By The Manila Times – December 20, 2024
SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SM Prime), one of Southeast Asia’s largest integrated property developers, received top accolades at the 2024 Energy Efficiency Excellence Awards and Sustainable Energy Awards organized by the Department of Energy (DoE).
At the Energy Efficiency Excellence Awards, SM Prime secured recognitions in the Large Building Category with SM Center Pulilan and in the New and Existing Building Category with SM City Tanza and SM City Tuguegarao. The three malls won under the Energy Management in Industries and Buildings division, where nominees submitted their Annual Energy Utilization and Annual Energy Efficiency and Conservation Reports.
Dubbed the EEE Awards, the DoE includes a review of the companies’ implementation of the Policy on Energy Management Systems and their energy savings. The awards demonstrated SM Prime’s commitment to proper energy management through the widespread use of energy-efficient fixtures and equipment such as Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lighting, building management systems, and building insulation to reduce electricity consumption.
DoE Undersecretary Sharon Garin led the awarding for both events, as the Sustainable Energy Awards coincided with the ceremonial launch of the department’s Renewable Energy Market (REM) full commercial operations.
SM Mall of Asia (MOA), SM Prime’s flagship shopping mall in Philippines, bested other establishments to receive DOE’s first-ever Sustainable Energy Award for a Private Institution. SM MOA’s winning renewable energy feature is its solar photovoltaic system installed on top of the complex’s carpark buildings, consisting of 10,426 solar panels and 40 inverters.
Capable of generating 2.7 megawatts (MW) of peak energy, the system produces enough electricity to power 1,790 households for an entire year. To date, 35 SM Supermalls have solar installations on their roof decks, totaling 44 MW of peak energy.
SM Engineering and Design Development President Engr. Hans Sy, Jr. expressed his appreciation for the DOE recognitions:
“These awards affirm SM Prime’s commitment to sustainable operations that benefit both the environment and our communities. We are proud to contribute to a greener future through our active energy conservation.”
The majority of SM Supermalls participate in the DOE’s Interruptible Load Program (ILP), where the malls contribute 110MW of power at every ILP activity. SM Prime has the largest contribution among the private sector, with SM MOA providing the highest committed capacity at 15.92 MW.
A pillar of SM Prime’s goal to achieve Net Zero by 2040, renewable energy, coupled with proper waste management, aligns with the national targets that will lead the Philippines to a better and brighter future.