Building operators electrified over energy conservation

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

While office tenants might grumble over energy saving measures, building operators see the drive as a blessing in disguise.

"Cutting down on the use of electricity is the same as cutting costs, which is good for business," said Subianto, a technical services manager from PT Jakarta Land, which manages the World Trade Center (WTC) office complex on Jl. Sudirman, which hosts the biggest concentration of the capital's office buildings.

Similar remarks also came from neighboring building operators.

Subianto claimed that his company had already started cutting back on electricity use three months ago -- saving some 10 percent on its previous bills -- and would develop more cost- saving measures in line with the energy conservation drive announced by the city following on heels of a similar drive promoted by the President.

On Tuesday, Governor Sutiyoso signed Gubernatorial Instruction No. 77/2005 on energy conservation in the workplace, which he said would be compulsory for public sector offices.

While the drive would not officially be compulsory, Sutiyoso said he would revoke the business licenses of building operators if they refused to comply with the drive.

The office building that Subianto manages now uses only four of its seven central air conditioners, with the temperature indoors being set at 24 degrees Celsius. "Tenants complained at first, but it's all a question of adapting," he said.

At night, the operator turns off the corridor lighting earlier at 10 p.m., and only leaves three lights on in the lobby. Meanwhile, outdoor lighting, which used to be on from 5:30 p.m. and 6 a.m., is now on from 6:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

In the Mayapada tower, some three buildings away from the WTC, the lobby and corridors are now lit with only half the normal number of lights.

"We started reducing lighting in the lobby and corridors today and will raise the air-conditioning temperature from 22 degrees to 24 degrees Celsius tomorrow after we have announced the plan to the tenants," said Mudris Djunaedi, a chief engineer with the building management.

However, the colorful lighting on the outside cladding will remain on, as Mudris said it was not very energy consuming and currently still under contractor maintenance.

In the Mayapada tower's neighboring buildings, Plaza Permata and the Sona Topas building, energy conservation efforts started a month ago.

"We have been able to save up to 1,000 kilowatts in daily electricity consumption from cutting out an average of one hour's lighting per day," said the Sona Topas building's electrical supervisor, Robertus Danang.

Many building operators have cut the number of elevators in operation to half the normal number after office hours.

As Jakarta will be in almost total darkness at night, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani offered more patrol in certain areas. "We will first consult with the city administration in order to identify which areas need more security." (003)

I-box

Sutiyoso's energy conservation instruction:

1. Cut the operating hours of electrical equipment 2. Use energy-saving illumination 3. Set temperature of air-conditioning at 25 degrees Celsius 4. Limit the number of elevators and escalators in operation 5. Reduce light use, turn off all unnecessary lights 6. Use official vehicles efficiently