Nature Trust has called for a greater national effort to introduce and sustain the use of green concepts in the energy area - the use of renewable energy, a change in the consumption pattern and the use of energy-saving appliances.

NT said that on August 25 Enemalta recorded its highest peak for energy demand, scaling 397 megawatts. This record followed close on the heels of the then peak of 394 megawatts last July and is 30 megawatts more than the previous yearly high of August 2002.

It also established a new trend for Maltese electricity demand since the summer demand has surpassed the peak winter demand of 395 megawatts this February.

NT said the trend was set to continue with more use of air conditioning systems in summer and more use of heating appliances in winter. Such ever-rising electricity demands were pushing towards an unwelcome balance between energy generation and energy use, a situation which, in turn, would shortlive the third stage of expansion at Delimara power station.

While commending Enemalta for investing in combined-cycle technology for its expansion, the trust noted that this would be a short-term measure unless concurrently green concepts were pushed in the energy sector, namely the use of renewable energy, a change in the consumption pattern and the use of energy-saving appliances.

Nature Trust urged:

¤ further initiatives to make solar water heating devices, which are presently double the price of what an Israeli citizen spends, a widespread reality;

¤ differential daytime and night time electricity tariffs to distribute better the load on the power plants;

¤ a national educational campaign on tips to save energy;

¤ a system of outdoors cut-off lighting apparatus for rural and suburban areas;

¤ appropriate legislation imposing ecolabelling of electrical devices to have citizens opting for energy-saving appliances, such as low-consumption household equipment;

¤ the removal of Enemalta's monopoly in the energy sector and

¤ changes in the national grid system to allow energy generated from renewable sources by individual households to be integrated with energy generated by the fossil-burning power stations.