New filter system leads to energy award

MANILA, Philippines - The SM Supermall in Baliuag, Bulacan showed the way in energy management and conservation as it received the 2011 Don Emilio Abello Energy Efficiency Award from the Department of Energy (DOE).

This came a year after Alex Canoza, one of the supermall’s engineers, devised a filter system for the cooling tower made out of recycled materials like scrap metal frame and used Air Handling Unit filter.

The prestigious award was given in recognition of SM City Baliuag’s implementation of energy measures like the equipment optimization program focused on the improvement of lighting and air conditioning components.

Andrew Cristobal, manager of SM City Baliuag, said the mall achieved a 9.90 in Percent Energy Conservation rating, as it garnered an energy savings of 319,360 liters of oil equivalent.

That is equivalent to P12,646,656 in savings which is also equivalent to 513,912.64 kilograms of avoided carbon.

Ten other SM Supermalls branches in North Edsa, Valenzuela City, Cagayan de Oro, Rosales in Pangasinan; Sta. Rosa in Laguna, Sucat in Parañaque; Sta. Mesa; Cebu City, Clark Field in Pampanga; and in Dasmariñas, Cavite received top honors and citations during the 2011 energy efficiency awards.

Sponsored by the DOE, the Don Emilio Abello Energy Efficiency Award is given to a company which has considerably improved its energy performance by at least five percent in its Specific Energy Consumption based on previous year and supported by substantial energy efficiency and conservation programs.

Canoza said that the filter system proved to be effective as it enhanced SM City Baliuag’s air system.

Since the water used in the cooling tower is non-potable, the filter also eliminated bubble formation and improved water quality.

Known for his passion, creativity and persistence, Canoza and his team started developing the improvised filter system after a customer complained of his car being covered with bubbles and drenched in soapy water.

Canoza said he got curious on how he can trap the bubbles and filter the water used in the chiller to improve its quality.

He and his team then started devising a filter system for the cooling tower made out of recycled materials like scrap metal frame.

In a separate project, Canoza and his team also improved the filter system of the mall’s sewage treatment plant.

Through research and trial of various systems, he came up with empty pails with defined holes to collect solids and grease-balls.

This prevented the frequent offset of the sequencing batch reactor designed to treat water waste.

The said innovation resulted in more than P4-million savings in electricity consumption in 2010 and about P1-million savings in water consumption for this year.

When asked what was his inspiration, Canoza answered, “Not what but who. It’s my little daughter. This is my way of preserving the environment where she can live and grow old.”