The Directorate General of New, Renewable Energy, and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), in collaboration with the British Embassy in Indonesia and the UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transition (UK-PACT) MENTARI Energy Efficiency program, recently held their final Technical Guidance (Bimtek) session. The theme of this session was "Implementation of Government Building Energy Management in the Province of Kalimantan."

In collaboration with the Institute for Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Management (IREEM) as a key implementing partner of the UKPACT program, this technical guidance activity is organized to support greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction through energy efficiency in the building sector. It aims to enhance the capacity of government building managers to implement energy management practices within their respective institutions.

The event was convened at the Grand Jatra Hotel in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, and was attended by 70 participants, of whom 30% were women. Participants, who were representatives from local government offices across Kalimantan, learned about energy management systems and strategies to enhance energy efficiency in buildings, following the guidelines of ISO 50005:2021. In addition, the participants of the technical guidance from each agency also reported their energy use and energy management through the POME application managed by the Directorate of Energy Conservation. As stated in PP No. 33 of 2023 concerning Energy Conservation, the industrial, building, transportation, and government agency sectors have an obligation to implement energy management.

The host of the technical guidance activity, the Head of the EBTKE Division of the ESDM Service of East Kalimantan Province, Mrs. Elly Luchritia representing the Acting Head of the ESDM Service of East Kalimantan Province, said that the East Kalimantan Provincial Government has stipulated Regional Regulation No. 8 of 2019 concerning the General Energy Plan of the East Kalimantan Province as a reference for the development of new and renewable energy in East Kalimantan towards net zero emissions by 2060. "As explained in the Regulation of the Governor of East Kalimantan Number 5 of 2023 concerning the Improvement of New and Renewable Energy Programs, the East Kalimantan Provincial Government always supports government efforts through the Renewable Energy Independent Action (AMET) to encourage companies that have renewable energy potential to utilize it optimally for internal needs and to export the excess," said Mrs. Elly.

During the same event, Mr. Yoel Priatama, Program Manager from the British Embassy in Jakarta, stated, "The Indonesian government's commitment, through the UK-PACT Program, to play a strategic role in the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions underscores both the British Government's support and the Indonesian Government's seriousness in significantly cutting these emissions."

Mr. Arief Yunan, Director of the Institute for Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Management (IREEM), remarked on the anticipated growth in global building energy use over the next decade. "According to a 2021 study published in the Journal of Building Engineering, the expansion of building areas in Indonesia is expected to parallel the increase in energy consumption, which could rise by up to 100% over the next 20 years. Electrical energy is currently the primary source of energy consumed by buildings and will likely continue to increase annually. To address this, it is crucial to develop strategies that enhance building energy efficiency," said Mr. Arief. He further noted, "Both existing and new buildings can implement energy management systems that support the enhancement of energy efficiency in government buildings. By employing various energy management methodologies, buildings can achieve optimal performance and energy use while ensuring occupant comfort and health."

In his address, Mr. Hendro Gunawan, Coordinator of Technical Guidance and Energy Conservation Cooperation, representing the Director of Energy Conservation, emphasized, "The building sector is one of the largest consumers of national energy, accounting for up to 22% of total energy use. This significant consumption underscores the need for improved energy efficiency measures." Mr. Hendro Gunawan expressed hope that the Technical Guidance activity would serve as a strategic step for regional government agencies to effectively implement energy efficiency improvements in their managed buildings.

During the training session, participants engaged in practical exercises to calculate Energy Consumption Intensity (IKE), a metric used to assess energy efficiency within a system or building. The IKE value indicates the amount of energy consumed relative to a unit, such as the building area. Additionally, participants practiced calculating the Outdoor Temperature Transmittance Value (OTTV) using a specialized calculator. OTTV is a critical parameter in building design and planning, measuring the effectiveness of a building in controlling external heat. This value is instrumental in evaluating the building's thermal performance, which influences both occupant comfort and overall energy efficiency.