PETALING JAYA: When it comes to exploring ways to generate renewable energy, a British couple will go to any lengths to achieve it.

After building an energy-saving and heat-resistant home in Ayer Keroh, Malacca, five years ago, Harry Boswell, 74, and Stephanie Bacon, 68, both participants of the Malaysia My Second Home programme, went on to improve the energy efficiency level even further.

From using only 19% of the electricity that an average Malaysian household utilises, the couple’s home, called Cooltek, now uses a mere 6%.

The extra saving is made possible through the use of photovoltaic panels that are mounted on the roof to collect solar energy which is then converted into electricity.

The couple has, since then, managed to slash their electricity bill from RM250 to about RM60 a month. This is despite their house having several air conditioning units which are on 24-hours-a-day.

Prize-winning residence: Chen Wei Nee (left) from Pusat Tenaga Malaysia who received the Asean Renewable Energy Project Management runner-up trophy on behalf of Boswell and Bacon, handing over the trophy to them in Malacca recently. — Picture courtesy of Boswell and Bacon

Last month, Cooltek was declared the runner-up in the Asean Renewable Energy Project Management competition, part of the Asean Energy Award 2009.

The home is the first private residence to be recognised in the competition.

“We look forward to encouraging Malaysians to understand energy efficiency and energy conservation, and to enable them to have more comfortable and happy buildings in which to live, work, study and play,” said Boswell.

Both Boswell and Bacon received RM70,000 in funding from Malaysian BIPV Suria 1000 and forked out another RM55,000 for the roof panels.

“That is a decision of a foolish person as it will take 30 years to recoup the RM55,000,” said Boswell. “And, our life expectancy is much lesser than that,” he added in jest.

Apart from the panels, Cooltek is designed with, among other energy-saving measures, a white steel roof lined with high-quality aluminium foil to reflect heat. The double-glazed windows face only north or southward to prevent sunlight from entering the house, the walls of which are insulated with thick lightweight blocks.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/8/10/nation/4488579&sec=nation

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