Putrajaya has ordered all government offices to set their air-conditioning temperature no lower than 24 degrees Celcius.
Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui said a new Act would be tabled in Parliament to enable the private sector to follow suit.
He said for now the prime minister has agreed that all government buildings set their temperatures at no lower than 24 degrees unless under certain circumstances such as the hospitals.
The measure will be implemented as soon as the Chief Secretary issues a circular to the government offices, Chin told a press conference after a Green Technology and Climate Change Council meeting chaired byPrime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
He said that in every office, at least 40% of energy consumed goes to air-conditioning.
For every degree dropped in air-conditioning temperature, he said, the government can slash its energy bill by between four and seven per cent.
“And 24 degrees is a comfortable temperature - it’s neither too cold nor too hot. In some countries, like in China, they are required to set their temperatures at 26 degrees, that is too hot,” he said.
