Kuching Serawak, Which is the greenest agency in the public service? If you say it is the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, the Department of Environment or the Wildlife and National Parks Department, you are wrong on all three.
The most earth-friendly governmental body is our police force. While many agencies have not even embarked on any environment-friendly effort, the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) is moving into its second green blueprint under its Go Green agenda.
Its first one, carried out over the past two years, involved measures such as curtailing fuel and energy consumption as well as recycling waste. For its second effort, it has set the ambitious target of curtailing emissions of 33,700 tonnes of carbon dioxide (tCO2) by 2020.
The PDRM Blueprint 2.0 Green Practices and Green Technology Application, unveiled late last month, was jointly drawn up with Malaysian Green Technology Corporation ( GreenTech Malaysia), the government agency charged with promoting green growth.
The Blueprint 2.0 outlines a five-year roadmap for the police force to shrink its carbon footprint in these areas: green procurement; building, energy and utilities; transportation; information and communication technology; and waste management. Aside from developing the national green technology agenda, the initiative also raises environmental awareness among the force’s 109,000 staff members.
Some key targets in Blueprint 2.0 are achieving 20% in green procurement and at least 10% reduction in energy, water and fuel consumption. In addition, half of its centres will implement recycling efforts. It will install photovoltaic systems in five stations to generate solar energy, switch to energy-efficient lighting, install rain harvesting systems in some stations, as well as replace old diesel vehicles with cleaner electric and hybrid vehicles.
Green procurement, which involves purchasing products and services that cause minimal adverse environmental impacts, will be done for cleaning services, ICT equipment, paints, cement, lights, paper, textile, furniture, green data centre services, printers and air-conditioners.
“PDRM is serious about its green efforts,” said Inspector General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar in a statement. “The launch of the PDRM Blueprint 2.0 is a testimony of our continuing commitment to plan, implement, measure and deliver on our green promise. As the country’s main enforcement agency, we take it upon ourselves to lead by example. The success of our past green efforts has laid a strong foundation for Blueprint 2.0, enabling us to learn from our accomplishments, review our plan, streamline our initiatives and aim for impactful results.”
In its first green blueprint, the police force managed to convert 15% of its purchases to green products and services in 2014, and by 10% in 2015. Using hybrid vehicles and electric scooters in its patrol fleet saved 2.6 million litres of petrol (equivalent to RM11.5mil) and avoided emissions of 7,120 tCO2. A solar hybrid system installed at the station in Pulau Mabul, Sabah, reduced use of diesel for power generation.
At the Taman Tun Dr Ismail police station, a switch to energy-efficient lights and proper maintainance of the air-conditioning system last year reduced energy consumption by 32% and avoided 2,060kg of CO2.
Energy-saving actions at the Bukit Aman Headquarters included using power management system in 600 computers, automatic shutdown of lights during lunch break and air-conditioning after office hours, and encouraging the staff to use the stairs instead of lifts. The 440,354kWh of energy saved last year meant a reduction of 326.3 tCO2 emissions. Also, a five-month recycling campaign collected 13,600kg of recyclables, which prevented emissions of 3,944 tCO2.
Police officials also attended seminars on green procurement, water and energy management. As part of the Go Green campaign, the police force also held activities involving the public, such as the Green Explore Race, MyHIJAU youth camp and a clean-up of Bukit Broga in Semenyih, Selangor.
As the technical advisor for the police force’s green effort, GreenTech monitors progress of the blueprint and provide recommendations for improvements. Its chief executive officer Ahmad Hadri Haris says the force has steadily made a positive green impact. “We have witnessed progressive transition among their workforce towards adopting eco-friendly practices and sustainable lifestyle.”
GreenTech is also working with the Kedah Government as well as the Hang Tuah Jaya and Subang Jaya municipal councils to develop similar green blueprints.
Link : http://www.star2.com/living/living-environment/2016/04/09/smaller-carbon-footprint-for-malaysian-police/
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