Free or Low-Cost Home grown kangkong ( River Spinach/Water Convolvulus )

Home grown and yummy dishes, and save money too besides caring for environment!
Free or Low-Cost Home grown kangkong( River Spinach/Water Convolvulus )

Cheers,
Foo

Higher gas and power tariffs?

REFLECTING MARKET PRICES: Ministry to decide and make its recommendation to the Economic Council by December

THE Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry has recommended to the Economic Council that electricity and gas tariffs be raised to better reflect market prices.

The government is expected to decide on electricity and gas tariffs by December.

The last hike in gas and electricity prices was on June 1 last year.

At that time, natural gas price sold to the power sector was raised by 28 per cent to RM13.70/mmBTU from RM10.70/mmBTU. 

The average electricity tariff went up 2.23 sen/kWh (kilowatt hour), or seven per cent, to 33.54 sen/kWh.

Electricity rebate for residential households with a monthly bill of up to RM20, however, was maintained.

"Although the tariffs have remained unchanged for more than a year, we have continued to monitor and make the appropriate recommendation on tariff revision for gas and electricity every six months," said Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui.

"We have forwarded our proposal for revision in electricity and gas tariffs to the Economic Council," he told reporters after officiating the Fourth Energy Forum here yesterday.

"The ultimate decision on whether or not to raise the tariffs lies with the cabinet. My ministry can only act on cabinet's decision," he added.

Six months ago, the Energy Commission announced the groups that had submitted their bids to build a new 1,000MW-1,400MW gas-fired power plant in Prai, Penang. 

Among them were 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), which has teamed up with South Korean Hyundai Engineering & Construction, YTL Power International Bhd with Marubeni Corp of Japan, CI Holdings Bhd and Teknologi Tenaga Perlis Consortium Sdn Bhd with Daelim Industrial Co Ltd of South Korea, Amcorp Power Sdn Bhd with Mitsui & Co Ltd, and Malakoff Corp Bhd and Petronas Power Sdn Bhd with Mitsubishi Corp of Japan.

In response, Chin said the government will announce the winner next month. 

"The competitive bidding ensures the use of the latest turbines that optimise gas use. We want value for money," he said.

"We will also announce details on the extension of the first generation power purchase agreements next month," he added.

Read more: Higher gas and power tariffs? http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/gas27/Article/#ixzz27iTvMstE

Green ‘skyscrapers’

IMAGINE a city with skyscrapers, condominiums and malls all linked via pedestrian walkways to a pocket of parks with trees and pergolas in Kuala Lumpur

It could be a place where you can sit by and enjoy lunch or read a book under a canopy of trees similar to New York’s Central Park and London’s Hyde Park.

Work in progress: Contractors working round the clock to complete KL’s latest park for the launch by Nong Chik today.

Under the government’s Greener KL programme which falls under the Greater KL/Klang Valley initiative, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) plans to create green spaces and plant more trees for city denizens to enjoy.

The first fruit of this green vision will be unveiled today when Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Bhd launches a 3,716 sq m (40,000 sq ft) refurbished public park which the company had adopted and will be managing and maintaining for the next seven years.

Work in progress: Contractors working round the clock to complete KL’s latest park for the launch by Nong Chik today.

The tie-up with Standard Chartered is the first for DBKL, and according to Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib, the local authority will be working with other private companies and NGO’s to get them to adopt and manage pockets of parks within the city and its outskirts.

“Everyone is looking at prime spots such as KLCC and but we have other vacant spots which are suitable to be converted into small parks and green areas.

The city and its residents can benefit with having more parks and green areas to reduce stress and create a healthy environment, not to mention an increase in property value,’’ he said.

Ahmad Phesal said under the Greener KL programme, City Hall is also working on linking these parks with other green belts such as playgrounds, ponds, rivers and lakes.

This includes planting trees all over the city and even towards the outskirts of town.

 Plenty to do: Workers have their hands full putting the park together.

Relaxing environment: An artist impression of the upper deck which can double up as a venue for stage performances.

“Last year, a total of RM14mil was allocated by the Federal Government to plant trees everywhere, and I am happy to say that we have planted over 34,000 trees all over the city and its outskirts,” said Ahmad Phesal.

Up until August, 23,000 trees were planted and City Hall is hoping to reach the target of 30,000 or more by year-end.

“The response to our tree-planting programme is wonderful. There are many organisations and private companies who are willing to work with us but planting trees alone is not enough.

“We must also ensure that the trees we plant are cared for and maintained and nurtured.

“We must instil a maintenance culture amongst city folks to care for the trees they plant

“Apart from giving shade, trees cuts down heat, gives oxygen and add quality to our lives, and that is worth all the effort,’’ said Ahmad Phesal.

source:
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/9/25/central/12073298&sec=central

SEDA, PHTP inks hydro-power training pact

Sustainable Energy Development Authority Malaysia (SEDA) has entered into a partnership with the Perak State Development Corporation, via Perak Hi Tech Park (PHTP) Sdn Bhd, to provide training on how to maintain small hydro-power plants.

The introduction of this course will benefit many prospective hydro-power plants developers.

"One of the gaps identified by SEDA is the need to address the lack of competent human capital in terms of technical knowledge in designing, constructing and maintaining small hydro-power systems in the country.

"Hence, the collaboration with PHTP is most timely to address this gap," said SEDA in a statement today. 

Under the partnership, PHTP will source technology experts from Brodarski Institute in Croatia to conduct the inaugural training, the first technical cooperation between Malaysia and Croatia. -- Bernama 

Home Grown Petai

Petai-This eco friendly fruit of the forest is now home grown.

Energy Saving Switch in Hotel Promenade

How to save energy in hotel room?

Great example found in Hotel Promenade  Kota Kinabalu.

Four star rating hotel in Kota Kinabalu –Hotel Promenade is implementing great idea of energy saving switch in their guest room.

Energy Saving Switch in the picture only allow special room key card (come with I.C chip) to activate all power equipment including air conditional and lightings.

Guest who are leaving the room and taking out the key card will cut off all the power in the room after 30sec.

There is not power wastage while the room is not occupied because other similar size card such as bonuslink etc is not compatible to activate the power supply.

Solar lightings at Kota Kinabalu

Beautiful night scenery of solar lightings at Kota Kinabalu town. A place for food hunting- Banana cheeses ,sup ekor etcs plus heaven for dating couples. 

Charging Electric Car Station

Charge an electric car in under 30 minutes at this ABB office in Holland. Will you get the chance to use an ABB EV charging station?

You can now recharge your car in 15-30 min at our Rotterdam Waalhaven location!

source : https://www.facebook.com/aroundABB

Homeowners can apply for solar rooftop from Sept 24

PETALING JAYA: Owners of landed homes can start applying for the 2000 Solar Home Rooftop Programme by the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (Seda) from Sept 24.

Seda chairman Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan Onn said the authority would allocate 2,000kW of solar photovoltaic (PV) for the fourth quarter of 2012 and 6,000kW for 2013 to home owners interested in generating electricity from their rooftops.

“A directory of the solar PV service providers will be available at Seda from Sept 18 to assist home owners,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Dr Fong said the programme was open to only individual residents and each application must comply with the Renewable Energy (Feed-in Approval and Feed-in Tariff Rate) Rules 2011 and Administrative Guidelines under the Renewable Energy Act.

An applicant can only submit one application per day through the e-FiT Online System at efit.seda.gov.my.

Seda chief executive officer Badriyah Abdul Malek, however, said the e-FiT Online System was not available for public access until Sept 18 as it was undergoing enhancements.

Badriyah also said applications for feed-in approval that were sent earlier have been flushed out due to the system upgrade. She also encouraged interested applicants and prospective and renewable energy developers to attend Seda's roadshows which will be held soon to learn more about the programme.

Houseowners could expect to get their investment returns after six years which could earn them an average of RM500 per month for 21 years.

source: The Star

http://starazure.cloudapp.net/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/14/nation/12027005&sec=nation