Green Action Week 2024 – Sharing Energy Saving Tips: Cooling Naturally

In conjunction with Green Action Week 2024 (GAW 2024), the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) is glad to present this year’s theme: “Sharing Energy Saving Tips: Cooling Naturally.” This initiative aims to raise awareness about the critical need for energy conservation and introduce practical solutions that benefit both the environment and our communities.

Green Action Week is a global joint action campaign to promote sustainable consumption in communities, countries and regions. It takes place between September and November each year. Participants in the campaign showcase creative ways of bringing about change by enabling the sharing of and access to resources.

As part of GAW 2024, CAP is hosting a month-long seed-sharing event until 5 October 2024. We invite and encourage the public to drop off plant seeds, saplings and stem cuttings at CAP office to be shared with others.

Additionally, CAP will host an energy-saving programme on 5 October 2024, where participants can discover practical tips for cooling naturally. The programme will showcase the benefits of using cooling plants and introduce refreshing, healthy, and cooling drinks made from natural ingredients. There will be a demonstration on DIY herbal shampoo, and sarsaparilla jelly and we will display different types of cooling plants, flowers, grains, herbs and spices.

By promoting the use of cooling plants, we aim to demonstrate how natural cooling methods can help regulate indoor temperatures to reduce reliance on energy-intensive appliances. Trees and indoor plants are natural air conditioners as the evaporation process of plants cools the air, thus reducing ambient temperatures. The leafy canopy of trees acts as a natural umbrella, providing shade. The leaves and branches of an urban tree typically block 10-30% of incoming solar radiation from reaching the ground beneath their canopy.

With energy consumption on the rise, particularly for cooling purposes, there has never been a more urgent need to reduce our reliance on energy-intensive appliances. Reducing energy use is crucial in the fight against climate change. By adopting eco-friendly cooling techniques, individuals can make a significant positive impact on the environment while creating healthier and sustainable living conditions.

We encourage the public to register to attend the GAW 2024 event on 5th October at the CAP office to learn simple actions anyone can take to conserve energy.

Mohideen Abdul Kader
President
Consumers’ Association of Penang

Press Statement, 27 September 2024