SHAH ALAM, 29 Dec: It’s going to get warmer indoors in 2014 as shopping malls, tall buildings and offices raise temperatures to cut electricity costs.
The Malaysian Association for Shopping and Highrise Complex Management is advising its 400-odd members nationwide to set their air-conditioning at 23°C or 24°C.
According to the association, air conditioning is the largest energy user, at 66 percent, in commercial building.
Its president H.C. Chan said most malls in the country are now too cold, with temperatures ranging from 21°C to 23°C.
“We can and should move up a few degrees especially now with mounting energy costs. The reality is that we need to be energy efficient and eliminate waste because electricity is our single, largest expenditure,” he added, quoted from The Star.
Building Management Association of Malaysia and International Real Estate Federation of Malaysia committee member Richard Chan said air-conditioning accounts for the bulk of the electricity bill in malls and high-rises.
“The bigger malls or complexes pay anything from RM2mil to RM3mil monthly on air-conditioning alone,” he said.
Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Shamsuddin Bar-dan said companies must take measures to mitigate the tariff hike.
“Set your air conditioners at optimal temperature to avoid waste and switch everything off when staff are out for lunch,” he said.
MEF represents 4,500 member companies and 18 affiliate trades associations.
