By Brad Rantayy
MIRI, Aug 3: Sarawak Energy Berhad and Curtin University Malaysia are partnering on a joint research project into energy efficiency and energy management in green architecture to promote prudent energy management and efficiency, and reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions while enhancing the workspace environment for occupants.
The research effort will explore the energy efficient building performance of Sarawak Energy’s premises which is supported by Sarawak’s predominantly green electricity, via an open innovation model.
Menara Sarawak Energy, the company’s headquarters in Kuching, is the first certified green building in East Malaysia.
Both parties signed an agreement today to commit to the research collaboration involving an integrated analysis of energy consumption, indoor environmental quality, and occupant satisfaction of Sarawak Energy’s premises.
The research’s focus will be on improving energy efficiency in all the buildings, some of which were built decades ago before there was a green architecture movement.
The signatories were Sarawak Energy Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Datu Sharbini Suhaili, Sarawak Energy General Manager for Legal, George A.W. Chapman, Curtin University Malaysia’s Pro-Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive Prof Simon Leunig, and Curtin University Malaysia’s Deputy Pro-Vice chancellor Prof Vincent Lee Chieng Chen.
In his speech, Sharbini said that the collaboration demonstrated Sarawak Energy’s ongoing commitment to improving sustainability in its business and operations.
“One of the main objectives of this partnership is the development of modelling software to build an energy management system that can monitor and control energy performance in buildings. This will promote prudent resource use, energy efficiency and cost savings at our offices and reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions from our non-generation buildings, while simultaneously providing employees with a comfortable workspace,” he said.
“We look forward to the outcome of this research collaboration so we can implement similar energy efficiency standards and performances at our other buildings and commercialise it for our customers in the future.”
Meanwhile, Leunig said the extensive experience of Curtin University Malaysia’s researchers in renewable energy, smart technologies and data analytics, environment and sustainability, as well as the state-of-the-art research and testing laboratories at its campus, will bode well for this research collaboration.
“Much of our research is multi-disciplinary and broad in scope, encompassing a range of fields in science, engineering, health, society, business and more. We have extensive experience in applied research and the relevant expertise, both at our campus and at our main campus in Perth, to carry out this research with our partners at Sarawak Energy,” he said.
Prof Leunig added that the university’s research endeavours are underpinned by its strong partnerships with industry, business and government that allow it to find new avenues of innovation to provide mutually beneficial outcomes for society.
“We truly value this collaborative relationship with Sarawak Energy, that will see us work together,” he said
All the research activities under the agreement will be done by the research and development teams of Curtin University Malaysia and Sarawak Energy with the Sarawak Energy Miri Regional Office serving as the research site. — DayakDaily
