MPBJ makes HQ Earth-friendly
THE Petaling Jaya City Council's 41-year-old headquarters is being retrofitted for more efficient use of energy.
Petaling Jaya city councillor Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainuddin said the council would spend almost RM1 million over the next three years on lighting, piping and landscaping.
The project, which began in January, is expected to save the council a quarter of its electricity and water bill, which amounted to almost RM8 million in 2010. It is also expected to sizably reduce carbon emission.
We are adding more windows so that we can use more sunlight instead of fluorescent or LED downlight. We want to encourage the people to open their windows and to use electric fans, for a change.
He said the council was also looking at replacing the air conditioners that drained electricity with fewer but more environmentally-friendly ones.
Khairul said the methods, though simple, would cut the costs of lamp, light bulb, air conditioner and piping replacements, as well as electrical and plumbing repairs.
The mayor's official residence is also due for a retrofit, upon the completion of the council headquarters.
"This is the first step, and we are looking at retrofitting other council properties if this is successful," Khairul said.
He said the council had already introduced many simple green practices, such as no engine-running zones, paperless council meetings, bottled water ban at events and functions, and 3R recycling boxes in the city. Developers were also required to use energy-saving lights in all new projects beginning 2011.
Henry Low, 32, who owns a business in Kampung Chempaka, was in favour of the council's move."If more government buildings saved energy, more public money would be saved," he said.
He said government buildings were generally too cold because of the air conditioning, and the lights were on all the time.
Ratna Pillai, 21, said the council's effort showed that PJ was "walking the talk" that it was serious about conserving energy and reducing its carbon footprint.
"We've seen too many floods and unnaturally hot weather recently to deny that Malaysia is affected by global warming. The city has not been spared from the extremes of heat and rain and I am glad the council is doing something about it."
"I also hope that this will start the ball rolling, and that the practices spread throughout the city, state and country.
"I wish to see PJ, and Malaysia, reach the liveability standards of Singapore," said the college student from Section 17.
He previously worked as a senior manager with French chemicals group Rhodia and Shell. Current Lynas chief executive Nicholas Curtis will remain on the board as non-executive chairman.
The change reflects Lynas' recent transition from a developer to a producer of rare earths products as its Malaysian plant began making its first products for sale in February.
Lynas mines rare earths -- metallic elements used in products ranging from digital televisions, mp3 players and fluorescent light bulbs -- at Mount Weld in Western Australia.