By: Doris Dumlao-Abadilla 12:04 AM March 29th, 2016
Gokongwei-led
Robinsons Land Corp. has set up 10 of its shopping malls to harness the power
of the sun on their rooftops within this year, taking the lead in expanding the
use of renewable energy.
Once completed, the
10 malls will have a combined annual yield of 15.94 megawatts and avoid the
production of 8,760 tons of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels. This would be
equivalent to the planting of 223,965 full grown trees, RLC president Frederick
Go said in a statement.
RLC’s goal is to
eventually install solar power facilities in all of RLC’s 41 malls, in line
with a global trend to shift to the use of renewable energy sources.
The property
developer is investing in solar power plants on the rooftops of its shopping
malls to produce renewable energy for its own use, making RLC the biggest
producer of solar power for self-consumption. Solar energy is estimated to
account for 30 percent of the electricity requirements of these 10 malls.
After completing the
installation of solar facilities in Robinsons malls in Palawan and Iloilo, Go
said RLC expected to complete the installation of solar facilities in Robinsons
malls in Dumaguete, Roxas and Antique by April and in Novaliches, Angeles and
San Fernando by May.
The solar facilities
in Robinsons Novaliches will be the first installation by RLC under a Manila
Electric Co. (Meralco) franchise while the San Fernando installation will be
the country’s biggest solar facility for self-consumption.
The installations of
the solar panels for Robinsons Place Tacloban and Robinsons Cybergate Bacolod
are expected to be completed by the latter half of the year.
“Robinsons Land
understands the value and potential of energy management to promote sustainable
growth and demonstrate its commitment to help protect the environment from the
adverse effects of carbon emissions while boosting its shareholders’, employees’
and customers’ confidence in the company by aiming to be an industry leader
through efficient energy use,” Go said.
While various energy
conservation and efficiency programs are being implemented in the organization,
RLC—together with its parent company JG Summit Holdings Inc.—said it was
determined to take its energy management commitment further by harnessing
renewable energy through its own solar facilities.
RLC has chosen
rooftop solar power facilities over other forms of renewable energy sources
because advancements in solar panel technology are increasing the efficiency
and lowering the cost of production. Apart from being cost-effective, solar
power facilities require very little maintenance. Furthermore, they neither
generate noise nor produce emissions.
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