Published on Sunday, 04 March 2007 00:00

Written by ccdelacruz.com

The Philippine Green Building Council recently held the First Green Building Forum at the Filipinas Heritage Library. The activity is attended by architects, developers, and material suppliers wanting to learn more about green building.

Mr. Raymond Rufino, Vice President of the NET Group, Engr. Erickberth Calupe, Ayala Property Management Inc. and Peter Rolshoven of BCI Asia, shared insights regarding the need to promote green building in the Philippines.

The forum was led by Arch. Christopher De la Cruz, Chairman of the Philippine Green Building Council. He invited the attendees to promote and develop green building in the Philippines. Green buildings are structures that is designed, built, renovated, operated, or reused in an ecological and resource-efficient manner. Green buildings are designed to meet certain objectives such as protecting occupant health; improving employee productivity; using energy, water, and other resources more efficiently; and reducing the overall impact to the environment.

Engr. Erickberth Calupe, of the the Ayala Property Management Inc., shared the current green building and environmental management practices of the Ayala Group. He illustrated key points where the Ayala Group saved on energy costs by streamlining existing systems. Mr Calupe showed the various environmentally friendly interventions the Ayala group did for the past 10 years.

Mr. Raymond Rufino of the NET Group delivered a presentation entitled "Responding to Market Demands with Green Building". In his lecture, Mr. Rufino highlighted the current green trend that the construction industry is currently experiencing. He stressed that there is a need for the creation of a reliable green building and performance rating system that may provide as a basis for determining environmental sustainability. Presently the building market is maturing and is starting to demand for building products that are more environmentally sensitive and cost effective. He pointed out that for green building to work and accepted by the market, green building materials, systems, and technology must be cost effective. Mr. Rufino outlined the challenges in greening the building industry. He pointed out the reality of the "waiting game" played by the both the supply and the demand side of the industry. Sellers are waiting for buyers before developing green buildings and buyers waiting for sellers to green their products before buying/leasing green buildings. He promoted the establishment of the Philippines' Green Building Council to push the "green building agenda". He promoted green building by stressing the need to "do it together" as against "waiting game". The NET Groups pioneered the Boutique Office Building concept and is currently the largest owner and developer of office buildings at the Bonifacio Global City.

Mr Peter Rolshoven of BCI Asia shared the results of the Green Building Market Report the first-ever survey on the green building market in Australia. In the presentation entitled "The Market for Green Building in Australia Benchmark Study 2006 ", Mr. Rolshoven outlined the significance, drivers, impact and opportunities of green building in Australia. He cited that the opportunities are tremendous for early adopting architects. They are likely to have a leg-up in the market that is presently maturing into green consumers.

The lessons from Australia are very valuable to the Philippines in understanding the promotion and adoption of green building.

source article: http://ccdelacruz.com/static/press/FIRST%20PHILGBC%20FORUM%20HELD.pdf