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Kota Kinabalu: The Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry is at the final stage of formulating the National Energy Efficiency Master Plan, which will become the catalyst for efficient energy consumption in the country. Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin, who announced this, said once implemented it is expected to produce a huge impact.

He said several energy efficiency initiatives have been identified and outlined under this master plan which will be covering the industrial, building/commercial and domestic sectors.

The master plan has also been evaluated by energy efficiency experts from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) who have given positive views on it, he said, confident that with this master plan the use of energy in the country will be more efficient.

This is besides assisting in the more efficient and sustainable utilisation and management of energy resources like what is practised in developed countries such as Japan, South Korea and so on, he said.

Speaking when officiating at the opening of the State-level Forum on Energy Efficiency here, Chin also pointed out that it is important for people to use energy efficient electrical equipment which, though maybe expensive, they would save a lot of energy and money in the long run compared to the ordinary equipment.

"Many of us are still not aware about this," he said.

He cited the use of the ordinary bulb, which normally contributes to 10 per cent or less of the total electric bill, saying this cost can be reduced by using the energy efficient bulb.

By using the energy efficient bulb, like the compact fluorescent light (CFL), fluorescent tube T5, light emitting diode (LED) and so on, he said consumers can assist in saving RM336mil annually in the country's electricity consumption.

Chin said the Ministry is also in the process of reviewing the Electricity Supply Rules 1994 to enforce the use of energy efficient electricity equipment in the country.

He said among the aspects planned to be implemented first is to stop the use of incandescent lamp (lampu pijar) in the country which will be carried out in stages until December 2013.

Apart from Malaysia, he said, this is also being implemented in several other countries and its implementation can prevent this country from becoming a destination for all the incandescent lamps.

He said the use of the energy efficient lamp, as a replacement for the incandescent lamp, will help the country reduce energy consumption up to 1,074gigawatt per hour per year, which is equivalent to one per cent of the country's total energy supply.

This is apart from helping to reduce greenhouse emission by up to 732,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, he said.