Goinng Green - 17 May 2015

StarSpecialTHE STAR Sunday 17 May 2015

Eco-friendly home roofing solutions > 5 Innovative, lightweight building materials > 6

GOING GREEN

Sustainable growthThe power is in

your hands.

2 GOING GREEN StarSpecial, Sunday 17 May 2015

Policyvs perception

By THERESA BELLE

THIS December, France will host the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) to discuss a new international agreement on climate control.

Recent climate change reports show that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has reached a record high at 400ppm (400 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere).

Scientists and policy experts believe we will witness dire environmental devastation with a 2C increase in global temperatures, a scenario that is very likely to occur once the carbon dioxide reading reaches 450ppm.

COP21 will therefore seek to establish an agreement involving all countries that are contributing to the effort in keeping global warming below 2C.

Here in Malaysia, we have not turned a blind eye towards environmentalism.

Through GreenTech Malaysia (a not-for-profit organisation under the purview of the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry), the Green Malaysia Plan 2013 was established to outline the countrys strategic direction in green technology policy implementation.

Among GreenTech Malaysias flagship projects is the electric mobility initiative, which was most recently supported by the countrys first electric vehicle sharing programme Comos.

In a recent article titled En

route to better environmental conservation published in the New Straits Times, Dr Zaki Zainuddin, associate professor of engineering at International Islamic University, highlighted the imperative roles of the Environmental Impact Assessment procedure in construction and Air Pollution Index in air quality monitoring and control to illustrate the existing sustainability framework in Malaysia, which is consistently expanding.

In the construction field today, for example, regulations and policies are being drawn up by the government with regards to the

Green Building Index (GBI) and GreenRE sustainability grading mechanisms for new projects nationwide.

According to architect and green advocate Melvyn Kanny, Putrajaya has already implemented the GBI certification requirement and other local councils are poised to follow suit.

All these are steps in the right direction. However, as is the case with most global issues, not much can be achieved without first tackling the issue at community and individual levels.

While awareness campaigns in public schools have been going on for as long as members

of Generation Y can remember, there seems to be a mismatch in terms of perceived awareness and preventive action to this day.

Kanny believes an imperative first step towards tackling awareness is establishing a proper understanding of the situation.

Being green is not about saving on water or electricity bills this is looking at it in terms of economics instead of in terms of sustainability or care and concern for our environment and its limited resources, he says.

Based on the numbers, experts predict that at the current rate we will exhaust our safe carbon allowance by 2045. Immediate,

intense action is the only way we can slow this phenomenon down.

However, concerted actions of government bodies, environmental activists and the community will only prove significant if they are widespread and impactful.

Sustainability is a word that gets thrown around a lot, often without insightful understanding of what it means.

Being aware is not enough; until we as individuals embed environmental-conscious measures into our lifestyles, sustainability will remain a dream no matter the number of policies the government implements.

The thin line between modern development and environmental decay is a

tough one to tread.

Maximise solar energy usageFOUNDED in 2003, Solarland Malaysia has evolved to meet the ever increasing demand for solar energy products and power solutions. Solarland works with many well-known domestic photovoltaic production enterprises and research institutions to apply new technology and provide products for the solar industrial field.

It commits to offering completed solutions to customers by combining project financing, planning, system integrating and engineering construction in its services. Stable and long-term energy returns from the sun guarantee that one is making a good investment.

Solarland has completed several international projects in collaboration with its parent company China Machinery Engineering Corporation.

These projects, involving commercial solar power plants and ground photovoltaic stations, allow the project owners to benefit from the investment without having to pump any capital into the project.

The commercial solar power plants are built on empty rooftops of factories so that the factories can use the power generated from these plants.

These projects involve installing photovoltaic solar panels on available flat rooftops, complying with the principle of proximity for efficient power generation, grid connection, conversion and consumption.

The power plants are connected to factory substations and the power generated is consumed locally. Any excess power is uploaded into the national grid, easing the areas strain on electricity production.

Solarland has completed such projects in various parts of China.

The ground photovoltaic stations are usually built on unused land such as coastal land and other open areas that are free

of shade. The stations whole system will connect directly to the national grid.

The stations are stable, easy to build and maintain and, most importantly, maximise local solar energy utilisation. Nowadays, this type of photovoltaic station is built on a large commercial scale and has become an important component of the power generation industry.

These ground photovoltaic stations have been built by Solarland in Germany, Italy, Spain and China. Photovoltaic stations can also be installed on the rooftops of high-rise residential buildings and multi-storey or single-storey houses.

The electricity generated can be entirely uploaded to the national grid, consumed by the buildings residents or partially consumed with the excess uploaded to the grid.

The typical payback period is between six and 10 years, while the remaining years of power generation (at least 15 years) are considered profit years. The photovoltaic station is almost silent and emits virtually no pollution.

n For more information, visitwww.solarland.com.my

A 3MW distributed photovoltaic power station in Wuxi, China, built on factory building roofs.

StarSpecial, Sunday 17 May 2015 GOING GREEN 3

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, at the opening ceremony of IGEM 2014.

Championing Malaysias green economyAS Malaysias catalyst for green technology advancement, Malaysia Green Technology Corporation (GreenTech Malaysia) has been spearheading the national charge towards promoting and empowering the green economy in Malaysia.

This is in keeping with the steadfast vision of transforming the country into a global hub for green technology in the South-East Asian region by 2020.

As outlined in the National Green Technology Policy introduced in 2009, a key initiative in driving the green agenda has been the International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM) series.

The IGEM has put a spotlight on the Malaysian governments endeavours to promote a green economy, where the countrys growth and environmental responsibility work together in a mutually reinforcing manner while supporting progress in social development.

Leveraging on the successes of the five prior instalments of the exhibition, IGEM 2015 will return to Kuala Lumpur from Sept 9 to 12 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre with the impactful theme, Powering the Green Economy.

The highly applauded event will further establish itself as a pivotal platform where key industry players and stakeholders

from around the world are able to engage and address key issues of green economic policy and public goals as well as corporate best practices to drive the green economy in the South-East Asian region.

IGEM 2015 will focus on elevating the countrys green economy and keep it in sync with the most current innovations and initiatives in the market.

The four-day event is expected to draw more than 400 exhibitors from around the world and more than 60,000 trade visitors.

This global green technology mecca for anyone and everyone involved with green technology will also feature:l Six country pavilions from Germany, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Spain and the Netherlandsl Two industry group pavilions: EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EUMCCI) and Taiwan Electric and Electronic Manufacturers Association (TEEMA)

There will also be highlights such as the MATRADE

International Business Matching Session, Green Career Matchmaking, Exhibitors Reception, IGEM 2015Opening Ceremony and Green Insights.

Organised by the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA) and co-organised by GreenTech Malaysia, the IGEM series has, since its inauguration in 2010, successfully attracted key market leaders and professionals from around the world to showcase a diverse range of sustainable solutions and latest

innovations incorporating green technology that is commercially viable and readily available.

Since its inception, IGEM has recorded approximately RM6bil in terms of business leads, with the highest reported amount being last year with approximately RM2bil generated in business leads.

In the past five years, Malaysia has made significant strides in its quest for a greener environment, especially with the development of the comprehensive Green Technology Master Plan last year, says Ir Ahmad Hadri Haris, chief executive officer of GreenTech Malaysia.

This plan focuses on promoting green technology in five main pillars green energy, green transport, green building, solid waste technology and management, and clean water technology and management and is expected to power the countrys socio-economic growth.

In this regard, IGEM 2015 will feature two unique sub-events this year. These sub-events are the Green Financing Conference in collaboration with Islamic Banking and Finance Institute of Malaysia (IBFIM) and the 3rd E-Mobilia World (Eco Efficient Electric) in collaboration with Koelnmesse Pte Ltd.

n For more information, visit www.igem.my

Present at the official launch of IGEM 2015 on March 11 were (from left) Datuk Loo Took Gee, secretary general of KeTTHA; Datuk Paduka Dr Ir Keizrul Abdullah, former chairman of GreenTech Malaysia; Datuk Seri DiRaja Mahdzir Khalid, Deputy Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Malaysia (KeTTHA); and Ir Ahmad Hadri Haris, chief executive officer of GreenTech Malaysia.

4 GOING GREEN StarSpecial, Sunday 17 May 2015

As part of its bid to promote the use of renewable energy, Cenviro has installed a solar panel system on the roof of one of its warehouses.

Cenviros subsidiary Kualiti Kitar Alam offers complete value chain services for industrial waste recovery activities.

Cenviro is committed to pioneering green technologies and innovation.

Trusted partner in environmental solutions

WITH a long-term plan to create sustainable value for a globally competitive nation, Cenviro focuses its business activities on waste management, recovery, waste-to-energy conversion and human capacity building.

Cenviro, an investee company of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, is committed to pioneering innovation and green technologies to minimise environmental impact, sustain positive relationship with communities and work towards a sustainable financial and non-financial future.

Using the cradle-to-cradle concept, Cenviro offers one-stop solution services with state-of-the-art facilities and leading technologies for a cleaner and livable environment in the future.

The privatisation of Malaysias first Integrated Hazardous Waste Management facility in Bukit Nanas, Negri Sembilan, was entrusted to Cenviro by the Malaysian government.

Cenviro offers complete end-to-end services in ensuring the country is clean and livable.

There are four subsidiary companies under its wing:l Kualiti Alam Specialises

in downstream hazardous waste management that involves treatment and final disposal.l Kualiti Khidmat Alam

Specialises in the upstream hazardous waste management that involves marketing, transportation and packaging.l Kualiti Kitar Alam

Specialises in the recycling and recovery of hazardous waste.l E-Idaman, a northern

region concessionaire Specialises in integrated solid waste management involving the collection, public cleansing and disposal of municipal solid waste.

Cenviro, through its subsidiary Kualiti Alam, owns and operates the only integrated hazardous waste management centre in Malaysia, Kualiti Alam Waste Management Centre.

The centre holds the licence to handle 76 categories of 77 scheduled wastes listed under Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005.

These facilities have the capacity to store, treat and dispose of more than 100,000 tonnes of all classes of hazardous wastes annually.

The end-to-end facilities comprise an incineration plant, a physical/chemical treatment (PCT) plant, solidification plants, secured landfills and a clinical waste treatment centre.

Kualiti Alam operates Malaysias first non-incineration clinical waste treatment centre, which is equipped with cutting-edge technology in medical waste disposal the Microwave AMB-serial 250-Ecosteryl that eliminates combustion in waste treatment.

This revolutionary innovative medical waste treatment facility offers an eco-friendly process that uses minimal electricity while providing a safe and environmentally friendly solution to bio medical and clinical-related industry players.

It is a zero-emission technology and produces no harmful effects through its eco-friendly process.

There is no need for water, no production of steam, combustion, and smoke and it is capable of processing up to 250kg of waste per hour. The residues from the process are inert and landfill ready.

Waste managementCenviro is currently focused

on renewable energy initiatives following its sustainable development agenda.

Kualiti Alam is the first in the country to generate electricity from scheduled waste, which complies with the stringent parameters for air pollutant emissions for incineration processes imposed by Malaysian and European Union regulations.

The scheduled waste to energy (SWTE) plant (expected to be in operation next year) has the capacity of processing 33,000 tonnes of waste per year to convert heat from the incineration process and generate steam for the plant operation.

The plant is also equipped with a visitors gallery and pathway for public education and plant tours.

Cenviro also successfully

The Kualiti Alam clinical waste treatment centre is equipped with state-of-the-art technology for treating medical waste.

installed the 150kWh solar panel system on the roof of the existing pre-treatment warehouse at Kualiti Alam Waste Management Centre last year.

Since its launch, it has generated more than 154MWh of electricity. It comprises 600 solar panels of CSUN60 high-efficiency monocrystalline solar cells and six Steca 23kW three-phase solar grid inverters.

Kualiti Alam aims to produce 163.35MWh electricity by the end of this year.

Moving forward, Kualiti Alam is

planning to develop a solar farm to utilise the existing closed landfill.

Recycling and recovery Cenviro, through its subsidiary

Kualiti Kitar Alam, offers complete value chain services for industrial waste recovery activities.

It is responsible for the development of recovery and recycling facilities, in line with the concept of 4R (reduction, reuse, recycling and recovery).

Cenviro aims to generate valuable resources from scheduled waste for reuse that will reduce the volumes of scheduled wastes generated for disposal, benefiting the country environmentally and economically.

Realising this, Cenviro has allocated various recycling and recovery facilities to its newly secured 100-acre land with plans of developing the recycling and recovery centre.

Cenviros expertise in waste management is extended to the development of human capacity building with the establishment of its Centre of Excellence (CoE).

The centre aims to develop

national and institutional knowledge and provide innovative and reliable solutions for the complete spectrum of waste management and renewable energy.

The centre will be developed based on climate and energy-efficient approaches to reflect a low-carbon industry park where work, lifestyle and innovation exist in a sustainable environment.

With the rapid development of the country, Cenviro always remains at the top of the game by improving its quality of deliverables and upgrading its facilities to new levels with state-of-the-art technology, proving its commitment and credibility in waste management services and making it the trusted partner in environmental solutions.

Cenviro emphasises the importance of working together as a team to create a viable and sustainable company that delivers profitable growth.

n For more information,visit www.cenviro.com orwww.kualitialam.com

StarSpecial, Sunday 17 May 2015 GOING GREEN 5

Terreals SolarMax provides hot water to homes. TBF clay roof tiles are energy-efficient and durable.

Eco-friendly home roofing solutionsTERREAL Malaysia, part of the Terreal Group, aims to contribute to improving housing by the improvement of its professional clients and end users with economic and construction benefits while enhancing aesthetics and comfort.

Terreals business approach materialises in six key values and commitments: reliability, customer service, affordability, innovation, beauty and energy efficiency.

As the leading global manufacturer of clay roof tiles and energy-efficient products for the building industry, Terreal aims to achieve the ultimate energy efficiency and ease of use for roofing products.

Terreal supports the Malaysian Green Building Index (GBI) and has developed a practical and green constructive building solution called HomeValue+ through its main products TBF clay roof tiles, CoolMax reflective insulation and SolarMax hot water system.

These products can be combined with a complete roofing components range (DryFix, DryFlash, SealMax) to guarantee a perfect finish for the singular points of roofs and refined sunscreens and wall cladding systems for stylish and exclusive aesthetic note.

Natural roofingTerreal clay tiles have solar

reflectance of up to 54% compared

to asphalt shingles or concrete tiles and thermal reflectance of up to 86%, which makes for a greener roof than any other material and reduces the need for artificial cooling.

Unlike metal roofing, for example, clay tiles also have the natural ability to limit heat penetration during the day while re-emitting heat to the outside at night.

Additionally, the tiles large curved profile allows for a larger air gap of up to 100mm, which provides better natural insulation and ventilation for air flow. Clay tiles also provide natural sound insulation.

The clay tiles are fired at about 1,000C so that the colour is burned into them and will

never fade, rust or corrode, which means it is able to withstand harsh weather conditions while requiring low maintenance.

Advanced thermal performance

The CoolMax product range is designed to block incoming radiation heat. Other than gold, only pure aluminium can do this and CoolMax products use several layers of aluminium to block up to 97% of incoming radiation heat.

While clay roof tiles and insulation help reduce heat gain, the thermal reflective insulation range reduces heat gain during the day while also permitting heat to dissipate during the night unlike mineral or glass wool alternatives.

Some products in the range also

feature layers of fire-retardant foam to provide noise reduction for additional acoustic insulation properties.

This premium thermal and acoustic insulation system further improves indoor acoustics so that rooms are less affected by sounds of heavy thunderstorms.

Harness energyfrom the sun

Terreals SolarMax hot water system is designed to be durable and cost-effective on top of having high-quality design.

The system consists of a stainless steel storage tank casting, marine-grade stainless steel storage cylinder tank, low iron-tempered solar glass, Ultrasonic Blue TiNOX with 31

risers copper tubes, 400mm rock wool heat storing insulation and stainless steel plate.

The solar hot water system provides hot water to homes, saving its users gas and electricity usage. The system incorporates a back-up booster for rainy days or seasons when more hot water is needed.

The trouble-free system is corrosion-resistant and built with no pump, electrical sensors or moving parts so that minimal maintenance is required.

Green certificationand eco-label

Terreal is Sirim-certified with the ISO 9001:2008 for its customer-oriented quality management system and has Sirim Eco-Label endorsement for its clay roof tiles.

In collaboration with GBI, Terreal products can help your roof achieve up to 16 GBI points, making homes with Terreal roofing more energy efficient and comfortable.

With two decades of presence in Malaysia, Terreal is committed to keeping homes stylish, cool and exclusive with its Terreal HomeValue+ constructive solutions. Terreal recently celebrated Terreal Nite where its new logo and tagline Building Beauty were unveiled.

n For more information,visit www.terreal.com.my

6 GOING GREEN StarSpecial, Sunday 17 May 2015

Innovative, lightweight building materialsOVER the past decade, the building material industry has seen some new developments in environmentally friendly materials especially stones.

Stones are hard, elegant and long-lasting materials, which the industry cannot do without.

However, stone quarrying will destroy the environment, hence this activity is prohibited by some developed countries.

Stones are heavy and the use of these materials not only incurs extra construction cost, but may also be work hazards if there is improper construction site management.

Another major drawback is that stone moulding requires considerable time and cost.

Currently, there is an increasing demand in stones worldwide, but there is also a rise in environmental awareness.

Research on new types of building materials that can substitute stones but at the same time be environmentally friendly is ongoing.

Two decades ago, Japan and countries in Europe pioneered the development of a substitute for stone that yields almost 100% stone-like effects.

It weighs 20 times less than stone and is much easier to work on. Although it is priced higher, it has been used by some developing countries in the construction of huge buildings.

These lightweight stones are seen to be major building materials in the future. Apart from being light and easy to work on, the stones can substitute other types of stones and are more homogeneous than real stones.

Archi-Foam Sdn Bhd was established in 2005 by industry players from different backgrounds a builder and a consultant quantity surveyor.

Producing innovative and quality building materials and products, Archi-Foam offers a variety of alternative building materials to suit the demanding needs of the construction industry that is rapidly moving ahead in terms of construction technology.

The founders of Archi-Foam

had a vision to produce building materials that could achieve certain objectives. These objectives were high productivity, easy installation, manufactured to precise specifications, better quality and workmanship, low labour intensity, reduced cost, lightweight over conventional methods using concrete, and consistent dimension and quality.

The company is currently working on the research and development of this type of lightweight stone with its Taiwanese partner.

The production of natural and composite stone uses the debris from stone quarrying combined with processing technology. As a result, Arch-Foam has successfully

developed an environmental friendly material that is thin, light weight and, most importantly, a flexible stone veneer.

The processing technology relies on the companys long-term research and experience in the industry. The length of the lightweight stone veneer can reach almost 3m with a thickness of 1mm to 1.2mm.

Until recently, Germany was the only country that is capable of producing this type of lightweight stone. Now, China and Taiwan have obtained patents for the technology in producing the lightweight stone.

The application of this research brought about the Rapa marble veneer, a revolutionary combination of technology and environment-friendly product made of natural stone, non-woven fabric and synthetic resin.

It has the quality of marble and

highlights the uniqueness of stone being elegant, noble and solid.

With its texture and natural colour, marble veneer is the latest material for residences, offices, department stores, hotels and business premises.

The lightweight stone veneer is still new in the market, but after undergoing three years of research and development, feedback from the market has shown that Archi-Foams product is gradually gaining recognition. Now, the company is prepared and has the capacity to do mass production.

Apart from successfully producing the lightweight stone veneer as its new building material, Archi-Foam will further upgrade its research and development and continue to grow in the competitive market.

Depending on the market demand, the future will see Archi-Foam upgrading and achieving equipment automation to meet the increase in its product demand and enhance the companys revenue and profitability.

The Rapa marble veneer is advantageous over real stone; it is light, thin, easy to instal, has large dimensions and also environmentally friendly. Its price is also reasonable compared to actual stones.

n For more information, visit www.archi-foam.com

Archi-Foam has successfully developed an environmentally friendly material that is thin, lightweight and flexible.

Rapa marble veneer is a flexible natural marble wall covering.

StarSpecial, Sunday 17 May 2015 GOING GREEN 7

Smart tech for sustainabilityENTREPRENEURS and organisations across various sectors are seeking viable green solutions that maximise output and productivity.

It can be quite a challenge to balance profitability and social responsibility, so it comes as no surprise that a growing niche for smart technology now exists in the market.

Fuji Xeroxs recent offering is a series of multifunctional devices that fit this niche. The ApeosPort-V series features a line of devices that deliver optimal office solutions with a sustainable edge.

These devices incorporate innovative measures that reflect the companys commitment to provide impactful green solutions in office environments while improving user convenience and efficiency.

Boasting a new standard in flexibility and efficiency that will allow you to work smarter, the ApeosPort-V series integrates recognition systems in its

authentification simple and fast.Once local authentication mode

is enabled, the personal screens are immediately displayed and users can begin working on the device with zero waiting time.

This intuitive design enhances user experience while getting the job done effectively and efficiently, embodying the essence of smart technology.

On top of this, the ApeosPort-V series also incorporates an energy management system that only activates the required module.

The device applies smart energy management to power these chosen functions exclusively, thus reducing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emission.

With an enhanced software initialisation process, users are

also able to adjust settings while the device wakes up.

Those who find the noises from devices disruptive will appreciate that the scanning and output devices generate minimal noise and remain quiet when not in use.

Operation noise has been cut by a maximum of 61% compared to previous models.

As a testament to Fuji Xeroxs sustainability efforts, the ApeosPort-V series C2275 CPS model has achieved a 1.0kWh TEC value.

The TEC value is measured by a standard test as part of the International Energy Star Program, which is used to determine eco-friendliness and value for money of various devices.

This TEC value proves that the device conforms to International

Energy Star Program standards in significantly reducing power consumption.

Energy Star-qualified products are cost-effective and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency guidelines.

The ApeosPort-V series combines innovation, cost-efficiency, productivity and sustainability in one multifunctional device that is suitable for all your needs in the office.

This series is designed to provide the specific tools that you require to work effectively, thus contributing to a more congenial work environment.

n For more information,visit www.fujixerox.com.my

The Fuji Xerox ApeosPort-V series comes with a host of user-friendly features.

The Fuji Xerox ApeosPort-V series simplifies office solutions.

Smart WelcomEyes Advance feature.

The device can identify users and detect if they wish to use it. This is made possible by the motion detection sensor that can detect motion such as where the users toes are pointing, as well as infrared pyroelectric sensor that monitors thermal changes within the vicinity of the device.

Upon detecting a user, the device turns off sleep mode and is then ready to function immediately a smart technological function that simplifies operational processes while saving time and electricity.

The facial recognition technology then uses a processor for vehicle-mounted cameras that rapidly recognises

users, providing convenience for users in making

Sunday 17 May 2015StarSpecial8

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