26th September 2018 The Ministry of MEIDECC and its Department of Energy in collaboration with the PCREEE join hands to mark Tonga’s first participation in the World Green Building Week (WGBW).
WGBW is a worldwide annual event and one of the global initiatives of the World Green Building Council Network is to motivate and empower all to deliver greener buildings.
“Our offices are second homes to most of us. We spend most of our time during the day in these buildings. It is therefore crucial that the buildings that house our offices are not only clean and green but it should also promote Energy Efficiency and a healthier lifestyle,” said Dr Tevita Tukunga, Acting CEO for MEIDECC.
As part of the campaign, MEIDECC and PCREEE started on a small scale by making their office space greener, healthier and more energy efficient. The office wastes are being segregated and with the assistance of a local botanist the department also introduced CO2 consuming pot plants to be used in the office. PCREEE also joins the department’s staff in conducting energy auditing and changing the office lights to LED. The department and PCREEE will replicate this good practice to the remaining floors and office spaces of the ministry.
Manager of PCREEE Mr Solomone Fifita said, “Addressing climate change and waste disposal issues on a global scale, starts with small activities like these. We can’t change the world overnight, but we can all do our part, no matter how small it is.”
A Radio talk-back show and a few awareness programmes will be hosted by the Energy Department in the future to share the week’s experiences and will be on going as an annual event.
ENDS
Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications.