MANILA, Philippines - Several malls and industrial firms received recognition in this year’s Don Emilio Abello Energy Efficiency Awards (DEAEEA) of the Department of Energy (DOE) for energy efficiency initiatives aimed to significantly reduce their energy consumption.
The DOE said energy efficiency and conservation is one of its measures in ensuring energy security for the country, especially now given the current power scenarios of the nation and in light of the El Niño weather disturbance.
Among the awardees is Meneleo J. Carlos, Jr. of RI Chemical Corp. for his valuable contribution to energy efficiency and conservation of the country.
Carlos, former chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries, advocated energy conservation among industries to achieve competitiveness.
Meanwhile, SM City Lipa, Wyeth Philippines Inc., San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corp.-Canlubang PET & CAPS Plant, Ayala Life-FGU Center Makati, SM City Batangas, San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corporation-Metal
Closure and Lithography Plant (San Fernando), SM City Lucena, Greenbelt 4, and SM City Iloilo were given the Hall of Fame Award.
The DOE said the award is given to a company that received three Outstanding Awards in three consecutive years.
A company that has received three Outstanding Awards for more than a three-year period may qualify for this award provided that it has continuously improved its Specific Energy Consumption (SEC) and the second and third Outstanding Awards should be received within ten years from the first Outstanding Award.
The DOE said individuals and companies that participate in the DEAEEA help in the push for energy efficiency measures.
The energy efficiency initiatives of the DEAEEA companies have resulted in 776.3 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity equivalent to P6.34 billion or more than 202.6 million liters of oil equivalent in energy savings in 2014.
Government data showed industrial and commercial sectors are among the top four highest consuming sectors in the country taking up more than 40 percent of Final Energy Demand last year.
Started in 1982 as part of the National Energy Consciousness Month, the annual DEAEEA was named after former Meralco chairman and chief executive officer Emilio Abello, who also held the position of Chairman of the Energy Conservation Movement in the country.
The annual event is jointly organized by the Philippine National Oil Co., National Power Corp., Meralco, Petron Corp., Chevron Philippines Inc., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Energy Development Utilization Foundation Inc., Energy Efficiency Practitioners Association of the Philippines, and the Energy Conservation Center Inc.