Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) is taking the green lead in the real estate industry with its expanding use of renewable energy as it continues to pursue the installation of its own solar power facilities in more of its malls nationwide. RLC president Frederick Go said they have already completed the installation of solar facilities in Robinsons malls in Palawan and Iloilo while more solar panels are being installed in six malls with two additional malls in the pipeline. Once completed, the 10 malls will have an annual yield of 15.94 million kilowatt-hours, avoiding the production of 8,760 tons of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels. This would be equivalent to the planting of 223,965 full grown trees. Go said they expect to complete installation of solar facilities in Robinsons malls in Dumaguete, Roxas and Antique by April and in Novaliches, Angeles and San Fernando by May. The solar facilities in Robinsons Novaliches will be the first installation by RLC under a Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) franchise while the San Fernando installation will be the country’s biggest solar facility for self-consumption. The installations of the solar panels for Robinsons Place Tacloban and Robinsons Cybergate Bacolod are expected to be completed by the latter half of the year. “Robinsons Land Corporation understands the value and potential of energy management to promote sustainable growth and demonstrate its commitment to help protect the environment from the adverse effects of carbon emissions while boosting its shareholders’, employees’, and customers’ confidence in the company by aiming to be an industry leader through efficient energy use,” said Go. While various energy conservation and efficiency programs are being implemented in the organization, RLC, together with its parent company, JG Summit Holdings Inc., was determined to take its energy management commitment further by harnessing renewable energy through its own solar facilities. RLC chose rooftop solar power facilities over other forms of renewable energy sources because advancements in solar panel technology are increasing the efficiency and lowering cost of production, making solar plants even more cost effective; solar power facilities require very little maintenance; they are silent energy producers and do not generate noise; and solar power plants produce no emissions. “With these solar facilities, Robinsons Land is showing its commitment to the environment by building a greener future and helping in the reduction of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,” said Go. These facilities are investments of the company to produce renewable energy for its own consumption—making RLC the biggest producer of solar power for self-consumption, accounting for 30 percent of the 10 malls’ electricity requirements. He added that their goal is to eventually install solar power facilities in all of RLC’s 41 malls, noting that there is a global trend to shift to the use of renewable energy sources.