Published on Monday, 09 July 2007 00:00

Written by Sarah Jane O. Tan, Philippine Daily Inquirer

A “green thumb” is not necessarily a requirement to support the Philippine Green Building Green Council. For those not in the real estate industry, Building Green may mean nothing more than a call to plant more trees. A common misinformation. As an “emerging council” which started only March of this year, the PhilGBC hopes that through events like the Building Green 2007 exhibit held at the Activity Center of Market! Market! last June 26-28, 2007, they increase public awareness and spark a green revolution in the real estate industry. 

So, what is this so called green revolution in the real estate industry all about? It is the global trend of transforming design, construction, and management methods of the building industry into practices that are safe, healthy, and environmentally and socially responsible. As the non-stock, non-profit organization recognized by the World Green Council, the Philippine Green Building Council acts as the catalyst for building and construction industry leaders from both the public and private sector to share knowledge on eco-friendly building practices to ensure a sustainable environment. With sustainable development – the objective of Green Building – in mind at all times throughout the entire building process, PhilGBC advocates the use of enduring passive designs that work around the climate and other natural conditions to provide good air quality, conserve energy, reduce waste, and keep electricity bills at a minimum. Not only do such work and living environments promote safety, it also ensures comfort. By providing good air quality, envirofriendly buildings make sense not only for the health of our planet and the health of the people but also the health of the bottom line. That’s already tripling your return of investment!

Arch. Christopher de la Cruz, chairman of the Philippine Green Building Council, says that most green building technologies are already available in the Philippines but are very expensive. However, he is positive that as demand increases – as a result of the awareness created by PhilGBC campaigns – costs of products and technology will be significantly reduced in the future. At present, PhilGBC is forming an alliance with developers, contractors, suppliers, designers, civil society, academe, building professional associations, financial institutions, and individual practitioners to jointly develop a nationally accepted green building rating standard. The Green Building principles are also being integrated in housing projects of the government.

Buying a house? Choose “green”. Contact the Philippine Green Building Council (PhilGBC) through Arch. Christopher de la Cruz at 0927.3122052 / 4003041 or log on to http://philgbc.org.