Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) saved a whopping 7,612 kWh of electricity as it joined the whole world for Earth Hour 2010 last March 27 with a variety of “switch-off” events at it’s malls and facilities around the country.
This is equivalent to 4,056 kilograms of CO2e (carbon dioxide emissions) not discharged during that hour. This year’s savings topped last year’s results by 30 percent due to the increased participation among ALI-managed properties and its occupants.
“Initiating these types of activities and supporting campaigns that have a huge impact on our planet and our future reflects our commitment to environmental stewardship and going all-out for sustainability,” said Jorge Marco, ALI’s Head of Corporate Communications. “Earth Hour sends an important message in the fight against global warming and we all need to get involved in that effort.”
Erick Calupe, Associate Director for Residential Group of Ayala Property Management Corporation (APMC), said awareness programs such as conducting seminars and issuing circulars about the environment, as well as events such as The Ayala Recyclables Fair and tree planting sessions, are just some ways to engage public participation.
“As property managers, environment protection is part of our daily operations. Anything and everything we do impacts on the environment and we make sure that we don’t contribute further to its degradation but rather contribute to its longer existence,” Calupe said.
At the Ayala Triangle Gardens, the Makati City Department of Environmental Services in cooperation with ALI, Ayala Foundation Inc., Manila Water Company, and WWF-Philippines hosted the Earth Hour program featuring song and dance numbers from various community organizations. The highlight of the program was the ceremonial “switch off” of lights by the buildings surrounding the gardens and around the Makati CBD.
At the Ayala Malls, stores actively participated in Earth Hour and partially closed their lights between 8:30 and 9:30 in the evening.
Glorietta 4 Park in Makati held a live concert featuring bossanova artist Sitti to boost public awareness for the global campaign, while light jugglers and the Tribu Carlota band brightened up Trinoma in Quezon City.
Candle-lit paper bags, meanwhile, surrounded the garden for a serene ambience at MarQuee in Pampanga.
Other ALI properties, including residential communities and office buildings, participated in turning lights and major appliances off during Earth Hour.