Monday, May 5, 2014

DOLE-12 taps solar tech to curb power outages

By Mindanews on May 5 2014 5:46 pm

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/05 May) — In a bid to offset the impact of the daily rotational brownouts in its operations and at the same time help promote the use of “green technologies,” the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 12 has installed a solar energy system at its regional office compound in Koronadal City.

Ofelia Domingo, DOLE Region 12 director, said Monday they initially set up a 300-watt solar power system to provide for their basic energy or power requirements during power outages, which currently reach two to three hours daily.

She said the power system comprises several solar panels and a mini generator that is directly connected to the regional office compound’s main line.

The 300 watts of power that could be generated from the system is capable of lighting up 20 nine-watt bulbs at the two buildings within the compound, she said.

The buildings host the offices of DOLE-12’s regional director and assistant regional director, internal management service division, technical support services division and the South Cotabato field office, Domingo said.

She said the solar power system includes a 220-volt inverter that could support a computer unit with Internet access and two electric fans.

“We’re planning to expand the system later this year to around 2,000 watts so we can use more office equipment during brownouts,” she told MindaNews.

Domingo said they were the first DOLE regional office in the country so far that adopted the system, which costs around P100,000.

She said its installation was completed last April 28 or three days before its scheduled formal launching and initial test last May 1.

“We’re hoping that this initiative will be replicated in other regional offices and encourage some local companies to give it a try and eventually adopt it,” she said.

A statement released by DOLE-12 said the installation of the solar energy system is part of the agency’s contribution to climate change mitigation initiatives in the area and commitment to continually improve on its quality management systems.

It is also in compliance with the Green our DOLE Program, an initiative that seeks to “strengthen the advocacy and readiness of the agency to engage in green issues and mitigation solutions on climate change for better delivery and quality of programs and services to its stakeholders and customers, including facilitating the creation of green jobs.” (MindaNews) source

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