As we approach Earth Hour tomorrow, let us ponder the fragile environment we helped create in terms of carbon footprints and its anthropogenic (man made) consequences to the human health.

Studies show that a gallon of gasoline burned adds 8.6kg of carbon dioxide to the air. A car runs for 160,000km with an average fuel consumption 0f 11.7km emits 35mt of carbon dioxide. A vehicle also emits carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and organic chemicals called hydrocarbons.

In the presence of sunlight, hydrocarbon reacts with nitrogen oxide to produce ozone. Carbon monoxide competes for oxygen in the blood, nitrogen oxides form nitric acid in the presence of water, some organic molecules carcinogenic and ozone is an irritant to the lungs.

Coal is a source of energy particularly damaging to the environment. Burning coal can release air pollutants including sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide including voluminous combustion of by products such as ash, slag and calcium sulfite.

Increased use of coal will have significant environmental impacts for several reasons. This includes aesthetic degradation, noise, dust and most significant from health standpoint – release of harmful of toxic trace elements into water, soil, and air.

Global warming calls for reduction in carbon footprint by use of alternative renewable energy since benefits far exceed costs. There should be greater focus on micro-generation to reduce transmission distances and put a carbon tax in place to pay for the real impact of fossil fuels.

Coal may have its cost advantage but it poses far greater risk to public health and inevitably TNB should focus its expertise on alternative fuel capacity building, if not at least sources of new fuel to energise the country’s needs.

Finding secure, safe and reliable sources of energy to power economic growth will be one of the great challenges of this century. The future of energy is about new forms of power and the incentive for out of the box thinking on energy.

The government must consider the options of localised small-time independent power producers harnessing solar or high-altitude wind, bio-energy to produce energy at an unsubsidised real cost significantly below that of the least expensive coal-fired power plants, the current benchmark of the lowest cost source of power.

The setting up of Malaysian Alternative and Renewable Industry committee (Mari) in recognition of the strategic importance of the renewable energy sector to Malaysia’s future economic growth is a step forward.

Future energy has to be renewable sources and greater efforts must be undertaken to encourage the consumption of renewable resources, such as solar, wind, bio-fuel and hydro for electricity generation.

This new industry can produce alternative energy-related products and service. While many industries are reeling down from the recessionary effects in the US, green jobs are charting a 20% growth, commanding the 10 th largest industry hiring!

Let’s conduct an energy audit of our usage as we commit to Earth Hour.