Save energy, save money | The Star

AS THE national electricity provider, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) has been powering the nation for over 70 years with electricity produced from its gas, coal and renewable energy power plants.

Yet, the utility provider is constantly encouraging consumers to be more energy efficient. This seems contradictory.

So why is TNB telling its users not to waste electricity, the very thing that generates income for the business?

According to TNB, it is because energy efficiency is beneficial to the energy sector’s long-term health and will be pocket-friendly for consumers.

TNB believes it is more cost effective to encourage consumers to use less energy – be it at home or business – than it is to fix, update old generators or build new power plants.

When more energy is used, TNB would need to build new power plants to cater to the increase in usage. This is even costlier for TNB and would affect users as well.

The inefficient usage of electricity would impact the entire value chain of power generation, including the electricity tariff.

SK Yaacob Latiff students engaging in fun and informational activities organised throughout the workshop.

Thus, TNB has embarked on a mission to educate consumers on the importance of being energy efficient – which lowers greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other pollutants as well as keep utility bills from soaring.

The national electricity utility has rolled out an educational programme in primary and secondary schools to create a relaxed and interesting learning atmosphere for school-goers to better understand their role in maintaining nature around for a more sustainable future.

TNB in partnership with Star Media Group (SMG) initiated a campaign promoting awareness on energy safety – offering helpful energy efficiency tips, while nurturing future climate change activists with leadership qualities and self-confidence.

The school activation programme with the theme “Powering The Future” exposes school-goers to a deeper understanding of the energy sector, the current energy generation process as well as the need to transition towards renewable energy sources through an engaging series of carefully curated and customised workshops by M.A.D Facilitators and SMG.

Taking place from August to September, the engagement series – which includes fun simulation activities and games – is being conducted at 10 selected urban and sub-urban schools in the Klang Valley.

The primary school event launch took place at SK Yaacob Latiff in Kuala Lumpur with TNB and SMG representatives.

The main objective of the workshop is to foster and increase the awareness of the students from a young age towards renewable energy to drive sustainable change, through sharing information about energy efficiency and safety, and TNB’s commitment to environmental sustainability and the energy transition agenda.

TNB advocates that raising awareness and nurturing good behaviour towards energy efficiency should begin at a young age.

From the engagements TNB has conducted for over 20 years, it is observed that children absorb knowledge better and are keen to practise them.

It is found that the children would share such knowledge with their parents, some of whom were not aware of the best practices, and encourage them to adopt these good energy efficient practices.

In addition to broadening children’s knowledge on optimum energy consumption, TNB’s workshops aim to inspire younger generations and communities to strive for a more sustainable future, fostering a deeper appreciation to adopt a more energy efficient lifestyle.

The goal is to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and similar compounds into the atmosphere in hopes of staving off global warming, and ultimately save the planet for the children’s future.

The Powering The Future programme is part of the Malaysia Energy Literacy Programme (MELP), which was launched by Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC) Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad in March 2023.