enabling sustainability - Aboitiz Power

Race to Reduce run
Sustainability is about taking care of the welfare of the next
generation. To dramatize the importance of managing resource
consumption and minimizing waste generation, the Aboitiz Group
held last August 22 the Aboitiz Race to Reduce Challenge: A Race
for the Next Gen in Cebu. The event also campaigned for healthier
lifestyles. Funds raised went to underprivileged children from
various communities supported by the Aboitiz Group.
During the Aboitiz groupwide simultaneous tree planting activity
in 2010 trees were planted in the name of the 2,500 runners who
joined the race. A group of runners also joined employee volunteers
in the tree planting activity. Aside from Race to Reduce promoting
awareness of prudent resource consumption of energy, paper and
water, it also advocated for a healthier lifestyle and a friendlier planet
while supporting the next generation. This lives up to the triple
bottom line essence of sustainability – profit, people and planet.
An hour for
Earth Hour
EVERY year, for an hour near the end of March, millions of people around the globe opt to
re-live a time when there was no electricity, no industries, and no pollution. This voluntary
switch-off is observed from 8:30 – 9:30 in the evening every third Saturday of March. This
brief period called Earth Hour aims to express concern for the planet and cease activities
that put the earth at risk. Using energy triggers emission of greenhouse gases to the
atmosphere, thus accelerating climate change. planet.
To support the health of the planet, the Aboitiz Group launched
simultaneous programs for Earth Hour. All offices of the Group shut
off lights nationwide from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. last March 27, 2010.
Most team members also agreed to do the same in their households.
Additional activities were organized to raise awareness on Earth Hour.
In Cebu City, an eco-bazaar featured earth-friendly products at
The Persimmon Plus in Mabolo, preceded by a walkathon. Several
lectures on climate change and related topics were also conducted.
Even electricity distribution utilities aggressively campaigned
for their customers to participate in switch-off. Cotabato Light
reported cooperation from 4,600 of its residential customers.
Davao Light noted a 13-megawatt drop in the load of its franchise
area during the event.
For more long-term results, the Visayan Electric Co. (VECO) and
the Davao Light signed up for the Department of Energy’s (DOE)
campaign to shift to more energy-efficient lighting systems, like
compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and LEDs (light emitting diodes).
Under the program, VECO and Davao Light would exchange
incandescent bulbs that are surrendered by qualified consumers
for CFLs. It is aimed to bring down energy consumption of
households, thus freeing up the load in the franchise areas of the
distribution utilities.
The program came at an opportune time
as the Cebu and Mindanao grids suffered
supply problems.
ABOITIZ SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2010
17