On Energy Conservation

Points To Points (8)

                                      On Energy Conservation

          It is not difficult for anyone to conserve energy as long as the ‘pain’ of payment is there to feel.  Therefore, it is easy for an individual to conserve energy because every unit in ampere is counted.  Thus, I don’t see people in general switch on lights at home during the day.  We have this good habit at home.

          In small shops, as I observe around the Sibu town, the shop owner knows only too well the amount of fluorescent lighting to use to call ’sufficient’.  They hate to waste electricity as they abhore to waste money.  It is not easy to earn money in the keen competitive environment.

          In medium shops, they know how to conserve energy too though their lighting is 20-30% more.  They want to outshine their products to look appealing to customers.  They endure the ‘pain’ of overlighting.

          However, in supermarkets like Everise, Farley, Ngiu Kee, Tai Kiong, Parkson and so on, their lighting is 100% more or overlighting many times because they are in the position to do that.  They have enough rich customers to pay these expenses for them.  Hence, their goods on display are dazzlingly bright and attractive to resist.  If you are observant enough, you see they don’t have sunlight from the windows or have no windows.  They just can afford air-conditioned system and artificial lighting.  Thanks the customers.  This is a kind of ‘pick winner’ and the problem of ‘painlessness’ towards energy conservation. 

          Another place I experience this ‘painlessness’ to the electricity wastage is the Sibu Central Market.  If you are alert enough, you see how wasteful it is!  You will be shocked to see that more than half of fluorescent lights are switched on without good reasons.  If it is the One-switch that turns on all the fluorescent lights, I think they should consider the amendments to justify the situation.  Switch off wherever and whenever it is not required like how we practise at home.   If you have feelings towards energy conservation, you will feel exasperated towards the management of the Sibu Central Market for being so wasteful.  They are so irrresponsible with the taxpayers’ ‘sweat and blood’!

          If all the markets and government departments in Malaysia were so energy-wasteful like the Sibu Central Market or supermarkets, then what a huge waste we would create daily.  Alamat! What a curse! What a shame!

          In align with our Prime Minister’s appeal to uphold the virtue of being frugal, let take actions from today onwards to make amendments or adjustments to lighting system and make full use of ‘adorable’ sunlight wherever and whenever we can.  Please avoid creating ‘autumn or winter’ in the building.  Learn to enjoy the tropical breeze or heat to sweat for our good health.