Going green

The North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) management is going green, that is in terms of the electricity it uses for its operation requirements. Iy is now putting additional solar power system installed right atop its toll booths along the stretch of the superhighway.

In its effort to help in big or small way of reducing carbon emissions through the use of coal in the production of electricity, the NLEx is shifting on renewables for their needs. Basically, electricity is produced through coal-fired power plants. These plants use coal in producing electricity. Others use diesel or oil for their generators.

The inputs of these power producers rely on non-renewable sources, meaning they will be depleted and will be gone forever someday. Coal, liquid fuel and other natural resources of the same ilk were produced by nature while the world consumes them r api dl y.

Meanwhile, renewables are those that use other forms of input for power generation. They come in different forms such as those that uses wind for power like.those “windmills” in Ilocos Norte and other coastal provinces in the country.

Then there are turbines that uses the flow of water or its current for generating power. Among others, there are other sources for cheap, clean renewable sources of electricity.

I surmise the NLEx management is getting more aware of earth’s pollution problems and contributing in its little but effective way of helping the environment through the reduction of harmful materials produced through electricity generation. This aside from its plants and trees planted along the center that divides the northbound and southbound lanes and within toll plazas where mini-forests are now in place.

Solar power is nice to use while knowing that we need not add up to the pollution the world is threatened with. The NLEx management is on the rigth track with its tapping of solar power for its electricity. Sooner perhaps, all of its power requirements would be filled-in with electricity from renewable sources. It may even tap wind power in areas along the expressway where wind is aplenty and continuous.

Other expressways like the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union (TPLEx) Expressway can also adopt the solar power project that will help lower their bills on electricity and at the same time make their contributions for the environment. They can likewise plant trees on their several vacant spaces which i see when passing through these expressways.

No matter how big or small our contributions are to the environment, these are all important for we have only one earth. We are duty-bound to take care of this planet through the reduction if not total eradication of pollution and the application of various measures and moves to alleviate the volume of the now extant pollutants all over the world.

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