Alter Space: Technology to Inspire a Generation

After the devastating 3/11 earthquake-tsunami combo in Japan, I’ve been interested with just about anything what-to-do-when-disaster-strikes posted online, printed on newspapers and reported on radio and TV.

I am one of the only 723 people (as of Mar 31, 2011) who viewed the MMDA Earthquake Preparedness for Metro Manila video since it was posted on Youtube last February 2010. When Charice Pempengco posted the MTV of her hit Pyramid also on that video sharing site on March 2010, it was viewed more than 31 million times after a year. With the rate it’s going, the MMDA vid will only reach thousands of hits either by getting Charice doing the voice over or the predicted 7.2 magnitude quake hit the metropolis.

I don’t want to sound like am paranoid or something bu t I am actually more than after the safety of my wife and son than my own. And besides, I am a true blue boy scout and still practice our mantra “Laging Handa” up to now.

If only I am Superman or our very own Captain Barbell, I would more than willing to work 24/7 to save all the people I can when danger comes. But I am not. I am just like the many people out there who works in front of the computer nine hours a day (with a few instances of online leisure, of course) and zoom back home when the clock hits 5 o’clock.

While posting a comment on an amusing video that one of my friends uploaded on Facebook, I discovered Alter Space which is a new Filipino-developed game in the popular social networking site. AboitizPower is the bighearted company who came up of the idea of giving gamers a fun way to learn practical tips on earth-friendly living. This means a lifestyle that helps reduce the effects of global warming, climate change and carbon emissions on the planet. Alter Space is the 1st Filipino environment awareness game on Facebook.

Alter Space: Official Game Trailer. Watch it NOW!

I think this game is very timely and relevant, not to mention the great fun you’ll have while playing. I want to describe this innovative game as ASTIG for Alter Space is a Technology to Inspire a Generation. AboitizPower is definitely using the right platform to reach out to the online community and make them aware of the need to do something for our beloved Mother Earth. As an added bonus, yo u’ll get a chance to win cool prizes and gadgets when you finished the game. Now , that ’s what you call fun fun fun! To play the game, just go to http://www.facebook.com/AlterSpaceGame.

Just want to share an alarming report from The Washington Post about the recent findings of scientists that there is a possibility that climate change and global warming could produce more earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic activity as ice masses on the continental crust shifts.

This only tells us one thing: every one of us should start saving energy not only to save money but to reduce the demand for fossil fuels like coal, oil, an d natural gas. Less burning of fuels also means lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary contributor to global warming, and other pollutants.

To set it straight, people cannot totally avoid carbon emissions because it’s a fact that all living things release carbon gas into the air. I would like to share some tips on how to conserve energy and lower carbon emissions that I learned after weeks of reading about what a non-Superman like me can do to save our planet. I am just so inspired by the great advocacy that is Alter Space initiated by AboitizPower that I will rundown my list using the name of its mother company. So if you want to take part in saving the planet, remember ABOITIZ.

Energy is lost when air conditioners and hot-air furnaces have to work harder to draw air through dirty filters. 5 percent of the energy used can be saved by cleaning a dirty air conditioner filter. That’s about 175 pounds of CO2 saved per year.

It only use 1/4 the energy of an ordinary incandescent bulb and last 8-12 times longer. They provide an equivalent amount of bright, attractive light. Only 10% of the energy consumed by a normal light bulb generates light. The rest just makes the bulb hot. Every home that will replace one standard bulb with one compact fluorescent bulb can save 260 pounds of CO2 per year.

Buy the product that is sized to your typical needs - not the biggest one available. Front loading washing machines will usually cut hot water use by 60 to 70% compared to typical machines. A new energy-efficient model of a refrigerator, saves 1.4 tons of CO2 per year.

This appliance accounts f o r about 20% of household electricity use. Use a thermometer to set your refrigerator temperature as close to 37 degrees and your freezer as close to 3 degrees as possible. Make sure that its energy saver switch is turned on. Also, check the gaskets around your refrigerator/freezer doors to make sure they are clean and sealed tightly.

Plant shade trees and paint your house a light color if you live in a warm climate, or a dark color if you live in a cold climate. Reduction s in energy use resulting from shade trees and appropriate painting can save up to 2.4 tons of CO2 emission s per year. Each tree also directly absorbs about 25 pounds of CO2 from the air annually.

Every gallon of gasoline you save avoids 22 pounds of CO2 emissions. If your car gets 25 miles per gallon, for example, and you reduce your annual driving from 12,000 to 10,000 miles, you'll save 1800 pounds of CO2.


Reduce the amount of waste you produce by buying minimally packaged goods, choosing reusable products over disposable ones, and recycling. For every pound of waste you eliminate or recycle, you save energy and reduce emissions of CO2 by at least 1 pound. Making products with recycled materials, instead of from scratch with raw materials, uses 30 to 55% less for paper products, 33% less for glass, and a whopping 90% less for aluminum.

The above mentioned tips are just some of the many things we can do for our environment. It only shows that we don’t need a super hero to save the world. Each one of us has the ability and opportunity to contribute in preserving the only planet that we have. Let’s join hands like a family protecting their home from harm and danger. We should be grateful that we have a government trying to reach out to the public and organizations like AboitizPower who strive to make a difference in their own creative and innovative ways.