REPORT

GREEN TECHNOLOGY SEMINAR Skilling Up for the Green Technology

Date Time : 17 June 2010 : 9.00 am 12.00 noon

Venue : Grand Blue Wave Hotel, Shah Alam

Organised by : Department of Polytechnic Education Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia

TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents Page

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PREFACE

PROCEEDINGS : Keynote Address : The Green Skills Challenge Polytechnic Initiatives through Collaborative Partnership Y.Bhg. Dato Hj. Imran bin Idris, Director General, DPE 1

Presentation 1

Strategic Thrust Towards a Green Malaysia Ms Ng Soo Tian, Regulatory & Development Division Secretary, KeTTHA 2

Presentation 2

Skilling Up for the Green Economy The Australian Perspective. Mr. John Cawley, Executive Director, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia 3

Presentation 3

The Green Building Index to a Green Construction Industry for Malaysia Ar Chan Seong Aun, GBI Accreditation Panel, Greenbuildingindex Sdn. Bhd. 3

QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Appendix A :

Photos

PREFACE The Green Technology themed Skilling Up for the Green Technology represented the combined efforts of the Department of Polytechnic Education (DPE) and experts from different fields - The Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA), Greenbuildingindex Sdn. Bhd. and Swinburne University of Technology, Australia, to create awareness of the urgency to conserve the ecosystem and find solutions to problems caused by destruction of the environment and natural resources. The

seminar was also aimed at kickstarting an action plan to embed elements of green technology in the polytechnic curriculum. This would include incorporating core

competencies in specific programs, strengthening green technology modules in existing programs eg. Building Services Engineering as well as incorporating sustainability in facilities, co-curricular facilities and community services. A total of 56 participants from 45 companies attended this seminar held on 17 June 2010 at the Grand Blue Wave Hotel in Shah Alam.

PROCEEDINGS

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

The Green Skills Challenge Polytechnic

Initiatives through Collaborative Partnership

Presenter

Y. Bhg. Dato Hj. Imran Bin Idris Director General, DPE

The Director General, DPE in his keynote address gave a brief on the programs available in polytechnics, the TVET system in Malaysia, DPEs engagement with industry for policy and curriculum development, highlighting the stringent process involved in the development and approval of the polytechnic curriculum. He also gave a sneak preview into the green initiatives of countries like the United States of America, South Korea and Australia. The Director General proceeded by reiterating the Prime Ministers call that Malaysia, one of the top 17 mega-biologically diverse countries in the world, with rainforest covering 60% of our landmass should embrace a leadership role

in green technology. He ended his keynote address by stating DPEs commitment to play a positive role in the green technology movement, especially in view of the fact that the Environmental Engineering Program is offered at Politeknik Sultan Idris Shah (PSIS) in Sabak Bernam. DPEs way forward would be through embedding elements of green technology in the polytechnic curriculum, which would include incorporating core competencies in specific programs, strengthening green technology modules in existing programs eg. Building Services Engineering as well as incorporating sustainability in facilities, co-curricular facilities and community services.

Presentation 1st Presenter

: :

Strategic Thrust Towards a Green Malaysia Ms Ng Soo Tian, Regulatory & Development Division Secretary, KeTTHA,

Ms Ng Soo Tian touched on the Whys and Whats of Green Technology leading to the establishment of the National Green Technology Policy. Her presentation also included an overview of the strategic thrusts which comprised strengthening the industrial framework, provision of a conducive environment for the development of green technology, intensifying human capital development as well as research and innovations and finally creating public awareness through promotional activities. She also elaborated on the various government initiatives such as restructuring of the National Energy Centre to the Malaysian Green Technology Corporation (MGTC) to enable MGTC to become a focal point for green technology development. Also

included in her presentation were :- the rationale for the formation of the National Green Technology Council, green technology financing schemes, green townships, green procurement, promotion and education, introduction of electric vehicles, integration of green topics, international green tech and eco products, exhibitions and conferences. Ms Ng also gave participants an insight into various new areas under green technology, job opportunities and finally the role of polytechnics.

Presentation 2nd Presenter

Skilling Up for the Green Economy the Australian Perspective.

Mr. John Cawley, Executive Director, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia

Mr. John Cawley commenced his presentation with an overview of the tasks of the Council of Australia Government (COAG) followed by the role of the Australian government in this area. He also touched on the issue of sustainability, national policy drivers, the Green Skills Agreement (GSA), goals, global responsibility and in particular the role played by Swinburne in contributing to the green movement in Australia. Like the second presenter, Mr. John Cawley also spoke on the sectors involved as well as job opportunities available. Presentation 3rd Presenter : The Green Building Index to a Green Construction Industry for Malaysia : Ar Chan Seong Aun, GBI Accreditation Panel, Greenbuildingindex Sdn. Bhd.

Ar Chan Seong Aun highlighted the urgency for conservation of energy and resources and recycling in the Malaysian context as Malaysia has the highest per capita energy consumption among the ASEAN countries. He also emphasized that the key

component for a sustainable future lies in the way Malaysia plans its cities, given the prevalence of hyper urbanisation in Malaysia. His presentation also focused on the importance of identifying our priorities to harmonize with the local climate, traditions, culture, building codes and practices. Also, highlighted were the elements that constitute a green building. He ended his presentation with an explanation of the

greenbuildingindex as a tool for rating buildings based on energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, sustainable site planning and management, material and resources, water efficiency and innovation.

QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION Panelists: 1. Y. Bhg. Dato Haji Imran Bin Idris Director General, DPE 2. Ms. Ng Soo Tian Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water 3. Mr. John Cawley Executive Director, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia 4. Mr Ar Chan Seong Aun GBI / Association of Consulting Engineers (ACEM) / Architect Association (PAM)

1) i)

Questions from : En. Razak Muzafar - Smart Tech Can you elaborate further on the soft loans given to green technology as the terms for green financing appear to be stricter compared to other loans?

Response from : Ms Ng Soo Tian - KeTTHA A total of 27 applications for green certificate were approved by KeTTHA. The

granting of soft loans to finance green projects is undertaken by a technical committee. The terms stipulated in soft loans for green financing is stricter as banks are unfamiliar with green technology and the risks involved. KeTTHA has adopted a few strategies to enable all involved parties to have a better understanding of green technology projects :- meeting with Bank Negara, Ministry of Finance and CDC and banks and conducting training sessions for all bank personnel regarding green technology. ii) RMK 10 has allocations for coal plants but none for green technology. Why is that so? Response from: Ms Ng Soo Tian - KeTTHA

Coal plant was included because of the increasing demand for electricity. There was no allocation for the renewable energy project, using bio mass to generate electricity, as it was funded by the private sector.

iii)

Why is renewable energy which is more expensive, involves larger investment and has a greater impact on society, awarded only 5 points instead of 100 points?

Response from:

Ar Chan Seong Aun - Green Building Index (GBI)

Presently, the design of most Malaysian buildings do not measure up to the standards set by GBI. In fact, the 5 points are awarded as an encouragement for those in the building industry to come up with designs higher than that set in MS 1525, buildings which would reduce energy.

2) i)

Questions from:

Mohd Azhar bin Mohamad - Environmental Consultant

What is the governments direction on issues related to renewable energy? Are there any set targets?

Response from : Ms Ng Soo Tian - KeTTHA The new Renewal Energy (RE) Policy and action plan has been approved by the government. The RE and Energy Efficiency (EE) Acts, with the proposed feed-in tariff, will be tabled in Parliament in October.

ii)

The GBI rating applies to new buildings. What about the old buildings? Response from : Ar Chan Seong Aun - Green Building Index (GBI)

The net meter used for measuring electricity in Malaysia, measures electricity going out and coming back (known as feed-in tariff). In this respect, the solar panel is cheaper. GBI has launched the non-residential existing building tools (refer GBI website), in view of the fact that many existing buildings are really archaic. iii) How is Australia going to achieve the objective of becoming a low carbon economy, with a reduction of net GHG emissions of 60 90% by 2050? Response from : Mr. John Cawley - Swinburne University of Technology

Australia is a big country surrounded by water, with lots of sunshine and wind. Water and other sources are under consideration as ways to generate energy. A lot of things can be done within the given time frame.

3)

Suggestion from : Mohd Zainuddin b Ayub - Excellent T&C Management (M) Sdn Bhd. We hope that companies that provide energy serving services enabling savings up from 10 30% will be appreciated and recognized. Response from : Dato Hj Imran bin Idris - Director General, DPE

DPE would take note of suggestion.

4) i)

Question from :

Normala bt Ariffin A & I Interior Design

Why are other ministries eg. Ministry of Works not included in moving the Green Technology agenda? Response from : Ms Ng Soo Tian - KeTTHA

The Ministry of Energy Green Technology and Water was tasked with coming up with the National Green Technology Policy. The selection of ministries,

agencies, private sectors, NGOs and others experts to craft policy matters related to the Green Technology depended on their roles. The Ministry of

Education and Higher Education were involved because the syllabus needs to be reviewed to include a green syllabus. The Human Resource Ministry, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Rural and Regional Development were involved for similar reasons - the training institutes under these ministries, need to be updated so that green topics are incorporated into the syllabus of these training institutes. The Ministry of Works was not included because their target area is human capital development. However, the Ministry of Works is aware of the green

elements and the fact that the government has made the decision that all new government buildings need to have green features.

5) i)

Question from:

Columbus Rasma Corporation Sdn. Bhd.

Will the Swinburne campus in Sarawak be making any contributions in the area of green technology to Malaysia, considering the significant inroads made in Australia?

Response from:

Mr John Cawley - Swinburne University

There are no sustainable programs in the Sarawak campus, training is provided for lecturers.

ii)

Who should we be talking to regarding this matter in polytechnics as we are actually providing some teaching equipments regarding Renewal energy. Response from: Dato Haji Imran bin Idris - Director General, DPC

DPE always welcomes any ideas and also opinions. Do write to us and we would take note of the companys interest. CONCLUDING REMARKS The Director General pointed out that the overwhelming response received during the Green Technology Seminar augurs well for the National Economic Policy (NEM). He highlighted the pivotal role of polytechnics in spearheading Green Technology, with its student enrolment of close to 90,000 spread over 27 campuses nationwide. He

emphasized the necessity for a sense of urgency for industries to work together with polytechnics to strengthen existing modules so that we can groom a new generation of leaders of sustainability.