Bonifacio Gas eyes areas outside Manila

Gas pipeline operator Bonifacio Gas Corp. is eyeing commercial and industrial establishments outside Metro Manila as potential users of its so-called energy efficient air-conditioning system.

The system, which has been initially rolled-out to serve the requirements of the entire Fort Bonifacio Development Corp. Building E, is being endorsed by the Department of Energy and the Energy Management Association of the Philippines.

Described as an energy-efficient technology this innovative aircon system allows the users to reduce their energy costs by as much as 58 percent.

BGC adopted the technology when it introduced an integrated network system to provide piped-in liquefied gas (LPG) to commercial centers in Metro Manila. It is currently servicing the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig for the first phase of its operations.

"BGC recognizes the benefits of having a gas-powered air-conditioning unit in terms of efficiency, cost effectiveness and protection of the environment. Because of these, we are endorsing the Sanyo gas-fired absorption chillers which are locally distributed and service by McQuay Philippines sales and Services, Inc.," Eric Piedad, BGC general manager added.

The Sanyo centralized gas-fired absorption air-conditioning system has several distinct advantages over conventional electric-airconditioners. For one, it is less expensive to operate since it gets energy from the large electrical power supplies, normally required by electric air-conditioners are not needed by gas-fired absorption air-conditioning systems. This is because they do not use compressors.

Aside from reduce electrical consumption, Sanyo’s gas-fired absorption chillers are also environment – friendly; it does not use HCFC or CFC refrigerators, the primary contributors to ozone depletion. Instead, it makes use of water as refrigerant and lithium bromide as absorbent, both of which are completely safe and non-polluting to the environment. Since the system does not use compressors, the unit works at very low noise levels and does not add to noise pollution.

"The Sanyo gas-fired absorption chillers require very low maintenance. Without a compressor or other large motor drives, there are less mechanical parts that will wear or breakdown. Operation is absolutely trouble-free and maintenance is simply minimized to just regular inspection and cleaning," Piedad said.

Bonifacio Gas, a partnership between Fort Bonifacio Development Corp. and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., was formed in November 1998.