs and tube lights.

He pointed out that we could conserve energy by designing zero-light building, by using light tunnels, green environment of thee to six degrees, and by using light colours in rooms.