By Maricar Cinco
SILANG, Cavite – Juan Marquez and wife Celia are not ashamed to call themselves “mag-uuling” (charcoal maker) and “basurero” (garbage collector).
The work they do, they say, brings in the cash.
But being a long-time environmentalist, Marquez believes that recycling agricultural wastes, particularly coconut that is abundant in Cavite, helps “minimize [harmful] impact on the environment.”
In 2006, Marquez was joined by fellow Rotarians in Silang town to put up 1M (culled from his initials – Juan Marquez) Agro-fuel Development Ventures Inc.
Due to his work on charcoal production from coconut wastes, with the assistance of Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau in Los Baños, Laguna, Marquez in 2007 was named one of 10 winners in research and development by the Philippine Business in Development, the local counterpart of The Netherlands-based non-government organization Business in Development.
Charcoal production
Both active in the town’s waste management program, Marquez and his wife were alarmed in 1996 when they learned that coconut wastes made up 60 percent of the biodegradable trash generated in Silang.
“These were disposed in creeks that clogged canals and caused floods,” says Celia.
It also takes years before coconut waste decomposes.
Turning the problem to an advantage, the couple collected the husks and shells of coconut from traders in Silang and later, from nearby towns. They received 10 to 15 tons of coconut wastes at their plant each day.
Marquez describes the procedure to recycle the wastes: The coconut husks must be dry, with only 30 percent of moisture, before they are charred in the kilns for three days. Later, the charcoal is cooled down for two days, ground, and finally molded into briquettes.
Marquez has also devised condensing pipes that trap and condense the smoke emitted from the kilns. The vapor is condensed into another byproduct – “pyroligenous acid” or liquid smoke.
The plant has 10 kilns, each capable of producing 500 kilos of coal and about 500 liters of liquid smoke per production.
Cheaper, safer
Coconut charcoal is found to have higher heating value. It is smokeless and odorless as compared with wood charcoal, Marquez says, adding that it is three times hotter.
“Eight pieces of briquettes could be used for two hours of cooking. A kilo [of charcoal] may be used to grill five kilos of pork meat and two bangus [milkfish]. We’ve tried that,” he says.
1M supplies coconut charcoal to poultry growers in Manila and Cavite. Most poultry raisers use liquefied petroleum gas. But a ton of charcoal can be used in a poultry farm of 30,000 heads of chicken, enabling growers to cut down on fuel expenses.
Liquid smoke, on the other hand, may be used as insect and pest repellent, odor eliminator and disinfectant. 1M supplies liquid smoke to farmers, factories and hospital waste treatment facilities.
Vic Marasigan of KLT Fruits Inc. in Dasmariñas City says he uses liquid smoke to remove odor from the factory’s fruit wastes.
“We [also] tried spraying it [at] a passion fruit plantation, and insect infestation was reduced,” he says.
Also known as “wood vinegar,” the refined liquid smoke has medicinal uses – it may be applied to disinfect open wounds and cure arthritis.
The Department of Agriculture Cavite office has also tested liquid smoke in vegetable plantations.
1M’s pack of 30 briquettes, equivalent to a kilo, costs P19. It is also sold per sack – about five kilos – to poultry growers for P90. The liquid smoke, branded as Norture Liquid Smoke, is sold for P120 per liter.
Replication
With coconut wastes as their primary material, the couple worries about the depleting coconut plantations in the town.
“In 10 years, coconut plantations could be gone and converted into subdivisions. We just have to replant and replace the losses,” says Celia.
But Marquez says they can also use mango wastes, pineapple stalks or skin of durian to produce charcoal, depending on presence of the crops in certain regions.
He says he is willing to transfer the technology and begin the charcoal industry in other communities.
“There is a high demand for coal. We are being required two container vans of coal per month,” he says.
He says that 1M is now considering prospects of exporting its products abroad.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Builders say nature cannot be ignored
By Tessa Salazar
TAKE NATURE INTO CONSIDERATION, and the rewards will be plenty. Ignore nature, and the consequences are certain to be dire. The country’s top builders say they have always built on this principle.
Architect and environmental planner Henry L. Yap, vice president of Robinsons Land Corp.’s design and planning department, says the onslaught of the recent calamities has proven how ruthless the environment can be to the unprepared.
“We shall continue to do our share in responsible citizenship by making sure that we regularly clean our large drainage systems and continue to periodically assess its state/condition. The transfer of best practices that focuses on maintenance, repair and upgrade which greatly come in play with our in-house engineers will be continued and even be enhanced,” says Yap, who is also the general manager of the RLC office buildings division.
Yap adds that the typhoons had shown that RLC’s use of proper site considerations, including the evaluation of the ecological/environmental factors in arriving at its designs and decisions, “actually served us well as seen by the minimal effects on our projects. RLC will continue to ensure that we assess each location that we consider based on exhaustive site selection criteria/factors. Understanding the site profile will greatly influence our decision and will limit the negative impacts on the environment.”
Environmental sustainability
Thomas F. Mirasol, head of marketing and sales of Ayala Land Premier, says: “I can say with confidence that Ayala Land is the leader as far as environmental sustainability is concerned.
“We were the first (and might still be the only one) to set up sewage treatment plants decades ago. Decades ago, too, we emphasized open and green spaces. We respected areas that should never be developed either because of the impact on the land or the flora and fauna that lived there. We harvest rainwater. We reuse treated wastewater for irrigation. We recycle building materials and contain the effects of development. I think Nuvali in Laguna is the leading example of all of these best practices being put to good use today,” Mirasol says.
Benjamarie Therese N. Serrano, director, president and chief operating officer, and Ricardo B. Tan Jr., senior vice president-finance and chief information officer, of Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc., says their team believes it has a “very good record” in terms of giving something back to the environment.
Vista Land, which counts among its projects Brittany, Crown Asia, Camella and a host of various condominium developments in the country, says it maintains a major tree nursery and had planted over one million trees since the establishment of its “pioneering” company three decades ago.
“Where possible, we refrain from cutting down trees in our developments, for example, in our Georgia Club subdivision in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, we designed the layout taking into account the existence of many hardwood trees, and we declared the area a bird sanctuary,” Serrano says.
Close ties
Vista Land claims it has maintained close ties with the Villar Foundation which was established by its principals. Serrano says the Foundation has made significant progress in cleaning up the river in Las Piñas, while at the same time creating livelihood and employment for the community. She cites another project to convert kitchen waste to organic fertilizer, which promotes garbage segregation and will hopefully lessen the use of landfills.
Both Vista Land executives say that in general, developers in 2010 will be more conscious of how their actions affect the environment.
“Mitigating adverse impact to the environment,” Serrano continues, “is one way the company is taking a hard look at its carbon footprint. We should never look at it as a choice between preserving nature and giving people their dwelling spaces. It can be, it should be, a healthy balance.”
Nerissa N. Josef, vice president for project development of Alveo Land, says the company has been conscientious in taking a long-term view on property, adding, “We know that when we build, we build not only for the present but also for the future. Thus, concern for the environment and economic and social sustainability has always been considered from the time we plan up to execution and operation of facilities. Even before ‘green’ had become a trend, Alveo had been ‘greening’ its developments.”
She cites Verdana Homes Bacoor, which segregates its garbage, and maintains a tree nursery; TCAA which has natural ventilation; Two Serendra which maintains a 65-percent “green space” with the largest “green roof” in the area, adding that the gardens on the ground floor of the low-rise sections is the “green roof” for the basement, covering about 2.5 hectares of open space for Two Serendra, and its breezeways.
Josef also cites Celadon Park and Senta, which also have green roofs; Treveia, as part of Nuvali, has sustainable features further enhanced. She cites bioswales, a retention pond which serves both as a feature and sustainability element, trees, provision for double piping, and “gray” water. It also supports the social sustainability efforts of Nuvali by hiring skilled labor in the area.
TAKE NATURE INTO CONSIDERATION, and the rewards will be plenty. Ignore nature, and the consequences are certain to be dire. The country’s top builders say they have always built on this principle.
Architect and environmental planner Henry L. Yap, vice president of Robinsons Land Corp.’s design and planning department, says the onslaught of the recent calamities has proven how ruthless the environment can be to the unprepared.
“We shall continue to do our share in responsible citizenship by making sure that we regularly clean our large drainage systems and continue to periodically assess its state/condition. The transfer of best practices that focuses on maintenance, repair and upgrade which greatly come in play with our in-house engineers will be continued and even be enhanced,” says Yap, who is also the general manager of the RLC office buildings division.
Yap adds that the typhoons had shown that RLC’s use of proper site considerations, including the evaluation of the ecological/environmental factors in arriving at its designs and decisions, “actually served us well as seen by the minimal effects on our projects. RLC will continue to ensure that we assess each location that we consider based on exhaustive site selection criteria/factors. Understanding the site profile will greatly influence our decision and will limit the negative impacts on the environment.”
Environmental sustainability
Thomas F. Mirasol, head of marketing and sales of Ayala Land Premier, says: “I can say with confidence that Ayala Land is the leader as far as environmental sustainability is concerned.
“We were the first (and might still be the only one) to set up sewage treatment plants decades ago. Decades ago, too, we emphasized open and green spaces. We respected areas that should never be developed either because of the impact on the land or the flora and fauna that lived there. We harvest rainwater. We reuse treated wastewater for irrigation. We recycle building materials and contain the effects of development. I think Nuvali in Laguna is the leading example of all of these best practices being put to good use today,” Mirasol says.
Benjamarie Therese N. Serrano, director, president and chief operating officer, and Ricardo B. Tan Jr., senior vice president-finance and chief information officer, of Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc., says their team believes it has a “very good record” in terms of giving something back to the environment.
Vista Land, which counts among its projects Brittany, Crown Asia, Camella and a host of various condominium developments in the country, says it maintains a major tree nursery and had planted over one million trees since the establishment of its “pioneering” company three decades ago.
“Where possible, we refrain from cutting down trees in our developments, for example, in our Georgia Club subdivision in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, we designed the layout taking into account the existence of many hardwood trees, and we declared the area a bird sanctuary,” Serrano says.
Close ties
Vista Land claims it has maintained close ties with the Villar Foundation which was established by its principals. Serrano says the Foundation has made significant progress in cleaning up the river in Las Piñas, while at the same time creating livelihood and employment for the community. She cites another project to convert kitchen waste to organic fertilizer, which promotes garbage segregation and will hopefully lessen the use of landfills.
Both Vista Land executives say that in general, developers in 2010 will be more conscious of how their actions affect the environment.
“Mitigating adverse impact to the environment,” Serrano continues, “is one way the company is taking a hard look at its carbon footprint. We should never look at it as a choice between preserving nature and giving people their dwelling spaces. It can be, it should be, a healthy balance.”
Nerissa N. Josef, vice president for project development of Alveo Land, says the company has been conscientious in taking a long-term view on property, adding, “We know that when we build, we build not only for the present but also for the future. Thus, concern for the environment and economic and social sustainability has always been considered from the time we plan up to execution and operation of facilities. Even before ‘green’ had become a trend, Alveo had been ‘greening’ its developments.”
She cites Verdana Homes Bacoor, which segregates its garbage, and maintains a tree nursery; TCAA which has natural ventilation; Two Serendra which maintains a 65-percent “green space” with the largest “green roof” in the area, adding that the gardens on the ground floor of the low-rise sections is the “green roof” for the basement, covering about 2.5 hectares of open space for Two Serendra, and its breezeways.
Josef also cites Celadon Park and Senta, which also have green roofs; Treveia, as part of Nuvali, has sustainable features further enhanced. She cites bioswales, a retention pond which serves both as a feature and sustainability element, trees, provision for double piping, and “gray” water. It also supports the social sustainability efforts of Nuvali by hiring skilled labor in the area.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Geothermal firm inks agreements to supply power to Leyte co-ops
By Amy R. Remo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MAJOR geothermal developer Envent Holding Philippines Inc. has signed five power purchase agreements worth roughly P15.2 billion ($338 million) for the supply of electricity to cooperatives in Leyte.
Envent Holding—backed by Iceland-based firms Reykjavik Energy Invest and Geysir Green Energy—said the agreements were signed with Leyte II Electric Cooperative Inc. (Leyeco), Leyeco 4, Leyeco 5, Don Orestes Romualdez Electric Cooperative (Dorelco), and Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative Inc. (Soleco).
Envent said the contracts, which would be valid over a 10-year period, would allow it to supply 35 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable electricity priced between $100 and $113 per MW-hour (mWh).
“The execution of those PPAs is a major milestone ... as the revenue portion of the plant is now mostly taken care of. The negotiation process with the electricity co-ops was extremely pleasant and we are pleased with the professionalism and business acumen of our local partners,” said Envent CEO Gudmundur F. Sigurjonsson.
“We are now working on the financial structure of the project, which we expect will take between five to ten months to complete,” he added.
The baseload electricity will come from Envent’s 50-MW Biliran Unit 1 geothermal power plant, which is scheduled to begin commercial operations by 2012.
The facility is located on Biliran Island, which has a good connection to the national power grid. The project is being executed in collaboration with Biliran Geothermal Inc. and several other local companies.
The five new PPAs would bring to six the total number of agreements that Envent had forged with electric cooperatives on the island.
According to Envent, the cooperatives that have signed the agreements handle more than 300,000 customer accounts combined, representing a population of about 1.9 million on Biliran and Leyte islands. These off-takers are expected to consume about 40 MW of electricity.
“The remaining 10-MW capacity will be offered to the six off-takers and a portion left for the upcoming Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in the Visayas region,” Envent added.
Through its various geothermal projects in the country, Envent has committed to add a total of 1,200 MW of renewable energy to the grid by 2013.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MAJOR geothermal developer Envent Holding Philippines Inc. has signed five power purchase agreements worth roughly P15.2 billion ($338 million) for the supply of electricity to cooperatives in Leyte.
Envent Holding—backed by Iceland-based firms Reykjavik Energy Invest and Geysir Green Energy—said the agreements were signed with Leyte II Electric Cooperative Inc. (Leyeco), Leyeco 4, Leyeco 5, Don Orestes Romualdez Electric Cooperative (Dorelco), and Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative Inc. (Soleco).
Envent said the contracts, which would be valid over a 10-year period, would allow it to supply 35 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable electricity priced between $100 and $113 per MW-hour (mWh).
“The execution of those PPAs is a major milestone ... as the revenue portion of the plant is now mostly taken care of. The negotiation process with the electricity co-ops was extremely pleasant and we are pleased with the professionalism and business acumen of our local partners,” said Envent CEO Gudmundur F. Sigurjonsson.
“We are now working on the financial structure of the project, which we expect will take between five to ten months to complete,” he added.
The baseload electricity will come from Envent’s 50-MW Biliran Unit 1 geothermal power plant, which is scheduled to begin commercial operations by 2012.
The facility is located on Biliran Island, which has a good connection to the national power grid. The project is being executed in collaboration with Biliran Geothermal Inc. and several other local companies.
The five new PPAs would bring to six the total number of agreements that Envent had forged with electric cooperatives on the island.
According to Envent, the cooperatives that have signed the agreements handle more than 300,000 customer accounts combined, representing a population of about 1.9 million on Biliran and Leyte islands. These off-takers are expected to consume about 40 MW of electricity.
“The remaining 10-MW capacity will be offered to the six off-takers and a portion left for the upcoming Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in the Visayas region,” Envent added.
Through its various geothermal projects in the country, Envent has committed to add a total of 1,200 MW of renewable energy to the grid by 2013.
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