It is dawn in Santiago and the streetlights begin to lower their intensity, without anyone knowing this is due to the implementation of one of the most important energy efficiency projects.
Felipe Donoso’s (Manager for the GG.CC Works Area of Enel Distribución) days are full of new challenges and ideas to be materialized, such as for example, the improvement of public lighting by means of LED technology.
This relevant initiative towards change had the District of Coronel, Biobio Region as its forerunner, where its streets began to be illuminated efficiently three years ago. The process of change took seven months, and it was achieved thanks to the work of dozens of technicians, who replaced the luminaries of the county one by one.
This successful case opened the way for adding other districts to this environmentally friendly technology. In this way, San Bernardo decided to replace the more than 24,000 luminaries in the county with LED technology, a project performed successfully, and which at the same time, consists in the largest project carried out in the history of the company.
Opening roads towards a sustainable city
The most innovative ideas include the implementation of electric bicycles and automobiles, solar panels, and LED screens.
But as of today, the most efficient projects are those that consist of photovoltaic panels and pumps, a technology which has already been installed in the hospital in Castro, on the Island of Chiloé, considerably improving not only its old system based on wooden pellets and diesel fuel, but reducing the consumption costs by 50% in an area of our country which is characterized by cold and rainy days.
“This was the opportunity to take part in a project which would allow us to be energy efficient, in addition to all of the benefits it entails”, emphasizes Christian Fuentes, Operations Manager for the Dr. Augusto Riffart Hospital in Castro.
Working towards a better future
In the near future, the main objective is no less ambitious. The ideal of achieving an environmentally friendlier society is reflected by the project of building the first Smart condominium in South America; including a photovoltaic system for electric power and hot water generation, with a sizable internal security system, able to be managed simply from a Smartphone.
Today, after years of work, of ideas and plans that were adapted to our country and its needs, Enel Chile counts with sustainable projects in different parts of our territory, thanks to teams of professionals that toil day after day in order to enjoy the sustainable advances made possible by progress in technology and innovation on a massive scale.