From a green mobile phone charger, to a solar-powered medical response unit, to an electronic phantom blocker, these ideas are but the beginning of a new wave of innovative energy management solutions designed by students.
Philippe Reveilhac, Country President for the Philippines Schneider Electric with Go Green in the City Philippines Winners Rommel Areola and Christina Ordonez
Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, launched the fourth annual Go Green in the City Challenge. For this year’s competition, university students across the Philippines were invited to present their innovative ideas for intelligent energy management solutions for cities.
“Go Green in the City has provided us an opportunity to realize our potential and push ourselves to come up with the best possible concept. Schneider Electric eliminated the fear and encouraged us to share our ideas.” said Rommel Areola, Team Intellectricity from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. “So far, it’s been a daunting but an exciting experience. The most important thing we learned is that we, as students, are capable to taking on this challenge.”
Among the three finalists, the team of Rommel Areola and Christina Ordonez from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines will be advancing to the East Asia Zone competition in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for the global semi-finals on April 4, 2014. They will represent the Philippines to compete against other winning teams from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Their concept, the “Phantom Load Blocker”, bested over 46 case study submissions.
“The Phantom Load Blocker is designed to be able to disconnect appliances from the mains once the appliance is in standby mode, thereby reducing consumption by approximately 90%,” said Christina Ordonez. “The device would eliminate, or at least reduce the consumption of the additional electrical energy from switched-off appliances, which if left alone, would accumulate to more energy consumption and higher expenses.”
One of the two other teams of finalists comprised of Mishaelle Castro from the University of the Philippines-Diliman and Denny Alaan from Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Manila presented the “Green Charger”. Their concept involved recycling the radiation emitted by mobile phones and converting it into energy that powers and sustains its batteries.
From Ateneo De Manila University, Runner Salonga and Janiz Suyko’s idea of a solar-driven Infirmary and Emergency Response Unit or “Soldier”, is an e-vehicle similar to a freight tricycle that carries a mobile solar-powered clinic powered by solar rechargeable batteries.
“Last year was a big year for the Philippines. It was the first time we entered the Go Green in the City competition and it was also the first year that we won the Global Finals in Paris,” said Philippe Reveilhac, country president for the Philippines, Schneider Electric. “Alyssa Vintola and Lorenz Payonga showed us that Filipinos are driven to change their world for the better. And today, we have seen a stronger interest from students and universities for the challenge. It is important that the youth–the Philippine’s future leaders—have a better understanding of the challenges of rising energy consumption. We hope that this experience will be the springboard for change and urge them to start thinking smartly about energy.”
Following the East Asia zone leg, the top 12 teams will then be flown to Paris in June 2014 to compete in the final. The winning team will be travelling the world, visiting Schneider Electric facilities, networking with employees, and furthermore will be given the opportunity to work with Schneider Electric.
