Energy conservation model for Malaysian Higher Learning Institution

Abstract

Energy awareness is the first step to achieve energy sustainability. Without energy awareness, effort to promote energy conservation can be difficult and lead to energy wastage. Public and private universities in Malaysia are confronting with issues of energy wastage due to the lack of awareness among the students and no specific model is available to guide facilities and energy managers to improve the situation. This research was intended to develop a Conceptual Model of Energy Awareness Development Process (CMEADP) as a guide for facilities and energy managers to raise energy awareness and improve energy-use behaviour among students in the universities. In this context, the objectives of this research were to identify elements of energy awareness development process, to develop the CMEADP, to verify the CMEADP, to validate the CMEADP and to establish the effectiveness of the CMEADP in raising energy awareness and improving energy-use behaviour. The scope of this research covers energy experts, departments responsible for energy management in universities and students of Malaysian universities. By adapting the Soft System Methodology (SSM) as a foundation, this research was conducted in six different stages, namely: literature review, elements identification, conceptual model development, verification, validation and experimental study. Eventually, the research produced a CMEADP that consisted of two segments: receiver dominated segment that represents the energy awareness achievement process and transferor dominated segment that represents the energy awareness development process. Each segment comprised a flow of core processes. Then, the core processes of transferor dominated segment were further divided into common practices and activities. The developed model was verified, validated and confirmed by conducting expert interview, feasibility study and control experimental test. Although the CMEADP is designed for Malaysian universities, it could be used in other public and private institution with modification and refinement.