EDP invests over R$27 million in Energy Efficiency in SP and ES concession areas
In 2015, projects generated estimated savings of 35,041 MWh/year and raised energy efficiency awareness
On the week of World Energy Efficiency Day (March 5, 2015), EDP - a company engaged in electricity generation, trading and supply - invested R$27.6 million in energy efficiency measures, reaching 173 thousand consumers.
Such measures are expected to result in estimated energy savings of 35,040 MWh/year. The measures were implemented in the states of São Paulo and Espírito Santo, involving initiatives such as the planning and implementation of energy efficiency projects in communities, companies, public hospitals, and charitable organizations; dissemination of information on sustainable practices; and the replacement of old devices with more efficient ones.
"2015 results confirm that our initiatives are having a palpable positive impact on society, fostering rational use of electric power," says Michel Itkes, EDP Vice Chief Executive Officer for Distribution.
Energy savings generated by EDP investments would be enough to supply 14,600 families, with an average consumption of 200 kWh/month, for a year.
Projects implemented in 2015
The Boa Energia na Comunidade and Agentes da Boa Energia programs stood out as the Company most important initiatives last year, benefiting 27,330 customers. Intended for low-income families, the projects focus on the regularization of consuming units, thereby improving energy quality and safety. The company also helps local communities register for the CadÚnico program so that they can benefit from the so-called Social Tariff, which provides discounts of up to 65% on the electricity bill.
The program has also been designed to promote changes in consumption habits by having employees share energy efficiency tips with consumers. Moreover, old refrigerators are replaced with new ones (rated A by Procel/Inmetro) and incandescent light bulbs are replaced with fluorescent bulbs.
By alerting educators and students to the importance of energy safety and efficiency, the Boa Energia nas Escolas program was another important contribution to the company energy efficiency projects in 2015. The program provided public school teachers with educational material on the topic,
enabling them to share energy efficiency tips with 144,500 students scattered across EDP concession areas, both in the state of São Paulo and in the state of Espírito Santo. To help disseminate basic energy concepts and information, the company also visited several schools with the Good Energy Truck, a vehicle turned itinerant laboratory that shares energy efficiency concepts in a creative way, with experiments, games, comic books, 3D movies and even a model that simulates domestic power consumption.
A program titled Boa Energia Solar was another important front in the company effort to raise energy efficiency awareness. The program focused on the implementation of domestic solar water heating systems and smart showers, thereby reducing the energy bill in a sustainable manner. In 2015, 1,194 EDP customers benefited from this initiative.
