CORPUS Christi School’s Macasandig Campus now holds the distinction of being Cagayan de Oro City's only school to utilize solar energy to power the whole campus, switching from conventional power to its very own solar power system on September 2.
"Ever since we were in grade school, up until we proceeded to secondary and college education, we were always reminded to take care of the environment and preserve energy. We think that by this school subscribing to the usage of the renewable energy of the sun, we are actually taking our step into going green and doing our part in the preservation of the environment," Dr. Alfonso del Fierro Jr., Corpus Christi school director, said.
Corpus Christi School had partnered with Sowi Renewable Technologies Incorporated in installing solar panels in the roof of the school's gymnasium.
The 43.68 KWp grid-tied solar power system now powers the entire campus and provides energy for all its facilities including the lights, computers, and air-conditioning system.
The project was planned early in the year and after months of study, the solar panels finally went online Friday.
"It may be risky and expensive at first because of the equipment and the process of installing it, but I think that in ways like saving electricity cost, the Corpus Christi School will gain much more than its capital and at the same time being environment friendly and a model for the youth to conserve and take care of nature," del Fierro said.
"Unlike other cities, Cagayan de Oro is actually very gifted with the year round access to sunlight. Being one of the first in this area, the investment of Corpus Christi to solar power usage can be considered brave and at the same time noble because of the benefits that it can give to the community and not only to the school itself," engineer Ross Mangaser, President and CEO of SOWI Renewable Technologies Inc., said.
Aside from supplying energy to the campus, the Corpus Christi School will now also be able to supply electricity to the community particularly to the residences within close proximity to the school grounds.
The Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company, Inc (Cepalco) has already acknowledged the school's capacity to provide energy for its own use and for consumption of nearby houses in Macasandig at times when the school may not completely consume the electricity gathered by its solar panel system.
"I think that even if now, when they have already probably discovered another planet where we could possibly live in the future, it is still our moral responsibility to make sure that we are taking care of the Earth that was given to us. This school, in its own little way, is making sure that we have a part in the realization of that responsibility," added del Fierro.
The studentry of the school is also proud of what their administration has come up with with regards to taking part in going green for the environment.
"I am of course happy about the decision of the school to install the solar power system because it signifies its effort to take care of the environment and at the same time become very practical in finding resources of energy." said Alyssa, a student of Corpus Christi School.
Christian, another student, can't contain his excitement about his school's newest project.
"I am very proud of my school for coming up with an idea like this and I think that this movement of theirs will truly inspire not only me but the other students of the school," he said.
Later in the year, Corpus Christi is also planning on installing another solar panel system in its Pueblo de Oro campus.