SM commits to a better tomorrow at SM City Trece Martires solar system launch
SM Supermalls marked another milestone in its
pursuit to make each day better for all at the launch of SM City Trece
Martires’ solar system, held in Trece Martires City, Cavite. At the ‘switching
on’ ceremony, SM highlighted that the solar system rollout all over the country
was only part of the many sustainability programs SM has been doing for years.
(L-R) are senior vice president for marketing Jonjon San Agustin; SM
vice president for operations Lisa Silerio; SM Supermalls president Annie
Garcia; Mrs. Aiza de Sagun, representing Trece Martires mayor Melendres de
Sagun; Solar Philippines president Leandro Leviste; executive assistant Vincent
Bae; engineer Ernesto Cenizal; and regional operations manager Dominador
Caringal, Jr.
The SM City Trece Martires solar facility
houses 2,914 solar panels capable of generating 0.5 megawatts of electricity,
enough to fully charge 130,000 cellphones, light up 15,500 10-watt LED lamps,
run 4,500 30-watt electric fans, and provide power to 300 households. The use
of solar energy promotes clean air and saves the environment by helping reduce
carbon footprint from electricity produced from combustion of fossil fuels.
Other sustainability programs of SM include the
‘Trash to Cash’ recycling markets in SM malls, and the integration of transport
terminals in malls to mitigate traffics for cleaner air. With disaster risk
reduction taking center stage on sustainability, SM has been building
‘resilient’ malls with water catchment basins to help manage flood-prone areas.
SM Prime, alongside UNISDR and ARISE
Philippines, also hosts the Top Leaders Forum. The theme for 2017 is ‘Business
for Resilience – Towards a Resilient Philippines.’ As a private sector
conference aspiring to find concrete measures to make businesses more resilient
against disasters, the Forum this year underscores invaluable collaboration
between the science and technology community and the private sector towards
global disaster preparedness.
SM, in partnership with Solar Philippines,
first ventured into renewable energy in 2014 with the launch of its first solar
system in the Philippines at SM City North EDSA – the first mall in the country
to promote solar energy. SM Mall of Asia then launched its solar facility two
years after. This year, SM has announced expansion of green programs with more
solar systems in eight more malls.
At the helm of SM’s partner in promoting
eco-friendly shopping in the country is Solar Philippines Founder, Mr. Leandro
Leviste. Leading the largest developer of solar rooftop power plants in
Southeast Asia, Mr. Leviste was recognized in the Forbes Magazine 2016 30 under
30 Asia, a roster of young game-changers, entrepreneurs, and social leaders who
are under 30 years old.
With SM’s solar system rollout and other green
programs, SM continues to go beyond mall development and management as it
integrates environmental sustainability into its operations to ultimately
support communities for a better tomorrow.
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