It has been around a year already where students have had to make their own homes their personal headquarters, and a large portion of the workforce has also been forced to apply the same arrangements. Given the situation, there really is no better time than now to make your abode more sustainable and more “green.”

But those operating mainly from the confines of their home can do simple initiatives to make your area and environment more sustainable. It always helps to be more energy-efficient and conscious of your usage when it comes to appliances. It is also a big help if you turn to reusable alternatives and eco-friendly items instead of single-use or plastic products. On top of recycling and reusing, you can opt to limit paper use or even go as paperless as possible at home. With plants becoming a popular hobby, one can also choose to grow your own produce.

In the private sector, major moves are also being made by big companies to promote sustainability. Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) are expanding the targets in their sustainability programs as they integrate environment, social and governance (ESG) principles for green economic recovery.

In a recent virtual forum organized by local think tank Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute (ADRi) in partnership with the Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship (PBEST), Meralco VP and chief sustainability officer Raymond Ravelo said the company is starting to gain momentum in its shift toward cleaner and greener energy.

“In the next five years we look to ‘greenify’ our supply portfolio by securing 1,500 megawatts (MW) of clean energy contracts. Through our company MGreen, which is our platform for investments in the renewable energy space, we will build 1,500 MW also in renewable energy projects through 2027,” he said.