Philippine resort Puerto Princesa chooses ‘morally correct’ low-carbon path
How a popular site can enjoy a green epiphany using solar panels, LED lights, rainwater harvesting, refillable bottles and bamboo roofs for extra cooling
When Theresa Walgraeve and her husband set up their 15-room resort in Puerto Princesa, a city on the Philippine island of Palawan, they worried about mosquitoes and monsoons, and the high cost of electricity.
That is when the island’s Zero Carbon Resorts programme approached them with suggestions on how to save energy and costs – from solar panels and LED lights to rainwater harvesting, refillable bottles and bamboo roofs for extra cooling.
The Walgraeves enrolled in the programme, made the changes, and achieved significant savings.
“They were not very big adjustments, but we were able to cut our electricity and water use by a fair amount,” Walgraeve said.
“Many guests are also mindful and appreciate the fact that we are zero carbon. And we are happy that we make a difference to not just Puerto Princesa and Palawan, but also the earth.”
We are an island eco-system, so we are particularly vulnerable to climate change impact
In 2011, Puerto Princesa became the first Southeast Asian city to earn a “zero carbon” label, meaning it produces no more climate-changing emissions than it can offset, according to an audit by environmental partnership “SEED” and the Manila Observatory.