Urban energy flow and environmental impacts at Kuala Lumpur / Siti Bistari Omar

Cities are one of the main factors contributed to many environmental problems and key to addressing the challenges from worldwide changes. Urbanisation is one of the irreversible human impacts on earth that accelerates the impacts of energy demand, climate changes and population growth. The aim of the study is to assess the urban metabolism of Kuala Lumpur in the energy sector and its environmental impacts by using Material Flow Analysis (MFA). The flow of electrical inputs and carbon dioxide outputs were analysed through Material Flow Analysis (MFA). Primary data through questionnaire were collected from 223 respondents. Secondary data were collected from related agencies that provided information on national and regional data. The result shows that the total consumption of electricity and production of carbon dioxide in Kuala Lumpur increases from 2011 until 2014. Residential, commercial and industry are the main sectors in Kuala Lumpur that lead to the economic development. Since Kuala Lumpur is categorised as the most urbanised states in Malaysia, the rapid development and population influenced the total consumption of electricity and production of carbon dioxide. 1.0 koe/cap/day of electrical consumption in Kuala Lumpur produced 20.21 kg/cap/day of carbon dioxide. It can be concluded that the number of population is the main factor contributed to the result of the total inputs and output of each city being studied.