Building operators electrified over energy conservation

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