Almost everyone has complained of the sweltering heat that has spanned four months now, but an engineer has made good use of the infinite and renewable energy from the sun in the production of ice.

Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival, an engineer who is prominent for his clean-and-green practices beginning with his popular Archival Eco House in Barangay Talamban, has harnessed the unlimited energy of the sun to produce blocks of ice using solar panels to generate power.

Engr. Archival collected the sun’s energy through solar panels and stores this to supply current to his ice plant at home.

Archival showed the news team the machinery used to produce ice. He said that the contraption would entail a whopping P1.2 million cost. This may sound costly in the beginning but it is actually nothing compared to its long-term benefits, Archival said, if one considers the return of investment and the sustainability of power source deemed inextinguishable.  

He has long been an advocate of efficient and sustainable practices; energizing his home with solar power is nothing new. He is among the pioneers in Cebu in practical, environment-friendly, and resilient house designs. A dome in the central part of his house collects natural light being reflected by mirror in other parts, sections, nooks and crannies. 

Archival said that solar energy has long become his main power source at home rendering zero electricity billing. The power utility line remains but is now reduced to a secondary line for emegency use.

Water waste from his airconditiong unit powered by solar panels flows through a tube that dampens a row of ornamental plants. 

The engineer-councilor continues to lobby his green practices at the Cebu City Council and awaits the drafting of an ordinance for the entire City Hall to adopt the practice in its offices. He said it has always been good and beneficial to look up to the sun in finding solutions to crisis in supply to power grids across the country.