IN recent years, we have been hearing of the varied options renewable energy (RE) has for individuals. This, along with their constant lowering of prices, has made the alternative modes of power more accessible for people, especially those living in developing countries such as the Philippines. But how exactly does this affect us?
Over the weekend, former United States Vice President and outspoken environmentalist Al Gore visited the country for a three-day climate-change training workshop on the best ways to address global warming. During his talk, Gore urged attendees to look into RE, saying, “We have the solutions at hand to address climate change. Shift to renewable energy. The age of RE is beginning.”
The question is, therefore, how can we contribute to this initiative? Over the years, several Filipinos have come up with their own innovative solutions to remedy the harmful effects of climate change while promoting community-based programs. Prime examples of this would be the global open-source movement Liter of Light, and the grassroots solar movement Sustainable Alternative Lighting (SALt).
These two game-changers are redefining the concept of smart cities and smart homes.
Creating smart cities through simple technologies
The concept of a smart city is founded on the creation of sustainable communities that are grounded in the intricate and harmonious integration of technology in urban developments. Ilac Diaz of Liter of Light and Aisa Mijeno of SALt have proven that complicated technologies are not needed to make smart cities a possibility. Both of their foundations are promoting community-scale solar through accessible and inexpensive alternative forms of lighting.
“With solar lighting, we will also be able to bring Internet connectivity, even to remote communities. Liter of Light is all about moving communities from self-powered lighting to a self-powered information network to reach out to the poorest sectors,” Liter of Light founder Diaz said.
It is this kind of visionary thinking that we need in reestablishing the urban landscape to reflect our changing ideals. As local provinces continue to harness the power of the sun to its full capacity, it is our job, as the bigger consumer of energy, to imitate them in their noble campaign for a greener Philippines.
A weekend of positive change
Last Friday in Clark, Pampanga, the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) inaugurated its $40-million RE project that slated to provide power to at least 100,000 households in the area. Having been completed in early March, Clark Solar Power is all part of the city’s continued efforts of promoting green practices among its citizens.
While Clark City showed us how cities are changing on their own, last Saturday’s Earth Hour showed how the rest of the country is getting together for the green cause; households all across the Philippines came together to switch off their lights for the global event. Having first joined the event in 2008, our country has made international headlines for being the most participative four years in a row—from 2009 to 2013.
“We are elated at the massive outpouring of support. Government agencies, media allies, corporations, schools, civil-society groups and individuals have all pledged to shine a light on climate action through Earth Hour,” WWF-Philippines CEO Joel Palma said.
Indeed, global warming and its catastrophic effects have become the “new normal” all over the world. I believe, however, that things are never too late to do something about it. Let us all remember that we can contribute by doing things that may seem little at face value but have huge positive effects when done by everyone. From joining a global movement in turning off our lights for an hour to installing solar panels and other similar gadgets to make our homes smarter and more sustainable, we all have the power and the resources to actively participate in the global initiative toward sustainability.
Image credits: Photo courtesy of GMA News Network, Photo courtesy of Liter of Light