Bangkok’s luxury malls use more energy than some provinces

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Bangkok’s luxury malls use more energy than some provinces (INFOGRAPHIC)

By Coconuts Bangkok 

 

Photo: Mark Fischer

 

BANGKOK: -- Thailand may be a middle-income country, but enter one of the capital’s many new, opulent shopping complexes and you’ll think you’ve been transported to New York or Singapore. EmQuartier, Bangkok’s latest retail destination for the well-heeled houses such brands as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Tiffany and Cartier. It’s just one of a half-dozen competing luxury malls along a six-kilometer retail corridor in the city’s downtown.

 

Meanwhile, fishermen in Laos, Thailand’s neighbor, have no idea the electricity consumed by such development is in part what’s uprooting them from their homes and harming their livelihoods. These shopping complexes require an abundance of power, even  more than what is consumed by populations of entire Thai provinces.

 

For example, as the infographic below illustrates, high-end Siam Paragon consumes roughly 123 GWh of electricity a year (in 2011), compared to the quarter-million inhabitants in the mountainous Mae Hong Son Province, who over the same period used 65 GWh.

 

Story and infographic: The Mekong Eye

 

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/09/06/bangkoks-luxury-malls-use-more-energy-some-provinces-infographic

 

-- © Copyright Coconuts Bangkok 2016-09-06

[KhunBENQ]

The headline as such is not new.

Seen this comparison long before.

Interesting that they make themselves so dependent on Laos.

[huahinjoe]

I remember they always ask the public not use their aircons in peak times during summer, maybe they should "ask" the luxury malls too 

By the way I noticed sometimes the wind is so huge between tall buildings in bangkok, they should consider to put some windmills on them, definitely would generate back some free power.

Also Thailand such a sunny country, these mall roofs should be covered by sunflower like solar panels to get the most out of the sun's energy back to support their own systems for free.
 

 

[apalink_thailand]

45 minutes ago, huahinjoe said:

I remember they always ask the public not use their aircons in peak times during summer, maybe they should "ask" the luxury malls too 

By the way I noticed sometimes the wind is so huge between tall buildings in bangkok, they should consider to put some windmills on them, definitely would generate back some free power.

Also Thailand such a sunny country, these mall roofs should be covered by sunflower like solar panels to get the most out of the sun's energy back to support their own systems for free.
 

 

AS long as the tenants are paying the rents, why should they care? Now  good argument for the solar panels and wind would be that the malls could continue to charge the same rents and reduce costs in electricity, thereby improving the bottom line (after amortisation of equipment).

[ExpatOilWorker]

The shopping centers also generate more revenue than some provinces.

 

This is old new and was already discussed last year.

[ExpatOilWorker]

2 hours ago, huahinjoe said:

I remember they always ask the public not use their aircons in peak times during summer, maybe they should "ask" the luxury malls too 

By the way I noticed sometimes the wind is so huge between tall buildings in bangkok, they should consider to put some windmills on them, definitely would generate back some free power.

Also Thailand such a sunny country, these mall roofs should be covered by sunflower like solar panels to get the most out of the sun's energy back to support their own systems for free.
 

 

 

Have you any idea how nosy windmills are?

Edited September 6, 2016 by metisdead
Please do not modify someone else's post in your quoted reply, either with font or color changes or wording.

[Thian]

Just put the aircons on 28 and tell the girls to wear short skirts instead of long pants....problem solved.

[LatPhrao]

Very pleased to see this subject and point made EVEN IF IT WAS DISCUSSED LAST YEAR, which is a stupid excuse for not hammering it often.

These disgusting high alters to commercialism, blowing AC out every door, and  hand in hand with the displacing of working Thai people trying to make a living on the streets.  Would be delighted to see them shuttered and power turned off.

[ExpatOilWorker]

5 minutes ago, LatPhrao said:

Very pleased to see this subject and point made EVEN IF IT WAS DISCUSSED LAST YEAR, which is a stupid excuse for not hammering it often.

These disgusting high alters to commercialism, blowing AC out every door, and  hand in hand with the displacing of working Thai people trying to make a living on the streets.  Would be delighted to see them shuttered and power turned off.

 

You are welcome to move to North Korea, if it bothers you so much that we enjoy our morning coffee in these nice airconned temples commercialism.

You need help with booking the ticket? 

[halloween]

I remember reading once that NY requires the output of one of it's larger power stations to run the vending machines in the city. A single soda dispensing unit will use between 2.5 and 5.7 MWh/ year.

http://grist.org/living/how-much-energy-does-a-soda-machine-waste/

If it is in an aircon building, you can double that as the heat produced then has to be removed by the building system.

[Mook23]

as far as i know most electricity in bkk is generated from burmese gas? nevertheless, luxury  consumerism is obscene especially in this part of the world where the havenots earn the equivalent of a draught hoegaarden for a hard day of labour... the waste of energy eventually will comd back in our face like a boomerang from hell.  glad i have no offspring so i can turn off the light (pun intended)  when i die. 

[justaphase]

I used to work at Crystal mall in Latphrao. The maintenance manager showed me the monthly electric bill..1,200,000 baht.

And that's a smallish (dying) mall,

[Mook23]

34 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

 

You are welcome to move to North Korea, if it bothers you so much that we enjoy our morning coffee in these nice airconned temples commercialism.

You need help with booking the ticket? 

expatoilworkers aren't the most intelligent people on this rock... enjoy your coffee nevertheless! ps.  i could yse some financial help from u booking my ticket. shall i give you my PayPal addy or just the dates and my personal details and will u do the booking for me?  thx heaps in advance!!!!!! 

[Emster23]

I would guess a major factor in the consumption levels would be the attitude that temperature should be close to walk in refrigerator or freezer. I can only take 20 minutes or so of those places before I have to exit and warm up. I saw a study here in Thailand about insane low temps and waste of electricity... just boosting ambient temp a few degrees would make a difference.

 Why should we care, as some ask.... ever hear of global warming? Just because you can't see the damage caused by electrical generation doesn't mean it isn't happening...

[justaphase]

Exactly..i agree with Emster. The Crystal's air con is freezing yet the doors are left wide open.

Sickening when there are people earning 200b a day here.

[williamgeorgeallen]

2 hours ago, apalink_thailand said:

AS long as the tenants are paying the rents, why should they care? Now  good argument for the solar panels and wind would be that the malls could continue to charge the same rents and reduce costs in electricity, thereby improving the bottom line (after amortisation of equipment).

the upfront cost of solar panels is prohibitive. building the mall for the lowest price is number one.

[DM07]

Ooooooooh, expatoilworker...windmills are so noisy!

I really don't want to be disturbed by noise of windmills in otherwise so peaceful and quiet Bangkok!

And really: who wants noisy but CLEAN energy, as long as some oil - leaks can kill an abundance of sea- life?

 

...get off your meds! 

[hansnl]

2 hours ago, Thian said:

Just put the aircons on 28 and tell the girls to wear short skirts instead of long pants....problem solved.

Very short skirts, tiny strings, no bra, skimpy shirt.

Will do very well.

Although many of us will overheat, taking away the gain.

[tpaul1]

It is just another clear example of capitalism not being the long term model for humanity. Short sighted and uncaring as long as the bottom line is ok, regardless of the waste in energy and resources and the long term consequences for the planet. It is all about price and not about value. Destroy the atmosphere with your carbon or destroy the forests of Laos with HEP. Take your pick but it is shameful. The World needs a new model for development and  a leader to take us there.

[spidermike007]

3 hours ago, huahinjoe said:

I remember they always ask the public not use their aircons in peak times during summer, maybe they should "ask" the luxury malls too 

By the way I noticed sometimes the wind is so huge between tall buildings in bangkok, they should consider to put some windmills on them, definitely would generate back some free power.

Also Thailand such a sunny country, these mall roofs should be covered by sunflower like solar panels to get the most out of the sun's energy back to support their own systems for free.
 

 

 

 

But that is a progressive idea. This nation has spent decades doing everything in it's power to avoid doing anything progressive. On some levels, it is one of the least progressive, or open minded nations in ASEAN. Alternative simply does not exist in the Thai vocabulary. Do it the normal way. Do not think outside the box. Do not consider possibilities that lower your dependence on electricity, fossil fuels, or your neighbors. That would be too forward thinking. 

[ExpatOilWorker]

35 minutes ago, Mook23 said:

expatoilworkers aren't the most intelligent people on this rock... enjoy your coffee nevertheless! ps.  i could yse some financial help from u booking my ticket. shall i give you my PayPal addy or just the dates and my personal details and will u do the booking for me?  thx heaps in advance!!!!!! 

 

Watch your language or there is no more oil for you. It is a long walk down to the local 7/11 for your daily supply of warm Chang.

Just give your banking details to my local Nigerian contacts, they will take care of your booking.

[ExpatOilWorker]

28 minutes ago, DM07 said:

Ooooooooh, expatoilworker...windmills are so noisy!

I really don't want to be disturbed by noise of windmills in otherwise so peaceful and quiet Bangkok!

And really: who wants noisy but CLEAN energy, as long as some oil - leaks can kill an abundance of sea- life?

 

...get off your meds! 

 

Happy we got that sorted out. 

[trogers]

2 hours ago, Thian said:

Just put the aircons on 28 and tell the girls to wear short skirts instead of long pants....problem solved.

 

Why? You want the guys to turned into human torches?

[huahinjoe]

3 hours ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

 

Have you any idea how nosy windmills are?

Yes you right that would be a huge problem indeed if they too noisy, maybe in the future they can harness solar power through the windows instead, I saw some initiative regarding although not sure about the efficiency level we reached so far yet with these technologies, probably still not worth it to invest.

[elgordo38]

2 hours ago, LatPhrao said:

Very pleased to see this subject and point made EVEN IF IT WAS DISCUSSED LAST YEAR, which is a stupid excuse for not hammering it often.

These disgusting high alters to commercialism, blowing AC out every door, and  hand in hand with the displacing of working Thai people trying to make a living on the streets.  Would be delighted to see them shuttered and power turned off.

Yes as long as the tenants pay the rent but how in Gods name do they do that along with water, wages and other fixed costs. I have heard of money losing propositions but this one takes the cake. Is there really that much money flowing through these big malls to justify them or are they fronts for something else. Be interested to know. 

[halloween]

2 hours ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

the upfront cost of solar panels is prohibitive. building the mall for the lowest price is number one.

 

Usually the people that build also operate. Their accountants would calculate the price and energy savings on the basis that they would consume all the solar panel output, and conclude it is cheaper to buy from the grid (likely with a bulk user discount).

[Mook23]

1 hour ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

 

Watch your language or there is no more oil for you. It is a long walk down to the local 7/11 for your daily supply of warm Chang.

Just give your banking details to my local Nigerian contacts, they will take care of your booking.

so true!!! irs more than 10.000km to the local 7/11 for me since i left thailand and swapped leo with ice (never drank chang) for selfmade bio-wine in south of suhhhhhhhpain!  here is my paypaladdy: [email protected]

thx heaps!  enjoy the rig slavery pal!!! 

[sahibji]

6 hours ago, huahinjoe said:

I remember they always ask the public not use their aircons in peak times during summer, maybe they should "ask" the luxury malls too 

By the way I noticed sometimes the wind is so huge between tall buildings in bangkok, they should consider to put some windmills on them, definitely would generate back some free power.

Also Thailand such a sunny country, these mall roofs should be covered by sunflower like solar panels to get the most out of the sun's energy back to support their own systems for free.
 

you need larger roof area to generate that much  solar power.

 

[bangon04]

3 hours ago, elgordo38 said:

Yes as long as the tenants pay the rent but how in Gods name do they do that along with water, wages and other fixed costs. I have heard of money losing propositions but this one takes the cake. Is there really that much money flowing through these big malls to justify them or are they fronts for something else. Be interested to know. 

It is a puzzle to see this "6-kilometer retail" paradise of high end shopping brands.  - how many branches of Prada, all selling exactly the same items, at the same prices, to the (presumably) same pool of customers does it take to make a financial loss ? The shops appear to be empty whenever I walk past. Yes I know the food outlets are usually busy, but the brand outlets appear to have more staff than customers.

Several Thais I know who could afford to buy this "stuff" tell me they go to HK or Singapore to buy it because they can save money. So who actually buys it? Or is it just a tax front?

[ajarnmarc]

Reports are currently provided on Vice news / Vice.com where shopping malls in developed countries are closing down @ an alarming rate, simply due to more consumers preferring to make their purchases through online vendors.

So how is this related to this story?

Simple, if you don't like to see the crazy waste, you have a voice...start shopping online instead, and the trend will continue, as it relates to traffic being cut towards people visiting shopping malls.

When I was recently in Malaysia a couple months back, it was surprising that the two malls there, 

though very large in size, there were very few people inside, and as result the temperature for one, 

wasn't a cold as malls normally are. 

At the end of the day the shoppers have a voice, 

which can be...stop venturing into the malls as a form of entertainment.

Look, sure, but purchase online.

The staff will end up working on the delivery side of things, 

but the damage, and huge waste of the space these shopping malls take up, 

can be put to better use, such as more outdoor forms of entertainment.

Its just a thought...