Energy Efficiency has become one of the keys to conserving energy resources especially in anticipating the decreasing fossil fuel stocks as the worldwide primary energy in most of the countries while at the same time helping to reduce GHG emission from fossil fuel utilization. Understanding the importance and urgency to support the energy efficient would foster the development of energy efficiency initiatives in respective countries.
The International Energy Agency and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia share the same goals to boost energy efficiency development especially among government institutions, professionals, and supporting organizations, especially across Southeast Asia. To achieve the goal, the International Energy Agency and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia held an “Energy Efficiency Training Week for Southeast Asia” in Jakarta, Indonesia from 16-20 July 2018. The aim of the training week was to bring together energy efficiency professionals from government institutions and supporting organizations across Southeast Asia as ‘next generation’ agencies of energy efficiency. The participants will become part of the international energy efficiency community with an extensive support network as they progress through their careers.
In this momentum, IIEE was given the opportunity to join the training week by sending 4 of its employees to the training, those were Nataliawati Siahaan, Friga Siera, Thisya Meutia Sari and Rio Pradana. The 4 (four) employees were divided to join 3 (three) parallel courses which were Lighting, Appliances, and Equipment (LAE), Data & Statistic and Policy and Programme Evaluation. The joining was made prior to submitting an application through Online Application Course facilitated by IEA and passed the selection stage. Along with IIEE, there were at least 200 participants from different institutions in Malaysia, Cambodia, Brunei, Thailand, Vietnam, Lao PDR, China, Myanmar, Philippines, Pakistan, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Oman.
In order to build capacity among junior policymakers, and to equip them with greater knowledge and skills in developing energy efficiency initiatives in their respective countries, 6 parallel courses with the different subject were conducted. Those subjects are 1) buildings; 2) industry; 3) lighting, appliances, and equipment; 4) transport; 5) statistics; and 6) policy and programme evaluation. The 6 parallel courses were conducted on the 2nd – 4th day while on the 1st and 5th day all participants gathered in one room receiving the same materials. Each course offered a mix of lectures, interactive discussions, practical exercises and all participants on the 3rd day took part in a site visit. The programme also included joint sessions on assessing the potential for energy efficiency, tracking progress, communication campaigns, and finance as well as a special focus on valuing the social and economic benefits of energy efficiency measures. By the end of the 4th day (July 19, 2018), a quiz being taken to evaluate and measure participants increased capacity and knowledge. Later on, each participant was asked the benefits acquired by joining the training and what contribution will be made subsequently.
On the last day (July 20, 2018), altogether participants were divided into 15 groups by countries sitting in roundtables. Each group should name itself with ear-catching names. At the half of the day, each group was tasked to create a presentation to resolve the following issues:
- For countries with fossil fuel subsidies, the government wanted to reduce or remove fossil fuel subsidies and would like to come up with ways to reduce energy consumption
- For countries without fossil fuel subsidies, the government wanted to reduce the energy consumption
Each participant needed to 1) define priorities and objectives for their own country; 2) select policy packages to meet those objectives, and 3) good communication campaign to support it. Each group then was asked to perform the presentation and facilitators would pick 3 winners as the best presentations out of the 15 groups presentations. The first winner went to one of the Indonesian groups, namely PAHE (PerempuAn Hemat Energi/Energy-Saving Woman) where two of IIEE members were involved; Friga Siera and Rio Pradana. The winning point of this group’s presentation was the inclusion of women as an integral part of the campaign which was delivered within a video playback made by the group. The designated video also was objected to achieve one of the Sustainable Development Goals, delivering the messages that women played crucial parts in family matters, such as taking decisions on the choosing home appliances or spending money for cooking fuel. Hopefully, through the video, women’s awareness on taking parts to support energy efficiency program could be increased and subsequently enable women to buy home-appliances with energy efficient label or to apply energy-saving lifestyle at home.
In the form of appreciation for the participation, each of the winning presentations’ team was rewarded with a book of “The Infographic Energy Transition Coloring Book”.
Besides the presentations contest, there was also a personal photo contest for participants which opened on Day 1 and ended on Day 5. The photo should be uploaded in social media platforms such as Twitter or Instagram with hashtag #energyefficientworld and contained the message of energy efficiency or inefficiency. The first winner also went to one of the IIEE members, Nataliawati Siahaan’s photo. Below is the 1st winning photo.
The first winning photo contest
Before the last day ended, there was a speech note delivered by the newly appointed officer as Conservation Director, Mr. Ir. Hariyanto, MT at the Directorate of Energy Conservation of Directorate General of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (DGREEC) of Ministry Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR). The event finally ended after the host awarded each of participant a graduation certificate and photoshoot of each course-group along with its respective lecturers
Certificate awarded after completing the course of Policy and Programme Evaluation by Charles Michaelis to Nataliawati Siahaan (above); the course of Light, Appliance & Equipment by Mark Ellis to Friga Siera Ragina (below)
