Butuan school leads renewable energy use and education

By Erwin Mascariñas | Thursday| May 31, 2012 

BUTUAN CITY (MindaNews/30 May) – With the energy crisis plaguing Mindanao, a school here is spearheading the campaign in advocating the use of renewable energy by using these technologies right inside campus, and even introducing a subject on the topic.

The Philippine Electronics and Communication Institute of Technology (PECIT) has started putting up wind power generators last April and is in the process in installing solar panels this month to reduce the school’s reliance on the local electric cooperative.

“We hope to educate the public about sustainable source of energy, and what a better way to do it than for us to lead by example,” said Engr. Romeo Zerrudo, chief executive officer of PECIT and Zenergy Cable.

“Aside from tapping the potential power of the wind and the sun in generating electricity for the school, we will also be offering a subject on renewable energy, to have a three-unit subject in relation to the Renewable Energy Act of 2008,” he added.

Zerrudo, who established the Butuan Science Centrum back in the 1990s, pointed out that having such subject as part of the curriculum would be a big help for the students, especially since the rest of the world is now exploring renewable energy due to climate change.

He pointed out that tapping renewable sources of energy can help minimize pollution as the world would rely less on fossil fuel. “With this end we can help in minimizing our carbon footprint,” Zerrudo pointed out.

He explained that the energy problem Mindanao is facing is already affecting so much of the business sector and it will soon get worst in the next few months, pointing to claims by industry analysts.

Last May 23, EG Solar of Germany, in partnership with PECIT, donated a solar cooker prototype to Sendong survivors who are temporarily sheltered at an evacuation site in Luinab, Iligan City. Being equivalent to a burner with 700 watts, the cooker can boil rice, or three liters of water, in 30 minutes using only the rays of the sun. (Erwin Mascariñas / MindaNews)   source