Q&A with Alumnus Engr. Herman Robles, US-Based AEE’s 2012 Young Energy Professional of the Year

For the past four years, Filipino energy engineer Herman D. Robles has been tirelessly giving trainings and lectures on energy management and conservation all over the country for free. His mission: educate the public that energy conservation is an obligation of every individual and it should start from home.

“Because if we don’t look at it this way, then it is same as thinking that we wouldn’t care at all whatever impact the future energy shortage or crisis will give us. Everyone uses energy, but why doesn’t everyone care? That is the problem,” he said.

In the next 25 years, demand for energy resources will rise dramatically by 57%. Global emissions of carbon dioxide are expected to double or triple by the year 2030 and the production of electricity is the number one source of air pollution, hence, the need to conserve energy, he said.

“Energy management and conservation helps reduce the environmental impacts of economic growth while increasing productivity and creating more jobs,” Engr. Robles said.

Engr. Robles’ efforts did not go unnoticed. A member of the prestigious United States-based Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), the 33-year-old engineer was awarded the Young Energy Professional of the Year by the AEE late last year. He is the first Filipino to receive such distinction.

Engr. Robles earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at Mapúa in 1999. He taught Physics from 2000 to 2004 and Electrical Engineering in 2005 at the Institute. He took a Singapore Certified Energy Manager program, which is being offered to engineering professionals who aspire to become energy managers.

When asked about the significance of this award to the engineering profession in the Philippines, he said: “It tells us that Filipino engineers are sophisticated and competent enough to excel in this field and are worthy of any recognition in the world.”

Read the full interview of Engr. Robles below where he discusses the significance of his award, his plans to bring AEE to the Philippines and, most importantly, why everybody should be involved in energy management and conservation.

1. What does it mean to be a Young Energy Professional of the Year awardee? What is the significance of this award to the engineering profession in the Philippines?

Since this award is presented only to an energy professional who is 35 years or younger, but with an outstanding contribution to the profession and the engineering community, to become an awardee only tells that you started your career right and that you are heading to the best direction. This award is significant to the engineering profession in the Philippines simply because it tells us that Filipino engineers are sophisticated and competent enough to excel in this field and are worthy of any recognition in the world.

2. How long have you been a member of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)? What makes the AEE very significant especially to Filipino engineers and how can this boost the engineering profession in the country?

I am going two years as a member. AEE, as a world-renowned 35-year old association, emphasizes the need for engineers to pursue higher standards and obtain international energy engineering-related licences in order to conduct the best engineering practices for the community, the country and the environment. Through AEE, Filipino engineers will be encouraged to pursue higher education and become globally competent engineers, adopting only the best engineering practices recognized in the world. If more Filipino engineers will do this, then you can imagine what good it will do to our country.

3. In your opinion, what does it take to win the Young Energy Professional of the Year award? Based on my experience, what took me to win the award, and modesty aside, was my very rich 7 years of genuine achievements in the field of energy and water conservation plus my advocacy. That’s why I found myself conducting several trainings and seminars for free to hundreds of engineers for the last 4 years.

4. You've mentioned in your acceptance speech that there is going to be an AEE Philippines. What are the objectives of this group?

Yes, we are still in the process of fixing all the papers and getting the charter from the US. Basically, AEE Philippines shall pursue the objectives of AEE USA, become a bridge for Filipino engineers to aspire more and achieve more, and be able to conduct limitless number of seminars and trainings using the modules that AEE USA shall provide. We target 2nd quarter of this year to launch, although there shall be pre-launch activities in the first quarter.

5. Kindly discuss energy management and conservation. Why and how is this relevant in today's setting?

(Global and Philippine setting). Energy management is the management of producing goods and providing services with the least cost and least environmental impact. Usually, there are three ways to manage energy. First, consumption is reduced such that fewer services and utilities that require energy are used. Second, waste energy can be re-used to another process or the same process. Third, use of renewable energy such as solar, wind, and geothermal.

Market trends suggest that the demand for energy resources will rise dramatically over the next 25 years by 57%. Global emissions of carbon dioxide are expected to double or triple by the year 2030 and the production of electricity is the number one source of air pollution. Conserving energy is often seen as a more environmentally friendly way of dealing with some of these issues than simply increasing the output of energy from existing means of production.

Energy is crucial to the development of modern society. For a developing country like the Philippines, energy is important to all of the economic activities. Energy management and conservation helps reduce the environmental impacts of economic growth while increasing productivity and creating more jobs.

6. Why are you advocating for energy management and conservation?

In the past, when we talked about energy conservation, it was something that was nice to hear but hard to do. That’s why people would have the choice whether to practice it or not. But right now, energy conservation, as I have always mentioned in my trainings, is no longer a choice but an obligation for every individual and business owner. In fact, it should not even be called an advocacy anymore, but a practice that everyone is obliged to do. Because if we don’t look at it this way, then it is same as thinking that we wouldn’t care at all whatever impact the future energy shortage or crisis will give us. Everyone uses energy, but why doesn’t everyone care? That is the problem. Energy conservation should at least start from home.

Disclaimer: The original article has been archived from its original site (mapua.edu.ph) and is no longer viewable. The story was originally published on January 23, 2013, written by David Joseph C. Gonzales for the Corporate Communications Office of Mapúa Institute of Technology (now known as Mapúa University). Original source: http://mapua.edu.ph/News/Default.aspx?newsID=666&Month=1&Year=2013