Exercise 1

Bright and (Still) Save the Energy

NIGHT just begin. Girirejo Village as dark as usually. Village in the outer area of Balikpapan is located in kilometer 15 in the Soekarno-Hatta street that connected Balikpapan and Samarinda, the capital of East Kalimantan. From the gateway of Girirejo it is very dark. But the dark night is very bright in Friday (26/3/2010).

Every house in Girirejo Village RT 27 turn on the lights. The street lamp is also turn on. The light is shine white and clear bearing down the moonlight. Starting last Friday night, the Kampung Semarang—people called RT 27 is Kampung Semarang because it is dominated by the migrant coming from Semarang, Central Java—become bright.

The people use the fluorescent lamp for the house and the streetlamp. Now, RT 27 Girirejo Village become one of the Kampung Terang Hemat Energi (KTHE), the corporate social responsibility from one of the lights company in Indonesia. PT Philips Indonesia starting KTHE from 2009 and it is continued in 2010.

Supriyanto, Regional Sales Manager Kalimantan, PT Philips Indonesia said in Kalimantan KTHE carried out in five village in different area, Balikpapan, Samarinda, Berau, Banjarmasin, and Pontianak. “With this program we try to educate the people to save energy. Kampung terang is educated them to save the energy. It is bright, but it save the energy,” he said.

But Supriyanto said that Philips do not provide the light for free except for the streetlamp. “We want the people to parcipated in this program so they should buy the light for their own house. But we give the cheapest price. We not try to cheat the people. Because the money that gain from the lamp is not for us. Philips gives back the money for the people. The money can help the people to build another public facility, said Supriyanto.

The people enjoying the lights. Not only from the RT 27 but the people from other RT is coming to see the dancer and singer. It is like night market in the village. “We usually use the incandescent lamp. Because it has the lower watt,” said Slamet Beni, Chief of RT 27, Desa Girirejo.

Now, with the fluorescent light Kampung Semarang is brighter. But still has the lower watt so save the energy. Nights darker, but the people looks so happy having the party. They sing, dance, and doing some games that makes people laughing.

Kampung Semarang consist of 68 head of family. Slamet hopes that he and the people can maintenance this facility. So the kampung will keep bright and of course save the energy. (*)