17 SM malls lauded for energy conservation

MANILA, Philippines - SM Supermalls was recognized for its energy conservation efforts during the 2013 Don Emilio Abello Energy Efficiency Awards. Seventeen SM malls bested 62 establishments in an awarding ceremony held on Dec. 7 at the Meralco Multipurpose Hall.

In partnership with the Department of Enery (DOE), the award-giving body celebrates members of the private sector that promote and implement energy conservation programs. It means to encourage conscientiousness through significant savings and improvements in energy consumption.

SM City Davao, SM City Lipa, SM City Naga, SM City Batangas, SM City Lucena and SM City Sta. Mesa each bagged an Outstanding Award which is bestowed on companies that have considerably improved their energy performance by at least five percent in their specific energy consumption from the previous year and also runs a substantial energy efficiency and conservation program.

Meanwhile, SM City Pampanga, SM Savemore Nagtahan, SM Cubao, SM City Iloilo, SM Quiapo and SM City Novaliches bagged Citation Awards while SM City Rosario, SM Molino, SM City Clark, SM City North EDSA and SM City Bicutan were honored with Special Awards.

SM Supermalls have installed variable frequency drives in the motors of most of its air-handling units according to SM engineering team vice president for ADD operations Teodoro Bautista.

“We have selected the biggest ones to have more evident results. It’s a system; if you can reduce the need for chilled water, you reduce your need for the chillers. We are big on that because we also acknowledge the fact our biggest energy savings come from our air conditioning,” he said.

SM has also recently started changing their malls’ lighting from compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) to LED to save more energy. “The LED lights are more expensive but the energy consumption is only at 20 percent,” he added.

Don Emilio Abello is the founding father of energy conservation in the Philippines, and is recognized as the inspiration in all the energy-saving efforts in the Philippines.