3 government buildings to be installed with solar panels in Baguio

August 20, 2018 Community Billboard

BAGUIO CITY – The city government has lined up the first three buildings with solar panels as source of electricity that is expected to cut power consumption by half.
These are the city-owned swimming pool, the City Hall’s main building, and the still to-be-built annex structure, said Engr. Nazita Bañez, chief of the City Building and Architecture Office. 
“The project is expected to cut by 50 percent the electric consumption on heating up the water at the pool,” Bañez said, pointing out a water heater has become somewhat a necessity in the city.
She said solar panels will be installed at the roofs of the bleachers in the pool area.
The solar power, she said, would be used for heating the water at the pool, where athletes usually do their training.
She said the city government has allotted P19 million for the project, which will be implemented this year.
Bañez said the City Hall’s main building, which houses the city government officials’ offices and service offices, will also have the solar panels installed.
The City Hall extension building, which will be built near the Baguio Fire Department in 2019, will also have solar roof panels, Bañez said.
She said feasibility studies on the project showed that the return on investment (ROI) will be from 13 to 15 years.
“Magwo-work, napag-aralan na yan ng Department of Energy. They have lots of feasibility studies that is why they are encouraging solar power sources,” Bañez said.
Earlier, some doubts were raised as to the applicability of solar panels as source of energy in Baguio, considering the low and limited sunlight due to the fog that envelopes the atmosphere as early as 10 a.m.
“As long as the roof area will provide sunlight, we will be installing solar panels, reusable energy,” Bañez said.
“Solar panel technologies have improved, which is applicable to foggy places (like Baguio). As long as it is daylight, it can still generate,” added Councilor Mylen Yaranon, a practicing architect.
Yaranon said the expense will be high, but the investment will be worth it, since the savings will be realized in the long run.
City Budget Officer Leticia Clemente added that installation of the solar panels on the first three building alone could already promote renewable energy and enviroment-friendly technologies to address climate change.
“You venture on these programs or projects to reduce the impact of climate change,” Clemente said.
She added that the city’s installation of LED lighting and fixtures in the past years had also brought about 40 to 50 percent decrease in the electric bill expenses of the local government.
The solar panels are likely to bring the same benefits, she said.
In the recent DOE energy efficiency seminar in Baguio, the installation of solar panels was identified as among the programs the city government could venture into to save on electricity. LIZA AGOOT, PNA / ABN