Korean Businesses Join Energy Conservation Drive

Korean businesses are supporting the government's energy conservation measures in response to energy supply uncertainties caused by Middle East conflicts, the Seoul Economic Daily reports. Following the government and public sector's decision to strengthen energy conservation policies — including a two-day-per-week vehicle restriction for public institutions and a five-day rationing system for public parking lots — the private sector is following suit. Each conglomerate is implementing its own energy conservation measures alongside the vehicle rationing system, including turning off lights in workplaces, shutting down computers when leaving work, minimizing standby power for laboratory equipment, adjusting temperatures, operating elevators on alternate floors, replacing domestic business trips with video conferences and prioritizing eco-friendly vehicles like electric and hydrogen cars for company vehicles, operating shuttle buses along major commuting routes to encourage employees to refrain from using personal vehicles, reducing power consumption by regulating the use of personal heating and cooling devices and more. Beyond internal corporate measures, efforts are also being made to reduce household fuel costs.