Thailand orders bureaucrats to use stairs and work from home in energy saving

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered civil servants to conserve energy amid an energy squeeze brought on by the conflict in the Middle East, with measures including suspending overseas trips and using stairs instead of elevators.



According to a government spokesperson, "The prime minister ordered that starting from today civil servants will work from home," adding that exceptions would be made for officials who must serve the public.



Southeast Asia's second-largest economy has around 95 days of energy reserves left, and it has been seeking additional sources of liquefied natural gas from the United States, Australia and South Africa, according to Energy Ministry.



But it is urgently trying to reduce demand.



Lalida said other government measures to conserve energy include setting air conditioning temperatures at 26 degrees Celsius to 27 degrees Celsius and wearing short-sleeved shirts instead of formal attire like suits and ties.