Solar-powered lantern lights Senate hall

By Anna Valmero Environmental group Greenpeace Philippines brought and lit a solar-powered lantern at the Senate of the Philippines in celebration of the passage of the Renewable Energy Bill. Senator Miguel Zubiri received the six-foot tall (six-meter in diameter) lantern from Greenpeace members. “This is a parol that is totally off-the-grid as it spearheads the use of renewable energy for it to be lit,” said Zubiri, as he lauded the effort of Greenpeace to design and bring the lantern to their office. He said the lantern shows people can have power coming from green energy sources. Zubiri said the lantern would be placed outside the canopy side of the Senate building until end of December. The lantern is made of rattan and is adorned with over 60 meters of yellow and green light emitting diodes (LEDS). Amalie Obusan, climate campaigner of Greenpeace Philippines, said they used LEDS because they are more power-efficient light sources than ordinary Christmas light bulbs. Two solar panels are used to run the LEDs installed in the lantern. The panels are attached to four batteries, which stores a total of 100 amperes of electricity. The batteries are then attached to a 1,000 -watt inverter which converts the stored energy to 12V of power, which lights the lantern. “The lantern is a reminder to our senators that renewable energy is the clear answer, the true hope, for a secure future free from severe impacts of climate change,” Obusan said. She said the passage of the renewable energy bill is laudable but stressed the need for the government to commit to climate change mitigation efforts. This activity is part of the official Global Day of Action for the Climate celebration slated on December 6. This year, the celebration coincides with the United Nations climate meeting in Poland.