Identifying, developing, and moving sustainable communities through renewable energy
| Date | 03 October 2012 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/20425941211271487 |
| Published date | 03 October 2012 |
| Pages | 273-281 |
| Author | Andrea Santiago,Fernando Roxas |
| Subject Matter | Public policy & environmental management,Environmental technology & innovation |
Identifying, developing, and
moving sustainable communities
through renewable energy
Andrea Santiago
Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University,
Manila, Philippines, and
Fernando Roxas
W. Sycip Graduate School of Business, Asian Institute of Management,
Makati, Philippines
Abstract
Purpose – Much of the resources for mitigating the impact of poverty found their way into new
technologies or programs that aimed to provide energy access to the poor in the “bottom of the
pyramid” (BOP). Thus billions have been spent and will be spent on projects such as expensive line
extensions or solar panels to the poor living in “last mile” communities. The pur pose of this paper is to
review the traditional responses to income and energy poverty, and describe a sustainablecommunity
model to address the poor at the BOP.
Design/methodology/approach – This paper looks at the approaches that have been tried in
making a dent in the poverty incidence in households living in last mile, BOP areas in the Philippines
and posits the critical question of why these approaches have failed despite successes in the more
economically positioned strata of society. After identifying the critical variables that militate against
the successful programs, the authors seek to proscribe a separate methodology for interventions in the
BOP tiers of society.
Findings – The initial hypothesis garnered from examining the data suggests that BOP communities
lack access to managerial and entrepreneurial skills required to sustain relatively advanced
technology applications when seeking to improve livelihood opportunities.
Research limitations/implications – The sources of primary data for this research work are
interviews with community workers, energy project proponents and BOP community leaders. Future
research requires pilot programs where results can be measured and successes can be replicated in
other communities.
Practical implications – The insights derived from the research work will enable the design of
better programs aimed at the BOP. Positive outcomes can be expected to come from improved
effectiveness and efficiencies of current approaches and possible new opportunities for leveraging
current efforts by governments and civil society with business.
Social implications – The most significant, possible outcome of this research would be to enhance
the sustainability of current interventions aimed at the BOP. Many corporate social responsibility
activities are superficial, short-term initiatives, with time frames cor responding to quarterly
statements meant for the public and external stakeholders. Unfortunately, the BOP environment is
more structurally complex and requires systemic understanding.
Originality/value – Many of the existing interventions do not capture the needs of the BOP. This
paper looks at this segment of the client system and tries to identify gaps in the program design to
focus on this segment.
Keywords Philippines, Poverty, Renewable energy, Philippine poverty,
Millennium development goals, Sustainable communities, Rural electrification
Paper type Research p aper
The World Bank (2010) hankers for more inclusive growth. This can only mean that
while economies grow, there is that sector in society that cannot break away from
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
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WorldJour nal of Science, Technology
and Sustainable Development
Vol. 9 No.4, 2012
pp. 273-281
rEmeraldGroup Publishing Limited
2042-5945
DOI 10.1108/20425941211271487
273
Sustainable
communities
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