SUNDAY STAR, 6 DECEMBER 2015

special

GOING GREEN
Preserving the planet

EVERY so often, the topics of global

warming, green initiatives and
rising greenhouse gases take centre
stage in the media, highlighting
opinions from individuals to
politicians and non-profit
organisations.
In 2006, An Inconvenient Truth,
a documentary on American
politician Al Gores efforts to raise
public awareness of the dangers of
global warming and the destructive
effects on the environment, gained
international success and attracted
worldwide attention.
However, these were the efforts
of a single man. Is it possible for
the larger community to embrace
the message and make lifestyle
changes for a greener world?
In light of the negative effects
of climate change and to ensure a
sustainable future, the Malaysian
Government and its affiliated
agencies have taken numerous
steps to reduce the nations carbon
footprint.
These include building a
waste-to-energy power plant
that generates electricity from
solid waste, implementing a
waste separation programme
for households, improving public
transportation networks,
increasing passenger capacity in
the KTM Komuter and KL Monorail
services, installation of a floating
photovoltaic system in Sepang, and
introducing the Bus Rapid Transit
system in Subang and Sunway.
Each of us needs to do our part
to contribute to the cause for
positive change. We need to make a
more conscious, serious and
prolonged effort to reduce our
energy and water usage, take
advantage of public transportation

Local direction

and pay heed to the

consequences of our
actions.

On the global front

As of today, government
officials from around the
world have been in serious
discussions for about a
week, strategising on crucial
precautionary measures in
the fight against a common
threat climate change.
Held from Nov 30 to Dec
11, the United Nations Climate
Change Conference gathers world
leaders to cooperatively consider
the efforts that are able to limit
average global temperature
increases and to cope with the
current or future effects of global
warming.
The event is one of the worlds

biggest international
summits as it is
attended by 196 parties
(195 states and the
European Union).
Organised by the
United Nations
Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCC), the
conference aims to create
strategies to stabilise
atmospheric concentrations
of greenhouse gases at a level
that will prevent dangerous
interference with the climate
system.
The main topic of discussion
throughout the duration of the
conference is 2C, where green
initiatives will be introduced so
that the world does not increase in
temperature by more than 2C in
the coming years.
This is because a rise greater

than 2C in global
temperature can
cause serious
consequences such
as more frequent
extreme climate
events.
The 2009 edition
of the conference saw
countries affirming this goal
of limiting global warming
compared to the pre-industrial
era in the mid-1850s.
The goal of this years event
will be to reach a new
international agreement that is
applicable to all countries as well
as to mobilise US$100bil
(RM422bil) a year by 2020 to help
developing countries cope with
climate change. This sum may be
obtained from bilateral or
multilateral, public
or private sources.

To ensure countries are

committed to a positive change,
every party to the UNFCC is invited
to submit its intended nationally
determined contribution (INDC)
report before the conference takes
place, detailing the steps it will take
to reduce greenhouse emissions by
2025 or 2030.
Malaysia has submitted its INDC
report declaring its intention of
reducing the countrys greenhouse
gas emissions intensity of gross
domestic product (GDP) by 45% by
2030. This is based on the
emissions intensity of GDP in 2005.
With a time frame for
implementation set from 2021 to
2030, the proposal will cover
initiatives to limit carbon dioxide,
methane and nitrous oxide gases
generated from the sectors of
energy, industrial processes, waste,
agriculture, and land use, land-use
change and forestry.
Malaysias INDC was created
based on projected outcomes from
the 11th Malaysia Development
Plan and existing Malaysian
policies, including the National
Petroleum Policy, National Energy
Policy, National Strategic Plan for
Solid Waste Management, National
Green Technology Policy, and Low
Carbon Cities Framework.
These implementations along
with initiatives by other nations
contribute to a sustainable future
and noticeable change.
However, the true question
remains if our efforts will actually
heal the world and reverse the
negative effects of the countless
years of ignorance or are we
merely delaying the inevitable?

SUNDAY STAR, 6 DECEMBER 2015

2 going green

Eco-friendly, designed for luxury

HOUSING company PanaHome
Malaysia Sdn Bhd, under
PanaHome Corporation Japan
(subsidiary of the Panasonic
Group) that provides
comprehensive home-building
solutions and total township
development implementations, has
announced its joint venture with
Sanctuary Gasing Group to push
ahead with one of Kuala Lumpurs
premier luxury property
developments at Sanctuary Ridge.
This joint venture is underway
and will culminate in an 8,000sq ft
(743.2sq m) showhouse with
revolutionary architectural and
constructional approaches
showcasing eco and smart
elements of home ideas for SouthEast Asian homes, reflecting the
two companies commitment to
environmental sustainability.
PanaHome is one of the worlds
leading green innovation
companies in the housing industry
with its impressive eco-friendly
building solutions as it
demonstrates sustainable living
without compromising on
aesthetics.
With the planned design and
features, owners can expect to
enjoy greater energy savings with
less emission and possibly earn a
small income if the owner chooses

Using solar energy in the home reduces carbon dioxide emissions and
energy wastage.

to apply for the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT)

programme.
Introduced by the Malaysian
Government in 2010, the
programme compensates
consumers of renewable energy
who produce a surplus of
electricity that can be used by the
national grid.
The KiraTech tiles, which will be
featured on the buildings exterior,
helps to decompose pollutant gases
(decomposition of NOx).
A 200sq m area of KiraTech tiles
has been shown to be equivalent to
the air-cleaning capability of

approximately 14 poplar trees.

Aside from its air-purifying
function, the KiraTech tiles also
have self-cleaning capabilities for
longer-lasting and cleaner tiles,
which translate into long-term
maintenance cost savings.
The construction of the
showhouse at Sanctuary Ridge can
be completed within six months
through PanaHomes building
methodologies and design
approaches.
Construction methods using prefabrication technology (with steelframe structures) ensure a

consistent and high-quality

building while accomplishing
shorter construction time relative
to conventional methods.
Also incorporated is a heatinsulation technology to minimise
heat transmission from the outside
the unique PanaHome AirExchange System (a structured
embedded ventilation system),
which supplies effective circulation
of natural cool air to keep the
internal living space naturally cool
and clean, thus reducing energy
consumption.
The Air-Exchange System
eliminates contaminated indoor air
without the need to open windows,
which will help minimise the entry
of pests into your home and
enhance security.

About PanaHome
Malaysia
PanaHome Malaysia Sdn Bhd
is the housing company under
PanaHome Corporation Japan, a
subsidiary under the Panasonic
Group.
It provides comprehensive
home-building solutions and
total township development
implementations involving
designing, planning, constructing,
engineering, interior fittings,

installations, landscaping,
infrastructure and maintenance.
For more information, e-mail
enquiry@panahome.com.my or
visit www.panahome.com.my

About Gasing Meridian

Gasing Meridian Sdn Bhd is a
member of the Sanctuary Gasing
Group (SGG) with property
developments in Malaysia,
Australia (Sanctuary Lakes), China
(Sanctuary Xianhai), the United
States (Murray Ranch, San
Francisco) and Albania (Albania
Hotel Complex).
SGG is a property developer
that works extensively with private
investors and offers major joint
venture and collaborative
experience with state and
municipal governments
worldwide.
Sanctuary Gasing Group (SGG)
has brought to Malaysian
communities several notable
projects, including Sanctuary Ridge
Kuala Lumpur, Kesuma Lakes,
Kasuma-At-Santubong, Kasuma
Resort, and Gasing Heights.

n For more information, call

03-2161 6688 or e-mail sales@
sanctuarygasing.com or visit
www.sanctuaryridge.com.my

SUNDAY STAR, 6 DECEMBER 2015

going green 3

Sleep
soundly
MOST people do not realise that their choice
of mattress directly impacts their health and
safety.
They tend to focus on the benefits of a
good mattress but overlook the side effects
of a bad mattress.
Electromagnetic field (EMF) pollution
affects sleep negatively and long periods of
exposure can be dangerous to your health as
it threatens the immune system, causing
health problems such as headaches, stress,
sleep disorders, fatigue and even cancer.
In a modern era of a wireless radiation
society, where the use of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
and electronic devices are common sights in
the average household, EMF exposure is
ample.
During sleep, your body goes through a
biological regeneration process, which can
be interrupted by the continuous and
invasive EMF radiation that limits human
DNA regeneration capacity.
This interruption affects the quality of
your sleep, which affects your health.
So how can you take preventative
measures with your mattress?
Gethas latest innovation, the Getha
Compass Biocare Mattress, features the
Biocare Sleep System and is the first in

Malaysia to provide a solution to the EMF

problem.
Not only is the Getha Compass Biocare an
EMF-free mattress, the Biocare technology
features nanotechnological yarn fabric that
acts as a magnetic barrier against EMF
radiation, preventing any electromagnetic
energy flow passing through the mattress
and into your body.
Biocare technology protects your sleeping
environment by blocking non-ionised
radiation that attacks and weakens your
body cells, giving you a healthier nights
sleep.
Biocare has been tested as a magnetic
barrier and blocks the contact of EMF waves
with the body during sleep by 98.5%.
The Getha Compass Biocare Mattress
reduces static electricity in the body, which
helps regulate your bodys bio-rhythm and
promotes excellent quality of sleep.
The face layer of Biocare also consists of
antibacterial features to prevent disease and
odour caused by bacteria.
Getha believes that EMF-free latex
mattresses provide the healthiest choice
of quality sleep.

n For more information, visit getha.com.my

Setting high standards

TALK to any modern builder or architect
these days and you will likely hear the term
sustainable living in the conversation.
Solar-heated water, dual-flushing toilets,
rainwater tanks and energy-saving
appliances are examples of the things that
people can have to be environmentally
responsible as well as essential tools to
reduce costs associated with running a
household.
Another facet of sustainable living is
cooling the home down naturally without
the use of expensive air conditioners.
Louvre windows are a modern alternative
to electrical air conditioners that not only
allow airflow through the house using
natural breeze, but exude an ultra chic and
modern look too.
Houses are generally designed based on
the philosphy of passive design. This
includes close attention to shading, adjusting
the buildings orientation and maximising
natural ventilation so that the building is
naturally comfortable.
A worldwide market leader for more
than 50 years, Breezway designs and
manufactures high-quality and highperforming Altair Louvre Windows.

The modern and innovative design

of the Altair Louvre opens wide to provide
wonderful breezeways and cross ventilation.
When closed, they seal tight to provide
protection from wind and rain in even the
most extreme weather conditions.
The incorporation of Breezway louvre
windows into sustainable buildings helps
reduce the running cost of a home, making it
as comfortable and as healthy as possible to
live in, therefore reducing the demand for
energy for heating and cooling.
Automation is also available with the new
Apptivate Control Unit, which allows Altair
Powerlouvres to be operated by a touchsensitive wall switch, remotely via a
Powerlouvre App, in response to changing
temperatures or a timer to maintain a
comfortable indoor environment for the
whole family to enjoy.
A house that is economically,
environmentally and socially sustainable
enables people with a diverse range of needs
to live comfortably and visitors to enjoy their
visit.

n For more information, call 03-3291 4885

or visit www.breezway.com.my

Louvre
windows
sustainably
enhance air
ventilation
at home.

SUNDAY STAR, 6 DECEMBER 2015

4 going green

Ionised water
The chart
explains the
working
principle of
ArirangIon
Multi-Ionizer.

ARIRANGION Multi-Ionizer is a worldpatented device that produces ionised water

through a shower head or sink head.
This product transforms ordinary tap
water into ionised water and requires no
maintenance. It can perform most cleaning
with little or no detergent.
It has Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
approval, EMSL and NAMSA reports from
the United States, and has received patents
from the US, Japan, China and more.
Unlike other existing water dispensers,
ArirangIon Multi-Ionizer does not require
any filter change. This device produces
water that is rich in minerals and passes
the FDAs beverage safety standard.
Besides drinking, ionised water is
recommended for laundry use as it kills
most bacteria with little or no detergent. It
also enhances the colour of fabrics.
The small molecular size of ionised water
allows it to be used to clean or remove any

dirt on surfaces such as ceramic without

scrubbing or using disinfectant. It helps to
reduce mould and odour in bathrooms too.
When used for cleaning in the kitchen, it
cleans all dishes with little or no detergent,
removes odour from seafood and meat as
well as removes insecticide and pesticide
residue from fruits and vegetables.
In the shower, ArirangIon Multi-Ionizer
produces ionised water that is effective in
treating skin inflammations, especially for
individuals allergic to detergent or soap.
The shower head and sink head can be
easily fixed onto most household showers
or kitchen sinks without a plumbers help.
Your household can enjoy the benefits of
ionised water for life. This device retails at
US$250 (RM1,054.44) per unit.

n For more information, call Sunny Tan at

012-201 6091 or 03-787 56081 or e-mail
sunnytan@chemibond.com.my

Innovating for
a better future
STARTING with a focus on agriculture,
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) understood
the intricate relationship between the
environment, economy and society the
three components of sustainable
development.
Expanding its focus into other areas
such as biotechnology, nanotechnology,
engineering and other green technologies,
UPM embarked on many new studies and
research to revolutionise novel ways to
protect the countrys resources for current
and future generations.
Recognising the potential of bamboo as a
green material, Prof Dr Edi Suhaimi Bakar
of the Faculty of Forestry invented the
V-Grooving Bamboo Flattening Machine
that can flatten bamboo for use as boards,
flooring and as substitutes in the woodbased industry.
This machinery can be used by the local
community where bamboo can be obtained
easily to support the need for wooden
furniture in schools, houses or public areas.
With the use of the machine, bamboo
flattening is easier and less time consuming.
In the area of wastewater discharge
management, Prof Dr Azni Idris introduced
a method for treating domestic and
industrial sludge as well as waste biomass, of
which treated sludge are then converted into
biochar.
Wastewater must be treated before being
discharged into surface waters. This
technique can lessen the operating and
maintenance cost of a small city as well as
decrease environmental problems caused by

The V-Grooving Bamboo Flattening Machine

eases the flattening process of bamboo, which
is widely used in Malaysia.

the wastewater discharge process.

The Environment Toxicant Detector was
developed by Prof Madya Mohd Yunus Abd
Shukor to detect foreign chemical substance
within an organism (xenobiotics) .
Detection of xenobiotics is carried out
based on the inhibition of the luminescence
of Photobacterium in the aqueous medium.
The advantages of the bioassay compared
to other bioassays available in the market
are its rapidity, simple and easy method,
cost-effectiveness and stability in severe
conditions such as extreme pH or
temperatures.
Exploring the exciting potential of
nanotechnology, Prof Dr Mahiran Basri
developed environmentally friendly
nanoemulsion herbicide.
The nano-emulsion particles increase
penetration and uptake of glyphosate
isopropylamine, which leads to this nanoemulsion system enhancing the bioactivity
and bioavailability of the herbicide.
This formulation is better than the
commercial formulation available in the
market and is more effective in controlling
weeds.

n For more information, visit

www.sciencepark.upm.edu.my