REGINA ROME
Solar Digital Squad
Manila, Philippines
October 13, 2018
Who is the Sea Princess?
Everybody who’s anybody knows exactly who Tessa Prieto-Valdes is. The celebrity, socialite, columnist, fashion designer, trendsetter, athlete, and philanthropist. That legendary icon with the colorful hats and lashes, with a gregarious and flamboyant signature in the world of fashion. On October 9, 2018, the Sea Princess extraordinaire graced the Solaric Headquarters, where we usually teach guests how to install a solar panel at their homes, with her presence.
A green cause
The Philippines is going strong about going green. Even the biggest real estate developers and our government leaders are concerned about environmental consciousness. Sustainable design and structure rule the game and the word is out that to ensure a bright future, we all have to find our way to live a green lifestyle. All this brings us to one common path towards a greener future. That is precisely one of the advocacies of the Sea Princess.
The sun is green
Going solar is about going green. Learning how to install a solar panel at home is one of the more fundamental ways that anyone can do to shift to a greener lifestyle. Through an array of photovoltaic cells, sunlight is converted to electricity. This has become the most affordable and cost-efficient green technology of this era.
Tell me the benefits
As the camera men maneuvered their way around the Solaric Headquarters in Chino Roces Extension, Makati, Tessa sat down with Solaric President Mike De Guzman, and tackled the highlights and benefits of solar power.
“Energy from the sun is unlimited, and that’s a fact for another 5 billion years,” said Mike, as he talked about providing clean energy with no greenhouse gas emissions. He went on to discuss the more important issues to address when it comes to investing in a solar power system. “Using solar energy is absolutely green and rewarding,” he added. “With solar, you save money. You save the environment. You are cost-efficient. You avoid increasing power costs. You increase your property value. You assume a dual role by being a consumer and a producer of power.”
Tessa takes the green vision to heart
Jade De Guzman, Vice President of Solaric, went on to share her passion and advocacy with Tessa for healthy, clean air, and the eco-friendly advantages of turning on the sun. “Solaric is now zoning in on renewable energy technology and products more intensively. We are expanding our operations and establishing a stronger foothold in the country’s fast-growing solar energy market.”
“I imagine a country with numerous sprawling solar power plants, stretching across hectares of land throughout the archipelago. These solar plants have the capability of storing electricity generated during the day, which are then sold to consumers at night.” As the costs for solar power equipment and materials decrease, visions and realities are finally intersecting.
“Energy from solar is now cheaper than energy from a new gas burning power plant,” emphasized Mike, as he went on to show the #ZeroBill phenomena that Solaric launched three years ago.
The Solaric green light
“Solaric’s vision is very straightforward. In an ideal world, we want to convert all buildings to green buildings. We want all newly constructed homes to install solar. In ten years, I envision all houses in exclusive subdivisions to be on solar. By year 2030, majority of the nation’s energy should be derived from renewable energy sources. Only then can we have a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable Philippines,” said Mike.
With advocates like Tessa Prieto-Valdes and the Founders of Solaric who are clamoring for a green Philippines, we can only hope that this reality is exactly what is in store for us.
Regina Rome is a solar analyst with the Solar Digital Squad Research.