The financial investment industry has begun putting energy-saving measures into practice to respond to global energy supply-demand imbalances and rising prices.

The Korea Financial Investment Association said on Sunday that financial investment companies, including securities firms and asset managers, are actively joining energy-saving efforts to overcome a national crisis stemming from the global imbalance and higher prices.

With the resource security crisis alert level raised to "caution" earlier this month, financial investment companies are implementing various steps to cut energy consumption.

In transport, they are operating a rotating car use system. Some companies have expanded it to cover two days. They are also encouraging the use of public transport.

Work systems are also being adjusted. Depending on company circumstances, they are flexibly operating autonomous commuting and staggered commuting systems and expanding remote work.

Energy-saving measures are also continuing in buildings and office spaces. Companies are reducing electricity use by adjusting elevator and HVAC operating hours. They are switching off indoor and outdoor lighting in a single operation outside working hours. Maintaining appropriate indoor temperatures is also included among key practices.

Employees are also participating in energy saving in daily life. Typical steps include using stairs on lower floors, turning off PCs and monitors when leaving work, switching off lights in unused meeting rooms, and using personal cups instead of disposable ones. Companies are also pursuing reduced business trips, encouraging video conferences and implementing paperless policies.

The Korea Financial Investment Association is implementing energy saving together with related organisations such as the Capital Market Institute, the Financial Investment Education Institute and NextTrade.

Hwang Seong-yeop (황성엽), chairman of the Korea Financial Investment Association, said, "The core of energy saving is practice that willingly accepts inconvenience in everyday life, and we plan to contribute so that the energy-saving campaign can spread beyond the financial sector to society as a whole and to also make efforts to fulfil social responsibility."