Category: Engineering

By now, you should have heard of green earth campaign. It is all over the media. Awareness in all shapes and forms impeded within our endless source of information. The call is unison; earth is reaching its burning point due to pollution. This is adamantly clear with natural event happening around the globe such as thinning of ozone layer, rising of sea level, El Nino, La Nina and many more.

            One of the contributors towards this unwanted scenario is carbon footprint. In a simpler definition, carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission produced by individual, asset, building, community, organization, or nation as whole. If GHG is not properly mitigated, it will worsen the effect of global warming. Consequently, average earth temperature will rise to a point where it is no longer habitable.

            Hence, it is high time to take a stand to prevent disaster on a global scale.  

             There are number of things we could do to participate in this cause. The easiest way to reduce carbon footprint is by improving our energy consumption. Given that it is fairly impossible to not use energy at all, we could ensure that each watt of electric is fully utilized.

             Here are sixes ways on how to improve our energy consumption at the workplace.

Conjure: Put up memo or notice within the vicinity of every electrical appliances. This is to ensure that any appliances, for example air conditioner, will be switched off after being used. We tend to take this habit lightly since we assume that electrical power is limitless. Imagine that for every watt we wasted by keeping it switched on, we are burning coal or carbon fuel that is depleting. These resources are limited, and the earth will soon run out of it at some point.

Also, do enforce clear guidelines as to how and when to use it. Sometimes, we tend to use certain appliances even when we have no need for it. For instance, do we really need to switch on the light even when our workstation received natural lighting during the day? The mantra is pretty much straight forward. Use only when necessary.

Check : Perform periodic assessment on every electrical appliances, machines, or equipment. Ensure that it is in good condition and clean. In point of fact, cleanliness does affect energy consumption rate to a certain extent. Take a fan for example. Dirty fan blade accumulates significant amount of dust on it. This will then reduce its air flow, resulting in higher workload for the fan motor. This equates to higher rate of energy consumption.

Apart from assessing your assets, you could also assess on its usage. This is slightly different than switching off appliances after every usage. To assess its usage is when you find optimum usage for each appliance. Perhaps you could set the air conditioner temperature a bit higher given that your working area is not so crowded.

Cut : on top of earlier assessment on cleanliness and optimum usage, you could add one more step which is to eliminate unnecessary appliances. There are times when certain area at your workplace no longer serve its initial purpose, yet the appliances are still intact. It is completely understandable that you could opt to not turning it on. Still, we have tendencies to overlook. About time to dismantle any appliances that no longer useful.

Compound : Do you know that some of your appliances may not work as efficient as before? We often overlook the fact that appliances depreciate over time. It may still function but with higher energy consumption. This is due to some parts of said appliances no longer work as efficient as before. Thus, more energy is required to overcompensate its inefficiency. Thus, it is advisable to install new parts with better energy efficiency upon malfunctioned, discontinued or no longer perform well.

Concentrate : Give more attention on automation whenever possible. By looking into automation, you are reducing human error as well ensuring consistency in form of energy usage. Furthermore, automation system will help you manage your usage even better by having data on behaviour. This will serve as a guide later to implement better policy concerning energy management. Do allocate budget as to further improve existing automation system for long term benefit.

Change : Finally, you could opt to upgrade total or portions of your existing system with one with better energy efficiency. Take Chilled Water (CHW) system. You could opt to upgrade its water system by using higher efficiency chiller with better cooling tower and pump. Coupled with implementation of instrumentation and programmable logic control framework for better energy consumption, you could save on your electricity bills significantly with the upgrade.      

In conclusion, it is possible for us to contribute in reducing carbon footprint. Not only that we help reducing greenhouse effect, but this will also result in monetary savings. In addition, better energy consumption habit will guarantee asset to be used to its full potential.

Better still, consult energy saving companies to find more on how to reap these benefits!  

There is always a lingering sensation of pride whenever the term “developed” is applied to a noun. Developed nation. Develop community. Developed technology. It is evident seeing how industries are expanding on size and reach. It is a given since they are the main cogs for nation economical gear. Developed industries are benchmarks for success.

  However, we pay the price development in form of resources consumption currency. In 2019, Malaysian energy consumption per capita was 2.8 tonne of oil equivalent (toe). It is much higher than any neighbouring countries like Singapore, Indonesia, or Thailand. In simpler context, that amount is equivalent to electricity needs of 10,746 residential home for one hour.

It is no surprise that industrial sector is the largest consumer of electricity, taking 40% of electricity generated by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). The energy demand is huge especially from energy-intensive manufacturing. What makes it worse, this situation comes in hideous form, lurking in shape of energy inefficiency. The higher the rate of energy inefficiency, the more severe damages it will bring towards industry itself. Overtime, cracks will widen from within and break the industry apart.       

Following are implications of inefficient energy consumption. If one takes precaution against these implications, the impacts could be mitigated severely to avoid disastrous outcome.

1. Implication on worker level

Human resource is a vital component for any industry especially for those with factories or manufacturing plants. These workers are receiving direct impact to any changes concerning machinery and equipment. In the event where machinery and equipment are not working efficiently, workers need to overcompensate given that production output target could never be decreased as to not tamper with projected revenue. This overcompensation may come in form of unplanned production down time, overtime, additional assignment outside job description or improper assignment completion as to chase for output.

These will then reduce workers’ morale and create stress induced work environment. Consequently, it will contribute towards mental fatigue. Workers attitude and behaviour will then change to the worse. In addition, it puts workers health at risk as well. Mental fatigue could cause drowsiness and headache. These expose workers to work related injury since they unable to concentrate properly especially during operating machine or equipment.             

2. Implication on asset level

Apart from impact towards workers, inefficient energy consumption affects company asset too such as equipment, machinery, or building. Asset depreciates with time. But inefficient energy consumption will hasten wear-and-tear thus shortening its initial life span. With that, cost of maintenance will increase more than what has been projected years prior. This happened when production line experiencing unplanned down time. Obviously, it will then hamper rate of production output causing delay and other additional cost related. Worst case scenario, asset needs to be replaced with new one causing added CAPEX and decreases profit margin even more.      

3. Implication on company level

Upon direct impact towards workers and asset, it will then move to damage company and its brand. Given that workers morale is low, production output rate is now jeopardized. When production capacity is not solid, there are chances where one could not fulfil purchase order on time. This will lead to dissatisfaction from existing client and eventually losing them to competitor. Given that earlier cost to maintain asset is now increasing, there is not much leeway to increase marketing budget, resulting in smaller chances to win prospect. Moreover, it will also deter company effort for brand awareness campaign since budget had gone much to operation maintenance.

4. Implication on global level       

On a global scale, inefficient energy consumption causes higher Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission and larger carbon footprint. This contributes towards ozone thinning effect and greenhouse effect. In simpler term, pollution. It risks not only those that works in that factory but to residentials nearby. Moreover, it will cause detrimental effect towards the environment.

In a nutshell, there are alarming reasons to why you must pay close attention towards energy consumption behaviour at your workplace. Efficient energy consumption will not just help your bottom line but provides safer and more conducive work environment to your company.

This is possible with the right consultation expert – SYREFL.

With the Covid-19 is still a pandemic in Malaysia, hotel, and tourism industry in one of the most affected industry in Malaysia at least. People are more caution with their healthcare, and this is a good sign to the community. Hotel and tourism business must bring public cautious into their new marketing plan and strategy as it should not be their obstacle to obtain public trust and reduce their fright towards the hotel and tourism entity. Here are 9 possible preparation to increase a successful transition from Covid-19.

1.    Safety

This is not an option anymore and it cannot be emphasized it though. Developing trust from your customer by improving your hotel and facilities safety aspect is the most important way to gain their confidence on your facilities. The critical aspects are how to make them safe and how you announce it to the public. Like hospitals, you can prevent the rate of virus transmission among your own employee through universal masking, universal precautions, and cleaning protocol. Infection among the staff in all big businesses is commonly caused by the high prevalence in the community. Your employee attributes will be the huge benchmark of the safety measure implemented. Safety is your top priority. You have heard of Amber Alert. You may use the same modus operandi to use it as a medium to spread the information and increase the pre-caution among the staff.

2.    Special incident force team

A group of staff that has been assembled to perform a specific task for the incident specially for the pandemic is a new system for you to create if you do not have any. Everyone must have a clear role to perform in terms of incident commander, operations leader, planning leader, logistics leader, staff leader and communications leader. This group must have a daily meeting to discuss and update the previous incident happened, the planning for the day and the mitigation plan. The commander should lead the team and each of the leader must be an expert in the area. All of them must have excellent communication skills and possess critical thinking skills. If you already have a dedicated safety team, you can add the special task to their division as they already have the structure. Communication is the key for the team as they need think and act quicker than other. Having a good online communication is not an option as it will affect the action of the team as well as the information distributed.

3.    Universal precautions and training

Your staff must be trained to avoid contact with body fluids from anybody. This norm has been implemented to the hospitals staff and should be for all hospitality industry as it will be new norm from now on.

4.    Cleaning protocols

Meticulous cleaning works must be added in your hotel’s cleaning protocols as it will increase your customer confidence to use your facilities. One hour waiting time after the customer check out from the room before start the housekeeping should be implement as the new protocols, besides applying the anti-virus cleaning agent to all  hard surface and personal protective equipment for the cleaning crew. It also possible to use automated UV lighting during the waiting time and it will be lightened up once the system detected the customer is already checked out. Consider providing automatic hand sanitizer and clean wipes at the elevators, stairs, public toilet, entrance, and rooms to show our caution and responsibility to protect our customer.

5.    Invest in technology

Moving forward, you may invest in mobile check-in and encourage your customer to use it even they are already in the lobby. Your guest may have minimal physical contact to a surface outside and inside their room by using the device that already with them which is their mobile phone. Inside their room they may use a single mobile device to control all the facilities in their room in terms of lighting, air-conditioning, curtain, hot and cold water and many more. Your guest may check the occupancy and availability of your hotel facilities such as gym, bar, restaurant, swimming pool and dining hall from their room without checking manually and it will keep them in minimal contact with others. Your staff can monitor and control the system from control room without interrupting the guest privacy. With the investment on your internet and network backbone, your guest will feel safer and protected and it might be their best experience using your hotel facilities.

6.    Continue social distancing

Eliminate waiting room, crowded lobbies, and facilities. Keep minimal physical contact to protect your customer as well as your staff and tenant. Having an online system which provide facilities information as well as food and beverages delivery to their room is another level of social distancing.

7.    Improve air quality

If your hotel uses the centralized air-conditioning system, it would be advisable to have an indoor air quality to monitor the level of the O2, CO, CO2 as well as VOC as it will enhance the ambience of your hotel. These air quality monitoring also can be implemented in the room with split unit by having an automated room system. You may use predictive maintenance for your air-conditioning system to improve the quality of air in the facilities. Your maintenance team may be alerted, and the top tier management can monitor it from the system.

8.    Track record recommendation

Screening test will be developed to prove the infection. Online database may be developed with the cooperation from ministry of health and ministry of tourism to implement travelling pass. Tourist or guest must go through the screening process and the data can be accessed by the hotel management. Although it sounds a little bit troublesome to the guest, but it will increase their confidence to your hotel. It will need cooperation from other parties to succeed the effort.

9.    Showing the commitment

Finally, lift your commitment to safe environment for customers and staff by voicing out and advertisement. You may expect the long term pay off for your investment in training, technology, and safety. You may join association ratings for cleanliness, safety, and healthy environment. The hotels and restaurants that deliver on safety will quickly differentiate themselves from others.

The industry atmosphere may be different from now on and we need to adapt with it. You need a new plan and strategy to increase the confidence of the public towards your hotel. It may take some time to recover and long-term return of investment, but you must be ahead from your competitor to gain public trust in your hotel and facilities. With the good marketing promises, delivered through your staff and marketing tools, that will encourage your customers to return.

New norm is a form of sacrifice. Change of habit is what we must emphasize. All in all, we need to care for the environment. Hence, energy saving is a must have sentiment.

Wishing a very joyous and peaceful Eid-ul-Adha for those celebrating it!