SUNDAY STAR, 2 AUGUST 2015

special

GOING GREEN
Positive eco living

SUNDAY STAR, 2 AUGUST 2015

2 going green

By TINA CARMILLIA
THE concept of green living has
grown in global prominence in the
last decade or so. We have become
more concerned about the
environment and the future
inhabitability of the planet than
ever before due to the rising
scarcity of energy sources and the
advent of global warming.
Green technology development
came about the last century or so
to address these concerns.
Although these efforts were mostly
carried out by state-owned
enterprises funded by the
government, in recent years, the
global green markets have begun
to boom.
In March, Costa Rica was
reported to be running entirely on
renewable energy having done so
for 75 straight days without the
need to burn a single fossil fuel.
The country was able to do so
thanks to heavy rainfalls that
enabled the nations hydropower
plants to generate enough
electricity to power the whole
country.
Costa Ricas electricity is also
further boosted by geothermal,
solar and wind energy sources and
by the first half of the year, 98.6%
of its overall electricity was
sourced through renewable energy.
Costa Rica is not a unique case.
Countries such as Germany,
Iceland and Norway have long led
the way in mixed renewable
energy generation either for their
domestic consumption or even to

Recharge the planet

serve the export market.
The broad goals of green
technology in the industry are to
increase the efficiency of green
energy and to minimise the use of
hazardous materials as the
production of toxic waste can
harm the environment and the
people.
While the responsibility to
ensure a sustainable future lies
heavily on government agencies
at the national and global level,
businesses too play an important
role to support the policies. Car
makers, household appliance
manufacturers, cosmetic and
personal care items producers, and
property developers are just some
of the industry players at the
forefront of the change to a
greener lifestyle.

A fertile ground for

sustainable living
In Malaysia, green infrastructure
is slowly but surely becoming the
hallmark of solving urban and
climatic challenges. According to
the national urbanisation policy by
the Federal Department of Town
and Country Planning, Ministry of
Housing and Local Government,
any urban development involving
residential, commercial, industrial,

institutional and mixeddevelopment land use should

feature at least 10% of open space
and recreational area.
Furthermore, the Real Estate and
Housing Developers Association
(Rehda) established the GreenRE
Township Tool in 2013 as an
extension of its existing
sustainability assessment tool. The
tool enables developments to
extend the green building
assessment to neighbourhood and
community levels for a wider area
of evaluation.
The move is expected to drive
Malaysias construction industry
towards more environmentally
friendly and sustainable
operations.
Todays modern townships
feature nature components so that
they adapt to the surroundings to
ensure an environmentally low
impact, development with less heat
stress, better air quality,
sustainable energy production,
clean water and healthy soils as
well as better shade and shelter in
their design and practicality.
These self-sustaining townships
are not only designed as integrated
developments to provide the
residents with educational,
commercial, healthcare,
recreational and transportation

Transportation
and mobility

Kuala Lumpur City Hall has introduced bicycle lanes in its efforts to
reduce the citys carbon footprint and promote a healthy lifestyle. The
first 5.5km bicycle lane from Mid Valley to Dataran Merdeka was
completed in April.
The increase in the number of cyclists complements the traction gained
by hybrid car sales within Malaysia as well as the recently launched
electrical vehicle sharing programme in the Klang Valley by CMS
Consortium Ecotour.

Renewable
energy

The Sustainable Energy Development Authority oversees the Feed-in

Tariff scheme that enables companies and house owners to produce
renewable energy from solar photovoltaic, biogas, biomass or small
hydropower and sell it to the national grid.

Retail habits

Homegrown businesses are gaining patronage from consumers who are

turning to locally sourced produce.
Several studies, including a 2012 Retail Ethics and Green Retailing
research by the Centre for Retail Research in the United Sates, have
shown that savvy shoppers are more likely to prefer businesses with
greener operations and source their raw materials through fair-trade,
ethical means.
Not only does this mean that products are made with a lower carbon
footprint, it also ensures that the local economy is supported.

Changes in urban lifestyle reflect ethical, environmentally savvy behaviours.

amenities within the township; a

prominent characteristic of these
developments is their attractive
eco-friendly atmosphere.
Sustainable communities will
undeniably thrive with green
infrastructure that in turn benefits
the country socially and
economically. Urban forests and
parks, manmade wetlands and
green roofs are among some of the
most common features in new

townships and developments

across the country.
Not only do these elements help
make the neighbourhood pleasant,
it encourages collaboration in
development decisions and
promotes green practices. Engaging
the community creates a shared
vision for the future based on the
rakyats and businesses needs and
aspirations for a greener and
sustainable lifestyle.

Play your part

from home
IN a country with an
abundance of resources,
the creation of cities and
urban townships with a
vision that supports
harmonious communities
and living conditions in a
sustainable development is
not impossible.

Start an edible garden

Instead of throwing away the
root ends of vegetables such as
cabbage, lettuce and green
onions, save and regrow them. If
you are unsure how to start your
own garden, you can reach out
to several community gardening
groups, including Eats, Shoots &
Roots that empower urbanites
with skills and tools to grow
their own edible garden. You will
realise you do not even need a
patch of land to start one even
a sunlit balcony or window sill
will do.

Furnish with sustainable fixtures

From roofing and paint to lighting and
furniture, you can support manufacturers that
market functional and sustainable products
made from green materials. When decorating
a new place, opt for an evergreen design that
will never grow old or out of fashion.

Practise garbage separation

From next month onwards, mandatory solid
waste separation will be implemented in
Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Negri
Sembilan. The move will reduce the amount of
solid waste sent to waste disposal sites by 40%.
Even if you do not live in these areas, begin
practising by separating recyclables from waste.

Install a solar photovoltaic

system
While initial investment can be
considered costly in the short
term, the long-term benefits of
installing solar panels to harness
the power of the sun trump that.
The building on which these
panels are installed can use the
electricity that is immediately
generated. Not only that, home
owners can also sell the power
they generate by feeding it into
the national power grid.

SUNDAY STAR, 2 AUGUST 2015

SUNDAY STAR, 2 AUGUST 2015

4 going green

Securing nations
water future
MALAYSIA is blessed with
abundant water resources.
However, the countrys water
scenario is in a state of change.
Water resources management is
becoming increasingly complicated
due to larger concentrations of
population, commercial activities
and industries, increasing water
demand and consumption,
increasing water pollution, and the
impact of climate change.
The challenge for the future is to
ensure an adequate quantity and
quality of water to meet human
and ecological needs.
To address problems that are
likely to emerge in the next 10 to
15 years, decision-makers will need
to make informed choices between
often conflicting and uncertain
actions. These choices are best
made with the full benefit of
research and development.
For this purpose, the National
Hydraulic Research Institute of
Malaysia (Nahrim) was established
as a research institute to conduct
experimental simulation and
numerical hydrodynamic analysis
as well as to study the relationship
between ecological and
morphological processes and
human activities.
Nahrim operates as a
government agency under the
Natural Resources and
Environment Ministry. Its
functions, which are laid out in the
Ministerial Function Act 1969, are
to:
l Conduct basic and applied
research in hydraulic engineering,
coastal engineering, water
resources, hydrogeology, surface
water and water quality for the
public and private sectors
l Provide specialised
consultancy services to public and
private sectors
l Collaborate with local
universities and research institutes
in hydraulic engineering research
l Function as Government
advisors on matters relating to
hydraulics
l Act as the national centre for
research in hydraulic engineering
and become the coordinator of all
such research in the country
Nahrims role as a national
centre of excellence on water and
environment management is to
ensure sustainable growth and
improve the quality of life and
well-being of Malaysians.
It also aims to be one of the
worlds premier research centres
for water and its environment by
2030.

Facilities and services

Nahrims operations are driven
by five research centres and two
laboratories, and strengthened by
three supporting divisions.
Nahrim actively carries out
consultancy works for government
and private sectors in:
l Bio-chemical engineering
water quality for rivers, lakes,

The National Hydraulic Research Insitute of Malaysia strives to address

the countrys water issues.

Managing a
precious resource
Nahrim conducts water treatment research at its Water Quality Laboratory.

groundwater and coastal areas

l Hydraulic engineering
physical and numerical modelling
for water infrastructure

Nahrim is addressing the various

water issues in Malaysia and will
continue to do so with further
research and development.

To support the research and

consultancy services, Nahrims
Hydraulic and Instrumentation
Laboratory (known by its Bahasa
Malaysia acronym MHI), launched
in 2010, provides several facilities,
including physical modelling.
Physical modelling is the most
effective way of investigating fluid
flows such as those around
hydraulic structures.
These models are scaled down in
terms of both geometry and
important forces.
In 2010, Nahrim completed the
physical modelling of the
mangrove replanting initiative at
the Haji Dorani River on Carey
Island, Selangor.
Last year, Nahrim completed the
physical modelling of the Belibis
River flood mitigation project.
In 2013, MHI received the
MS ISO9001:2008 accreditation for
physical modelling management in
hydraulic engineering.
Nahrims Water Quality
Laboratory (known by its Bahasa
Malaysia acronym MKA), which
focuses on water quality research
and development and testing, was
launched in 2012.
MKA is expected to receive the
MS ISO/IEC 17025 certification for
water quality testing and
calibration this year.

n For more information, visit

Preparing for the future

Water issues are expected to
increase in the future, especially
the degree of water pollution.
Through its awareness
campaigns and product innovation,

www.nahrim.gov.my
Nahrims five
research centres:

l The Research Centre for

Coastal and Oceanography
is responsible for
conducting research and
development in coastal
engineering, marine and
oceanography.
l The Research Centre for
Water Quality and
Environment conducts
research and development
in the field of water quality
and water treatment
technology.
l The Research Centre for
Water Resources and
Climate Change conducts
research and development
in the fields of water
resources, hydrometeorology and climate
change impact and
adaptation.
l The Research Centre for
River Basin conducts
research and development
in the field of river and
surface water hydraulics,
and generally in
environment conservation
of rivers and river basins.
l The Research Centre for
Hydrogeology conducts
research and development
in the field of groundwater
resources management.

MALAYSIA receives abundant

rainfall, averaging from
2,000mm to 4,000mm annually,
and is drained by a dense
network of rivers and streams.
As water is considered a
cheap commodity, less attention
is focused on it despite
increasing pressure on the
countrys water resources.
The National Hydraulic
Research Institute of Malaysias
(Nahrim) research and
development areas constantly
evolve to address the changing
trends of water issues faced by
Malaysia.

Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting
provides an independent water
supply when there is a drought,
helps to mitigate flooding of lowlying areas and reduces demand
on wells, which may enable
ground water levels to be
sustained.
In 2000, Nahrim set up
rainwater harvesting system
research plots for non-potable
use to monitor the performance
of the rainwater harvesting
systems in residential areas
(terrace houses in Kuala Lumpur
and long houses in Sarawak),
mosques, administrative
buildings and recreational
venues.
Nahrim is now embarking on
a larger-scale rainwater
harvesting system at the Paya
Indah Wetlands water
recreational area as well as the
Natural Resources and
Environment Ministry as part of
its drive to promote the use of
alternative water.
Rainwater harvesting also
helps increase the availability of
potable water as rainwater is
substantially free of salinity and
other salts.
In 2010, Nahrim set up a

rainwater harvesting system for

potable use in Taman Negara,
Pahang. The rainwater from this
system will be treated for
drinking purposes and
commercialised.

Climate change
Climate change leads to
uncertainties in water supply
and management of water
resources.
Nahrim has completed a study
on the impact of climate change
on hydrology regimes and water
resources in peninsular
Malaysia.
This research yielded
projection data and hydroclimatic information in
peninsular Malaysia for the
periods 2025 to 2034 and 2041 to
2050, and showed climate
change impacts on the hydroclimatic parameters, rainfall
intensity and river flows.
Nahrims next project, which
focused on Sabah and Sarawak,
yielded projection data and
hydro-climatic information for
the period 2050 to 2100.
The research results were
presented as a notification paper
titled Impact of Climate Change
on Water Resources during the
meeting of the 4th National
Water Resources Council in
2009 and contributed to the
development of two important
policies the National Green
Technology Policy and the
National Policy on Climate
Change.
It also played a part in the
formation of the National Green
Technology and Climate Change
Council, which was established
to foster greater ties and
coordination between
adaptation measures taken by
the Government, as well as
adaptation acceptance among
the public.

SUNDAY STAR, 2 AUGUST 2015

SUNDAY STAR, 2 AUGUST 2015

6 going green

Going green at home

can mean switching off
electrical appliances
when not in use.

Hotels use a lot of energy but proper management systems can make
energy consumption more efficient.

Reducing
energy usage

Positive eco living

MODERN society offers humanity
many benefits, including longer
lifespans and unprecedented levels
of comfort and leisure.
However, it also produces a
downside pollution.
Factories and power plants are
major causes of pollution, but
peoples homes also contribute to
the problem.
When homeowners and
residents take action to reduce
their own pollution footprint, it has
far-reaching and positive
consequences.
Going green at home can mean
being conscientious about not
wasting tap water and turning
lights off when they are not in use.
This means power plants do not

AS Malaysia is moving towards

more ecologically sustainable
development and lifestyles, the
need to prepare for this change
is imperative.
Sustainability has become an
important initiative discussed
and undertaken by developers
of not only private residences
but also offices, hotels,
commercial buildings and
hospitals.
Buildings are human habitats
and the way people design,
construct and operate buildings
has a profound impact on
peoples health and the
environment.
Compared to other building
types, healthcare buildings have
an especially large impact on the
environment because of their
round-the-clock use. Thus, the
development of green hospitals
is important.
Hospitals require strict
cleaning procedures and
constant air filtration, which
adds to the already-high energy

have to produce as much energy,

leading to a reduction in pollution.
All of these little things can
really add up in ones pursuit to
save the world. If enough people
begin going green, the planet will
surely stand a far better chance of
enduring.
Thus, adopting a green lifestyle
at home is an important part of the
global drive to protect the
environment.
The air-conditioning system
accounts for almost half the energy
usage in a home. Proper
maintenance will keep air
conditioners running at peak
efficiency, meaning lower costs.
Weather-stripping windows and
doors provides insulation and

reduces the need for air

conditioning.
Tall trees can cool the home
during a hot sunny day by
providing shade.
Programmable thermostats are
highly effective in conserving
electricity because they can
be programmed to run air
conditioning only when it is
really needed.
The concept of Cogeneration
Technology, which is tapping waste
heat for free hot water shower
while running the air conditioner,
is another green lifestyle concept
that can reduce your hot water bill
and carbon footprint.
Adopt an eco lifestyle now and
save energy for future generations.

IT has been estimated that 75% of

a hotels environmental impact
can be directly related to excessive
consumption.
It is due to this waste and
inefficiency that hotels that
practise a green operation are
rapidly gaining popularity.
More and more hotels are
choosing to reduce their
environmental footprint by
performing upgrades to reduce
energy and water consumption,
recycling, composting food, buying
from local food producers and
being less wasteful.
Hotels have always been some
of the biggest energy guzzlers
around, contributing to the everincreasing problem of global
warming.
Regardless of the time of day or
what the accessible local resources
are, hotels generally use more
energy per visitor than local
residents as they have energyintensive facilities such as bars,
restaurants and pools as well as
more spacious rooms.

Hotels must provide each guest

with steaming hot or icy cold
water and heat or air conditioning
as desired and enough electricity
to power all electrical devices at
any given moment.
Excessive energy use is
extremely costly. However, by
installing energy-efficient
technologies such as energy
management systems, free hot
water, free cool air, LED lights,
ceiling fans, linen cards, lights-out
cards and motion sensors for
public-access rooms, energy bills
can be reduced significantly.
According to the Governmentbacked Energy Efficiency Label
programme, Malaysian hotels
spend an average of almost
RM2,200 per room each year on
energy, which is 6% of all
operating costs.
Hotels are starting to realise that
reducing this energy usage
is good business.
It makes a substantial difference
to the environment, their profit
margins and reputations.

Efficiency in public buildings

Public buildings such
as hospitals should
proactively address
their environmental
footprint.

costs of the 24/7 operations and

sophisticated medical equipment
that make hospitals among the
greatest energy consumers of
any institution.
Green hospital concepts will
play an important part in the
curative process in times to
come.
Instead of being referred to as
places that house healthcare
amenities, the hospitals of
tomorrow will focus on wellness
and be transformed into
welcoming spaces.
A World Health Organization
(WHO) report published last
year urged hospitals to
proactively address the
environmental footprint of the
healthcare sector by reducing
power consumption, utilising
alternative energy generation,
and recycling and conserving
resources.

Compliance with energysaving regulations is the highest

concern for the assessment of
the development of a green
building.
Technologies have been
promoted in the area of heat
recovery using air-conditioning
systems and heat pumps.
These technologies can
produce free hot water, hot
air for dryers and natural, cool
fresh air. Specially coated wall
and ceiling technologies are also
implemented to reduce external
heat and maintain a consistent
room temperature.
In addition, solar energy
and LED lighting systems
have come a long way and are
the basics for any green
building.

n For more information,

visit www.pecol.com.my

SUNDAY STAR, 2 AUGUST 2015

SUNDAY STAR, 2 AUGUST 2015

8 going green

Hi-tech protection, solar energy

MALAYSIA receives abundant
sunlight year round thanks to its
geographic location near the
Earths equator.
Recognising the potential of
harnessing the suns rays as a
significant source of energy, the
Government has taken steps to
develop the solar energy or
photovoltaic (PV) industry in the
country.
These steps include establishing
agencies that are focused on
renewable energy as well as the
introduction of the feed-in-tariff
(FiT) programme.

Experienced PV system
provider

Wee Chek Aik, managing director of

Pekat Solar Sdn Bhd.

Established in 1999, Pekat

Teknologi Sdn Bhd has carved a
niche for itself as a competent
solutions provider specialising in
the design, supply, distribution and
installation of lightning protection,
earthing and surge protection
technology.
The name Pekat (perlindungan
elektronik daripada kilat akibat
transient) means protecting your
electronic equipment from
transient (technical term for
lightning surge).
The Pekat Group leads the
market as the biggest lightning
protection specialist and PV
provider with its own innovative
brand of PV surge protection
devices that comply to
international standards.
Its expansion into the fields of
PV renewal energy technology led
to the founding of Pekat Solar Sdn
Bhd in 2010.
The first PV installer to receive
ISO50001:2011 accreditation in
Malaysia, Pekat Solar is certified by
the Sustainable Electricity
Development Authority (Seda) as a
Grid-Connected Photovoltaic
(GCPV) system provider, complying
with power requirements and
guidelines set by national
governing bodies.
Previously operating on
B2B (business-to-business) and
B2G (business-to-government)
business models, Pekat Solar is
now offering B2C (business-toconsumer) services.

produced by the micro inverters.

In the case of a fire and when
the inverter and grid power are cut
off, conventional systems continue
to generate high DC voltage,
endangering the lives of rescuers.
In a similar situation, PV systems
with micro inverters only release a
DC output of 40V.
Installing Darfon AC micro
inverters optimises power
generation from individual solar
panels.
This means that even if one
solar panel is covered by shade
or dirt, it will not drag down the
performance of the entire solar
array.
In conventional systems, the
overall power output depends on
the entire string of panels. If one
panel is faulty or under some
shade, the entire line is weakened,
says Wee.
Another advantage of installing
the AC micro inverter PV system
with Pekat Solar is that it allows
the flexibility in terms of solar
panel arrangement and future
expansion.
The solar panels can be
positioned across complex roof
structures to receive the most
sunlight and system owners do
not need to rewire or deal with
complicated cabling circuits if they
decide to install additional solar
panels in the future.
As the Darfon AC micro inverter
is not exposed to high power and
heat loads compared to central

All PV products and systems are tested at Pekat Solars headquarters.

The company has worked on

prestigious residential projects,
including several phases of Setia
Eco Park, Sunway Property
projects such as Sunway SPK
Harmoni, Sunway Montana,
Sunway Rymba Hill and Sunway
East Wood, as well as The Treez
and The Leafz by Exsim
Development.
Pekat Solar is currently
commissioned to install solar PV
system to 25 blocks of government
buildings in Putrajaya, a project
under the Government Lead by
Example (GLBE) programme.
The company has partnered
with leading international PV
component manufacturers,
including Solar-Log, CSUN, BenQ,
Darfon, Delta and Noark.
Pekat Solar is also the authorised
service partner for Steca Elektronik
GmbH of Germany, a company
with more than 20 years of
experience manufacturing the
finest products in solar inverter
technology.

Latest innovation
PV systems consist of several
components, including solar panels
to absorb and convert sunlight to
electricity and solar inverters that
convert electrical power from
direct current (DC) to alternating

Conventional PV system

current (AC).
Representing the latest trend
in PV technology, people can
now choose to install PV systems
with AC micro inverters instead
of conventional string inverters.
The key difference of the
conventional PV system is that
it connects all solar panels in a
series before transferring all the
generated DC energy into a bulky
centralised inverter.
In the micro PV system, there
are small inverters mounted
underneath each solar panel.
One of the biggest advantages
of the new Darfon AC micro
inverter is that it is much safer
for both solar installers and
system owners as it eliminates
the need for high-voltage DC
wiring, says Wee Chek Aik,
managing director of Pekat Solar
Sdn Bhd and executive director of
the Pekat Group of Companies.
The conventional string system
can generate currents up to
1,000V and this high DC voltage
is potentially fatal if not handled
by qualified PV service providers.
In most cases, it is beyond the
knowledge of homeowners who
operate it, says Wee.
Not many electricians are
familiar with such high DC power
in Malaysia but they would be
familiar with 240V AC outputs

MicroPV Solar System

Grid power on
inverter on

1000 volts (dc)

240 volts (ac)

Conventional PV system

MicroPV Solar System

1000 volts (dc)

40 volts (dc)

Grid power off

inverter off

Diagram of power outputs of conventional and micro PV systems.

inverters, the product is also highly

reliable and easy to maintain.
Wee believes that this plug and
play Darfon AC micro inverter
home solar system that comes
handy with complete mounting
kits can easily be DIY (Do-ItYourself) in the near future, such
as in Australia or European
countries, if the Government
implements net energy metering.
It will be the wave of the future
for several reasons. These AC
micro-inverters have taken some
of the mystery out of solar
installations such as termination
of DC cables and made the
installation nearly idiot-proof.

Quality service
In Malaysia, all PV installations
must be carried out by qualified
engineers who are certified by
Seda.
All our engineers undergo
a stringent Grid-Connected
Photovoltaic Systems Design
Course set by Seda and our
products are sourced from
established companies.
Darfon, for example, has
acquired more than 1,300
patents worldwide and won
eight international design awards
in the past 15 years, says Wee.
Believing in testing its
products, Pekat Solar has
installed the micro inverter PV
system at its headquarters, which
allows the engineers to understand
the products and mitigate any
problems that may arise before
pushing the products into the
market.
We offer a one-stop solution
for customers as we provide a
comprehensive service from free
consultation to on-call after-sales
service and maintenance, says
Wee.
With a strong company history,
partnership and impeccable
service, Pekat Solar will continue
to develop its in-house capabilities,
experience and expertise to lead
this niche industry.

n For more information,

call 03-2300 8010 or visit
www.pekat.com.my

The feed-in-tariff
INTRODUCED in December 2011,
the feed-in-tariff (FiT)
programme requires electricity
distribution licensees such as one
from Tenaga National Berhad to
buy all electricity generated from
renewable energy sources,
including energy from
photovoltaic systems owners, at
attractive rates.
This tariff was designed to
encourage homeowners,
business owners, private
investors and even farmers to
become feed-in approval holders
(FIAHs) in renewable energy and
to reward them by paying for the
electricity they generate.
Not only are FIAHs able to

reduce their electricity bill and

feed energy into the grid, they
are also able to make a profit in
the long run.
The Sustainable Energy
Development Authority (Seda)
is a statutory body that
administers and manages
the implementation of FiT
mechanism under the
Renewable Energy Act 2011.
As the agreement between
TNB and individual FIAHs
extends over a period of 21
years, Seda is responsible for
enforcing payments regarding
this agreement and implement
additional laws related to
sustainable energy.

SUNDAY STAR, 2 AUGUST 2015

SUNDAY STAR, 2 AUGUST 2015

10 going green

DID you know that every little action has

an impact on our planet? Did you also know
that you have the power to control the
damage that you create?
Nowadays, everything is becoming more
environmentally friendly from
transportation to buildings. There are also
green versions of the gadgets that we use
everyday.

l Eco-amp

Eco tools
l OBon Pencil
The OBon pencil is made of tightly wrapped recycled newspaper.
The paper is wrapped 48 times around a piece of graphite before it is
air dried, followed by a heat-drying process.
The drying process hardens the newspaper around the graphite
and prevents air pockets from forming, which in turn prevents the
graphite from snapping. This means that this eco-friendly pencil
can last three times longer than usual wood pencils.
You can now bid farewell to traditional pencils that are
created from the act of chopping down trees and use these
more efficient, green pencils instead.

The Eco-amp is a must-have for Apple users

(iPhone and iPad) who are looking for a
speaker to amplify the volume and clarity of
their audio without any external power.
This gadget is also compatible with non-Apple
devices, providing its external speaker is situated
within two inches of any corner of the device.
Made from 100% Forest Stewardship Councilcertified post-consumer recycled fibres, this
US-made gadget does not leave any environmental
footprint that will cause harm to Mother Nature.
It comes as a flat piece of paper. You can fold it
into a cone-shape and easily disassemble it when
not in use, allowing you to save space.

n This gadget is available at

n This eco-friendly pencil is available at

www.myobon.com

l Waterpebble
The Waterpebble is a unique water-saving device that has
the ability to help you reduce the usage of water when
showering.
All you need to do is place this gadget near the shower
drain and it will monitor the amount of water that flows by.
Three different colour indicators will light up only when
the device detects a flow of water green (start), yellow
(halfway) and red (end) giving you a certain amount of
time in which to use water.
With each use, the Waterpebble will reduce the time in
which you can use water by approximately five to seven
seconds. Eventually, you may need to turn off the tap while
you shampoo to prevent a waste of water flow.
Without you realising it, this gadget puts you in a race
against time to use water wisely by reducing your shower
time and cutting your water bill in the long-run.
The gadgets lifespan is one million blinks and this
palm-sized pebble can be recycled at the end of its life.

n The Waterpebble is available on Amazon or at

www.floridaecoproducts.com

www.eco-made.com

l iZen Bamboo Keyboard

The iZen Bamboo Keyboards major selling point
is that it is made from 92% bamboo, greatly
reducing the use of fossil fuels in making computer
accessories.
The keyboard has a built-in rechargeable
lithium-ion battery and can be charged with a
USB 2.0 cable.
Using Bluetooth v3.0 technology, it is designed to
be compatible with your smartphone, tablet and
also any Bluetooth-enabled device.

n This keyboard is available on Amazon or eBay.

l Squirt Alarm The Bedol Water Clock

The Squirt Alarm is the latest edition to Bedols range of water alarm clocks. The
clock is so named because it is in the shape of a small splash of water.
This device does not run on any batteries, chemicals or electricity. Instead, it runs
on ordinary tap water. The ions present in the water are converted to clean energy to
power this gadget. The amount of water filled in this unique clock can last for eight to
12 weeks.
A built-in memory chip prevents the clock from losing time while you are refilling
the clock with water.

n This gadget is available at www.bedolwhatsnext.com

SUNDAY STAR, 2 AUGUST 2015

going green 11

Possessing an engineering mind

ENGINEERS today are tasked
with the responsibility of
improving living conditions
worldwide as outlined in the
14 Grand Challenges for
Engineering identified by the
National Academy of Engineers
(NAE) in the United States.
By addressing these 14
challenges, which include
making solar energy
economical, providing access to
clean water, reverse
engineering the human brain
and engineering better
medicines, we will make
sustainable progress into the
next century.
To be able to address these
challenges, engineers need to
equip themselves with systemthinking skills, innovative and
entrepreneurial mental habits
as well as disciplinary
engineering knowledge.
Besides addressing the 14
Grand Challenges, training
skilled engineers is also pivotal
in enabling Malaysia to achieve
developed nation status by
2020.
Prof Dr Mushtak Al-Atabi,
Taylors University School of
Engineering dean and author
of the bestseller Think Like an
Engineer, provides insight into
the process of developing
world-class engineers who
are ready to compete globally
and address the 14 Grand
Challenges.
At Taylors University, we
believe in holistic education
and are firm believers of
creating an environment in
which our students can develop
technically, mentally and
emotionally, says Prof
Al-Atabi.
This is achieved by adopting
a curriculum that emphasises
entrepreneurship, innovation,
creativity, critical and
systematic thinking as well as
emotional intelligence.
By adopting the CDIO
conceive, design, implement,
operate educational
framework that centres on
how we feel, think and learn,
we are able to anchor our
pedagogy in the latest brain
research findings and business
practices, say Prof Al-Atabi.
Through hands-on projectbased learning, students are
able to nurture their
collaborative, critical- and
systematic-thinking skills and
are encouraged to push the
limits to achieve their full
potential.
Each student works in a
team on a major project every
semester, starting from the first
semester of study.
In practice, we have
adopted a number of unique
educational innovations to
empower our students and
staff.
To provide our students
with a compelling reason to do
engineering, we have aligned
our research and curriculum to
address the 14 Grand
Challenges for Engineering.
Taylors School of
Engineering is currently

the only school outside the US

that has a Grand Challenges
Scholar Programme approved
by the NAE, says Prof
Al-Atabi.
He continues, Students who
complete this programme will
receive a certificate from the
NAE in addition to their
academic certificates.
We are also one of the few
engineering schools in the
world where entrepreneurship
is taught systematically,
allowing our students to raise
funds for their projects using
crowdfunding techniques.
According to Prof Al-Atabi,
this gives Taylors engineering
students a clear edge when
they join the workforce as they
would have benefited from
exposure to the importance of
economical and financial
aspects of engineering.
Not only does this prepare
graduates to be successful
engineers, it also enables them
to take on career challenges
beyond engineering should
they choose to do so.
Another unique feature
of our programme is that
students attend an experiential
course to build their emotional
intelligence.
In this course, engineering
students cultivate their
selfawareness, selfmanagement, social awareness
and relationship management.
A growing number of
employers are reporting that
emotional intelligence is a
necessary skill for graduates to
have, shares Prof Al-Atabi.
In Think Like an Engineer,
Prof Al-Atabi provides insight
into the educational
philosophy of Taylors School
of Engineering.
President of Yale University
Prof Peter Salovey states that
he is struck by the similarities
between the approach
described in the book and the
outcomes seen in Yale Center
for Engineering Innovation
and Design, where artists and
business students work
alongside engineers.
Taylors School of
Engineering offers four-year
degree programmes in three
disciplines
l Bachelor of Engineering
(Honours) in Chemical
Engineering
l Bachelor of Engineering
(Honours) in Electrical &
Electronic Engineering
l Bachelor of Engineering
(Honours) in Mechanical
Engineering
The School of Engineering
also offers the Taylors
Grand Challenges Scholar
Programme to high achievers.
The programme exposes
them to a series of learning
experiences that enables
future engineers to improve
the quality of life of others.

n For more information,

call 03-5629 5000, e-mail
admissions@taylors.edu.my or
visit www.taylors.edu.my/tgcsp

Taylors
University
School of
Engineering
students have
created a
humanpowered
vehicle as one
of their
projects
during their
studies.

SUNDAY STAR, 2 AUGUST 2015

12 going green

GO green has become the motto

for many organisations.
Organisations are now looking to
incorporate green initiatives in
their existing day-to-day work
routine to enhance efficiency and
productivity while addressing the
need for sustainability and
responsibility of business practices.
Fuji Xerox supports this
initiative, which is why its products
are specially made to reduce costs
while improving business
efficiency and minimising negative
environmental impacts.
Through its eco-friendly
multifunctional devices and green
solutions, Fuji Xerox assumes the
responsibility of minimising
carbon dioxide emissions
throughout its products life cycle.
This is in line with Fuji Xeroxs
greater goal to reduce carbon
dioxide emissions by seven million
tonnes per annum by 2020.

Collective performance
As organisations move towards
becoming technology-driven
businesses, offices are trying to
allocate more devices to enhance
workforce operation.
However, this can create a
cluttered environment that overcomplicates operation and
compromises security by leaking
confidential information.
To initiate and implement green
office solutions in the workplace,
Fuji Xerox has introduced the total
management solution ApeosWare

Smart sustainability
Fuji Xeroxs
ApeosWare
Management
Suite is a
total, ecofriendly
management
solution.

Management Suite (AWMS).

AWMS is an integrated software
suite that eases the central
management of various output
devices while minimising paper
wastage and reducing carbon
footprint.
AWMS offers an all-in-one
solution by consolidating five
management functions on a
comprehensive platform.
The device, user, log, print and
flow management functions can be
utilised independently, but they
work best together to cut down

cost and time while enhancing

workplace productivity.
The software also encourages
employees to be more
environmentally responsible by
actively keeping track and
displaying rankings of carbon
dioxide emissions reduced and the
amount of paper saved.
Adding to the AWMS sustainable
edge are the eco information
accounting and report creation
functions, which track the
companys environmental footprint
and display them in graphs and

ECO (Energy Company Obligation)

reports.

Effective simplicity
Fuji Xeroxs AWMS presents a
method not only to make
companies accountable for their
business impacts on the
environment, but also to integrate
with office solutions so that
productivity is not compromised.
Since it is embedded in the
business process, AWMS improves
simple automated workflow,

including cost recovery and

reporting.
For example, companies can
track jobs in a common shared
multifunction device to issue
separate bills reflecting respective
usage.
The system configuration of
AWMS is flexible and its
extensibility makes it suitable for
long-term use as it expands to
match the growth of businesses.
The integrated document lifecycle management function of
AWMS promotes security and
productivity while reducing the
total cost of operations.
Its user-centric design makes it
easy to pick up and use
administrators can install and
configure the initial setup without
much hassle.
Fuji Xeroxs Multifunction Device
User Interface also improves
operability for the end user.
Fuji Xerox AWMS brings
together the best of office
management solutions on one
standardised platform so
organisations can usher in a new
age of sustainable smart
technology.

n For more information,

visit www.fujixerox.com.my

SUNDAY STAR, 2 AUGUST 2015

going green 13

Ko Chuan Zhen (left) and Poh Tyng Hwey are +SOLARs co-founders.

Impactful
energy
solution
+SOLAR was set up in 2013 to
offer turnkey solar photovoltaics
(PV) solutions. It aimed to be a
leader in the renewable energy
revolution, emphasising
operational, marketing and
technological innovations.
Its market offering includes the
introduction of cutting-edge
energy generation, energy
savings and energy storage
solutions at a premium value and
affordable costs.
+SOLAR has enjoyed its fair
share of success. We have
worked on more than 26MWp of
solar PV systems of various
applications, from the industrial
sector to the commercial and
residential sector, says Ko Chuan
Zhen, one of the co-founders of
+SOLAR.
This is thanks to our young
and passionate team who
shares the common vision of
revolutionising the energy
distribution climate in Malaysia.
Like many start-up
companies, we actively seek new
talents who share our vision and
want to join our team of
passionate and enthused young
professionals, says Poh Tyng
Huei, another co-founder of
+SOLAR.
With the introduction of Feedin-Tariff (FiT) policy and price
drop of solar PV modules, it
makes economic sense to own a
solar PV system.
Under the FiT policy, owners of
a solar PV system are eligible to
sell the energy generated from
the system to their local utility
company at a subsidised tariff.
To most people, this means
that the investment made on the
solar PV system can be an
additional sustainable stream of
revenue for the family.
On top of that, the price of
solar PV modules has dropped by
more than 50% compared to 10
years ago, making it a very
attractive and accessible
investment opportunity for most
people.
I thought these reasons were
enough to convince someone to
get a solar PV system until I met
clients with different points of
view. One of our clients installed

a solar PV system to teach his

children the importance of both
sustainable living and
investment, says Poh.
On the other hand, for
commercial and industrial
owners, the 15% return of
investment allows them to
benefit from this relatively low
risk investment that is less
susceptible to economic
fluctuations.
We are currently devising
several innovative solutions to
cater to a larger market of energy
users, including a platform for
energy conservation, says Poh.
He adds that these new
products can help cut down a
buildings energy consumption
by at least 10%, which will
benefit building owners.
While it is important to expand
market reach, each corporation
has a fundamental social
responsibility to contribute to the
community.
We actively collaborate with
education institutions such as
Multimedia University to drive
participation in seminars for
sustainability-related topics as
one of our corporate social
responsibility initiatives, says
Ko.
+SOLAR is also actively
engaged in corporate social
responsibility programmes that
help set up rooftop solar PV
systems for educational
institutions.
One of the most important
pillars of +SOLAR is to be
involved in community energy
sharing, says Poh.
As a renewable energy
company, it is up to us to raise
awareness on the importance of
sustainable living among our
next generation, he says.
Industrial, commercial or nonprofit institutions that are
interested in leasing the roofs of
their buildings are invited to get
in touch with +SOLAR to see how
they can not only reap financial
rewards, but also contribute to
the environment and the next
generation.

n For more information, visit

www.plus-solar.com.my

SUNDAY STAR, 2 AUGUST 2015

14 going green

Great eco-friendly investment

FOUNDED in 2003, Solarland
Malaysia has evolved to meet
the increasing demand for solar
energy products and power
solutions.
Solarland works with many
well-known domestic photovoltaic
production enterprises and
research institutions to apply new
technology and provide products
for the solar industrial field.
It commits to offering completed
solutions to customers by
combining project financing,
planning, system integrating and
engineering construction in its
services.
Stable and long-term energy
returns from the sun guarantee
that one is making a good
investment.
Solarland has completed
several international projects
in collaboration with its parent
company China Machinery
Engineering Corporation. These
projects, involving commercial
solar power plants and ground
photovoltaic stations, allow project
owners to benefit from the
investment without having to
pump any capital into the project.
The commercial solar power
plants are built on empty rooftops

IN the 1970s, architect Michael

Reynolds sought to create a
sustainable and economically
feasible home that relied solely on
natural energy sources.
It was a time when
environmentalism was beginning
to boom in the wake of 1960s
counterculture. He came up with a
passive solar house that was
designed to be almost entirely selfreliant and off-the-grid.
The houses were built using
natural and recycled materials
such as earth-filled tyres for the
walls, and had a unique water
harvesting and waste management
system.
The set-up was also conducive to
all-year-round crop production.
These environmentally responsible
homes were aptly dubbed
Earthships.

Non-primitive
sustainability
These homes are now designed
and marketed by American
company Earthship Biotecture.
Earthships have gained quite a
following in its place of origin, New
Mexico, and have been built in
numerous other locations around
the world, including African
countries.
Today, Reynolds vision is
embodied in the form of the
common U-shaped earth-filled tyre
homes.
Earthships have been hailed the
homes of the future for their
sustainability measures and
relatively low cost and labour
requirements.
They promote an owner builder
approach, urging prospective
homeowners who are
environmentally conscious to build
their own Earthships using
inexpensive natural materials.
These alternative homes are

A 3MW distributed photovoltaic power station in Wuxi, China, built on factory roofs.

of factories so that the factories

can use the power generated from
these plants.
These projects involve installing
photovoltaic solar panels on
available flat rooftops, which
comply with the principle of
proximity for efficient power
generation, grid connection,

conversion and consumption.

The power plants are connected
to factory substations and the
power generated is consumed
locally. Any excess power is
uploaded into the national grid,
easing the areas strain on
electricity production.
Solarland has completed such

projects in various parts of China.

The ground photovoltaic stations
are usually built on unused land
such as coastal land and other
open areas that are free of shade.
The stations whole system will
connect directly to the national
grid.
The stations are stable, easy to

build and maintain and, most

importantly, maximise local solar
energy utilisation.
Nowadays, this type of
photovoltaic station is built on a
large commercial scale and has
become an important component
of the power generation industry.
These ground photovoltaic
stations have been built by
Solarland in Germany, Italy,
Spain and China.
Photovoltaic stations can also
be installed on the rooftops of
high-rise residential buildings
and multi-storey or single-storey
houses.
The electricity generated can
be entirely uploaded to the
national grid, consumed by the
buildings residents or partially
consumed with the excess
uploaded to the grid.
The typical payback period is
between six and 10 years, while
the remaining years of power
generation (at least 15 years) are
considered profit years.
The photovoltaic station is
almost silent and emits virtually
no pollution.

n For more information,

visit www.solarland.com.my

An Earthship is built with inexpensive natural materials and uses a variety of resource management system.

The sustainable home ship

designed as autonomous structures
without centralised utility sources.
Water is harvested using rain and
snow catchment with potable
water production from a pump
and filtration system.
Treated water is used sparingly
for cleaning, cooking and farming.
Earthships are largely solarpowered while some also utilise
turbines to harvest wind as an
energy source.
These methods create enough
energy to power various modern
day electronic devices, which
means that inhabitants will not be
entirely cut off from technology
despite this seemingly primitive
set-up.
They also utilise the properties of
thermal mass and passive solar
heating and cooling to regulate
temperature indoors.
The load-bearing walls absorb
heat during the day and radiate it
at night. Earthships are commonly
built for optimum solar exposure,

with a solar-oriented wall angled to

allow maximum exposure to the
sun in winter.
In tropical countries such as
Nicaragua, the Earthship has been
modified to block sun out, prevent
overheating and increase
ventilation.
This can be done by adjusting
angles of the glass front, using
large roof overhangs and a lowmass attic, as well as burying long
cooling tubes in the earth.

The complexity of
novelty
Despite being around for more
than 40 years, these buildings are
still considered experimental
housing even in their home base of
the United States.
This means that they do not
adhere to the same laws as urban
housing developments in fact,
Reynolds encountered many
complications in attempting to

convince people that Earthships

were a safe and viable housing
option for the masses.
Lack of funding and appropriate
insurance coverage have also been
identified as major drawbacks in
purchasing and maintaining these
homes.
Earthship owners have reported
various problems with the
structure and design of their
homes, and the lack of suitable
insurance means they are left to
fix these problems themselves.
Sustainability clearly has a
cost of its own.
Relying solely on its design for
temperature control does come
with its own set of issues too,
especially if there is a lack of
proper insulation.
Since the original Earthship was
created for the warm and sunny
weather of New Mexico, the design
needs to be altered to suit weather
demands if built elsewhere.
Research and development

must be carried out to create

designs that work best for the area.
Earthships present an idea that
challenges conventional modern
housing.
It will likely take some time and
wider adaptation by the masses
before it is viable on a global
platform.
After all, these houses were
originally designed in the 1970s
and some updating is required
for them to functionally exist
today.
While they hold potential as a
green living option, the bare
minimum nature of Earthships call
to question our complex modern
needs and how much we are
willing to sacrifice in the name of
sustainability.
Beyond that, however,
Earthships serve as a reminder of
the numerous ways we can play a
part in the green movement by
slightly altering our lifestyles and
expectations.

SUNDAY STAR, 2 AUGUST 2015

THE 6th International Greentech &

Eco Products Exhibition and
Conference Malaysia (IGEM 2015),
themed Powering the Green
Economy, is organised by the
Energy, Green Technology and
Water Ministry (KeTTHA) and
co-organised by Malaysian Green
Technology Corporation.
IGEM serves as a central
platform for leading green
technology companies from across
the globe to exchange innovation,
expertise and knowledge, while
encouraging cross-country
business opportunities.
Participants have an avenue to
network with key influencers who
are shaping the global green
landscape, including international
industry leaders, policy-makers
and government officials, who will
be present at the various
concurrent events.

Diverse opportunities
One of the exciting events to
catch at IGEM 2015 is the Green
Financing Forum, themed Driving
Green Investment: Unleashing
Public and Private Finance for
Growth, which will feature
leading global minds from
influential financial institutions
such as the World Bank, the UK
Green Investment Bank and
Connecticut Green Bank.
Another event not to be
missed is the 3rd E-Mobilia World
Conference, which is the premier
hybrid, electric, energy-efficient
and future mobility conference in

going green 15

Power your green biz

exhibition and conference.
Therefore, I greatly encourage
those who wish to be a part of the
global green economy to come join
IGEM 2015, he adds.

International platform

Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus

Johnity Ongkili, Minister of Energy,
Green Technology and Water
Malaysia.

Minna Saneri, general

manager of the EU-Malaysia
Chamber of Commerce and
Industry.

the Asean region.

Held in conjunction with IGEM
2015 for the first time, this
conference will address key issues
in the areas of sustainable mobility
development, implementation
and adoption. This will be done by
bringing together key international
government agencies, academia,
industries and private
corporations.
Since 2010, IGEM has generated
more than RM6bil in green
business leads and encouraged the

growth of the green technology

sector within Malaysia and further
afield via cross-country promotion
and dialogues crucial to the
progress of this nascent sector,
says Datuk Seri Panglima Dr
Maximus Johnity Ongkili, Energy,
Green Technology and Water
Minister.
We are confident that IGEM
2015 will once again contribute
significantly to Malaysias socioeconomic growth as the regions
foremost green technology

IGEM 2015 brings together

prominent organisations from all
over the world, including the
EU-Malaysia Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (EUMCCI).
The EUMCCI has been a
supporter of IGEM for six
consecutive years through the
European Union (EU) Pavilion.
It is a key platform from which
European companies are able to
showcase their products and
Key events

solutions with exclusive access

to top government officials,
EU ambassadors and major
industry players, says Minna
Saneri, general manager of
EUMCCI.
The EUMCCI recognises IGEM
as a perfect avenue and is proud to
continue our ongoing partnership
with the Malaysian Government.
Through events such as IGEM
and the Asean-EU Business
Summit, we look forward to
promoting, supporting and
strengthening the EU business
community in Malaysia, says
Saneri.

n For more information,

visit www.igem.my

Date

Admission fee

Green Financing Forum

Renewable Energy Seminar
Matrade Business Matching

Sept 9

RM500
Free
Free

MIDA Business Consultation

Sept 9 to 12

Free

One-to-One Bizmatch Programme

Sept 9 to 12

Free

3rd E-Mobilia World

Sept 10 and 11

Early bird rate

(before Aug 7): US$895 (RM3,413)
Regular rate: US$1,095 (RM4,176)

Malaysia Global Business Forum

Sept 11

RM480 to RM3,850

Green enthusiasts and entrepreneurs should not miss out on the chance to
participate in these programmes.

SUNDAY STAR, 2 AUGUST 2015

16 going green

Ultimate comfort,
better sleep
THE key to restful and healthy
sleep lies in a good mattress with
good materials for your skin and
body.
Realising this, one of Malaysias
top premium mattress brands,
Slumberland, has developed a new
range of LivinGreen mattresses.
Slumberland LivinGreen
mattresses are manufactured
under strict quality standards with
natural materials that are
beneficial to the body to ensure
maximum sleeping comfort.

Natural materials,
modern design
The new range of LivinGreen
mattresses is equipped with the
unique, TecNature Hybrid System,
which combines a gentle touch of

nature with its high-performance

spring technology.
The natural latex mattresses are
designed with care to offer the
perfect balance of back support
and unparalleled comfort for
uninterrupted sleep all night long.
The TecNature Hybrid System
contains natural materials such as
100% natural latex, ZoneCare
Natural Memory Foam, pure
lambswool, organic cotton fabric
ventilation case and the new
QuadroFlex Hybrid Spring System
to provide ultimate comfort.
Made with a combination of
modern design and a touch of
elegance, the new LivinGreen
mattresses offer a fresh,
sophisticated and contemporary
look to complement a wide range
of bedroom styles for young and
modern families.
Available in three models Eco
Plush, Eco Flex and Eco Nature
the new LivinGreen mattresses
100% natural latex and organic
cotton fabric balance comfort with
proper spine support.
It allows good air-

circulation to minimise moisture

and heat build-up, allowing the
mattress to stay fresh and dry. It is
also hypoallergenic, thus
preventing allergies and skin
irritation.
Certified by OEKO-TEX Standard
100, the soft organic cotton used is
grown without the use of pesticides
or fertilisers, making it free from
harmless substances.
Selected models feature the
ZoneCare Natural Memory Foam,
a palm oil-based memory foam
that is natural with high resilience
and high density.
It is designed to relieve pressure
points on the spine, joints and
nerves, conform to your body
contours and provide optimum
support.
To provide a fresh and hygienic
sleeping environment, the
mattress exceptional ventilation
case maintains sturdiness across
the entire mattress while holding
its structure, allowing you to enjoy
the same level of support and
comfort regardless of the part of
mattress you lie on.
The mattress has unique
breathable pinholes and an opencell structure that allow the foam
to breathe, creating the right level
of pressure reduction and body
contouring.

Support and comfort

LivinGreen mattresses
provide maximum
sleeping comfort.

Through its breakthrough

technology and relentless drive for
quality, Slumberland is proud to
introduce its newly invented
QuadroFlex Hybrid Spring System,

Organic
cotton
fabric.

100%
natural
latex.

the first spring system in the

market to give ultimate comfort to
your sleeping experience.
Consisting of four-ply pocketedspring rows alternated with
Comfort Plush Pocketed Spring
rows, QuadroFlex Hybrid Spring
Systems unique fusion is designed
to provide the proper support
required for each body zone,
including extra firmness for your
back.
Both Eco Plush and Eco Flex
Mattresses feature the QuadroFlex
Hybrid Spring System.

High standards
Speaking at the launch of
LivinGreen, Hilding Anders
Malaysia Sdn Bhd managing
director Michael Teoh, said,
The new range of LivinGreen
mattresses is a result of our
commitment to developing
products that offer thorough
protection and enable our
consumers to enjoy comfortable
and healthier sleep in a natural
sleeping environment.
This new range, specially
designed for those who are seeking
mattresses that provide visible
benefits to their health and wellbeing, offers comfort from nature
as it is made from natural
materials.
When advanced technologies
meet nature, the result is a new
range of mattresses designed to

help create a natural sleep

environment that is free of
interference and provides better
comfort for a fresh start to the next
day.
At Slumberland, we are
committed to constantly bring
innovative products to our
consumers by exploring the use of
new materials and technologies.
We seek to address the needs of
the younger generation by
combining modern designs with
high standards, setting our
mattresses apart from other
brands, said Teoh.
Slumberland LivinGreen
mattresses are priced from
RM2,330 to RM8,000 and have been
made available at authorised
dealers nationwide since June.
All its mattresses come with
a 15-year warranty against
manufacturing defects.
To complement the new
LivinGreen mattresses,
Slumberland has extended its
expertise by producing three
new bedframe models with
contemporary designs so that the
mattresses can be a perfect fit for
any home or room.
Crafted with attention to detail,
the new bedframe models come
with three different headboard
designs with selected features, such
as a pull-out divan drawer or
Slumberlands unique posture
spring divan, for a longer mattress
lifespan and better comfort.

n For more information,

call 03-8926 8888 or visit
www.slumberland.com.my