Malaysian government targets 60% cut in power usage

The Star 9 Jan 10;

MIRI: The Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry has set an ambitious target of cutting the country's electricity usage by 60%.

This will be achieved by replacing existing electrical appliances and gadgets in government buildings and street lights with the latest low-energy devices, said Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui on Saturday.

He said one of the first targets would be to replace existing street lamps across the country with low-energy bulbs.

"We estimate that the country can save up to 60% of electricity usage if we switch to electrical items that are energy-efficient, such as airconditioning units for buildings that are of low-energy categories and street-lights that require low amount of electricity to light up.

"We already have new technology on these low-energy devices. What the National Green Technology Council needs to do is formulate a blueprint on the way forward.

"The Prime Minister, who is the chairman of the council, will soon announce specific plans that we will be taking to go green."

Chin said as far as developments in the green technology field were concerned, Malaysia had just started to "scratch the surface".

Asked if all local councils in the country would be compelled to change their street lights to low-energy ones, he said it would be done in stages.

He said street lights were a major source of electricity usage as 19% of the Government's electricity consumption was to power the lights in cities, towns and villages and highways.

Chin said his ministry planned to hold an international exhibition in Kuala Lumpur this year to bring in renowned green-technology firms worldwide to showcase their latest products.

He said the Government wanted to turn Kuala Lumpur into a green-technology trading hub, adding that similar exhibitions and green technology seminars will also be held in Kota Kinabalu and Kuching this year.