Thursday, November 13, 2008

ON HOUSING INDUSTRY, ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT

FROM HANGING TOILETS TO HANGED-WASHING, CLOTHING AND UNDERGARMENTS
by
Dato’ Ir Dr A. Bakar Jaafar


The absence of any more mention of the oldest public health facility such as “hanging toilets” in the most recent Five-Year Malaysia proves that Malaysia has made further progress in the provision of modern sewerage services. By 2005, over 8 million people had direct access to such a facility, and thus, there would be no need to establish a “Royal Sewage Commission”; such a Commission was indeed established by the Queen Victoria in order to inquire into the deaths of thousand Londoners in the 18th Century due to unsafe well-water supply contaminated by untreated sewage.

As the country develops fast into the 21st Century, it can not help but face with widespread scene of private washing of clothing and undergarments being hanged in low and high rise apartments and in many housing areas, even in Putrajaya, that are so conspicuous in the eyes of the general public and passers-by. This observation is, nonetheless, not new. The former Prime Minister of Malaysia, YABhg Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad, must have jotted it down in his pocket-size note book and shared his concern “humpteen” times over the hanging of moist “used textiles” with fellow Members of his Cabinet and with housing developers as well as with planners, architects, quantity surveyors, valuers, engineers and other professionals.

It is no doubt that any washing, dried under the direct Sun, is not only crisp but also fresh and free from any bugs. The ultraviolet radiation of the direct Sun rays would not only remove any moisture but also reduce the water content well below the critical “water activity” at which level no bug would survive. The use of washer-drier would not only cost additional capital expenditure but also increase household electricity bill.

The challenge before one and all concerned over this issue is quadro-fold:
Firstly, there must be in place local government policy and regulations that continuing display of washings visible from a distance to the public would be uncalled for. Secondly, all involved in the housing industry from developers, planners, architects, engineers, valuers, contractors and to real estate agents, must organize themselves to adapt or to introduce housing design and construction that address the issue. Thirdly, some sort of financial incentives be given to those pioneers introducing any measures that are public-sensitive and that save electricity from the burning of fossil fuels. And fourthly, any technology that is publicly-sensitive, innovative, and utilizes solar energy should be promoted.

This is just another small step that makes up a big leap forward toward the sustainable future of humankind!



Friday, February 29, 2008

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