By Justin Santiago
A peek into most middle-class landed homes in the suburbs around Kuala Lumpur would reveal at least two or even three automobiles in the driveway. Closer inspection will reveal the blades of air-conditioner compressors whirring and lights turned on even during the day. One wonders whether these homeowners have even heard of the term ‘carbon emissions.’
Carbon emissions are a measure of the amount of carbon as well as Greenhouse Gases (GHG) that are released into the atmosphere from our all daily activities. Carbon and GHG ‘eats up’ the ozone layer, a protective coating around the Earth which protects us from harmful radiation from the sun and keeps global temperatures and weather patterns in check. A large portion of carbon and GHG comes from the burning of oil for all sorts of purposes from power generation to driving our vehicles.
Malaysia had consistently ranked poorly in the global ranking of carbon emitters (number 157 out of 224 countries) and according to several reports and studies done by the US based International Energy Agency, Malaysia’s carbon emissions per capita had increased from 3.1 tons per capita to 7.2 tons per capita over a 16 year period from 1990-2006. By 2010, this figure is expected to touch 8 tons per capita putting Malaysia third behind Vietnam and China in terms of the growth rate of carbon emissions.
Realising that 28 million Malaysians were burning more and more fuel, Prime Minister Najib Razak in July 2009 launched the Green Technology Policy under the newly renamed ministry, the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry which replaced the former Energy, Water and Communications Ministry.
In his launch speech, Najib said that the time had come for Malaysia to go green, citing global concerns to adopt and embrace sustainable and renewable best practices. But what was more important in his message was his plan to facilitate the growth of the Green Technology industry that was named as one of the key drivers that would contribute to the national economy. In other words he was saying that going green was not just for tree-huggers, it was for entrepreneurs, industrialists, inventors and consumers at large.
This two-pronged strategy would achieve the objective of reducing total carbon emissions by 15% and reducing total emissions per GDP by 40% by 2020 compared to 2005 levels and catalysing Malaysia’s capability and capacity for innovation in Green Technology development.
This is not going to be an easy task considering that Malaysia has embarked on its fully industrialised nation status by 2020. The problem is made more difficult by the provision of the various subsidies for fossil fuels.
Take for example the subsidies for gas. The independent power producers (IPPs) in Malaysia produce electricity out of gas that is provided to them at a fraction of the cost. The rationale is that these IPPs need to be compensated in order to produce electricity cheaply for local industries and that local industries need cheap electricity to produce goods at competitive prices for the world market.
The downside is that most industries have become so comfortable with low energy costs that there is less incentive for them to become energy efficient or look to alternative energy sources. While the technology for energy efficiency and alternative energy sources is available, the costs of implementing the technology is expensive compared to cheap, subsidised power produced by the IPPs.
For a business whose main aim is profit by producing the maximum at minimum cost, becoming energy efficient is, ironically, less profitable. Only if switching costs become cheaper will businesses switch. The answer to that is the gradual removal of subsidies to bring up the price of energy to market prices. At market prices, businesses will start thinking about energy efficiency and alternative energy.
Increasing power generation and power-utilisation from biomass and biogas and solid waste and tapping the sun’s energy is a noble goal. But in order for green innovation to work, educating the public and creating awareness about energy efficiency and energy alternatives is simply not good enough. Funding to companies that supply and utilise green technology is also not good enough.
Environmental consciousness needs a swift kick where it hurts most. Not the minds and hearts of the people but their wallets. For example, if it costs less to buy and use Malaysian-made solar panels that can trap unlimited solar energy 365 days in the year compared to fossil fuel produced electricity that is derived from depleting gas reserves, Malaysians WILL go green.
Ultimately these solar panels will become cheaper to produce and will be able to be exported around the world providing jobs for Malaysians and contributing to the Malaysian economy and developing Malaysian technology.
The gradual removal of subsidies not only for gas to produce electricity but for petrol, diesel, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) will benefit Malaysia in the long run, not only environmentally but economically as well. The Green Technology policy is giving us a way to build not only a greener and more sustainable future but a more economical and profitable one at that.
Article Source
Showing posts with label Green Collar Jobs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Green Collar Jobs. Show all posts
GOING green is not just for tree huggers. Entrepreneurs, industrialists, inventors and consumers need to understand that adopting green practices is just plain smart and profitable in the long run.
A peek into most middle class landed homes in suburbs around Kuala Lumpur would reveal at least two or even three automobiles in the driveway. Closer inspection will reveal the blades of air-conditioner compressors whirring and lights turned on even during the day. One wonders whether these homeowners have even heard of the term “carbon emissions.”power
Carbon emissions are a measure of the amount of carbon as well as green house gases that are released into the atmosphere from our all daily activities. Carbon and green house gases "eats up" the ozone layer, a protective coating around the Earth which protects us from harmful radiation from the sun and keeps global temperatures and weather patterns in equilibrium.
A large portion of carbon and green house gases come from the burning of oil for all sorts of purposes from power generation to driving our vehicles.
Malaysia had consistently ranked poorly in the global ranking of carbon emitters (number 157 out of 224 countries) and according to several reports and studies done by the US-based International Energy Agency, Malaysia’s carbon emissions per capita had increased from 3.1 tons per capita to 7.2 tons per capita over a 16-year period from 1990-2006.
By 2010, this figure is expected to touch 8 tons per capita putting Malaysia third, behind Vietnam and China in terms of the growth rate of carbon emissions.
Realising that 28 million Malaysians were burning more and more fuel, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak last July launched the Green Technology Policy under the newly renamed ministry, the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water which replaced the former Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications.
At the launch, Najib said the time had come for Malaysia to go green, citing global concerns to adopt and embrace sustainable and renewable best practices.
What was more important in his message was his plan to facilitate the growth of the green technology industry that was named as one of the key drivers that would contribute to the national economy.
In other words, he was saying that going green was not just for tree huggers, it was for entrepreneurs, industrialists, inventors and consumers at large.
A two-pronged strategy would achieve the objective of reducing total carbon emissions by 15% and reducing total emissions per GDP by 40% by 2020 compared to 2005 levels and catalysing Malaysia’s capability and capacity for innovation in green technology development.
This is not going to be easy considering that Malaysia wants to be an industrialised nation by 2020. The problem is made more difficult by the fact the government is still subsidising the use of fossil fuels.
Most industries have become so comfortable with low energy costs that there is less incentive for them to become energy-efficient or look to alternative energy sources.
While the technology for energy efficiency and alternative energy sources is available, the costs of implementing the technology is expensive compared to cheap, subsidised power produced by the IPPs.
For a business whose main aim is profit by producing the maximum at minimum cost, becoming energy efficient is, ironically, less profitable. Only if switching costs become cheaper will businesses switch. The answer to that is the gradual removal of subsidies to bring up the price of energy to market prices.
At market prices, businesses will start thinking about energy efficiency and alternative energy.
Increasing power generation and power use from biomass and biogas and solid waste and tapping the sun’s energy is a noble goal.
But in order for green innovation to work, educating the public and creating awareness about energy efficiency and energy alternatives is simply not good enough. Funding to companies that supply and utilize green technology is also not good enough.
Environmental consciousness needs a swift kick where it hurts most. Not the minds and hearts of the people but their wallets.
For example, if it costs less to buy and use Malaysian-made solar panels that can trap unlimited solar energy 365 days in the year compared to fossil fuel-produced electricity that is derived from depleting gas reserves, Malaysians WILL go green.
Ultimately these solar panels will become cheaper to produce and will be able to be exported around the world providing jobs for Malaysians and contributing to the Malaysian economy and developing Malaysian technology.
The gradual removal of subsidies not only for gas to produce electricity but for petrol, diesel, and liquefied petroleum gas will benefit Malaysia in the long run, not only environmentally but economically as well.
The Green Technology policy is giving us a way to build not only a greener and more sustainable future but a more economical and profitable one at that.
For the Environment
Kuala Lumpur
Article Source
A peek into most middle class landed homes in suburbs around Kuala Lumpur would reveal at least two or even three automobiles in the driveway. Closer inspection will reveal the blades of air-conditioner compressors whirring and lights turned on even during the day. One wonders whether these homeowners have even heard of the term “carbon emissions.”power
Carbon emissions are a measure of the amount of carbon as well as green house gases that are released into the atmosphere from our all daily activities. Carbon and green house gases "eats up" the ozone layer, a protective coating around the Earth which protects us from harmful radiation from the sun and keeps global temperatures and weather patterns in equilibrium.
A large portion of carbon and green house gases come from the burning of oil for all sorts of purposes from power generation to driving our vehicles.
Malaysia had consistently ranked poorly in the global ranking of carbon emitters (number 157 out of 224 countries) and according to several reports and studies done by the US-based International Energy Agency, Malaysia’s carbon emissions per capita had increased from 3.1 tons per capita to 7.2 tons per capita over a 16-year period from 1990-2006.
By 2010, this figure is expected to touch 8 tons per capita putting Malaysia third, behind Vietnam and China in terms of the growth rate of carbon emissions.
Realising that 28 million Malaysians were burning more and more fuel, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak last July launched the Green Technology Policy under the newly renamed ministry, the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water which replaced the former Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications.
At the launch, Najib said the time had come for Malaysia to go green, citing global concerns to adopt and embrace sustainable and renewable best practices.
What was more important in his message was his plan to facilitate the growth of the green technology industry that was named as one of the key drivers that would contribute to the national economy.
In other words, he was saying that going green was not just for tree huggers, it was for entrepreneurs, industrialists, inventors and consumers at large.
A two-pronged strategy would achieve the objective of reducing total carbon emissions by 15% and reducing total emissions per GDP by 40% by 2020 compared to 2005 levels and catalysing Malaysia’s capability and capacity for innovation in green technology development.
This is not going to be easy considering that Malaysia wants to be an industrialised nation by 2020. The problem is made more difficult by the fact the government is still subsidising the use of fossil fuels.
Most industries have become so comfortable with low energy costs that there is less incentive for them to become energy-efficient or look to alternative energy sources.
While the technology for energy efficiency and alternative energy sources is available, the costs of implementing the technology is expensive compared to cheap, subsidised power produced by the IPPs.
For a business whose main aim is profit by producing the maximum at minimum cost, becoming energy efficient is, ironically, less profitable. Only if switching costs become cheaper will businesses switch. The answer to that is the gradual removal of subsidies to bring up the price of energy to market prices.
At market prices, businesses will start thinking about energy efficiency and alternative energy.
Increasing power generation and power use from biomass and biogas and solid waste and tapping the sun’s energy is a noble goal.
But in order for green innovation to work, educating the public and creating awareness about energy efficiency and energy alternatives is simply not good enough. Funding to companies that supply and utilize green technology is also not good enough.
Environmental consciousness needs a swift kick where it hurts most. Not the minds and hearts of the people but their wallets.
For example, if it costs less to buy and use Malaysian-made solar panels that can trap unlimited solar energy 365 days in the year compared to fossil fuel-produced electricity that is derived from depleting gas reserves, Malaysians WILL go green.
Ultimately these solar panels will become cheaper to produce and will be able to be exported around the world providing jobs for Malaysians and contributing to the Malaysian economy and developing Malaysian technology.
The gradual removal of subsidies not only for gas to produce electricity but for petrol, diesel, and liquefied petroleum gas will benefit Malaysia in the long run, not only environmentally but economically as well.
The Green Technology policy is giving us a way to build not only a greener and more sustainable future but a more economical and profitable one at that.
For the Environment
Kuala Lumpur
Article Source
Palm oil millers can help generate electricity for supply to the national grid and reduce power producers' dependence on natural gas, which can then be channelled to other sectors.
Malaysian Industrial Development Authority director-general Datuk Jalilah Baba said two days ago that, from 2012, the government would be looking to importing gas to meet impending shortage in the country.
Heavy users of natural gas include oleochemical producers and steel millers, who use the commodity as feedstock and fuel.
According to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), there are 417 palm oil mills in the country, out of which 246 are in Peninsular Malaysia. Mills emit methane from retention ponds after oil extraction.
Methane is one of the many polluting gases in the environment contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer and global warming.
Palm oil millers can trap the methane to generate electricity and then sell it to Tenaga Nasional Bhd to be distributed in the national power grid.
"We've appointed an international consultant to carry out a feasibility study on palm oil millers trapping greenhouse gas from palm oil mill effluent (POME) and converting it into energy," MPOB chairman Datuk Sabri Ahmad said.
"The consultant is expected to finalise the study in two months," he told Business Times in a telephone interview.
In a separate interview, Bell Corp Sdn Bhd, which owns seven palm oil mills in the country, lent support to the government's policy of reducing the reliance on depleting fossil fuels and using more renewable energy instead.
"It is possible for mill owners like us to trap methane from POME and pump it into gas engines to generate electricity and hook up to the national grid," Bell chief executive Datin Liana Low said.
To date, one of Bell's mills has been fitted with a biogas plant to extract methane from POME to generate 2 megawatts (MW) of electricity for sale to Tenaga Nasional Bhd.
"By buying more green electricity from palm oil millers like us, the government can re-channel more natural gas for the export-driven manufacturing sector," she said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said in his speech at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi recently that Malaysia was looking at improving feed-in tariffs as part of efforts to promote production of renewable energy.
Feed-in tariffs guarantee that energy generated through renewable resources is purchased by the national grid operator.
Article Source
Malaysian Industrial Development Authority director-general Datuk Jalilah Baba said two days ago that, from 2012, the government would be looking to importing gas to meet impending shortage in the country.
Heavy users of natural gas include oleochemical producers and steel millers, who use the commodity as feedstock and fuel.
According to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), there are 417 palm oil mills in the country, out of which 246 are in Peninsular Malaysia. Mills emit methane from retention ponds after oil extraction.
Methane is one of the many polluting gases in the environment contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer and global warming.
Palm oil millers can trap the methane to generate electricity and then sell it to Tenaga Nasional Bhd to be distributed in the national power grid.
"We've appointed an international consultant to carry out a feasibility study on palm oil millers trapping greenhouse gas from palm oil mill effluent (POME) and converting it into energy," MPOB chairman Datuk Sabri Ahmad said.
"The consultant is expected to finalise the study in two months," he told Business Times in a telephone interview.
In a separate interview, Bell Corp Sdn Bhd, which owns seven palm oil mills in the country, lent support to the government's policy of reducing the reliance on depleting fossil fuels and using more renewable energy instead.
"It is possible for mill owners like us to trap methane from POME and pump it into gas engines to generate electricity and hook up to the national grid," Bell chief executive Datin Liana Low said.
To date, one of Bell's mills has been fitted with a biogas plant to extract methane from POME to generate 2 megawatts (MW) of electricity for sale to Tenaga Nasional Bhd.
"By buying more green electricity from palm oil millers like us, the government can re-channel more natural gas for the export-driven manufacturing sector," she said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said in his speech at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi recently that Malaysia was looking at improving feed-in tariffs as part of efforts to promote production of renewable energy.
Feed-in tariffs guarantee that energy generated through renewable resources is purchased by the national grid operator.
Article Source
9/22/2009 08:01:00 AM
In December of this year, representatives from nations around the globe will gather in Copenhagen to discuss a global agreement on climate change. The objective is to reduce global warming emissions sufficiently in order to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change and to support the global community in adapting to the unavoidable changes ahead. Denmark will act as host for this fifteenth Conference of the Parties under the United Nations’ Climate Change Convention, known as COP15.
In collaboration with the Danish government and others, we are launching a series of Google Earth layers and tours to allow you to explore the potential impacts of climate change on our planet and the solutions for managing it. Working with data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), we show on Google Earth the range of expected temperature and precipitation changes under different global emissions scenarios that could occur throughout the century. Today we are unveiling our first climate tour on Google Earth: "Confronting Climate Change," with narration by Al Gore. Stay tuned for more tours in the coming weeks!Together with the Danish government, we're also launching our YouTube COP15 channel. On the channel, you can submit your thoughts and questions on climate change to decision-makers and the world through an initiative called "Raise Your Voice." These videos will be broadcast on screens around the conference in December and rated by viewers of the channel. The top-rated contributions will be aired globally during the COP15 CNN/YouTube debate on December 15th, and the top two submissions will win a trip to Copenhagen. We look forward to seeing your videos!
SHAH ALAM: DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd is on track to meet its target of reducing the company’s carbon footprint by 50% in 2011 to 2012, said chief executive officer Johan Dennelind.
“Our Deep Green programme that was launched in June last year for that purpose will continue for another three to four years.
“If we can’t reach the target, it will not be a disaster for us as at least, we can change the mindset of people working with us on the importance of this programme,” he said yesterday after the official launch of DiGi’s “Deep Green Challenge for Change” competition.
From left: Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water Malaysia deputy sec-gen Datuk Nor Azmal Mohd Nasir, Johan Dennelind and a DiGi employee at the launchDennelind also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to spend RM100mil for its Deep Green Agenda for the next three to four years.
The Deep Green Challenge for Change competition will see teams from Malaysian universities participating in a six-month long programme to develop energy solutions. The competition is part of DiGi’s Deep Green programme that addresses energy efficiency within the company’s business, and broader areas of sustainability with related stakeholders.
“This competition is one of the ways we are engaging with the community as part of our overall Deep Green commitment. It is a positive step forward to challenge young Malaysians to drive the new, green economy,” Dennelind said.
At the event, six teams from four universities were chosen to be in the final round. The winners will be eligible for the cash prize of RM70,000, a study trip as well as the opportunity for management trainee positions with DiGi and the other Challenge for Change programme collaborators.
Although green building initiatives in Malaysia are still at infancy stage, yet the awareness of its financial and tangible benefits is increasing. The need for lower operational cost is the main reason for companies to adopt green concepts.
The government is also committed in promoting green concepts with the establishment of Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry, under the leadership of Datuk Peter Chin. In addition, according to Works Minister, Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor, future government buildings will be incorporating green concepts. The launch of Malaysia’s very own green rating tool, Green Building Index, has brought sustainability development in Malaysia to a higher level.
High Performance Green Buildings, Malaysia aims to address the current trends, future direction, and the best practices of constructing sustainable buildings. This event also offers an opportunity to promote Malaysia as one of the investment destination for sustainable building.
Attend this informative event and gain practical insights into:
- Discovering the methodologies and strategies to build a GBI certified building
- Identifying techniques of constructing a cost-effective green building
- Gaining insights on successful international and local case studies of green buildings
- Leveraging strategies maintaining sustainable buildings
- Increasing the efficiency of renewable energy
- Exploring the vast array of green technologies
The High-Performance Green Buildings, Malaysia is structured to be a one-day conference and one-day training. The event will feature ground breaking presentations and case studies:
- Mastermind of green building: Is it the government, developer, designer, or supplier?
- Green Design and Planning : The five strategies
- Shading for sustainable cities – A new range of opportunities
- Strategic exploration of greening existing building
- Plus a special masterclass on constructing green building for certification
Speakers who have confirmed speaking at the event are:
- Derek Swift Group Sustainability Manager Al-Faara Group, Dubai
- Martin C Hay RIBA Manager – Architecture GHD, Doha
- Dato’ Dr Ken Yeang Principal TR Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd (Malaysia) and Llewelyn Davies Yeang (UK)
- Silas Chiow Director Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, China
- Gieto Sugianto Director- Projects Architects 61, Singapore
- CK Tang Director IEN Consultants
Contact Ms. Alexis Nair at +603 2035 5682. Alternatively, you can also e-mail at alexis@myevents-intl.com or visit http://www.greenevents.com.my/.
By ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN
BANGI: The National Green Technology Policy is set to play an important role in charting the country’s development where green technology will be the new driver for economic growth.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the policy would include the setting up of a legislative and regulatory framework that would support development of green technologies and promote a culture of resource use optimisation.
The policy seeks to promote low-carbon technology and ensure sustainable development while conserving the natural environment and resources.
He said green technology offered opportunities and potential in economic regeneration, innovation, wealth creation and high-paying job opportunities.
“It can create a revolutionary impact on our lives and reduce Malaysia’s carbon footprint while enhancing environmental sustainability,” he said during the roll-out of the policy yesterday.
Najib also opened the green energy office of the Malaysia Energy Centre head office here.
He added that the policy would create opportunities for new green businesses, including the manufacturing of “green products”.
The five objectives include decreasing energy consumption while enhancing economic development and facilitatating growth of the green technology industry and enhancing its contribution to the national economy.
It also seeks to increase innovation in green technology development and enhance Malaysia’s green technology competitiveness globally besides ensuring sustainable development for future generations.
The policy will also enhance public education and awareness about green technology and encourage its use in everyone’s daily lives.
A Green Technology Council will also be established to facilitate the role of stakeholders for the successful implementation of the green technology roadmap.
It will be chaired by Najib and, alternately, by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
At a press conference later, Najib said the Government was studying incentives for the private sector that adopts green technology.
On promoting solar energy usage, Najib said the equipment needed to do so was expensive, but that the Government would continue its development.
On plans to set up a nuclear power plant in Malaysia, Najib said nuclear energy was not considered to be against green technology as long as it was deemed safe.
By LESTER KONG
The newly established Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry is making a stand to promote green technology to reduce the country’s carbon footprint and damage to the environment.
Malaysia has to go green soon or risk completely using up valuable resources in the country and reducing its natural heritage to nothing.
To reduce the country’s carbon footprint and damage to the local environment, the newly established Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry is now making a stand to promote green technology.
Dr Halim: We risk using up valuable resources and reducing our natural heritage to nothing.Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Dr Halim Man said that green technology meant using resources such as energy and water minimally if not efficiently to develop and produce goods and services.
“Any technology to produce or develop products and services which contributes to emissions such as carbon monoxide and other greenhouse gases must be reduced through awareness in this initial stage and further through enforcement,” he said in an interview at his Putrajaya office.
Even the ministry’s building in the nation’s administrative capital had incorporated ‘green’ aspects such as recessed glass panels on its windows to reduce the amount of heat seeping through, thus reducing the amount of energy that is needed to power air-conditioners to cool the building.
The Government’s effort to develop green technology could be seen from two aspects, according to Dr Halim.
“First is innovation, namely to create or develop green technology that are environmentally friendly and practical.
“It is vital to encourage students to invent green technology that are simple. In the tertiary levels, researchers could also be encouraged to produce products that did not waste energy and water. These innovations could then be commercialised for local consumption and export,” he said.
Secondly, he said, the Government also wanted to promote the use or application of green technology in both work processes and daily practices.
“For example, we can carry drinking water in our own containers instead of buying mineral water bottles. If we buy food to bring home, we can use our own food containers without relying on styroform or unenvironmentally-friendly plastic,” he said.
On energy efficient appliances, Dr Halim said the ministry was working on an Energy Efficiency Master Plan to introduce such as labeling of energy efficient equipment, minimum energy, energy performence standard, to ensure that energy is use more efficiently in the country.
“This is like what Japan, Thailand and Germany have. We have to model after these countries,” he said.
He gave the example of China having enacted regulations that require motorcycles in Beijing to use batteries instead of highly-polluting two-stroke engines in motorcycles.
Dr Halim said the ministry was now in the process of developing a National Green Technology Policy that it planned to roll out on July 24.
“We anticipate the need for legal and regulatory framework for green practices and technology. In terms of research and development, we must encourage this.
“We must also have more people trained in green technology through the local universities,” he said, adding that the ministry is already collaborating with the Higher Education Ministry to come up with the syllabus on green technology.
“Now it is time to hinge on green technology. We are also looking into how we can collaborate with overseas universities on green technology,” he said.
Dr Halim pointed out that it was all about creating awareness and educating the public about why Malaysian homes and businesses had to switch to using renewable energy and energy-efficient sources.
“We need to spend a lot of time and money on public education to create awareness on green technology. The reason is to have sustainable development,” he said.
One of the key ways to encourage homes and businesses is to switch to using green technology was through the Green Building Index (GBI), developed by the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) and Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM).
Buildings that incorporate PAM’s six key criteria – energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, sustainable site planning and management, materials and resources used, water usage efficiency and innovation – will be given a GBI rating.
“Any buildings with these criteria will have very low carbon footprint, for instance, energy used to cool the building will be low. These are all elements of design, so that buildings would not need cooling system that consume a lot of energy. Buildings that are compliant to the ratings will be considered green buildings,” he said.
He added that the capital outlay for green buildings will be higher.
“But in the long run, you save a lot in water and electrical costs. It would cost about 10% higher to develop and build but in terms of savings, you gain it back in a short time. If you had solar cells, you could even gain more power than is consumed,” he said.
Dr Halim said most people did not realise the extent of environmental costs generated through home and industrial waste.
“This is the cost you have to pay to mitigate environmental damage. Like plastic clogging the rivers and other water bodies. What is the environmental cost for you to mitigate these situations? If we drive a car, we are polluting the environment and it takes a lot to clean it up. Rubbish by the road and in rivers are visible and we can spend money to clean it up. But what about climate change? You cannot pay money to clean up greenhouse gases. In the end, society loses,” he said.
Dr Halim explained that economic growth was coupled with energy consumption and usage.
“The higher, the growth, the higher the energy use. Some countries are trying to ‘decouple’ this trend. That means you still have economic growth but your energy consumption is limited.
“In Malaysia the growth of energy consumption was parallel to economic growth”.
“The growth was not exponential but very sharp. We had grown very fast during (former Prime Minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s time,” he said, adding that the highest energy consumption per capita in the region was Singapore.
He said Malaysians had to understand that sustainable development and care for the environment is the goal that must be made centre stage now.
“We can develop without damaging the environment. At the end of the day, it’s not just about economic growth but also sustainable development.
“Future generations must not have less than what we have now. We need to slow down the process of destruction on the environment. If we don’t practice green technology now, it will be too late,” he said.
Make Some Green Going Green...Ten Top Green Jobs Today
By Ron Callari
Remember the old TV sit-com Green Acres, where Ava Gabor and Eddie Albert abandoned their comfy affluent urban lifestyle for a bucolic farm-life way of life. This raucous romp of wholesome living juxtaposed to a backdrop of cows’ utters, pigs ‘a squealing and enough manure to accent the occasional pratfall was pure slapstick comedy that poked fun at a return to a simpler way of life!
Today, however, “going green” is more often associated with environmental sustainability, hybrid cars, alternative fuels and ice caps ‘a melting. Today, our ‘green acres’ are a necessity, and no longer a joking matter. With unemployment at an all time high, green jobs may the option many of us need to examine to keep ahead of the bread lines. Perhaps it’s time for you to ‘green’ your career.Here is my pick for the top ten green collar jobs for 2009!
Today, however, “going green” is more often associated with environmental sustainability, hybrid cars, alternative fuels and ice caps ‘a melting. Today, our ‘green acres’ are a necessity, and no longer a joking matter. With unemployment at an all time high, green jobs may the option many of us need to examine to keep ahead of the bread lines. Perhaps it’s time for you to ‘green’ your career.Here is my pick for the top ten green collar jobs for 2009!
Top Green Job # 10 - Eco-Tourism Jobs
Top Green Job #9 - Bicycle Technicians
Top Green Job #8 - Organic Farming Specialist
7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2----------
Top Green Job #1 - Jobs in Green Car Manufacturing.
Smart fortwo auto
The US Conference of Mayors issued a report recently that stated that our economy will see a major shift of our workforce where 4.2 million green jobs will be created by 2038. The Apollo Alliance coalition of environmentalists says a $500 billion investment over the next 10 years will create 5 million green collar jobs. If this be the case, it wise to start making career choices now, and help to save our planet at the same time! To learn more about green jobs, there are job sites, like MonsterTraks’s GreenJobs and Greenjobs.com that list renewable energy jobs and positions with green-thinking companies.
Ron CallariSociety and Trends Writer
InventorSpot.com
To find out the rest of the Green Jobs and possible companies to work at, do read on here
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