PETALING JAYA: For Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), it is not all about the money when it comes to running the city.

In fact, since 2011, the council has given a portion of its revenue back to city folk in the form of assessment rate rebates to encourage residents to embark on green initiatives at home.

Offering up to 100 per cent rebate annually, the scheme, into its third year now, encourages residents to do their part for the environment by fulfilling eco-friendly measures on electricity, water, bio-diversity, transportation, waste as well as other green initiatives in their homes.

Residents who apply for the rebate will receive a panel of independent judges into their homes. The judges, made up of representatives from the Centre for Environment, Technology and Development Malaysia and Global Environment Centre will assess how the residents implement the green measures and grade them accordingly.

The points given by the judges determine the percentage of the rebate the resident will receive on the yearly assessment rate.

The first year saw 49 successful applicants receive rebates worth RM18,000. Last year, RM21,000 was returned to 71 applicants.

For the scheme, the council was announced the silver winner in the Green Apple Award 2013 in the Built Environment and Architectural Heritage category.

The carbon neutral presentation ceremony, which took place in June in Swindon, England, saw deputy mayor Puasa Md Taib and One-Stop Centre unit head Lee Lih Shyan receiving the award from Doreen Lawrence, a British campaigner and writer, at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre.

The awards come under the auspices of The Green Organisation, an independent and non-profit environment group dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practices around the world.

Puasa said winning the award marked a milestone for the council and added another feather to its cap.

"It would be good if other local councils embarked on this scheme as it helps residents to be environmentally friendly and at the same time, reduce carbon emission.

"The other local councils in the country are welcome to study the mechanisms of our scheme and should they feel the scheme suitable, they can adopt it, too," he said.

The council had also made its mark by being the first local authority in Asia to implement the scheme and the second in the world after a local council in Germany.

Lee said the council received more than 100 applications for the scheme, which closed last month.

The council has set aside RM110,000 in rebates for the successful applicants.

"Applicants must meet the guidelines to apply for the rebate.

"The aspects are classified into two major elements which are green technology, such as green equipment like solar panel water heaters for their homes, and make behavioural changes such as 3R activities.

"The judges will also look at the green system used in a household, how efficient it is and other criteria such as minimal water usage of 202 litre per person a day and minimal usage electricity usage of 112 kilowatts or less in a month," said Lee.

The judges of The Green Organisation felt that the scheme undertaken by the council was an innovative way to reduce carbon emission and one that involves the collaboration and the collective effort of the council as well as city folk, said Lee.

Lee said under the provision of the Local Government Act, a local authority can only provide assessment rate rebates when a house is not occupied.

"However, we are acting beyond the Act. For the council, 60 per cent of our revenue is derived from assessment rates.

"Some quarters think the council is losing revenue by giving the rebates but on a positive side, we are improving the environment," he said.  

A judge (second from right) checking on the solar panel installed by an applicant.

Read more: MBPJ receives award for green rebate scheme - Central - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/mbpj-receives-award-for-green-rebate-scheme-1.336604#ixzz2bvwgA1BF