Published on 15 November 2012 [ manilatimes.net ]
Written by JAMES KONSTANTIN GALVEZ
Architectural and building industry
groups are seeking the establishment of a green building code to produce
environmentally sustainable structures that would help reduce annual carbon
dioxide emissions in the country.
Heherson Alvarez, commissioner of the
Climate Change Commision, said that building industry groups came up with the
resolution to have a unified green building standards and a viable green rating
system, following the two-day Asian Technoforum on Sustainability on November 8
to 9.
He stressed that there is an urgent
need for buildings that are environmentally friendly and efficient in the use
of space, energy and water—noting that buildings account for 39 percent of
carbon dioxide emissions globally.
“In the Philippines, the building
sector is the second largest carbon dioxide emitter next to the transport
sector,” Alvarez said.
“It is high time that our engineers
and architects should put their words into action being men of precise
calculation and numbers. A paradigm shift must be made to green buildings and
bring the Philippines up to global standards in sustainable buildings and
construction techniques,” he added.
Architect Michael Ang of the United
Architects of the Philippines (UAP), who is also the conference director, announced
that the calls and recommendations made by Alvarez will be heeded by the
industry with urgency.
Ang also asked Alvarez to guide the
builders group in setting the target for an annual carbon dioxide emission
reduction by next year.
To help cut carbon dioxide and
greenhouse gas pollution, Alvarez encouraged the participating organizations
from across Asia to replicate best practices.
He said that the Philippine Green
Building Initiative (PGBI) and allies should study, adopt or modify the green
standards established by Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA).
“As a small island city-state with
limited resources and growing needs, Singapore is using its land, water, energy
and other resources in the most efficient, prudent and pragmatic ways,” Alvarez
said.
He also said that Singapore’s
sustainable development program has set a target of achieving an 80 percent
compliance with its BCA Green Mark certification rating by 2030, and an energy
efficiency target of 35 percent reduction from the 2005 level by 2030.
Alvarez said that PGBI should
establish a working group to look into US developments on zero energy
commercial buildings or zero energy buildings (ZEBs) that “use no more energy
over the course of the year than it produces from on-site renewable source.”
“Newly constructed ZEBs on the US
Pacific coast are gaining wide international attention from engineering and
conservation groups,” he said.
ZEBs are constructed using readily
available technology, with an integrated design as well as mechanical and
electrical systems that achieve high levels of energy efficiency.
The industry groups must start
crafting proposed legislation that will establish a national green building
code. The proposed code should include an evaluation process and rate buildings
as to their sustainability, site development, energy use, water consumption,
natural lighting quality, use of green materials, and other vital
considerations.
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