A green building certification system helps provide an advantage in developing green buildings. It allows a developer to determine faster the best combination of design strategies for the best return on investment.
Engr. Giuseppe Garofalo, project manager for Construction of Italpinas Development Corp. (IDC), said the company chose International Finance Corp.-backed Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) for their certification because it gives them an advantage in developing sustainable projects.
EDGE guarantees savings of 20 percent on energy compared to the regular buildings, and 20 percent on the materials.
“In order to be certified, you have to meet the standard. Compared to the regular buildings, you can say our buildings are energy- and water-efficient,” Garofalo told the BusinessMirror in a recent interview.
To achieve energy efficiency, Garofalo said IDC uses water ventilation, using a shading system from the sun, water recycling from the sewage treatment plant and rainwater harvesting.
Moreover, the tap water (regular water supply) being used by the residents is being recycled to water the plants.
To make a building green, Garofalo said IDC gathers all the information and data from the wind, the sun and air exposure in the area of their project to factor them in the overall design.
“After putting all these considerations, we put the best design for the building in the particular location,” he said.
IDC is integrating passive green architecture features to a building that can result in saving energy and provide a cooler environment.
It uses the energy sourced from the solar panel to maintain the quality of the common area.
Garofalo also added that one advantage of IDC from its competitors is its green commitment. It is the only developer in Cagayan de Oro City that seriously thinks of sustainable development.
“We are the only developer that delivers a true green building, and this is why IDC stands out among the rest. IDC’s projects are meticulously designed to conserve energy and enhance natural resources, such as ventilation and sunlight. Its Italian influence is an undeniable add-on feature,” Garofalo said.
Claire Marie Asuncion Elizaga, director for corporate affairs and branding of Primavera City IDC, said Primavera has been receiving a warm reception from the market because it is pioneering in the development of sustainable projects in the country.
“We know other developers have integrated green components in their projects, but for IDC, all our projects are green-centric,” Elizaga explained.
“The reception of the market is enthusiasm over a new innovation, because we were the first in developing this type of building in Mindanao. All our properties are green. We have both active and passive green technologies to date,“ she said.
At the same time, Elizaga said IDC has a social obligation in the need to keep educating the public because the technology is new in the market. Moreover, IDC is not only into selling but also educating the public.
It is through the implementation of their “informal” corporate social responsibility (CSR) program that the company is promoting sustainable architecture to students pursuing the course.
“Whenever we are able to touch base with students, it is the company’s passion to share what it is,” Elizaga added.
Currently, IDC has partnerships with the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines in Cagayan de Oro, Xavier University and Lyceum University of the Philippines in Alabang.
Furthermore, the company is also conducting talks with students in real-estate management courses about green building, and its advantages in conserving and reusing energy and water.
Elizaga said being an EDGE-certified building gives a high-resale value for the owner because it can withstand the impact of climate change.
“If you look 10 years from now, IDC is confident that their buildings will be in a better shape compared to the standard buildings,“ she said.
Both Elizaga and Garofalo agreed “that people are leaning more on green development and healthy options now.“
Though initially, “educating“ the buyers on green buildings 10 years back was much harder, it is now a conscious decision on the part of the buyer to buy a green project, they observed.
Meanwhile, building owners also gave their approval to EDGE rating standard because it gives them confidence in the investments they made.
One of the most frequent complements IDC gets from the buyers is its efficient energy conservation.
Elizaga said living in an IDC project develops a unique experience of living in an eco-friendly condominium. A buyer can practice genuine energy conservation because it basically enables a resident to save electricity and water due to the good design of the building.