Business World Online
Posted on May 24, 2011 11:43:04 PM
COMMERCIAL BUILDING operators are being encouraged to replace their old air-conditioners with energy-efficient and environment-friendly units under a government project funded via $3.6-million grant from the World Bank.
The Philippine Chillers Energy Efficiency Project, Environment Undersecretary Demeterio L. Ignacio, Jr. yesterday said, is open to businesses such as hotels and malls that want to stop using ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Aside from offering energy savings to companies via the shift to more efficient units, the project will also allow the Philippines to comply with its obligation to phase out CFC use under the Montreal Protocol, Mr. Ignacio said.
"Reduced energy costs will mean more competitive companies which will hopefully hire more Filipinos," he said.
Companies, Mr. Ignacio said at the sidelines of the project’s launch yesterday, can avail of an up-front government subsidy equivalent to 15% of the cost of the new air-conditioners. The money will come from the grant extended by the World Bank through the Global Environment Facility.
The other option for firms is not to avail of the 15% subsidy and instead surrender 20-25% of the revenues to be obtained from the sale of certified emission reductions (CERs) generated from the use of energy-efficient chillers.
"The Kfw (Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau) will be purchasing the CERs from the project," he said.
The first company to participate in the project is the Peninsula Manila Hotel.
Peninsula Manila Director of Engineering Romel L. Alvarez said they took part in the project given the incentives and the opportunity to protect the environment. The hotel will be availing of the 15% subsidy, he said.
"This (the project) will not only benefit companies like use in terms of incentives but also benefit the environment," Mr. Alvarez said.
World Bank Sustainable Development specialist Mark C. Woodward said the objective was to replace 375 CFC air-conditioners with energy-efficient units over a period of ten years.
"The target is to replace about 375 chillers by the end of 2019. This will result in emission reductions of 560,000 tons of carbon dioxide and estimated savings of 341 GWh (gigawatt-hours)," he said. -- LDD
Aside from offering energy savings to companies via the shift to more efficient units, the project will also allow the Philippines to comply with its obligation to phase out CFC use under the Montreal Protocol, Mr. Ignacio said.
"Reduced energy costs will mean more competitive companies which will hopefully hire more Filipinos," he said.
Companies, Mr. Ignacio said at the sidelines of the project’s launch yesterday, can avail of an up-front government subsidy equivalent to 15% of the cost of the new air-conditioners. The money will come from the grant extended by the World Bank through the Global Environment Facility.
The other option for firms is not to avail of the 15% subsidy and instead surrender 20-25% of the revenues to be obtained from the sale of certified emission reductions (CERs) generated from the use of energy-efficient chillers.
"The Kfw (Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau) will be purchasing the CERs from the project," he said.
The first company to participate in the project is the Peninsula Manila Hotel.
Peninsula Manila Director of Engineering Romel L. Alvarez said they took part in the project given the incentives and the opportunity to protect the environment. The hotel will be availing of the 15% subsidy, he said.
"This (the project) will not only benefit companies like use in terms of incentives but also benefit the environment," Mr. Alvarez said.
World Bank Sustainable Development specialist Mark C. Woodward said the objective was to replace 375 CFC air-conditioners with energy-efficient units over a period of ten years.
"The target is to replace about 375 chillers by the end of 2019. This will result in emission reductions of 560,000 tons of carbon dioxide and estimated savings of 341 GWh (gigawatt-hours)," he said. -- LDD
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