The Institute For Tourism Studies (IFT) acts positively on development in recent years, with the number of its faculty and staff increased by 11% and students by 12% respectively in last academic year. However, its power consumption in the second half of 2008 decreased 9% compared to the same period in 2007. Thus, electricity expenditure of more than a month could be saved in a year. Moreover, the paper consumption of the institute decreased 10% compared to 2007. How does IFT balance the seemingly contradictory targets of expanding and saving resources?
IFT says that they have always been focused on environmental protection in every detail of both hardware setup and operation management since its establishment, and these are exactly the details helping the institute saving resources. As a government department, IFT participated in the “Project of Energy Efficiency and Conservation in Public Departments”, which was held last year by Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau and Office for Development of the Energy Sector, in order to seek for further reinforcement on environmental protection in the campus.
All begin with the air conditioning and lighting systems
Air-conditioning and lighting systems consume most energy in general institutions and organisations. Therefore, IFT adopted a series of measures to minimise the power consumption in these two areas. To save energy on air conditioning, IFT tries to draw wind and fresh air into its buildings by installing ventilation systems, reduce the use of air conditioners and make full use of fans. If there is a need to switch on the air-conditioner, the indoor temperature will be adjusted to around 25 degrees Celsius to avoid consuming unnecessary power.
Furthermore, the faculty and staff are asked to close the doors and windows properly when using the air-conditioners, thus reducing the amount of outgoing cool air and incoming warm air. Sun control films are used in certain interior facilities to lower indoor temperature. IFT also installs high-efficiency air conditioning systems to replace the old ones, and conducts regular inspection and cleaning to enhance their performance and increase service life.
On lighting, IFT has already replaced all T8 fluorescent lamps and old ballasts with the more energy-efficient T5 lamps and electronic ballasts, saving up about 30% of electricity. The institute has also installed infra-red motion and occupancy sensors in some low-usage areas and removed excessive lighting. All the light-box directional signs have been replaced by light-emitting diode (LED) ones. All these methods reduce the power consumption of its lighting systems.
In order to save paper and toner, the Institute has installed scanners in all departments so that all internal documents could be sent in electronic format and need not to be printed and photocopied. The institute also keeps up with new technology, minimising the number of printouts by using e-signatures.
Pousada de Mong-Ha named as Green Hotel
The training unit of the Institute For Tourism Studies – Pousada de Mong-Ha was named as a Green Hotel at the Green Hotel Award Contest organised by the Environment Council last year. The institute points out that the Pousada has adopted a series of measures on energy saving and promoted green awareness to its guests.
For example, the Pousada tries to procure green products, replace disposable plastic soap and shampoo dispensers with beautiful handcraft porcelain containers and provide reusable shopping bags to guests. Moreover, it provides free internet access in every guest room so that guests may access to their preferred news websites. Therefore, the Pousada needs not to give free newspaper to their guests, thus reducing the amount of paper used and enhance service quality.
For guests staying for more than one night, bed sheets and towels will only be replaced upon request. In this way, water and electricity used in the process of rinsing can be minimised.
For the sake of environmental protection, IFT believes that it is necessary for its faculty, staff and students to adopt environmental-friendly habits. Thus, the institute encourages them to participate in the activities initiated by environmental protection agencies and organizations, such as garbage classification and recycling, Casual Wear Day, Casual Wear Month, Earth Hour, etc.
In addition, friendly reminders about switching off lamps and air-conditioners and saving water and paper can be found in every office, classroom, washrooms and almost every corner in the institute.
IFT says that after years of promotion and education, a certain degree of awareness in environmental protection has been built among its members. Although some people may still associate environmental protection with troublesomeness, IFT believes that once these green habits have been formed, environmental protection practices can be observed without taking the slightest effort.
2009 MIECF opens on Thursday
Should you require more information on environmental protection and respective business opportunities, please participate in the 2009 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition, which is to be opened on Thursday (2nd April). Please contact the 2009 MIECF Secretariat at: Telephone: 853-8798 9675, Fax: 853-2872 8213, Email: info@macaomiecf.com , or visit the official website: www.macaomiecf.com for details.
