Longest Solar Panel in EU to use Huawei Equipment

One of the busiest market halls in Brussels, the Marche des Abattoirs will house what is set to be the largest integrated solar panel installations in Europe using a customized batch of special solar panels manufactured by Huawei.

 

It requires hard work and ingenuity to install solar panels on the roof of a listed building while trying to preserve its original appearance and architectural beauty.

 

The Marche des Abattoirs is located in the Belgian capital’s southern municipality of Anderlecht and project involves the installation of 5,400 solar panels on the building’s 10,000 square meter steel roof.

Bart Sillis, a 48-year-old Belgian entrepreneur, was aware of the challenge that lay before him when he decided to undertake the renovation of the roof.

 

As the general manager of the ESE Group, a Belgian company that specializes in renewable energy, he was confident in his team’s capabilities and could count on the group’s suppliers with whom he has established long-term cooperation.

 

The Abattoir complex has a history dating back to more than 130 years. Today, it is known to the local Chinese community as the “Bull Market” because of the two bronze bull statues guarding the building’s monumental entrance.

 Bustling with wholesalers and retailers in the weekends, the site also houses modern meat cutting and other food processing facilities.

 

Timed to coincide with the building’s renovation, the Anderlecht Abattoir leased the roof to Brussels startup and solar power solution provider Skysun, which partnered with the ESE Group to install the rooftop solar panels.

 

Sillis said that under the Belgian regulations on the preservation of cultural heritage, the look and feel of the original building cannot be altered, so the design team at ESE customized a batch of special solar panels manufactured in China.

 

The jet black solar modules follow the arc of the roof, and the mounting system has been designed to look like a zinc roof from 100 years ago, Sillis said.

 

“It is a very good example of how to secure a listed building by using state-of-the-art architectural solutions,” commented Paul Thielemans, director of public relations at the Anderlecht Abattoir.

 

The rooftop photovoltaic system is designed to have an annual installed capacity of 1,600 megawatts, according to Thielemans. He told Xinhua that the surplus electricity generated at the compound could be sold to the public in the near future.

 

The system became operational in December last year and is now generating enough electricity to cover the needs of the whole building. In the context of the current energy crisis in Europe, not to have to pay for electricity is an especially welcome opportunity for the complex’s operator to save costs.

 

The European Climate Law, adopted by the European Union (EU) last year, sets a legally binding target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The massive expansion of renewable energy is an important step toward this goal.

 

Sillis said that the ESE Group has used high power density inverters with a capacity of two megawatts made by the Chinese telecom giant Huawei.

 

China and the EU closely cooperate on climate change, and green energy transition is one of the important subjects in the China-EU energy dialogue.

 

The report of the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU for 2021 shows that after more than a decade of development, China’s photovoltaic cells and modules industry has developed into a well-performing sector with affordable prices and advantages of scale, making Chinese enterprises the best choice to complement the EU industrial chain and support it in meeting its growing demand for photovoltaic products.

 

Sillis said he was optimistic about the potential and prospects of China-EU green cooperation. He said that a project developed with green technologies is one worth promoting as it generates greater economic value and therefore benefits the local communities

 

Original article from ( Feature: Brussels’ listed building to house Europe’s largest urban solar roof-Xinhua (news.cn) by Li Jizhi, Alexander James Wright

 

A.S. Watson (ASW) introduces Greener Stores

Watsons’ parent company, A.S. Watson (ASW), just celebrated its 180^th anniversary, and the Group is launching a Greener Stores Global Framework to accelerate the transformation of retail towards lower-environmental impact stores to achieve a reduction in carbon emissions, water usage and landfill waste as well as leverage its scale for good to speed up the global movement towards a more sustainable future. The ASW Greener Stores Global Framework aims to forge and inspire its businesses to build a stronger sustainability culture and practice in the way it designs, constructs, operates and maintains its stores. 

A.S. Watson Introduces Greener Stores

As the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer, A.S. Watson operates an extensive network of over 16,400 stores under 12 retail brands in 29 markets. It is one of the fastest growing retailers opening over 1,000 stores a year. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic in the last two years, A.S. Watson continued to open 1,600 new stores. That’s why making its stores greener is pivotal in accelerating its sustainability progress. 

According to Malina Ngai, Group Chief Operating Officer of A.S. Watson Group, and CEO of A.S. Watson (Asia and Europe), “A.S. Watson Greener Stores Global Framework shows our deep commitment to accelerate our sustainability progress and move towards a more sustainable future. It is our vision to make every one of our stores a greener store with lower environmental impact throughout its lifecycle. 

“Keys to our Greener Stores Global Framework are efforts to inspire a sustainable culture in the everyday operations of retail stores, engaging customers in choosing more sustainable products and lifestyle, accelerating energy efficiency and renewable energy, increasing the use of responsible materials and waste diversion.”

A.S. Watson Chooses Superdrug Peterborough in the UK as its First Greener Store
Ngai continues, “Under the Greener Stores Global Framework, A.S. Watson will be developing store designs that minimize its environmental impact from the full lifecycle of the store. This includes the increasing use of recyclable materials, explore ways to enhance energy efficiency, reduce waste, save water, all the way to end-of life disposal. The construction process will also be carefully planned and managed to ensure landfill and recycling targets are set together with local contractors.” 

 

A.S. Watson’s first greener store is a Superdrug store in Peterborough’s Serpentine Green Shopping Centre in the U.K. opened last October. Sustainability has been a core focus of the store development process from conception to reality. The store features fully recyclable signages that were made from recycled yarn and plastic bottles. Its ceiling tiles were also made from bio-soluble mineral wool, clay and starch and is also 100% recyclable.  

The store has also introduced several sustainability features including an AAA efficiency rate air conditioning system, a waste management target of 5% to landfills and using a reduced number of LED mood lights in the ceiling which led to a 37% saving on electricity. As a result, the store has managed to save 5,800 KWh of energy annually which is equivalent to a 1,200 kg CO₂ annual reduction.

Daily Operations – Forging a Sustainable Culture 

Emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive approach, Ngai adds, “A.S. Watson Greener Stores Global Framework is not just about how we construct stores, it’s about creating a culture of sustainability inside and outside the organization. That’s why the Framework also comprises of initiatives to engage and inspire our colleagues, our customers, and our business partners to team up with us to build a better world. 

Building a sustainable culture is not a one-off action; it’s a continuous effort to raise awareness of sustainability and bring behavioral changes to our people, customers as well as health and beauty industry as a whole. Providing a safe and healthy environment to our people and customers is just as important in our Greener Stores Global Framework. So we truly believe that the Framework will ultimately bring an all-win situation to all parties.” 

A.S. Watson has been actively reducing the environmental footprint of its products with a better selection of ingredients and packaging materials. Since 2014, A.S. Watson has banned the use of microplastics in its rinse-off exclusive cosmetics or personal care products. This ban was extended to all consumer brand products sold in all stores in 2020. A.S. Watson has also been working on Our Watsons Own Brand and its global partners, including Procter & Gamble, L’Oréal, Shiseido, Beiersdorf, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Kao, Reckitt and Unilever, to offer Sustainable Choices products, in stores and online in Asia, making it easier for customers to find products that have more sustainable packaging and better ingredients and contribute to a better world.

Customer Experience – Inspiring Sustainable Lifestyle

Every year, A.S. Watson serves 5.5 billion customers via its O+O (Offline plus Online) platform so it’s critical to engage and inspire our customers to do good to the planet with us. Besides providing Sustainable Choices products, we’ve been running a wide variety of programmes that encourage customers to lead a sustainable lifestyle. 

In Europe, Superdrug is the first U.K. retailer to provide customers with a solution to recycle empty medicine blister packs in over 200 pharmacies. Thanks to the “Little Packs, Big Impact” recycling initiative, over 4.8 million blister packs have been recycled weighing over 10,000 kg. Meanwhile, at The Perfume Shop, for every perfume bottle that customers recycle, it donates the cost of planting one tree and its target is to plant 1 million trees by 2030.

In Asia, Watsons has rolled out a region-wide plastic containers recycling programme to Go Green with its customers. In collaboration with supplier partners such as P&G and L'Oréal, over 1 million plastic containers have been collected and diverted from landfills and re-processed through local NGOs and recyclers.Meanwhile, at Watsons Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, Refill Stations have been launched to encourage more customers to play a part to reuse the containers and reduce the use of plastic, contributing to a more sustainable world. In the Philippines specifically, Watsons has worked with Plastic Bank and SM Cares, in collaboration with P&G, Unilever and L’Oreal for recycling initiatives.

Ngai concludes, “A.S. Watson Greener Stores Global Framework is just a kick-off of our greener journey together with our customers as we continue to roll out initiatives to make our stores around the world more sustainable. We want to lead by example in setting a new benchmark for health and beauty retail, inspiring more businesses to follow suit and create more greener stores that help transform retail towards making a positive impact on the planet.” 

Ortigas Malls converts the roof deck of the iconic Connecticut Arcade into an open-air lifestyle hub the ‘Greenhills Skyline’

Thinking of where to go on your next date or catch up session with friends? Stress no more because you can never really go wrong with a stunning view.

 

A more enjoyable dining experience awaits mallgoers in Greenhills as Ortigas Malls converts the roof deck of the iconic Connecticut Arcade into an open-air lifestyle hub. Dubbed the ‘Greenhills Skyline’, the neighborhood alfresco offers panoramic views of the city which makes it a perfect place for meet-ups over good food, coffee dates, and even sunset cocktail sessions.

@lola_lamon #OrtigasMalls opens #GreenhillsSkyline located at the Connecticut Roof deck #EnjoyEveryday #foodtrip #lafang #foryou ♬ Rave (feat. Kris Kiss) - Steve Aoki & Showtek & MAKJ

 

With the Greenhills Skyline opening on April 21, here’s what people can experience in the new lifestyle hub.

Food, delish food

Greenhills Skyline prides itself as a dining destination with its wide selection of restaurants. Delight in personal conversations with your favorites from Italian and Filipino restaurants, or relish pica-pica sessions with sushi, shawarma, wings, corn dogs, fresh fruit, juices, and more!

Kape Imperial

At Greenhills, people work hard and play hard. They can work or bond over a good cup of coffee at Kape Imperial. This cafe serves 100% single origin Philippine coffee, supporting local farmers. Alongside their coffee offerings is local craft beer (Boondocks and Weekend Craft Ale), dried fruit tea, and fresh vegetable juices.

 

Sunset Bar

Looking for a place to spend your weekend nights? Enjoy the best-tasting cocktails with stunning sunset views at the Greenhills Skyline’s Sunset Bar. With the expert bartenders from Luna Sunset Bar, people are sure to get their pinkies up as they groove to good music and feel the good vibes all around.

Urban Garden

The Greenhills Skyline features an Urban Garden where people can buy fresh produce during weekends. They can choose from a wide selection of freshly-picked herbs and vegetables, as well as access Mayani — a farm-to-table setup that helps over 70,000 local farmers bring their products to customers in the city.

Outdoor sports activities

Adjacent to the Greenhills Skyline is the Pedway Go Kart, where kids and adults can rent pedal go-karts and enjoy an exhilarating experience. And since cycling is also a popular activity nowadays, Ortigas Malls will soon dedicate a trail where bike enthusiasts can ride around and kids can learn the basics of cycling. Wellness sessions such as Zumba and Yoga will also be hosted regularly at Greenhills Skyline.

 

All these unique experiences at the Greenhills Skyline aim to bring an exciting atmosphere to the country’s ultimate shopping destination. What are you waiting for? Non-stop fun awaits you at the newest and coolest al fresco destination in town. See you at the top!

Shopee buyer is the grand raffle prize winner of home office appliances and 1 vivo X70 phone

“Sobrang saya na hindi expected kasi hindi naman talaga ako nananalo sa mga raffle..”, says Louis Jan Havana, grand raffle prize winner of home office appliances and 1 vivo X70 phone, from the XTREME Home Office Makeover Raffle Promo. Mr. Havana says that his win came at the right time as they are currently building their dream home for their family. 

“Tuwang-tuwa ako kasi sakto may bahay kaming pinapagawa. Sabi ko meron ng aircon, meron ng lahat ng appliances. Hindi na kami bibili [kasi] sobrang thankful at blessed talaga kami.” Mr. Havana happily claims. The XTREME Home Office Makeover Raffle Promo ran from November 11, 2021 until November 30, 2021. In an effort to give back to loyal Shopee customers and recognize the hard work they have put into making their work-from-home scenario to maximum productivity in a time of the global pandemic, XTREME Appliances in partnership with vivo and Shopee launched the raffle promo. 

With the presence of a DTI representative, the raffle prize winners were drawn last December 15, 2021. Mr. Havana, being the Grand Prize winner, has won jaw-dropping prizes simply by checking out XTREME Appliances products during Shopee 11.11 Big Christmas Sale. The list includes:

•  32” XTREME LED TV

• 1.0HP XTREME Cool Split Type Aircon

•  20L XTREME Home Manual Microwave Oven

•  XTREME Home Coffee Machine

• XTREME Home Personal Blender

  
  

Back to Back Surprises 

Mr. Havana admitted that he didn’t intentionally join the raffle promo. He was simply buying a decent gift to surprise his wife for her birthday. “Wala talaga akong [ano], basta ang iniisip ko lang ‘nun bibili ako gawa ng November ‘nun, sabi ko 11.11 isasabay ko sa birthday ng asawa ko, gawa ng November 16 birthday niya.. Wala talaga akong inaasahan, hindi ko talaga alam na merong raffle, basta bumili lang talaga ako.”, he explained. 

To make sure that the surprise was a success, he even made his friend an accomplice and asked him to buy the item on his behalf so his wife won’t have a clue. “Yung friend ko [na] nag-suggest na ito [50cm XTREME X-Series Gas Range Pro] yung bilhin ko. Sabi ko kapag in-order ko kasi to sa Shopee na gamit account ko, makikita niya. Sabi ko ikaw muna mag order, tapos bayaran ko na lang sayo. Sabi ko check mo nga kung anong date. Sakto naman, sakto sa birthday niya. Check natin kung ano, kung masusurprise siya. Edi ayun nung dumating, tanong siya ng tanong ano yan? Sabi ko, ‘yan yung regalo ko sayo check mo na lang kung maganda.”,He added. 

Work-from-Home Ready

According to Mr. Havana, the raffle prizes will be put to good use especially that he’s one of the many Filipinos who have transitioned to work remotely at home. “Yung phone [vivo X70] siguradong makakatulong ‘yan kasi work from home, meron akong laptop pero kapag may meeting ako meron akong extrang phone pang meeting na may magandang camera. Tapos yung other appliances na napalanunan ko siguradong magagamit namin sa lilipatan namin bahay.” He added further. No words can explain how grateful he is for the raffle prizes he has won. 

Aside from Mr. Havana, two loyal Shopee customers of XTREME Appliances have also won consolation prizes namely— Jenalyn Calilit who won a 50cm XTREMEHome  Gas Range and Menchie Peña who won a 10L XTREME Home Portable Air Cooler.

The series of lockdowns are tough for many Filipino employees and XTREME Appliances is all about giving solutions and convenience to help them achieve their day-to-day tasks. The brand will continue to market products with innovation, functionality, and valuable worth. In line with XTREME Appliances bringing cost-effective products to customers, the brand is also joining the 4.4 Shopee Big Brands Sale starting April 4 where select items are discounted up to 37%. FREE Shipping vouchers, cashback coins, and additional shop vouchers will also be given away during the said promo duration. 

Get updated and know more about the latest news and happenings about the brand by visiting XTREME Appliances: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok accounts. For the full list of products, please visit XTREME on Website and Shopee e-commerce.

Watch the full interview below:

 https://bit.ly/xtreme-holiday-makeover-winner

Herbal Essences spilled the tea on how to get revived and nourished hair ready for the sun

Time under the sun this summer is fun, but as we go further into the season it becomes difficult to achieve these hair goals, because summer heat often leaves the hair dry and dull looking making it hard to style and manage. A big no for summer selfies! 

 

Thankfully, Herbal Essences spilled the tea on how to get revived and nourished hair ready for the sun with the new Scalp Soothing Tea Tree Oil Shampoo and Calming Conditioner! 

 

Infused with tea tree oil extract it contains plant-based ingredients rich in antioxidants that help ease itch and redness due to heat exposure. It also cleanses without stripping natural oils leaving the scalp and hair beautifully moisturized and frizz-free, the perfect summer hair Filipinas will surely #CantUnfeel. 

 

Herbal Essences Tea Tree Oil Shampoo and Calming conditioner is so perfect for the summer even beach babes and HE girls Danika Nemis and Lexi Mendiola couldn’t help but flaunt their beautiful hair after experiencing its wonders! Check out their fresh and nourished hair in their latest posts!

 

 

 

 

 

                                            See Lexi Mendiola’s IG post here!                  

                                            Check out Danika’s IG post here!

 

 

But wait, there’s more tea to be spilled! Get big discounts on Herbal Essences until April 22 during Shopee’s Super Brand Day Sale! when shopping through the P&G Beauty Official Flagship Store on Shopee! Enjoy discounts on other variants like Argan Oil of Morocco to help repair damaged hair too What are you waiting for? Add to cart and shop now!

The new MateBook Series include all-purpose notebook devices that embody the series’ design

 

Huawei Philippines is set to release a new roster of the HUAWEI MateBook Series, the latest addition to the brand’s ever-growing productivity line. The new MateBook Series include all-purpose notebook devices that embody the series’ design, intelligent experience, and innovative performance DNA, featuring the most advanced processors that will surely give users an experience like no other. These new handy productivity tools are also equipped with Super Device — Huawei’s very own concept that allows multiple devices to function as one, bringing an all-new smart office experience. 

 

The latest MateBook Series will be introducing three new productivity notebooks that are ideal whether you’re a multi-tasker or power user. These new devices are designed to deliver all-around performances while offering incredible portability in a sleek, robust chassis. Representing some of the best PC innovations Huawei has to offer, these productivity tools are worthy companions for everyday work, and life, and are tailor-fit to suit any kind of lifestyle.

 

 

Huawei’s revolutionary notebooks are equipped with beautifully machined pieces of technology inside and out. All are superbly slim and light, and available in elegant and unique colorways that set them apart from other productivity laptops available on the market. Another thing to look forward to is a new thermal architecture technology that will maintain coolness even when the devices are under load and experiencing heavy-duty tasks. The latest line is also powered by 11th Gen Intel Core Processors, making it the most advanced powerhouse that will have no problem handling anything from intensive computations to multi-tasking needs. 

 

Huawei has also taken into consideration the need of consumers these days to integrate more and more smart devices into their lives. As a way to address this, the new MateBook Series will let users embrace the smart life through Super Device, a cohesive multi-device experience that democratizes users from the many complications and interruptions from working amongst multiple unique devices, letting them focus and boost creativity, productivity, and efficiency altogether. 

 

Stay tuned and find out more by visiting Huawei Philippines’ official pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

 

Xiaomi today announced Redmi 10C, the latest entrant to its popular Redmi 10 series

 Xiaomi today announced Redmi 10C, the latest entrant to its popular Redmi 10 series, with an aim of making high-quality products accessible to more consumers across the globe. 

Redmi 10C offers efficient and powerful performance thanks to the Snapdragon^® 680 processor, which is built on an efficient 6nm process. With its large 6.71" DotDrop display, Redmi 10C offers immersive entertainment for all your favorite content, and is compatible with Widevine L1 HD streaming for your favorite movies and shows.

 

Setting it apart within its segment, Redmi 10C is equipped with a 50MP high-resolution main camera for crisp photos and videos, as well as a 2MP depth sensor that helps to achieve a natural bokeh effect. Backed by a long-lasting 5,000mAh battery, Redmi 10C provides enough power to last you through the day, letting you spend more time playing and less time charging. When you do need to charge, 18W fast charging helps get you juiced up quickly.*

 

Redmi 10C will be available in two variants, 4GB+64GB and 4GB+128GB, with recommended retail pricing starting at PHP 6,299 and PH 7,299, respectively. Redmi 10C will be available for purchase starting from April onwards through Authorized Xiaomi stores in the Philippines and other official retailers, and online on official Lazada store**.

 

For more information and to keep up with the latest updates, kindly follow Xiaomi Philippines’ Facebook page.

*Redmi 10C includes a 10W in-box charger, 18W charger sold separately.

**Orders on official e-commerce platforms may face delivery delays due to full city lockdowns at warehousing locations. We are still pending local authorities to advise on logistics arrangements. Hence, we encourage customers to head over to the nearest Xiaomi Authorized Store to make their purchases. Thank you for your kind understanding. 

Carousell reveals increasing awareness on sustainable shopping among Filipino consumers

Carousell, the leading classifieds group in Greater Southeast Asia, reveals that Filipinos have shown increased openness towards secondhand options over the past two years, with almost 68% of Carousell buyers choosing to buy secondhand items instead of new. To further nurture an environmentally-conscious community, Carousell analysed secondhand shopping trends of different age groups in the Philippines from 2020 to 2021 in celebration of Earth Day.  

“Xennials” in the Philippines more open to secondhand options 

Over the past few years, secondhand purchases have grown as a popular choice among Filipino shoppers of all ages, but the “Xennials” (age 35-44) are really leading the charge of sustainability with an increased number of searches for used items by 99% between 2020 and 2021. Generation Z has also demonstrated a higher level of eco-consciousness in recent years with a 82% increase in the searches for used items and a drop of 6% in searches of new items, indicating a quick shift in their mindset and the potential for growth in the circular economy driven by youths. 

Kaye, a 20 year old student owner of fashion brand Rostele (@kayepastelero) is one of the driving forces behind the sustainability movement on Carousell. During the height of Covid, Kaye wanted to be productive and she found a solution for her old clothes by reusing and upcycling them into unique and trendy statement pieces. 

“Aside from the joy that I get from buying secondhand clothes that are still wearable and high quality, I like the fact that I’m saving money while helping the environment,” said Kaye. 

Interesting secondhand shopping behaviours among different age groups 

Women’s Fashion ranked as the top three secondhand search category in every age group with ZARA, the popular Spanish apparel brand dominating the top two secondhand most-searched-for keywords for the 18-24, 25-34 and 34-44 age groups. Manila-based sustainable fashion brand HaloHalo is also gaining traction amongst the 18-24 and 25-34 age groups as it emerges as the top three secondhand most-searched-for keywords. 

Carousell’s analysis revealed that the sale of preowned items, in addition to being a solution to overconsumption, is a value-for-money alternative for local bargain hunters. Secondhand products in the two of the most affordable categories on Carousell – Babies & Kids and Women’s Fashion – cost less than PHP300 on average. 

Carousell has curated suggestions for users to improve their secondhand buy-sell experiences. Prospective secondhand buyers can utilise search filters available at a category level, including by location and by brand, to narrow down search results. They can also use the Saved Searches feature for quick access for quick access for up to three search queries, and the Item Condition filter to sort products from ‘brand new’ to ‘heavily used’ to find the most suitable item. 

Carousell has also incorporated features that boost visibility for the sellers of preloved belongings. They can use the following steps to make their listing stand out: 1) Select a clear cover photo and take images from multiple angles to catch buyers’ attention; 2) Complete all questions in the sell form including the optional ones; and 3) Avoid keyword spamming to prevent the your listing being ranked lower, use relevant keywords that a buyer is likely to use when searching. 

“It is encouraging to see more Filipinos choosing to buy secondhand items. As a pioneer for mobile classifieds in the region, Carousell is focused on making buying secondhand items as secure and convenient as buying brand new items. As Carousell celebrates its decade of sustainability, we remain committed to encouraging the public to join the sustainable revolution and make secondhand the first choice for consumers,” said Djon Nacario, Managing Director for Carousell Philippines. 

Carousell urges all to start buying and selling secondhand. From now till 30th April, Carousell users can list their secondhand items with #4theplanet to stand a chance to be featured in a special Earth Day collection. For more information, please visit here.