Temple taps solar energy

KUALA LUMPUR: The Rawang Sikh temple is the first Sikh temple in Malaysia to harvest solar energy for a cleaner and more sustainable environment.
The gurdwara, which has been around since the 1920s has installed some 43 panels on its roof to harness the sun's rays.
The environmental project, which cost about RM90,000, was funded entirely by Sikhs through donations.
According to its treasurer Jimmy Sidhu, the idea was the brainchild of Nirinder Singh Johl, who is the vice-president of the temple's building committee and a former staff of Tenaga Nasional.
"Nirinder thought that it would be a good idea to switch to solar power to slash electricity costs," he told theSun.
They then enlisted the help of the Sustainable Energy Development Authority of Malaysia (Seda), which is a statutory body formed under the Sustainable Energy Development Authority Act 2011.
"Seda assists schools, welfare homes and places of worship which want to install solar panels," he said.
Seda has made it possible for such places to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems under the "community" sector. Under Seda's Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) scheme, whatever renewable electricity that is generated can be sold to Tenaga Nasional Berhad at a fixed rate for a period of 21 years.
"We have reduced our electricity costs and have offset the operating cost of running the gurdwara, through premiums received from electricity sold to the national grid, we expect to make about RM1,400 to RM1,600 a month," said Jimmy.
Jimmy has also offered his services to help educational institutions, places of worship and care centres to switch to solar energy.
"I offer my assistance to ensure that they go through the right processes," he said, adding that he can be contacted at 012-391 0040.