Small and midsize businesses will move to spread the government's "12 national actions on energy saving" to respond to energy supply uncertainty from the protracted Middle East crisis.
The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises said on the 26th it would join the energy-saving campaign the government released and expand implementation across small and midsize businesses. KBIZ will encourage participation by its headquarters and 15 regional offices nationwide, as well as about 600 small and midsize business cooperatives and member companies. Through this, energy-saving practices are expected to spread to about 2.2 million small and midsize businesses and self-employed people.
KBIZ presented concrete action items focused on mobility and business sites operations. For travel, it will expand the use of public transportation and encourage walking or cycling for short distances. In offices, it will make a habit of cutting power to unused electronic devices, such as turning off PCs and monitors at the end of the workday, and reduce single-use items by using personal cups and minimizing printing.
At business sites, maintain appropriate indoor temperatures—68 F for heating and 79 F for cooling—and turn off lights collectively during lunch and in empty meeting rooms. Reduce building energy use by strengthening standby equipment power management, minimizing idling, and operating elevators flexibly.
KBIZ will implement a five-day rotation (day-of-week) restriction on private car use for its executives and employees. However, vehicles for people with disabilities, vehicles carrying pregnant women and preschool children, electric and hydrogen vehicles, and vehicles unavoidably used for business are exempt.
KBIZ Chairman Kim Ki-moon said, "With energy supply instability growing due to the Middle East crisis, voluntary conservation by the small and midsize business community is more important than ever," and added, "KBIZ will take the lead in spreading energy saving in daily life and, together with 2.2 million small and midsize businesses and self-employed people, will respond to the crisis."