Friday, 19 February 2010
Statistics from the Eelectrical Services Department show that the Ministry of Education’s average usage of electricity is 6,581,472k Wh a month, which costs $658,147.23.

The figure would tally to 78,977, 668k Wh or $7, 897, 766.80 for a year. A one per cent energy saving would equal to $78, 977 saved for a year.

This was highlighted by Dayang Marlina @ Diana binti Haji Japar, Project Officer of the Electrical Services Department during her presentation on ‘Energy Efficiency and Conservation in Government Buildings’ to principals and assistant principals of primary schools.

She also highlighted that “the average usage of electricity for the past five years has shown that 48 per cent for domestic houses, 25 per cent for commercial buildings, 17 per cent for government buildings and 10 per cent for the Oil and Gas Sector”.

Recommending steps to using energy efficiently in air conditioning, she said, “One of the steps is to control the temperature to an average level whereby one degree of temperature reduction equals to 10 per cent of energy conserved.” She also recommended switching off the air conditioner when not in use, clean the filter regularly as well as change to an energy efficient air conditioner.

On lighting, she said, “Using Compact Floresent Lamp or CFL can save up to 75 per cent energy compared with traditional lamps or bulbs.” She also advice to switch off the lights when not in use and to clean light bulbs and light fittings regularly.

Any kind of electrical items that are on standby mode still uses electricity, she informed.

Following the first and second audit in year 2005 and year 2007 respectively, there was an improvement of energy usage of 30 per cent, down to 1,000,000 kWh to around 600,000k Wh.

She also pointed out that schools that schools can set up energy clubs and highlighted the need to share information on energy conservation through school media like newsletters as well as appointing an energy observer to each class.

There is also a need to organize talk on energy conservation at various level as well as educational displays on energy, electricity and savings, she added.

She gave some examples like the energy wastage of a photocopy machine left on overnight is equal to the energy used to make 1,500 numbers of copies. Leaving the lights on at the office for the whole night is similar to boiling 1,000 cups of water for hot drinks. A computer monitor that is not switched off overnight is equivalent to printing 800 copies using a laser jet printer.

The benefits of conserving energy, she outlined, include extending the duration of oil and gas being utilized, reducing the effects of global warming as well as saving money.

Meanwhile, Awang Ahmad bin Haji Mohamad, Head of Energy Efficiency and Conservation Unit under the Energy Division of the Prime Minister’s Office delivered his presentation by showing that Brunei’s electrical usage per capita in the year 2006 came third among some Asian countries behind Singapore and Japan while in front of Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, as well as China and others.

In an interview, he said, “To comserve energy, one must understand the equipment at office or home, inculcate the understanding of energy conservation and savings, observe energy usage and find out which equipment consume more energy and then learn to reduce and conserve the energy.”

The briefing, which was held for some 250 principals, officers and assistant principals.

The aim of the talk was to provide awareness on energy conservation at government buildings especially in schools.

By James Kon
Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin