1.There were plenty of events had happened since the last time I posted something here. Changed my career twice between agencies in the government and finally, today I am back at the private sector.
2. 2004 until 2012... Almost 8 years in the government taught me so much and developed me so much too! I have more confidence in myself today and thank you to experiences and exposure in that 8 years a a government officer.
3. A lot of turn around or unexpected things and challenges that I faced too and the last 3 years was the toughest and tricky period of all. Alhamdulillah, I managed to pull it through and still positive to remain in the field that I have dedicated myself for years, energy efficiency and energy conservation efforts in Malaysia.
4. Now, sky is the limit for me to explore my fullest potentials in the way forward and from 16 February 2012, I have started my new adventure in EE&EC...to be the key and recognized player in this industry...May Allah bless me with His guidance that will show me the way....InsyaAllah
This is a platform for me to share information, experiences, knowledge and raising concerns or issues that I believe would be able to to create awareness and promoting efficient use of energy at all walks of life. Do not let our future generations to struggle for energy sources to be used because we do not play our roles today.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Saving energy through energy management
It has been quite often when I have to encounter people coming to my office and through phone calls asking me the same type of questions.
"En. Zaini, how to save energy in my factory?"
"Who can help us to save energy?"
" Where can I get a good consultant to do a good energy audit?"
" Does this "energy saving" device save energy?"
Among all that questions, I would much better and more excited when there were some of them also asked me " Where can I send my staff for a training to save energy?" or " Where can I find a good training provider to send my engineers?".
Why do I prefer to hear the second type of question? Here are my thoughts about the two.
It is simply because the first one shows that they are most likely not sure yet on what to do next and just want quick solutions for quick gains. There are so much uncertainties in their actual intentions in term of managing their energy. Most likely there is no long term plan ahead of what they are asking now.
The second show a little bit of long term plan by having their staff to be trained since training only would not save energy yet unless the trained staff being allowed to implement the knowledge gained from training attended. I would anticipate staff who will be sent to the training will have some kind of responsibilities in their existing scope of works that would enable them to initiate and implement energy saving initiatives in the plant and later manage them.
In short, the first type of questions indicate that they just wanted to save energy but the later type of questions indicate their intention to manage energy by having trained people available who will eventually save energy from them.
What is efficient energy management?
Generally it can be defined as:
Using energy at the most optimum level through a proper system implemented within the organization.
From efficient energy management we would expect some of the following direct benefits:
1. Reduction in energy costs and in the same time to increase profits earned from the operations.
2.Increase of output/quality/comfort level and etc by using the same of lower quantity of energy.
3. Ensure local and global competitiveness for businesses since cheaper cost needed to produce higher quality of products or deliver better services.
4...and many more.
Once we start to manage our energy usage, we will definitely will enjoy some amount savings and all that can be translated into cost reduction as well. In simple words, energy management is an on-going approach to retain or improve our efficiency level by adopting energy management system developed to suit the nature of the organization.
"En. Zaini, how to save energy in my factory?"
"Who can help us to save energy?"
" Where can I get a good consultant to do a good energy audit?"
" Does this "energy saving" device save energy?"
Among all that questions, I would much better and more excited when there were some of them also asked me " Where can I send my staff for a training to save energy?" or " Where can I find a good training provider to send my engineers?".
Why do I prefer to hear the second type of question? Here are my thoughts about the two.
It is simply because the first one shows that they are most likely not sure yet on what to do next and just want quick solutions for quick gains. There are so much uncertainties in their actual intentions in term of managing their energy. Most likely there is no long term plan ahead of what they are asking now.
The second show a little bit of long term plan by having their staff to be trained since training only would not save energy yet unless the trained staff being allowed to implement the knowledge gained from training attended. I would anticipate staff who will be sent to the training will have some kind of responsibilities in their existing scope of works that would enable them to initiate and implement energy saving initiatives in the plant and later manage them.
In short, the first type of questions indicate that they just wanted to save energy but the later type of questions indicate their intention to manage energy by having trained people available who will eventually save energy from them.
What is efficient energy management?
Generally it can be defined as:
Using energy at the most optimum level through a proper system implemented within the organization.
From efficient energy management we would expect some of the following direct benefits:
1. Reduction in energy costs and in the same time to increase profits earned from the operations.
2.Increase of output/quality/comfort level and etc by using the same of lower quantity of energy.
3. Ensure local and global competitiveness for businesses since cheaper cost needed to produce higher quality of products or deliver better services.
4...and many more.
Once we start to manage our energy usage, we will definitely will enjoy some amount savings and all that can be translated into cost reduction as well. In simple words, energy management is an on-going approach to retain or improve our efficiency level by adopting energy management system developed to suit the nature of the organization.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Want or have to do it
1. I received typical cynical remarks from some "high level" people from few companies since I have been involved in this field years ago.Recently I have been receiving few more similar remarks when some companies are required to comply to the new regulations introduced by the government.
2. The most unpleasant part other than those remarks is from where they came from. They are purely local companies and for them, when they are required to manage their energy use efficiently, it would only become more burdens to them. They claimed, the requirements to comply to the new law is not helping them at all especially when the economy is not quite alright at this moment.
3. To me those remarks are not strange at all although some of the said they do not mind to pay the penalty rather than complying. Selfish, ignorance or arrogant!
4. Here are some facts on actual energy costs in the country as at December 2009
Gas for energy sector - RM10.70/mmbtu ( actual market price RM41.16/MMBTU)
Gas for large energy users - RM15.35/MMBTU (actual market price at RM56.20/MMBTU)
Gas for Gas Malaysia Sdn Bhd - RM11.05/MMBTU (actual market price at RM42.35/MMBTU)
LPG- RM1.75/kg(RM37.39/MMBTU), market price at RM3.36/KG(RM71.71/MMBTU)
5. So, do we really can afford for what we are paying now if everything at the market price? All of us in Malaysia have been brought up with one or more elements of subsidies in many forms in our life. When we look at our friends in Thailand or Singapore, if are suffering due to economic crisis, they are actually dealing with the reality. If Malaysians complaining in economic crisis, we are not facing the real truth since we are being " cushioned" with billions of RM in many forms of subsidies.
6. For me, it is very sickening when Malaysians are so stubborn although they are mostly educated and well informed about the nature of how subsidies affecting each part of their life and businesses.
7. Are we happy with the way we use our resources such our depleting energy supplies?
Are we happy enough crying for more subsidies and put the burden or blame on others while we have never intend to change the way we lead our life?
Or we just happy enough to waste energy and let others to find the solution for us?
We are what here based on we did yesterday and we must not expecting something better tomorrow if we do nothing today.
8. So, do we want to start to do it today or wait until we have no choice other than have to do it (we may left little time to prepare for it)
9. May be it is already too late to educate the adults now and we should focus more on our future generations to make the difference. In some activities that I was involved in recent years, being with our children is far more satisfying when I saw them having the spirit of "want to" do rather "have to". They tend to realize that they can do something today for better future of their own generation tomorrow.
2. The most unpleasant part other than those remarks is from where they came from. They are purely local companies and for them, when they are required to manage their energy use efficiently, it would only become more burdens to them. They claimed, the requirements to comply to the new law is not helping them at all especially when the economy is not quite alright at this moment.
3. To me those remarks are not strange at all although some of the said they do not mind to pay the penalty rather than complying. Selfish, ignorance or arrogant!
4. Here are some facts on actual energy costs in the country as at December 2009
Gas for energy sector - RM10.70/mmbtu ( actual market price RM41.16/MMBTU)
Gas for large energy users - RM15.35/MMBTU (actual market price at RM56.20/MMBTU)
Gas for Gas Malaysia Sdn Bhd - RM11.05/MMBTU (actual market price at RM42.35/MMBTU)
LPG- RM1.75/kg(RM37.39/MMBTU), market price at RM3.36/KG(RM71.71/MMBTU)
5. So, do we really can afford for what we are paying now if everything at the market price? All of us in Malaysia have been brought up with one or more elements of subsidies in many forms in our life. When we look at our friends in Thailand or Singapore, if are suffering due to economic crisis, they are actually dealing with the reality. If Malaysians complaining in economic crisis, we are not facing the real truth since we are being " cushioned" with billions of RM in many forms of subsidies.
6. For me, it is very sickening when Malaysians are so stubborn although they are mostly educated and well informed about the nature of how subsidies affecting each part of their life and businesses.
7. Are we happy with the way we use our resources such our depleting energy supplies?
Are we happy enough crying for more subsidies and put the burden or blame on others while we have never intend to change the way we lead our life?
Or we just happy enough to waste energy and let others to find the solution for us?
We are what here based on we did yesterday and we must not expecting something better tomorrow if we do nothing today.
8. So, do we want to start to do it today or wait until we have no choice other than have to do it (we may left little time to prepare for it)
9. May be it is already too late to educate the adults now and we should focus more on our future generations to make the difference. In some activities that I was involved in recent years, being with our children is far more satisfying when I saw them having the spirit of "want to" do rather "have to". They tend to realize that they can do something today for better future of their own generation tomorrow.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Conveying the energy efficiency messages
1. It has been a very challenging tasks to anyone to tell people to use energy efficiently when they still can afford to settle their energy bills in their daily life.
2. Being in my position at this moment has given me more and bigger platforms to promote on why it is so important for us to use our energy wisely.
3, I have gone all over the country and presented papers on various topics n efficient use of energy. From every event that I went, I would able to gauge the general perception of Malaysian on energy issues related to them especially for big energy users from industrial and commercial sectors.
4. Generally, I would see it as not so much about the issues on the technical know-how or their engineering capability to identify the potentials to save energy and implement them.
5. Another common perception is, energy savings are all about installing devices and that will cost them too much. In the end, they tend to ignore on how energy is being managed in their premises and focus is more on other matters related to the core businesses such as production and delivering services to their customers.
6. Energy efficiency always being treated as project or program with its own planned activities and I strongly believe that is one major reason why it is not becoming sustainable. Projects or programs have their own duration and followed by commitments throughout that duration inclusive of financial supports, human resources and etc.
Ideally, there will be follow ups and improvement after each project but very often to see that the supports and commitment needed would not be the same as what were received during the project duration which normally very much less or none. In a long run, no matter how good were the findings or outputs of the projects, it will slowly being forgotten and it will not be impossible for the same project to carried out again in the future by the same (different management team)or different organizations .
7. Total Quality Management, Total Production Management and Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Management are common features in most companies at this moment. Energy management normally just apart of environmental management system such as in ISO140001 in most organizations. Most company policies will include Quality and Production which are considered as core areas in the business while safety, health and environment are implemented mainly due to legal requirements and also covered in corporate policies in some prominent or multinational companies.
8. Generally, energy management can be considered as "optional" or ignored by many companies and the energy costs is just something need to be paid. It is often looked "as it is" and almost nothing can be done other than paying it or you will trouble with the utility companies. Sometime they don't even know what tariff that they are in and what they are paying for in every month but all of them are so worry about paying more when there is any tariff hike.
9. Why? It is simply because energy is often not integrated in every part of other management components such as production, quality and others. It is also because energy efficiency has been treated as projects or products and do not require to be implemented is a sustainable manner. Therefore, it does not require total management approaches like other core areas in the organization.
10. I always said to my audiences that even a building which designed as an energy efficient building from the beginning until its completion, it would not be able to be efficient by itself. It needs to managed and it require a management approach to sustain its efficiency level as expected from the design.
11. Energy must be managed if we want to ensure that we want to use it efficiently. Energy management is just like any other area which require the development and the implementation of the system which can make it sustainable. Key components in the management of energy must be tailored and implemented to the needs of each organization and based on resources can be allocated to achieve the management's goals.
12. Having the management system implemented in the organization will ensure the efficient use of energy at all level of employees and in event of the management team changed, the system will remain as apart of one of the core and strategic matters.
13. When I was a consultant and worked with all level of technical personnel in the plant, energy saving measures managed to identified mainly from the input of them. In other words, they can find it themselves with necessary support from the management such as trainings and allocation of resources and time.
14. As a conclusion, energy management system is the key issue here. As I mentioned earlier, it is no so much of the technical barriers and capability to identify and implement energy saving measures but it is more of the change of mindset to adopt energy management across all department or sections in the organization. Energy need to be seen as rewarding as the increase of sales or production volumes because the fact is ONE RINGGIT SAVED IS ONE RINGGIT EARNED. Please bear in mind that the RINGGIT SAVED can be achieved by doing something within our absolute controls which is our very own organization!
2. Being in my position at this moment has given me more and bigger platforms to promote on why it is so important for us to use our energy wisely.
3, I have gone all over the country and presented papers on various topics n efficient use of energy. From every event that I went, I would able to gauge the general perception of Malaysian on energy issues related to them especially for big energy users from industrial and commercial sectors.
4. Generally, I would see it as not so much about the issues on the technical know-how or their engineering capability to identify the potentials to save energy and implement them.
5. Another common perception is, energy savings are all about installing devices and that will cost them too much. In the end, they tend to ignore on how energy is being managed in their premises and focus is more on other matters related to the core businesses such as production and delivering services to their customers.
6. Energy efficiency always being treated as project or program with its own planned activities and I strongly believe that is one major reason why it is not becoming sustainable. Projects or programs have their own duration and followed by commitments throughout that duration inclusive of financial supports, human resources and etc.
Ideally, there will be follow ups and improvement after each project but very often to see that the supports and commitment needed would not be the same as what were received during the project duration which normally very much less or none. In a long run, no matter how good were the findings or outputs of the projects, it will slowly being forgotten and it will not be impossible for the same project to carried out again in the future by the same (different management team)or different organizations .
7. Total Quality Management, Total Production Management and Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Management are common features in most companies at this moment. Energy management normally just apart of environmental management system such as in ISO140001 in most organizations. Most company policies will include Quality and Production which are considered as core areas in the business while safety, health and environment are implemented mainly due to legal requirements and also covered in corporate policies in some prominent or multinational companies.
8. Generally, energy management can be considered as "optional" or ignored by many companies and the energy costs is just something need to be paid. It is often looked "as it is" and almost nothing can be done other than paying it or you will trouble with the utility companies. Sometime they don't even know what tariff that they are in and what they are paying for in every month but all of them are so worry about paying more when there is any tariff hike.
9. Why? It is simply because energy is often not integrated in every part of other management components such as production, quality and others. It is also because energy efficiency has been treated as projects or products and do not require to be implemented is a sustainable manner. Therefore, it does not require total management approaches like other core areas in the organization.
10. I always said to my audiences that even a building which designed as an energy efficient building from the beginning until its completion, it would not be able to be efficient by itself. It needs to managed and it require a management approach to sustain its efficiency level as expected from the design.
11. Energy must be managed if we want to ensure that we want to use it efficiently. Energy management is just like any other area which require the development and the implementation of the system which can make it sustainable. Key components in the management of energy must be tailored and implemented to the needs of each organization and based on resources can be allocated to achieve the management's goals.
12. Having the management system implemented in the organization will ensure the efficient use of energy at all level of employees and in event of the management team changed, the system will remain as apart of one of the core and strategic matters.
13. When I was a consultant and worked with all level of technical personnel in the plant, energy saving measures managed to identified mainly from the input of them. In other words, they can find it themselves with necessary support from the management such as trainings and allocation of resources and time.
14. As a conclusion, energy management system is the key issue here. As I mentioned earlier, it is no so much of the technical barriers and capability to identify and implement energy saving measures but it is more of the change of mindset to adopt energy management across all department or sections in the organization. Energy need to be seen as rewarding as the increase of sales or production volumes because the fact is ONE RINGGIT SAVED IS ONE RINGGIT EARNED. Please bear in mind that the RINGGIT SAVED can be achieved by doing something within our absolute controls which is our very own organization!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Introductory Program for Efficient Management of Energy in Malaysia
Main Target groups:
1. Engineers, middle and top management personnel of all installations affected by the Efficient Management Of Electrical Energy Regulations 2008.
2. Energy Services Companies (ESCOs), Consultants, O&M service providers and individuals with roles that can be played in the implementation of the regulations such as energy auditing, developing and implementing energy saving programs, monitoring and providing energy manager services for the purpose of compliance to the regulations.
3. Individuals interested to understand the requirements and application process to become registered electrical energy manager with Energy Commission
Main objectives:
1. To understand the present energy scenario in Malaysia and ways to deal with in possible energy price increase;
2. To obtain in depth understanding on the newly implemented Efficient Management Of Electrical Energy Regulations 2008 and the application procedure to become electrical energy manager( applicable to installations using more than 3millions kWh in six consecutive months after 15 December 2008);
3. Achieving energy savings from developing and implementing energy management system in a company;
4. To understand the energy audit methods and to reduce to conduct energy audit;
5. To understand method to evaluate energy saving project and common energy saving measures.
*****************************************
PROGRAMME OUTLINE
Duration : One Day
9.00 a.m - Introduction and Overview of the program
9.15 a.m - Energy Scenario in Malaysia
-Energy policies
-Overview and projected energy supply and demand
-Major energy efficiency initiatives in Malaysia
10.15 a.m - Morning Break
10.30 a.m - Laws And Regulations In Efficient Management Of Electrical Energy
-Key provisions in current acts and regulations related to energy efficiency
-Efficient Management of Electrical Energy Regulations 2008
-Requirements to become registered electrical energy manager
-Opportunities from the implementation of the regulations
12.00 p.m - Introduction to Energy Management
-Energy management system(EMS) : Key components and the development of EMS
-Strategies in the implementation of EMS
-Roles and responsibilities of energy managers
1.00 p.m -Lunch
2.00 p.m - Introduction to Energy Auditing
-Types of audit
-Energy audit methodology and energy audit equipment
-Energy audit reporting
-Who should conduct energy audit and how to reduce cost to conduct energy audit
3.00 p.m -Tea Break
3.15 p.m - Evaluation of energy saving projects
-Electricity consumption analysis (bill and demand charges)
-Technical and financial evaluation of Energy Efficiency Projects
-Financing options : Sources and incentives
-Common energy saving measures
5.00 p.m - End of Program
*****************************************
Duration : Half Day
9.00 a.m - Laws And Regulations In Efficient Management Of Electrical Energy
-Efficient Management of Electrical Energy Regulations 2008
-Requirements to become a registered electrical energy manager
10.15 a.m- Morning Break
10.30 a.m- Introduction to Energy Management
-Energy management system(EMS) : Key components and the development of EMS
-Strategies in the implementation of EMS
-Roles and responsibilities of energy managers
12.00 p.m - Introduction to Energy Auditing
-Types of audit and methodology
-Energy audit equipment
-Energy audit report
-Common energy saving measures
1.00 p.m - End of Program
*****************************************
THE SPEAKER
Career Summary
He hold a degree in Mechanical Engineering from UKM and started his career in 1997. He has worked as energy efficiency consultants and integrated facility management services providers in local and multinational firms to service the industrial and commercial clients. Then he joined the regulator currently to spearhead the regulatory duties in energy efficiency in Malaysia from the head office in Kuala Lumpur.
His areas of expertise and experiences include the followings:
-Energy auditing for industrial and commercial building facilities.
-Energy Management System development and training;
-Energy efficiency standard development and labeling;
-Measurement and monitoring of energy performance and utility cost analysis;
-Technical evaluation of energy conservation projects to apply for fiscal incentives on energy efficiency; and
-Energy efficiency awareness and promotions program.
He has been involved in workshops, trainings and courses at other countries such as Japan, Taiwan, and India pertaining to the efficient use of energy. Regularly invited as a speaker in energy efficiency related trainings and presenting papers in local seminars, courses workshops and training programs such as:
-Energy Management Training Courses for Energy Managers by local Energy Services Companies (ESCOs) and industrial associations
-Seminars For Efficient Management Of Electrical Energy Regulations 2008
-Seminars on Promoting Energy Efficiency through Government Incentives.
-Energy Management Training For Technical Personnel For Government Agencies
-In-house energy management training covering legislation, energy management system and energy auditing.
Others
A technical committee member:
-Energy audit for government buildings
-Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects
-National Energy Efficiency Master Plan Preparation
-Relamping program for Putrajaya and Cyberjaya
-Phasing out incandescent lamps project for Malaysia
-Workings groups in energy efficiency criteria and standard development for industrial equipment and domestic appliances
Contact: zaini_abdulwahab@yahoo.com
1. Engineers, middle and top management personnel of all installations affected by the Efficient Management Of Electrical Energy Regulations 2008.
2. Energy Services Companies (ESCOs), Consultants, O&M service providers and individuals with roles that can be played in the implementation of the regulations such as energy auditing, developing and implementing energy saving programs, monitoring and providing energy manager services for the purpose of compliance to the regulations.
3. Individuals interested to understand the requirements and application process to become registered electrical energy manager with Energy Commission
Main objectives:
1. To understand the present energy scenario in Malaysia and ways to deal with in possible energy price increase;
2. To obtain in depth understanding on the newly implemented Efficient Management Of Electrical Energy Regulations 2008 and the application procedure to become electrical energy manager( applicable to installations using more than 3millions kWh in six consecutive months after 15 December 2008);
3. Achieving energy savings from developing and implementing energy management system in a company;
4. To understand the energy audit methods and to reduce to conduct energy audit;
5. To understand method to evaluate energy saving project and common energy saving measures.
*****************************************
PROGRAMME OUTLINE
Duration : One Day
9.00 a.m - Introduction and Overview of the program
9.15 a.m - Energy Scenario in Malaysia
-Energy policies
-Overview and projected energy supply and demand
-Major energy efficiency initiatives in Malaysia
10.15 a.m - Morning Break
10.30 a.m - Laws And Regulations In Efficient Management Of Electrical Energy
-Key provisions in current acts and regulations related to energy efficiency
-Efficient Management of Electrical Energy Regulations 2008
-Requirements to become registered electrical energy manager
-Opportunities from the implementation of the regulations
12.00 p.m - Introduction to Energy Management
-Energy management system(EMS) : Key components and the development of EMS
-Strategies in the implementation of EMS
-Roles and responsibilities of energy managers
1.00 p.m -Lunch
2.00 p.m - Introduction to Energy Auditing
-Types of audit
-Energy audit methodology and energy audit equipment
-Energy audit reporting
-Who should conduct energy audit and how to reduce cost to conduct energy audit
3.00 p.m -Tea Break
3.15 p.m - Evaluation of energy saving projects
-Electricity consumption analysis (bill and demand charges)
-Technical and financial evaluation of Energy Efficiency Projects
-Financing options : Sources and incentives
-Common energy saving measures
5.00 p.m - End of Program
*****************************************
Duration : Half Day
9.00 a.m - Laws And Regulations In Efficient Management Of Electrical Energy
-Efficient Management of Electrical Energy Regulations 2008
-Requirements to become a registered electrical energy manager
10.15 a.m- Morning Break
10.30 a.m- Introduction to Energy Management
-Energy management system(EMS) : Key components and the development of EMS
-Strategies in the implementation of EMS
-Roles and responsibilities of energy managers
12.00 p.m - Introduction to Energy Auditing
-Types of audit and methodology
-Energy audit equipment
-Energy audit report
-Common energy saving measures
1.00 p.m - End of Program
*****************************************
THE SPEAKER
Career Summary
He hold a degree in Mechanical Engineering from UKM and started his career in 1997. He has worked as energy efficiency consultants and integrated facility management services providers in local and multinational firms to service the industrial and commercial clients. Then he joined the regulator currently to spearhead the regulatory duties in energy efficiency in Malaysia from the head office in Kuala Lumpur.
His areas of expertise and experiences include the followings:
-Energy auditing for industrial and commercial building facilities.
-Energy Management System development and training;
-Energy efficiency standard development and labeling;
-Measurement and monitoring of energy performance and utility cost analysis;
-Technical evaluation of energy conservation projects to apply for fiscal incentives on energy efficiency; and
-Energy efficiency awareness and promotions program.
He has been involved in workshops, trainings and courses at other countries such as Japan, Taiwan, and India pertaining to the efficient use of energy. Regularly invited as a speaker in energy efficiency related trainings and presenting papers in local seminars, courses workshops and training programs such as:
-Energy Management Training Courses for Energy Managers by local Energy Services Companies (ESCOs) and industrial associations
-Seminars For Efficient Management Of Electrical Energy Regulations 2008
-Seminars on Promoting Energy Efficiency through Government Incentives.
-Energy Management Training For Technical Personnel For Government Agencies
-In-house energy management training covering legislation, energy management system and energy auditing.
Others
A technical committee member:
-Energy audit for government buildings
-Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects
-National Energy Efficiency Master Plan Preparation
-Relamping program for Putrajaya and Cyberjaya
-Phasing out incandescent lamps project for Malaysia
-Workings groups in energy efficiency criteria and standard development for industrial equipment and domestic appliances
Contact: zaini_abdulwahab@yahoo.com
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
OPPORTUNITIES FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ENERGY MANAGEMENT LAW (2)
These are some areas that I believe can be exploited with the
implementation of the new regulations.
which will result in lowering the costs of running their businesses.
It has been always a dream for me personally to the field energy efficiency as another attractive career opportunities as we can see in occupational safety with the introduction of Occupational Safety and Health Act(OSHA) in the country some years ago.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
OPPORTUNITIES FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ENERGY MANAGEMENT LAW (1)
1. I have been in this energy efficiency or energy management field for almost the whole years of my career so far. The only difference is I have been in a different organizations since I started in 1997.
2. It is a very promising field. That was the thought that I strongly believe in myself when decided to start my career in it last time. One thing that I was told and from what I saw that time and the following years was about the introduction of the new law that will require qualified people in energy efficiency will be certified by the authority for the purpose to implement the law.
3. Nothing actually happen after that and the new law has been non issue among the industry players after that when there was no strong signal after few years of big buzz in the market. I remember that time when many companies and individuals were willing to pay around RM5-6k to attend energy management trainings with the impression that will be a ticket to be an energy manager under the law. After all that has been one of the strategies by training providers to get more prospects to sign up for their program.
4. I moved from one place to another but in the line of my career, energy management always there as apart of my scope of works especially when I was am energy efficiency consultant. In the same time I been keeping in touch with the people who were still involved in the same line of industry. I saw many of them gave up and shifted to another line of career over the years and few of them remain in the business until today although they are struggling.
5. It was a tough time for those involved in this energy efficiency business since the first time I entered the field. After sometime I realized that it is not easy to be in a business or industry which not being regulated by the government.vFinally , it was announced that the new law named Efficient Management of Electrical Energy Regulations 2008 will be implemented and its effective date is from
6. I remember there were so much confusion and disbelief within people whom I know and some part of the industry about the newly introduced law. Some were not even believe it that the law was really in place officially since talks about it has been there for years already.
7. I observed and received may comments and remarks related to the law especially about the qualifications to be registered to be an electrical energy manager. Quite a number of individuals and groups in the industry expressed their displeasure and disagreement over the matter especially for those who have invested to attend the training last time but not even qualified to apply just because they do not have a degree as a mandatory requirements. Some even have doubt on how serious the government want to enforce the law especially the main concern lately is more on recovering from the economic crisis.
8. I prefer to look more on the benefits and positive sides from the implementation of the law. In general, the law is about to ensure big energy users to manage their electrical energy efficiently. Comparing the development of energy efficiency industry in other countries, it become more successful when the government started to include it as a national policy and having specific laws as tools to achieve the policy. Having a law, means that the industry will start to be regulated where those affected must comply according to the provisions of the law itself. Naturally, it will trigger and serving as a major force for those related in energy efficiency in many ways.
9. Here are some main key provisions and requirements in the newly introduced regulations:
i. The requirement to submit information to the regulator such as policy related to efficient management of electrical energy, information and documents related to energy management of the installation.
ii.The appointment of registered energy manager by affected consumers and generators
iii. Prescribed duties of registered electrical energy manager such as to perform energy audit, develop and implement energy saving activities, monitoring and record keeping.
iii. the requirement to state the energy saving measures and explanation if measures not implemented in the regular report to the regulator(every six month)
iv. the requirement to have experiences in efficient management of electrical energy to be qualified to apply as a registered electrical energy manager.
10. Based on my personal understanding and assessment of all the above points, there are so many opportunities in each of it. Anyone who has been in the industry should look into that and figure out which area can be exploited based on their own type of services and expertise.
I will elaborate more on the opportunities available for everyone with the implementation of this law from my personal opinion in my next posting. InsyaAllah.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Developing in house personnnel to save energy
1. I have been involved in energy management at the start of my career as an energy consulting engineer. One of our services was to conduct energy audit for our clients. On top of that we were also conducting training on how to perform energy audit to various level of technical personnel.
2. Later I joined a facility management company and one of our services is to provide operation and maintenance services for facilities equipment such as air conditioning and compressed air systems, lighting and etc. During my tenure as a facility engineer in a manufacturing plant, I have full control on all day to day operational and maintenance works for all that equipment. With my knowledge and experiences in energy management previously as a consultant, it took me little time to apply my know-how to save energy at that plant. It did not take me too long to show the result for energy saving measures that I implemented since I have all the resources to do that. Using available data that has been collected as apart of O&M data collection, I developed a simple format to use the collected data and later presented it to the management to indicating results of my efforts.One of simple measure that showed significant result was a optimizing the operation hours of each chiller based on chilled water requirement throughout the day.
3. In the same time I personally trained 2 of my technicians who were very experienced and familiar in running, maintaining and even repairing some of there equipment. My job became much easier when they were involved because they could see additional contributions that they can deliver other than they routine O&M works.
4. When I did more works as energy efficiency consultant for more manufacturing plant and commercial buildings after that, I can conclude that it would be more cost effective if existing resources or internal personnel could be utilized to perform energy management related tasks. I remember charging at least RM20-30 thousands just to perform energy audit for a medium size plant or building.
5. Throughout the energy audit exercise key technical personnel in each plant or building involved with me so much especially in getting data required and for me to understand on each process and how they run they facilities equipment. The later part of the job is to recommend energy saving measures based on my understanding of all that and data that I have analyzed.
6. At some points of my works as a consultant, I had thoughts that why couldn't they do that themselves since they are the one who know more than anybody else about their equipment and they are willing so pay much to consultants like us to do that. Yes, they are some areas where consultants may have their own expertise but some of them are purely based on they existing data and input obtained from the clients especially personnel at the floors.
7. I did asked some of them and typical answers mainly are they are too occupied with their daily tasks and never being trained to do it. I know some of them who are technically very good and competent which normally make my job much easier with their input and helps. However, they main focus is only to ensure all equipment under their care to run without interruption with no or very little attention being given to ensure it run a the most efficient ways possible.
8. Some prominent companies especially MNCs do have their trained personnel to develop and implement energy management initiatives in their plant and normally their plant give a consultants like us much more challenging time to come up with something more than what they have already done.
9. Japan is a country with so many successful stories utilizing employees in factories and buildings to achieve their energy saving targets. They introduced and promoted a small group activities in identifying energy saving potentials and improve energy intensity performance in their plant. These small groups are consisting of personnel at the operational level and being supervised by engineers in the same plant.
10. All need to be done is to train these technical operational personnel either they from the level of engineer and lower. These are the people who know everything about how everything is being operated and maintained in the plant. By having trainings on energy management such as data collection and data gathering, basic operating fundamentals and how energy being used for of each equipment and common measures to save energy for each equipment and energy using process, they would be able to play significant roles in managing the energy intensity of the plant.
11. We need to have some assistance from external experts to achieve our energy saving target but let it be one of options when is needed rather than having them to sort out everything on how how we can save energy in our own plant.
12. It is important for our own personnel to understand the methods involved in identifying energy saving potentials in our plant such as the energy management system and process itself, energy audit, data required and data collection, measurements, monitoring and etc.
13. Developing in house capacity to manage energy will give the company more options and control and results that need to be achieved especially goals that has been set will become common goals that shared by everyone in the company.
2. Later I joined a facility management company and one of our services is to provide operation and maintenance services for facilities equipment such as air conditioning and compressed air systems, lighting and etc. During my tenure as a facility engineer in a manufacturing plant, I have full control on all day to day operational and maintenance works for all that equipment. With my knowledge and experiences in energy management previously as a consultant, it took me little time to apply my know-how to save energy at that plant. It did not take me too long to show the result for energy saving measures that I implemented since I have all the resources to do that. Using available data that has been collected as apart of O&M data collection, I developed a simple format to use the collected data and later presented it to the management to indicating results of my efforts.One of simple measure that showed significant result was a optimizing the operation hours of each chiller based on chilled water requirement throughout the day.
3. In the same time I personally trained 2 of my technicians who were very experienced and familiar in running, maintaining and even repairing some of there equipment. My job became much easier when they were involved because they could see additional contributions that they can deliver other than they routine O&M works.
4. When I did more works as energy efficiency consultant for more manufacturing plant and commercial buildings after that, I can conclude that it would be more cost effective if existing resources or internal personnel could be utilized to perform energy management related tasks. I remember charging at least RM20-30 thousands just to perform energy audit for a medium size plant or building.
5. Throughout the energy audit exercise key technical personnel in each plant or building involved with me so much especially in getting data required and for me to understand on each process and how they run they facilities equipment. The later part of the job is to recommend energy saving measures based on my understanding of all that and data that I have analyzed.
6. At some points of my works as a consultant, I had thoughts that why couldn't they do that themselves since they are the one who know more than anybody else about their equipment and they are willing so pay much to consultants like us to do that. Yes, they are some areas where consultants may have their own expertise but some of them are purely based on they existing data and input obtained from the clients especially personnel at the floors.
7. I did asked some of them and typical answers mainly are they are too occupied with their daily tasks and never being trained to do it. I know some of them who are technically very good and competent which normally make my job much easier with their input and helps. However, they main focus is only to ensure all equipment under their care to run without interruption with no or very little attention being given to ensure it run a the most efficient ways possible.
8. Some prominent companies especially MNCs do have their trained personnel to develop and implement energy management initiatives in their plant and normally their plant give a consultants like us much more challenging time to come up with something more than what they have already done.
9. Japan is a country with so many successful stories utilizing employees in factories and buildings to achieve their energy saving targets. They introduced and promoted a small group activities in identifying energy saving potentials and improve energy intensity performance in their plant. These small groups are consisting of personnel at the operational level and being supervised by engineers in the same plant.
10. All need to be done is to train these technical operational personnel either they from the level of engineer and lower. These are the people who know everything about how everything is being operated and maintained in the plant. By having trainings on energy management such as data collection and data gathering, basic operating fundamentals and how energy being used for of each equipment and common measures to save energy for each equipment and energy using process, they would be able to play significant roles in managing the energy intensity of the plant.
11. We need to have some assistance from external experts to achieve our energy saving target but let it be one of options when is needed rather than having them to sort out everything on how how we can save energy in our own plant.
12. It is important for our own personnel to understand the methods involved in identifying energy saving potentials in our plant such as the energy management system and process itself, energy audit, data required and data collection, measurements, monitoring and etc.
13. Developing in house capacity to manage energy will give the company more options and control and results that need to be achieved especially goals that has been set will become common goals that shared by everyone in the company.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Why we pay more than what we need for our energy
1. By 2020, Malaysia is expected to become net importer of oil base on a forecast Asia Pacific Energy Research Centre (APERC) in 2006.At present the government is subsidizing up to 70% of fuel used for generation and that is one of the reason why Malaysian is paying the existing rate of electrical energy to power their life.
2. How do you feel? Worry or we feel nothing at all. The PM has mentioned just few days ago that subsidies especially in the power sector will have to end one day and either we like it or not, once the subsidy is gradually taken away, we will have to pay much much more than what we are paying today. It would be fine if our income would increase accordingly but who can guarantee that?
3. We can blame it to everyone including the government later but how much control we might have over each of them.Why harping on something that we have no or little control when we have so much options in the way we use our energy? That is something we have more control over it. We do not to pay what we do not need to if we are efficient enough in using energy on our daily life.
4. Wasting energy is as easy as not wasting it. It is all up to our attitude. Most of the time we do not care. Simply because we can afford to pay but we never think why we can afford to pay it now. Sometime we seem happy enough wasting energy everywhere and in the same time using more money on top of that.
5. A simple example is, we do not mind to buy a thick blanket to sleep at night because we feel to cold but in the same time we set the temperature of air conditioner lower than 20 Degree Celcius at home. If we set it higher we do not need the blanket anyway and happy enough to additional RM50-RM60 per month just to use the thick blanket. And then in the same time we make a lot of noise every time the tariff increase occurred and later we need to pay extra RM20 every month. It is funny right since we have been paying more than that for something we do not really need for years before the tariff increase imposed.
6. When we go to work, we normally so comfortable investing more for coats or jackets to keep us warm at work but we have less control on the temperature. I have been in many building for various occasions and one thing that really obvious is, the temperature is too cold. It is strange since most of us were brought up in a warm and humid environment but we cannot stand for a while when we work at the office. Why? If we do not care when we pay it using our money at home, how can we expect we will care when the company paying the energy bill at the office?
7. It is actually up to us because the big change that may happen depending on small change in attitude today. Crying or complaining for our own ignorance can only make us more struggling with the energy costs that we need to pay to live in the future. This is especially when our country start to import energy where the government will have less control or no over the fluctuating price of fuel sources in the world.
2. How do you feel? Worry or we feel nothing at all. The PM has mentioned just few days ago that subsidies especially in the power sector will have to end one day and either we like it or not, once the subsidy is gradually taken away, we will have to pay much much more than what we are paying today. It would be fine if our income would increase accordingly but who can guarantee that?
3. We can blame it to everyone including the government later but how much control we might have over each of them.Why harping on something that we have no or little control when we have so much options in the way we use our energy? That is something we have more control over it. We do not to pay what we do not need to if we are efficient enough in using energy on our daily life.
4. Wasting energy is as easy as not wasting it. It is all up to our attitude. Most of the time we do not care. Simply because we can afford to pay but we never think why we can afford to pay it now. Sometime we seem happy enough wasting energy everywhere and in the same time using more money on top of that.
5. A simple example is, we do not mind to buy a thick blanket to sleep at night because we feel to cold but in the same time we set the temperature of air conditioner lower than 20 Degree Celcius at home. If we set it higher we do not need the blanket anyway and happy enough to additional RM50-RM60 per month just to use the thick blanket. And then in the same time we make a lot of noise every time the tariff increase occurred and later we need to pay extra RM20 every month. It is funny right since we have been paying more than that for something we do not really need for years before the tariff increase imposed.
6. When we go to work, we normally so comfortable investing more for coats or jackets to keep us warm at work but we have less control on the temperature. I have been in many building for various occasions and one thing that really obvious is, the temperature is too cold. It is strange since most of us were brought up in a warm and humid environment but we cannot stand for a while when we work at the office. Why? If we do not care when we pay it using our money at home, how can we expect we will care when the company paying the energy bill at the office?
7. It is actually up to us because the big change that may happen depending on small change in attitude today. Crying or complaining for our own ignorance can only make us more struggling with the energy costs that we need to pay to live in the future. This is especially when our country start to import energy where the government will have less control or no over the fluctuating price of fuel sources in the world.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Energy Audit
1. I often received feed backs and remarks from many people especially from industrial and commercial building sectors that energy audit is very costly.
No doubt they are right especially in our country where energy auditing is not a regulated field yet.
2. Energy audit can be very costly only when everything will be done the the external experts or consultants. As some came from energy auditing field, I used to charge our the client based on scope of works and outputs expected to be delivered by the client. For some clients, they have defined clearly what they need from the auditors and this is where the cost to have their services in the whole energy process will be much much less.
3. The understanding about the energy audit itself is important before we decided to have an energy audit. Fees to conduct the audit will depend the type of energy audit that they need because each type of audit will require different level of depth and details that need to be audited and analyzed.
4. What is energy audit?
Briefly it can defined as a systematic methods to identify information anda data of the supply and the usage of energy which will be used to identify measures and actions to be taken to save energy. Implemented measures will result to the increase in the energy efficiency performance of the plant.
5. Energy audit can be done at the plant, system or equipment level. The bigger the level, the bigger the tasks to be carried out and the higher the costs will be involved.
6. Energy audit generally can be categorized into two types:
i) Simple audit - desktop analysis for common data and information available (bills, invoices), less measurements and site data collections, saving measures will not involve any cost or low cost
ii) Detailed/Comprehensive audit- more detailed data analysis from available data and more measurements, high cost saving measures, require detail financial analysis
7. Pre requirements to conduct energy audit:
i) The Commitment to implement audit findings- it will be a waste of time and resources if no actions taken
ii) The understanding of the energy audit type, process and activities- to identify who can perform each task
iii) The level of details expected from energy saving recommendations.
- more details analysis required, more cost may be involved depending on type of audit
8. Main requirements to perform an energy audit:
i) Energy Auditor - Internal or external or that combination of the two.
ii) Energy audit equipment - mainly data measurement and recording devices
iii)Allocation of budget and time
iv) Availability and accessibility of energy data and information
9. Knowing some information on energy audit itself will help to decide on what type of energy audit that need to be performed at the plant. In the end it will decide on what is expected from the audit to achieve the ultimate objective for the plant and definitely will affect costs to be incurred.
10. Energy audit would not save energy but it will prescribe the most accurate approaches and methods to be us used to save energy. However, a good audit not necessarily too costly although it may involve external parties such as a consultant.
11. The ideal way is, utilize the internal personnel by giving them some training on how to conduct energy audit since they know the plant better than anyone. Get assistance from external parties only on a need basis especially on certain subject matters such as new technologies, specific data analysis and etc where normally they are the real experts.
No doubt they are right especially in our country where energy auditing is not a regulated field yet.
2. Energy audit can be very costly only when everything will be done the the external experts or consultants. As some came from energy auditing field, I used to charge our the client based on scope of works and outputs expected to be delivered by the client. For some clients, they have defined clearly what they need from the auditors and this is where the cost to have their services in the whole energy process will be much much less.
3. The understanding about the energy audit itself is important before we decided to have an energy audit. Fees to conduct the audit will depend the type of energy audit that they need because each type of audit will require different level of depth and details that need to be audited and analyzed.
4. What is energy audit?
Briefly it can defined as a systematic methods to identify information anda data of the supply and the usage of energy which will be used to identify measures and actions to be taken to save energy. Implemented measures will result to the increase in the energy efficiency performance of the plant.
5. Energy audit can be done at the plant, system or equipment level. The bigger the level, the bigger the tasks to be carried out and the higher the costs will be involved.
6. Energy audit generally can be categorized into two types:
i) Simple audit - desktop analysis for common data and information available (bills, invoices), less measurements and site data collections, saving measures will not involve any cost or low cost
ii) Detailed/Comprehensive audit- more detailed data analysis from available data and more measurements, high cost saving measures, require detail financial analysis
7. Pre requirements to conduct energy audit:
i) The Commitment to implement audit findings- it will be a waste of time and resources if no actions taken
ii) The understanding of the energy audit type, process and activities- to identify who can perform each task
iii) The level of details expected from energy saving recommendations.
- more details analysis required, more cost may be involved depending on type of audit
8. Main requirements to perform an energy audit:
i) Energy Auditor - Internal or external or that combination of the two.
ii) Energy audit equipment - mainly data measurement and recording devices
iii)Allocation of budget and time
iv) Availability and accessibility of energy data and information
9. Knowing some information on energy audit itself will help to decide on what type of energy audit that need to be performed at the plant. In the end it will decide on what is expected from the audit to achieve the ultimate objective for the plant and definitely will affect costs to be incurred.
10. Energy audit would not save energy but it will prescribe the most accurate approaches and methods to be us used to save energy. However, a good audit not necessarily too costly although it may involve external parties such as a consultant.
11. The ideal way is, utilize the internal personnel by giving them some training on how to conduct energy audit since they know the plant better than anyone. Get assistance from external parties only on a need basis especially on certain subject matters such as new technologies, specific data analysis and etc where normally they are the real experts.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Energy Saving Device ....part 2
Energy "saver" products which is targeting home users.
It has been quite common we can see this type of products being sold at supermarkets, R&R areas at highways and many more public places. Common items on displayed are:
Some of them even claimed that the power being supplied to our home is not stable and that device can save electricity and stabilize the power supply.
One more thing I am not sure their qualifications and level of knowledge especially when they also claimed sometime that the product has been approved by SIRIM and Energy Commission.
That is what they claimed and this the facts:
1. Some of them have sent their device to SIRIM for testings as follows; -
I have done some checking below are my findings so far:
2. Energy Commission has never approved any energy saving device that need to be installed at any electrical appliances and has the ability to reduce electricity consumption or to improve its energy efficiency level. A check in Energy Commission's website showed a list of products that met certain requirements that have been set and can be classified as energy efficient material and equipment namely insulation material, televisions, domestic fans, wall mounted split unit air conditioners, lamps, ballast for fluorescent lamps, domestic refrigerators and high efficiency motors.
For normal consumers like us, may be we don't really look into this since our concern is only on how we can pay less for our electricity bills. There are many other ways to use less energy and pay less but in the same time we keep our comfort level at home. It is all about how we use it and what appliances we are using. Many guidelines on how to use energy efficiently have been published and available in the bookstores and websites and we just need to have a look at it to be efficient energy users.
The choice is in us to choose the " easy" way and buying the energy "saver" with so much uncertainties or the proven methods that can be easily applied at our home.
It has been quite common we can see this type of products being sold at supermarkets, R&R areas at highways and many more public places. Common items on displayed are:
- kWh meter ( to measure electrical energy consumption)
- Fluorescent tubes
- Samples of electricity bills for a house (address normally cannot be seen clearly or covered at all)They claimed the device can reduce power factor/stabilize the voltage/reduce current or even to make the movement the electron more smooth.
- They will show us the reduction in electrical parameters such as current and power when they use the device and without the device.
- Fluorescent tubes will be used as electrical appliance that they claimed use less energy if the device is used.
Some of them even claimed that the power being supplied to our home is not stable and that device can save electricity and stabilize the power supply.
One more thing I am not sure their qualifications and level of knowledge especially when they also claimed sometime that the product has been approved by SIRIM and Energy Commission.
That is what they claimed and this the facts:
1. Some of them have sent their device to SIRIM for testings as follows; -
- Safety test- SIRIM will test according toStandard MS 1144:1998 for General Requirements for Electrical Accessories (First Revision). If they passed this test, basically the product is safe for use.
I have done some checking below are my findings so far:
- Power consumption test- So far, there is no standard available to test the energy performance of the device. What was done normally by these suppliers is , they sent it to SIRIM for testing with the testing requirements prepared by themselves. SIRIM will conduct the test a requested by them. They will use the test result to prove the device can save electricity.
- Only reduction in Ampere/kW/kWh and the reduction vary from depending type of electrical appliances being used in the test. It is within 2% reduction. Normally they claimed more than 30% savings.
- None of these test results indicate the energy performance value of the appliances such as lumen/watt for lamps or Energy Efficiency Ratio for air conditioners.
2. Energy Commission has never approved any energy saving device that need to be installed at any electrical appliances and has the ability to reduce electricity consumption or to improve its energy efficiency level. A check in Energy Commission's website showed a list of products that met certain requirements that have been set and can be classified as energy efficient material and equipment namely insulation material, televisions, domestic fans, wall mounted split unit air conditioners, lamps, ballast for fluorescent lamps, domestic refrigerators and high efficiency motors.
For normal consumers like us, may be we don't really look into this since our concern is only on how we can pay less for our electricity bills. There are many other ways to use less energy and pay less but in the same time we keep our comfort level at home. It is all about how we use it and what appliances we are using. Many guidelines on how to use energy efficiently have been published and available in the bookstores and websites and we just need to have a look at it to be efficient energy users.
The choice is in us to choose the " easy" way and buying the energy "saver" with so much uncertainties or the proven methods that can be easily applied at our home.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Common terminologies in energy management
Common terminologies being used in energy management:
Energy- Electricity, fuel, steam, heat, compressed air, renewables and other like media. Energy can be referred to the various forms of primary or secondary energy which can be purchased, stored, treated or used in equipment or in a process
Energy use- manner or kind of application of energy such as ventilation, heating, processes, production lines.
The quantity of the energy applied is expressed as energy consumption.
Energy intensity- Energy consumption amount divided by production amount
Applicable for the whole plant, individual process line, each equipment/machine
Energy consumption amount - In electric power(kWh), heat (J) r by individual particular unit such as steam (ton), water(m3) and etc.
Production amount - Unit in weight(tonnage), number of products and etc.
Energy baseline- Quantitative reference providing a basis for comparison of energy performance
Energy Efficient- To use less energy to produce the same or better level of output or to use the same amount energy to produce better level of output
Energy (Electricity, fuel, thermal and etc.)
Output (Quantity, quality, comfort level and etc.)
Energy efficiency- The term by the organization such as conversion efficiency, energy required/energy used, output/input, theoretical energy used to operate/energy used to operate.
An increase in energy efficiency is when either energy inputs are reduced for a given level of service, or there are increased or enhanced services for a given amount of energy inputs.
Energy performance- Measurable results related to energy
Energy performance indicator- Quantitative index of energy performance as defined by the organization to quantify the amount of energy used or saved per normalized unit of appropriate variable.
Energy management policy- Overall intentions and direction of an organization related to its energy performance as formally expressed by top management that provides a framework for action
Energy Management System- A set of interrelated or interacting elements of an organization to establish energy policy and objectives and to achieve those objectives
References
Websites, ISO 50001
Energy- Electricity, fuel, steam, heat, compressed air, renewables and other like media. Energy can be referred to the various forms of primary or secondary energy which can be purchased, stored, treated or used in equipment or in a process
Energy use- manner or kind of application of energy such as ventilation, heating, processes, production lines.
The quantity of the energy applied is expressed as energy consumption.
Energy intensity- Energy consumption amount divided by production amount
Applicable for the whole plant, individual process line, each equipment/machine
Energy consumption amount - In electric power(kWh), heat (J) r by individual particular unit such as steam (ton), water(m3) and etc.
Production amount - Unit in weight(tonnage), number of products and etc.
Energy baseline- Quantitative reference providing a basis for comparison of energy performance
Energy Efficient- To use less energy to produce the same or better level of output or to use the same amount energy to produce better level of output
Energy (Electricity, fuel, thermal and etc.)
Output (Quantity, quality, comfort level and etc.)
Energy efficiency- The term by the organization such as conversion efficiency, energy required/energy used, output/input, theoretical energy used to operate/energy used to operate.
An increase in energy efficiency is when either energy inputs are reduced for a given level of service, or there are increased or enhanced services for a given amount of energy inputs.
Energy performance- Measurable results related to energy
Energy performance indicator- Quantitative index of energy performance as defined by the organization to quantify the amount of energy used or saved per normalized unit of appropriate variable.
Energy management policy- Overall intentions and direction of an organization related to its energy performance as formally expressed by top management that provides a framework for action
Energy Management System- A set of interrelated or interacting elements of an organization to establish energy policy and objectives and to achieve those objectives
References
Websites, ISO 50001
Energy Saving Device
There are many ways to save energy but before we go further it is better to understand the true meaning of energy efficiency.
The words save or conserve energy often understood as energy efficient or to improve energy efficiency.
Energy efficiency is the relationship between the energy being used to produce a useful output.
Energy efficient means to produce same level or better output with less energy as input or to use the same level of energy to produce better output.
It electricity, higher efficiency not only about reducing electrical energy consumption in kilowatt-hour (kWh) but it need to be considered with the output of the particular product or equipment.
For example when an energy saving device is installed at a lamp tubes, we must relate the reduction of kWh shown with the energy performance of the tube which is measured in Lumen/Watt.
There are many claims in the market that there are "single" solution to save energy or to increase efficiency for all types of equipment or appliances at home or at factories.
I am not against any new technology to improve energy efficiency but so none of that solutions are convincing enough to me at least from technical point of view.
The words save or conserve energy often understood as energy efficient or to improve energy efficiency.
Energy efficiency is the relationship between the energy being used to produce a useful output.
Energy efficient means to produce same level or better output with less energy as input or to use the same level of energy to produce better output.
It electricity, higher efficiency not only about reducing electrical energy consumption in kilowatt-hour (kWh) but it need to be considered with the output of the particular product or equipment.
For example when an energy saving device is installed at a lamp tubes, we must relate the reduction of kWh shown with the energy performance of the tube which is measured in Lumen/Watt.
There are many claims in the market that there are "single" solution to save energy or to increase efficiency for all types of equipment or appliances at home or at factories.
I am not against any new technology to improve energy efficiency but so none of that solutions are convincing enough to me at least from technical point of view.
How to become an efficient energy user
We want to save energy but very little of us really do it.Why? Simply because we still can afford to pay our energy bills and fuel that we need to use in our daily life.
In many countries where most of their energy are imported like Japan and Thailand, energy management has been regulated by specific laws and regulations to ensure intensive energy users are managing their energy consumption well with certain energy saving targets to be complied.
For Malaysians, energy costs that we are paying now is partly subsidized by the government and this has given some "cushion" from the real impacts of energy price changes in the world and still many of us struggling to cope with that.
Based on forecasts by APERC in 2006, Malaysia is expected to be net energy importer in 2020 and it gives us more reasons to be efficient now rather that later where energy cost will be totally depending on fluctuation in the global market price.
The best way for us to deal with less energy subsidies from the government and the fluctuating global energy prices in years to come is by controlling on how we use our energy from now. From the most extreme view, there will be a time in the future where our efficiency in using energy will determine our survival as a person or as an business entity.
It is difficult to save? As an ordinary people, it is not since we in many ways, we have almost full control on our energy use.
For bigger users such as industrial and building sectors, more to be considered to become more efficient depending on the nature of energy being used for each organization.
We cannot save energy by saying but only by doing it and we often listen to a question " How can do it?"
My years of experiences in this field has told me one thing. Energy need to be managed and it is an on going efforts to ensure we can maintain the usage at desired efficiency level. Even though we may use the most efficient technologies available but it would not be as efficient as we expect over the period of time if we do not manage it well enough.For example, an efficient designed designed building or equipment will not be efficient by itself the moment we start to occupy it.
I believe in a sustainable energy management and just like any other management issues,they need a system which is specifically designed to ensure it will succeed in a long term.
As users, energy need to be manage systematically like other areas such as quality, safety, water and environment. However energy management is often seen has no direct benefits or impacts when core functions or business of most organizations is to produce goods or deliver services as sources to make profits.
One ringgit we saved is actually one ringgit that we earned and being efficient energy users do not mean that we have to compromise on our output or performance in quality or quantity of products/services to be delivered.
Having an energy management system to manage energy has been proven as the most effective mean to ensure all energy saving efforts will be more achievable where results can be measured and more improvements can be introduced to increase efficiency level.
As a conclusion, energy management through a proper system will enable us to become efficient and remain efficient in using energy.
In many countries where most of their energy are imported like Japan and Thailand, energy management has been regulated by specific laws and regulations to ensure intensive energy users are managing their energy consumption well with certain energy saving targets to be complied.
For Malaysians, energy costs that we are paying now is partly subsidized by the government and this has given some "cushion" from the real impacts of energy price changes in the world and still many of us struggling to cope with that.
Based on forecasts by APERC in 2006, Malaysia is expected to be net energy importer in 2020 and it gives us more reasons to be efficient now rather that later where energy cost will be totally depending on fluctuation in the global market price.
The best way for us to deal with less energy subsidies from the government and the fluctuating global energy prices in years to come is by controlling on how we use our energy from now. From the most extreme view, there will be a time in the future where our efficiency in using energy will determine our survival as a person or as an business entity.
It is difficult to save? As an ordinary people, it is not since we in many ways, we have almost full control on our energy use.
For bigger users such as industrial and building sectors, more to be considered to become more efficient depending on the nature of energy being used for each organization.
We cannot save energy by saying but only by doing it and we often listen to a question " How can do it?"
My years of experiences in this field has told me one thing. Energy need to be managed and it is an on going efforts to ensure we can maintain the usage at desired efficiency level. Even though we may use the most efficient technologies available but it would not be as efficient as we expect over the period of time if we do not manage it well enough.For example, an efficient designed designed building or equipment will not be efficient by itself the moment we start to occupy it.
I believe in a sustainable energy management and just like any other management issues,they need a system which is specifically designed to ensure it will succeed in a long term.
As users, energy need to be manage systematically like other areas such as quality, safety, water and environment. However energy management is often seen has no direct benefits or impacts when core functions or business of most organizations is to produce goods or deliver services as sources to make profits.
One ringgit we saved is actually one ringgit that we earned and being efficient energy users do not mean that we have to compromise on our output or performance in quality or quantity of products/services to be delivered.
Having an energy management system to manage energy has been proven as the most effective mean to ensure all energy saving efforts will be more achievable where results can be measured and more improvements can be introduced to increase efficiency level.
As a conclusion, energy management through a proper system will enable us to become efficient and remain efficient in using energy.
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