SM Group saves P320M due to energy saving measures

MANILA, Philippines - The SM Group has been able to save P320.28 million in electricity costs between July 2013 and June 2014 as a result of energy efficiency programs it implemented.

This translates to 31,616, 923 kilowatt-hours in saved energy, according to data from the company.

“This saved energy can power for one year 3,609 one-kilowatt households of 50 square meter size or 360,924 10-watt light bulbs or 120,308 30-W electric fans or 515,605 seven-W cellphone chargers,” the company also said.

Continuous efficiency in energy consumption may help reduce the impending power shortage, said SM engineering team vice president Teodoro S. Bautista.  

He said SM Prime president Hans Sy gave the marching order to the engineering department way back in 1998 to look for systems and technologies that would reduce the electrical consumption of the malls and at the same time optimize the operation of its machines and equipment.

Sy has already forecast as early as that time the rising cost of electricity.

“We have been continuously making energy efficiency and conservation one of our top priorities as envisioned by Mr. Sy. This is our way of not just making our operations sustainable but in order to contribute to the mitigation of climate change and the power shortage,” Bautista said.

Because of its energy efficient measures, SM received 48 awards from the Don Emilio Abello Energy Efficiency Awards for 2014.

SM malls, a department store and two office buildings were conferred 48 energy efficiency awards, including a Hall of Fame award, out of the 147 given during the awarding ceremonies held recently at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati recently.

SM Clark received the Hall of Fame Award for being a recipient of three outstanding awards for three years (2009, 2010 and 2014).

The Don Emilio Abello Efficiency Awards is spearheaded by the Department of Energy in recognition to outstanding companies and energy managers who have undertaken energy efficiency and conservation programs to achieve substantial savings in their energy consumption.

Companies submit their consumption reports that are evaluated by the steering committee composed of the DOE Secretary and top executives from the Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC), National Power Corp. (Napocor), Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), Petron, Philippine Energy Conservation Center Inc., Chevron, Energy Development Utilization Foundation Inc., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and Energy Efficiency Practitioners Association of the Philippines.