PENANG, 9 Sept. 2013 - In line with the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) leading the sustainability concept, a group of students under the auspices of the Healthy Campus Secretariat (HCS) introduced a simple way to adopt the green concept.

Most fun and interesting, students can save water consumption of 500 milliliters (ml) each time the toilet is flushed by using only a mineral water bottle.

Introducing the idea of ​​sustainability, HCS volunteer Nurul Fatihah Ahmad Fuad said that it could save at least 800 liters of water a day if the idea is adopted by the eight hostels on USM campus, here.

She said that the method of saving water is very simple and practical because users only need to place a mineral water bottle (500ml) into the toilet cistern.

“This method displaces 500 ml from the toilet cistern and therefore less water is used. This method has been proven effective and has been adopted by USM Desasiswa Aman Damai,” he said.

In the meantime, the Vice-Chancellor Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman said that basing on the concept of sustainability as a university, USM is trying its best to build a better tomorrow for future generations.

Thus he said, HCS has been rebranded by placing students as the main driving force in leading initiatives towards sustainability awareness on the campus, thus transferring to benefit the campus community.

“We encourage students to observe, investigate and introduce measures that could improve for the continuation of sustainability on campus,” he told reporters at a press conference here today.

He added that HCS is rebranding its orientation to ‘Student-Based Initiatives’ in which student ideas will be implemented according to the model introduced by the students themselves.

“HCS also acts as a platform that will guide and educate the campus community to always practice sustainable living and avoid wasting resources,” he said.

Besides that HCS also introduced several other measures to maintain the green concept, including the campaign to reduce the use of paper or ‘Think Before You Print, the use of e-books, tapau (takeaway) mania (boycott polystyrene), and reusing plastic bags. - Translation: Yong Check Yoon/Photo: Mohd. Fairus Md. Isa