Baguio City tapping solar energy to cut power costs

BAGUIO CITY – The city government will adopt the solar panel technology in three government buildings and facilities in its bid to reduce the city’s power consumption expenses.

City Building Officer Engr. Nazita Banez said the technology will be piloted through the solar power lighting and heating of the Olympic-size swimming pool at the Baguio Athletic Bowl.

The million project is now ready for bidding and targeted for implementation this October.

Other facilities being eyed for the solar power are the City Hall Annex and City Hall itself which Banez said will be pursued next year.

Banez said the technology has been found viable in the city through feasibility studies done by the Department of Energy.

“We expect to cut down energy consumption and the resulting electric bill of the swimming pool by 50 percent while the return of investment is protracted in 13-15 years,” Banez said.

City Budget Officer Leticia Clemente said a budget has been worked out for the first phase of the project which she said is in line with Baguio City’s thrust to tap renewable energy for economic and environmental benefits.

In its summary report of Benguet Electric Cooperative bills payment for the year 2015, disclosed that the city paid for its electric consumption in 2015 to the Benguet Electric Cooperative, which can be reduced considerably with the use of these modern energy-saving technologies.