Govt to end frigid AC temperatures, replace suits with batik

 

The government is enacting a shift in its office culture to be more energy efficient and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This includes raising air conditioner temperatures above frigid cold and changing the dress code to suit Malaysian weather.

In a statement today, Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said government premises will be kept at 24°C to 25°C.

Experts said raising the temperature set on air conditioning units could reduce energy consumption, and in turn bring about cost savings.

The Energy and Resources Institute in India estimates a 3-4 percent energy savings for every degree Celcius raised.

The cabinet has also agreed to allow civil servants to wear batik for every work day - and not just Thursdays - in line with the Malaysian climate, he added.

"This is for the comfort of civil servants to adjust their attire to the change in temperature, as part of the government's efforts to save energy, and support energy efficiency initiatives while also stimulating the Malaysian batik industry," he said.

This new dress code will also be extended to Parliament.

Going green

Nik Nazmi told Malaysiakini last December that he wanted a mindset change in how cold government offices needed to be kept to accommodate dress codes.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration previously did away with ties for cabinet meetings, leading to a similar change in practice in Parliament.

Nik Nazmi's announcement today is the latest in the government's efforts to be more eco-friendly.

Previously, his ministry, together with the Economy Ministry, launched the National Energy Transition Roadmap, which among others sought to push the use of solar energy.

This includes plans to make installation of solar panels on residential rooftops more feasible through a leasing plan, instead of placing the burden on homeowners.

The government would also be installing more solar panels on its buildings, while there are plans for first and last mile transportation to run on electricity instead of fossil fuels. - Mkini