UMP awarded with SEDA accreditation for Energy Efficiency

Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) bagged the One Diamond Award for Low Carbon Buildings Assessment from Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) on December 13, 2019. UMP became the first university in the country to receive such an award for efforts taken that had successfully proved its ability to efficiently manage energy consumption, the use of renewable energy and reduce carbon dioxide gas emission. Green practice initiatives among Malaysians are highly encouraged especially when implementing ‘energy efficiency’ to reduce energy consumption. ‘Energy efficiency’ is the ultimate goal in effective and optimal energy consumption management, thus reducing wastage.

Among the ‘energy efficiency’ practices that can be implemented are by replacing less efficient electrical appliances to energy efficiency ones, decreasing burden on mechanical equipment as it requires more energy to function, upgrading the roofing system and thermal insulation of buildings, having a good ventilation system and using energy-saving control systems for all electrical appliances. UMP Energy Focus Group Leader, Professor Ir. Dr. Hassan Ibrahim said energy efficiency was often associated with minimum energy consumption in order to complete certain work and to increase the chances of saving and avoiding wastage.

“By applying energy conservation concept, it involves three categories – energy saving exercises with no cost, low cost and high cost.
“To date, UMP is only applying energy saving practices through the concept of no cost and low cost.
“The university has managed to reduce carbon dioxide emission by 7.89 percent, which is equivalent to 883.87 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide and save power up to 1,273,585 kWh at its UMP Pekan campus.
“It is a result from the awareness among campus community to conserve power in campus and through the process, helped to nurture the right attitude and discipline about the importance of sustainable energy,” he said.

In a move to ensure energy sustainability, the Unit of Sustainable and Green Campus was established under the Centre for Property Management and Development (PPPH) so energy management could be carried out in line with that of the university’s aspirations. Other initiatives implemented in UMP included the installation of various devices such as the Building Automation System (BAS), motion sensor lighting system in all toilets, timers at all walkways, a ‘master switch’ at bigger buildings and solar panels at the UMP administrative building as well as replacing of light bulbs to the energy-saving ones.

UMP has also taken the initiative in energy management by setting air-conditioning temperature at 24 degree Celsius and this will allow for more saving in energy consumption without compromising the comfort of the users. The university has embarked on energy management and conservation initiatives since 2012 and to date, 25 energy renewable and energy efficiency measures have been implemented, in a bid to reduce carbon dioxide emission in UMP Pekan campus. These efforts have also contributed to the university's achievement in the UI-GreenMetric World Ranking 2019 which was recently published and UMP was positioned at the 76th place in the world listing. The rating was based on the measures taken in managing campus sustainability and environment that were centred on six main criteria - Infrastructure Setting and Infrastructure, Energy and Climate Change, Waste, Water, Transportation and Education.