MANILA, Philippines—Solar photovoltaic and renewable energy (RE) technologies are now required in new and existing buildings after the Department of Energy issued a policy on the adoption of the guidelines of energy conservation.
The DOE on Friday released Department Circular 2020-12-0026 that aims to promote the use of the energy-conserving design on buildings and their services.
This will also boost the demand for materials specifically designed for energy conservation.
“Covered buildings shall source, initially, a minimum of 1 percent of their projected annual energy requirements,” stated the DC.
Other technologies that can be used are wind power supply systems, solar weather heaters, solar air conditioners, and solar-powered lighting systems that would reduce demand for commercial power.
Buildings that are covered within the DC are those with electrical loads of 112.5 kilovolt-ampere (kVa) or have a total gross area of at least 10,000 square meters.
The DC, though, not indicate fines for non-compliant buildings, but it said owners are also allowed to either partially or fully source their energy requirement from the RE power supply system.
Building owners are also allowed to sell their surplus RE to the local power unit, which is at a maximum of 100 kilowatts, but may be raised by the Energy Regulatory Commission in the future.