Referring to your excellency's declaration issued today, Monday, concerning rationalizing consumption and controlling expenditures in all government institutions, official departments, and public bodies, I extend my utmost respect and appreciation for this responsible approach that reflects the government’s commitment to efficiently managing public resources, especially under the current circumstances. I only wish that the directive had been on a national level to lead to "energy rationalization" instead of being limited to "governmental consumption rationalization" only.
From my previous experience as an assistant to the Secretary-General of a ministry, I assure your excellency that these decisions are fundamentally positive and necessary. However, from an expert standpoint, I believe the extent of expected rationalization may not significantly impact the national economy unless accompanied by broader, more measurable, and follow-up practicable measures. Some decisions might face implementation challenges or justify their exemptions extensively; for example, prohibiting the use of government vehicles outside official working hours may lead some institutions to justify this under "official work continuation" or necessity, which always happens, thereby emptying the decision of its real effect unless precise regulatory controls and clear performance indicators are set.
Moreover, absolutely banning the use of air conditioners and heating devices might not be realistic or fully enforceable because providing a suitable work environment for employees is fundamental in boosting productivity and ensuring job performance safety, which might lead to violations or mere formal compliance.
Keen to support your excellency's direction, I offer a set of additional practical suggestions that could achieve greater savings in energy consumption and general expenditure not just on a public level, but also nationally, ensuring tangible results on the ground:
Firstly: Rationalize lighting in government ministries and institutions after working hours by issuing a clear and mandatory directive to turn off all lights inside these locations after work, except for security sites or rotating sections as needed, and limit the operation of exterior lighting of these buildings at full capacity at night to just essential security lighting, commissioning internal control units to monitor this daily, linked to monthly performance indicators for electricity bills.
Secondly: Organize street and public road lighting by reevaluating lighting levels in areas that do not require high illumination, especially on side roads or less busy streets, reducing operating hours of street lighting in certain non-essential locations, or adopting partial operation (alternatively turning off half of the posts), and installing smart lighting systems dependent on motion sensors or automatically reducing lighting during late night hours, giving priority to replacing old street lighting with energy-efficient LED lighting.
Thirdly: Mandate private companies and establishments to turn off lighting after working hours by issuing municipal regulations or instructions requiring companies, stores, and private offices to turn off interior and exterior lighting after operating hours, particularly in administrative buildings, malls, and commercial complexes, preventing the operation of promotional lighting (illuminated adverts and billboards) after a specific hour at night, except in vital or touristic locations, imposing clear financial penalties for violations, and linking this to professional licensing or renewal of permits.
Fourthly: Reduce unnecessary lighting in public institutions and prevent the use of decorative or non-essential lighting in government buildings except on specified official occasions and within a clear time limit, regulate lighting in public parks and government squares to only provide security lighting and not high-consumption aesthetic lighting.
Fifthly: Organize the operation of commercial centers and high-consumption facilities by reviewing operating hours of malls and large markets so that late operating hours are reduced if energy costs are proven to be high and unjustified, obliging large establishments to install sub-meters to monitor consumption and linking this to periodic reports.
Sixthly: Establish a national program to reduce energy consumption and link it with monthly reports by preparing a monthly report submitted to your excellency, outlining electricity and water consumption in each ministry and institution compared to the previous month, and publicly publishing the results to enhance principles of transparency and accountability, and setting an "Energy Performance Indicator" for each ministry linked to the evaluation of senior management.
Seventhly: Control the operation of air conditioning and lighting devices in private and government institutions and mandate institutions not to operate air conditioning or lighting long before the start of official office hours or after their conclusion without justification.
Eighthly: Activate field control through municipalities and electricity companies by assigning municipalities and the Greater Amman Municipality and electricity distribution companies to cooperate in preparing night-time control campaigns to monitor unnecessary lighting in streets, stores, and institutions, and developing a mechanism of warning then sanction then temporary administrative closure for repeated violations.
Your Excellency,
Rationalizing energy is not just an administrative measure we undertake in emergencies like the ones we are experiencing; rather, it is a general national behavior that requires clear legislation and strict control, and importantly, it should include both the public and private sectors as the larger part of consumption is not limited to government ministries and institutions alone but extends to public lighting, commercial establishments, advertising, and private buildings.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration and respect.
