The use of energy efficient appliances is essential to save money, energy and environment. It can benefit the community particularly the homeowners, in terms of electrical energy savings, reducing the electricity cost and improving living standard.
Greener consumption of energy can lead to the reduction of Glasshouse Gaseous (GHG) emissions which have caused the increase of earth’s temperature. GHG, also known as carbon footprints, are caused by human activities. Thus, every single human is responsible towards climate change and the impact on the environment.
Hence, to reduce the carbon footprints more effectively, energy efficiency is one of the solutions. For example, the use of energy efficient appliances at home. This is because energy saving appliances use less electricity than normal appliances.
As one of the initiatives to promote energy efficiency, the Government has introduced Sustainability Achieved via Energy Efficiency (SAVE) Program spearheaded by the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia to drive energy efficiency. This programme is aimed to raise awareness to the society and encourage them to buy energy efficient appliances that could help in saving electric consumption, especially for domestic consumers. The Energy Commissions had classified energy-saving appliances with four (4) or five (5) stars label.
The SAVE program is a government initiative within the framework of the Entry Point Project (EPP) 9 strategy under the Key Economic Outcomes (NKEA) which focuses on increasing energy efficiency impact in Malaysia. It was launched on 7 July 2011 and coordinated by the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia as the implementing agency. This programme offers:
Rebate for domestic household for every purchase of refrigerator and air conditioner with the energy efficient label 5 stars from the Energy Commissions (ST); and
Rebate for building owners who have implemented the conversion of existing inefficient chillers to energy efficient (limited to electric chillers only).
Launched in January 2022, the latest SAVE programme which is SAVE 3.0 received an overwhelming response and is a continuation from SAVE 2.0 that was launched in January 2021.
SAVE 3.0 programme offers two different categories for electrical appliances labelled 4 or 5 stars from the Energy Commission. SAVE 3.0 has also been updated with the addition of electrical equipment categories labelled 4 or 5 stars.
Category 1: Air conditioners and refrigerators; and
Category 2: Television, washing machine, microwave oven, and rice cooker.
The success of the SAVE 3.0 programme is a result of joint effort between the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC), the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia and related agencies in promoting this program to all Malaysians through various media platforms.
The effort to implement SAVE 3.0 by SEDA Malaysia are not only a great contribution to the environment, but also aligned with the Government’s direction towards achieving the goal of carbon neutral country by 2050.
According to SEDA Malaysia Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Hamzah Hussin the SAVE 3.0 programme recorded over RM 35 million in e-rebates along with the purchase of 180,000 units of electrical appliances that is listed under the category of energy efficient equipment. This encouraging response proves the public’s awareness of the benefits and advantages of using energy saving appliances.
This SAVE 3.0 programme shows a significant difference in terms of the amount of redemption and purchase of electrical appliances during the SAVE 2.0 program, which recorded RM26 million for 130,000 units of selected electrical appliances, according to the Chief Executive Officer of SEDA Malaysia.
Easy access to e-rebate redemptions and a large selection of energy-efficient products are two elements that help explain this success. Each household has the option of using e-rebates in one of two ways: either online through specific e-commerce sites like Shopee, Lazada, PG Mall, and YouBeli, or in person at one of more than 1,400 electrical appliance stores across Malaysia that are registered with SEDA Malaysia.
The SAVE 3.0 program has been successful in increasing the overall availability of 4 and 5 star energy efficient electrical appliances. It also helped to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by an estimated 76,000 tons.
After all, efforts to spread awareness of the significance of preserving and protecting the environment are crucial to ensuring changes in community living practices in order to achieve a greener and cleaner future for future generations!
For more information about the program SAVE, you can visit http://www.saveenergy.gov.my/.
