Green initiatives
MANILA, Philippines - Everybody needs to show love and care for the environment. After all, every human being is a stakeholder in the preservation of Mother Earth.
Staying true to its “going green†efforts that involve finding alternative and earth-friendly sources of energy, premier health institution Makati Medical Center (MMC) has installed a Solar PV (Photovoltaic) Generator System that can knock off an estimated 30,000 kgs. of annual carbon monoxide emission — the equivalent of 933 planted trees, or 217 smoke-belching vehicles removed from the streets.
The installation, composed of 151 monocrystalline modules with a 25-year lifespan, is located on the rooftop of the 10th floor of Tower 1 of the hospital. It is the first installation in the country to use Solar DC Optimizers, which enhance the systems even with shadows.
According to engineer Lawrence Harder, AVP for MMC’s mechanical and bio-mechanical engineering services, the project started in the fourth quarter of 2012 and was completed last Feb. 10. The installation of the system was handled by SasonbiSolar, a solar PV systems integrator with expertise in Solar PV Generator Systems for commercial and residential applications.
According to SasonbiSolar, MMC’s Solar PV has an annual production capacity of 56,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh). If a kWh costs P10, this translates to an estimated P560,000 in annual savings for the hospital — funds that can now go to efforts and other initiatives that will serve more patients.
Wind-solar system
The hospital is no stranger to solar energy, having installed a solar-powered air-conditioning system in 2011. The Sedna Aire solar absorption air-conditioning system, with the use of natural solar power, significantly reduces electricity consumption and operating costs.
Sedna Aire employs a solar absorption system, which is still capable of carrying a full air-conditioning load, especially during sunny periods. Heat energy from the sun is absorbed by a solar heat pipe collector, which is then utilized for the displacement of electricity for the cooling process. Albeit the minimal amount of el-ectricity still needed to pump the refrigerant, the system makes use of substantially less of it than its conventional counterpart.
The air-conditioning project led to MMC to receive an Excellence Award at the 11th Asian Hospital Management Awards (AHMA) in September 2012.
Other green initiatives
Other “green†efforts of the hospital include participating in the annual Earth Hour celebration. On March 31, 2012, MMC temporarily went dark as public stairways, façade, perimeter and non-essential lights were dimmed for the event.
The Facility Management and Engineering Services reduced further the power usage of the chiller and supply and exhaust systems of five basement parking levels. MakatiMed’s energy consumption dropped by 47.46 percent amperage or 1155 kW during the event, which is equivalent to 28,875 lights being turned off at an average of 40 watts per bulb, enough to light up a community of 3,500 households.
The hospital once again joined Earth Hour last March 23.
During last year’s holiday season, MMC celebrated a “Green Christmas.†Save for the acrylic reusable Christmas balls, all the materials used for decorations in the hospital premises — the used twigs, paper doily chandeliers, paper stars and balls, fabric flowers and leaves, and energy-saving LED lights — are Earth-friendly.
