A need of Green Buildings in the Philippines
A research paper Presented to Ms. Jose Cristina Pariňa
In partial Fulfilment Of the Requirements for ENGLRES – Basic Research Skills Third Trimester (2011-2012)
Rochelle Marie A. Ramos Airish L. Villegas April 2, 2012
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Nowadays, our world is experiencing different kinds of problems that affect not only the environment but also all forms of living things, highlighting human beings. With issues relating on the destruction of environment, people all over the world have been working on saving our mother earth through introducing eco-friendly ideas starting with buildings, since people spend most of their time indoor. Due to this fact, we are to consider the design of the building that will provide a healthy surrounding for its occupants. This is achievable with an energy-saving, sustainable and high performance building, like how Green Building does. This paper argues that the Green Building is more preferable to construct and experience than the usual constructed building in terms of constructing materials, energy consumption, and environmental contribution; thus, there should be programs pursing the construction of green buildings in the Philippines. The green building has been introduced but the features were not thoroughly familiarized by the people. “Reinforced concrete as building material was introduced to Japan around 1905. The first all RC building was a warehouse in Kobe, designed by Naoji Shiraishi, a professor of civil engineering of the University of Tokyo and a member of the Institute of Civil Engineers of the Great Britain, and constructed in 1906. The RC construction became popular in the subsequent years, for it was generally accepted as fire-proof and earthquake-proof construction in contrast to combustible wooden construction
or
earthquake-crumbling
brick
construction.
The
traditional
RC
construction, on the other hand, was limited to buildings whose height did not exceed 20 m. This limitation was not explicitly prescribed in the building code, but was enforced by means of the administrative guidance. Any building taller than, say, seven stories had to
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be constructed by steel structure or SRC structure. This administrative guidance was carried over to post-war period. In 1950, five years after the end of the World War II, the new Building Standard Law was enforced to replace the old Urban Building Law, but the situation for RC construction was basically unchanged.” (Aoyama, 2001, pp1-2) Another historical background statement was mentioned by Kibert (2008, page) “In the United States, the green building movement has a long history, with its philosophical roots traceable to the late nineteenth century. Subsequently, it developed in tandem with the country’s environmental movement, and since the 1990s it has been enjoying a renaissance. Notable dates include 1970, the year the first Earth Day was celebrated and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was created, both events marking a major philosophical shift. Other influential events include the publication of Rachel Carson’s landmark book Silent Spring in 1962 and the efforts of early environmentalists such as Barry Commoner, Lester Brown, Dennis Hayes, and Donella Meadows. Concern over resource availability, particularly reliance on fossil fuels, was magnified by the oil shocks of the early 1970s, which resulted from the Arab-Israeli conflict of the time. This further piqued public interest in energy efficiency, solar technologies, retrofitting homes and commercial buildings with insulation, and energy recovery systems. As a result, the federal government began to provide tax credits for investment in solar energy, and funded development and testing of innovative technologies ranging from solar air conditioning to eutectic salt energy storage batteries. By the late 1970s, many new efficiency standards were embodied in model energy codes adopted by the states. After this burst of activity, however, interest in energy conservation began to wane as energy prices began to decline.”
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Eco-friendly buildings have different classifications such as green buildings, sustainable constructions, and high performance buildings. All of these differ by definitions yet have some similarities. These terms are not the usual words that appear in the dictionary. For one situation, the dictionary defines green buildings as “favoring or supporting environmentalism” and sustainable buildings as “capable of being continued with minimal long-term effect on the environment”. Meanwhile, a council in North Carolina defined a high performance building based on: their sustainability, which balances economics, equity and environmental impacts such as; the integrated approach, which supports working collaboratively throughout; and, the feedback and data collection, which combines the process of creating the building and facilities as well as being the guide for future projects. (Prum, 2010) And also, Carmelito Tatlonghari (accredited LEED and BERDE professional, October 21, 2011) defined sustainable building as: “one constructed completely with environmentally benign materials, components, and systems; would operate without adverse environmental impact; would rely completely on renewable energy sources for its energy requirements; and, when its useful life is over, would be “deconstructed” with all its materials, components, and systems to be reused or recycled”; a sustainable construction as “a subset of sustainability, which focuses more on the built environment, both during the construction phase and during the operational life cycle of the facility”; and, a green building as “a very common term used as a major focus area in sustainable construction”. Green buildings are for “optimal environmental and economic performance; increased efficiencies, saving energy and resources; satisfying productive quality indoor spaces; whole-building design, construction, and operation over entire life cycle; fully integrated
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approach – teams, processes, systems”. Sustainability leads to economy, ecology, ethics and equity. Being green is energy efficient, healthy and safe, durable, water efficient, environmentally responsive and sustainable community. Kibert (2008, page) commented that, “The green building movement is the response of the construction industry to the environmental and resource impacts of the built environment. (As was noted in Chapter 1), the term green building refers to the quality and characteristics of the actual structure created using the principles and methodologies of sustainable construction. In the context of green buildings, resource efficiency means high levels of energy and water efficiency, appropriate use of land and landscaping, the use of environmentally friendly materials, and minimizing the life-cycle effects of the building’s design and operation.” Constructing materials are to be considered for the construction of a building. This includes manual aspects, such as the availability and transportation of the materials, and natural aspects with regards to releasing harmful chemicals. All green buildings avoid using toxic materials. Moreover, demolished buildings may also release pollutants, either in air or in water. Some of the materials are characterized by recycled context, reusability, minimum off gassing of harmful chemicals, zero or low toxicity, durability, sustainably harvested materials, high recyclability, and local production. The use of these kinds of materials minimizes the harmful effects to the environment. In line with this, materials from demolished buildings may still be used because this will reduce the waste generation. The use of recycled materials ensures the sustainability of the sources. Some of the raw materials are becoming rare, thus, making the price higher and so the recycled materials also ensure the availability of the needed resources for
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the future. He also said that while considering the factors to evaluate a roofing system of a building, green roofing or vegetated roofing provides a better durable building design through green roofs planted with herbs, grasses, flower, and even trees. This type of green roof system highlights a better means of insulation, a decrease of water run-off, a helpful absorption of dust and other pollutants including noise pollutants, and a higher rate of roof system extension. In addition, studies show that a well-installed green roof can reduce roofing waste of about 80 to 90 percent over its lifetime. (Kubba, 2010) Most of the effects of the buildings are contributed by the used materials. There are negative and positive effects. An example of a positive effect is that the used materials for the construction help decrease the lifecycle cost and help reduce the liabilities and risks that the construction of the building may contribute. The effects alone can already bring up other positive sides such as superior building performance, increased environmental conditions, and higher building value. With all of these benefits, more advantages are built up like availing the title of valuing the environment while helping in business progress. (Kerr, 2008) There are many levels on how a green building respects its environment as to what the Urban Land Institute (ULI) has affirmed. One is an approach that includes mechanical systems scale reduction; detail monitoring; better insulation installment; and use of natural light. Another level is the approach with the absence of materials that release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. (Prum, 2010) These achieved and sustained levels being mentioned highlight the main advantages of green buildings from that of the other usual building construction.
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Since buildings are considered to be part of the environment, it contributes to one’s well-being. With this, green buildings provide a better place for the community. Green buildings have affected communities by the creation of “green collar” jobs and by the generation of employment in green construction and trades. Its occupants also gain benefits from all economic and social levels through lower operating costs and reduced living costs. Basically, the concept of social sustainability provides a healthy lifestyle for green building occupants. In contrast to this, the construction can contribute to the health and lifestyle of the surrounding community in terms of increasing air pollution and vehicular traffic, and even in terms of decreasing open spaced areas. But, these things can be avoided through applying the implication of sustainably designed building projects. Sustainable designs are highly efficient. It incorporates natural indoor areas and natural building features such as landscaped roofs and mini gardens. It provides natural day lighting and views. It uses natural means for heating, cooling and ventilation. (Montoya, 2011) Researches were done to further understand the methods of construction and the implications of green buildings to the environment. According to Florida (year), U.S General Services Administration has a goal to achieve Washington based U.S Green Building Council’s IEED Silver for all new buildings. They came up with researches providing data on evaluating 12 federal buildings. The evaluations included the measured energy performance of each building which illustrated the better performance of the buildings up to 40 percent than the average. The buildings have the complexity concerning water savings, and the buildings were said to be performing a better rate in their baselines. Furthermore, all of these 12 GSA buildings were rated higher than the
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national average for U.S. commercial buildings in terms of overall building and workplace quality. Amado P. De Jesus Jr., founding chair of Green Architecture Movement, explained how green buildings can help in reducing bills. In green buildings, there are less electricity bills and water bills which capture the attention of potential tenants and customers. De Jesus also mentioned that accreditations are voluntary although everybody should consider the benefits that come along with the green building. One example is that, in most buildings, air conditioners contribute 60% to the electricity bills, but when green principles are applied, this may be reduced to 10%, or even zero percent. (Salazar, 2011) On the other hand, Kerr (2008) mentioned a few of the environmental contribution that green buildings provide. He said that green buildings help in protecting the environment. In one aspect, these buildings reduce the carbon emissions. This is the work of the eco-friendly materials present. Because of these materials, there is a decrease in using natural resources. Also, the effects of the green buildings to humans are seen. For example, when the indoor quality improved, this means that the occupants will be provided with a better surrounding. Most of the green buildings are commercialized like how malls, offices, towers, and hospitals are constructed. “The project aims to be the first mall in the country to be certified by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the internationally recognized standard for green building design and construction developed by the USGBC. This aims to alleviate problems caused by heavy rains in the drainage system within the area. Having this holding tank will give us advantages by using the accumulated water to reduce the load of water that passes through the drainage.” (Loyola, 2012, page)
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Here in the Philippines, a columnist, Loyola (year), delivered to the public that SM City Baguio had been in partnership with the U.S Green Building Council for a demonstration of a cost efficient and energy-saving green building through the mall’s transformation of the building’s design, and construction. There were about 80 trees to replant in the mall premises. An expansive Roof Garden will be constructed, and a water reservoir will be located as well at the lower level of the building’s expansion. These are highlighted in renovating the building to decrease the amount of nitrogenous gases present in the environment and to alleviate problems on the mall’s drainage systems. Locally, in commercial buildings, there are owners who are responsible for the safety and other precautionary measures of buildings. The green building rating system (BERDE Philippines) do not require the owners to have the BERDE rating because it is not necessary yet they believe that it will be compulsory in time. (Salazar, 2011) The green building has advantages and disadvantages that serve as bases for better constructions. Most of the research projects came up with benefits that are usually applied in urban areas. When the benefits of the green buildings were tested, the results showed: reduction of energy cost; 10% or higher reduction in pollutants; up to 20% reduction of water during storms, up to 95% reduction of sediment run-off; and an increase in property values. (Fischer, 2010) In contrast, direct harmful effects on humans include: higher rate of use of water that contributes to problems in water supply; nonindustrial waste; tonnage from building demolition and construction; carbon dioxide emissions that come to affect several aspects of human health and productivity; impermeable surfaces that came to affect storm-water management; and, significant transportation and ecological impacts brought by the location of the building. (Fisher,
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2010) Furthermore, since the places where the construction of green buildings needs to be pursued are the areas with a higher rate of environmental problems, the availability of the construction site is somewhat a big problem that may hinder the promotion of green building construction. In addition, being green also cost people. The first to be considered is the high initial cost and the second one is the chance of having demands from tenants for the features of the building. Next to it, being green greatly depends on a wide range of factors, and therefore needs an increase in efforts. (Tatlonghari, 2011) We, therefore, conclude that, in this paper, we have discussed the details that are often asked about what a Green Building is, including: what it is made up of; how it uses and saves energy; and, what it contributes to the environment. Furthermore, the benefits of experiencing the features of the said building and the sustainable design of its construction are also discussed in this paper. Aside from the advantages that a Green Building offers, there are also counterparts that were presented such as expensive initial investment, site of construction of the building. This kind of eco-friendly building is effective in decreasing the rate of pollution and in increasing many means of improvement to human beings and to the environment as well. Recommendations, by Tatlonghari (2011), for green building certification suggests, “sustainable design charrette early in schematic design; use of whole system thinking to explore design relationships; emphasis on a multi-disciplinary and team design approach; and, considering the addition of a sustainable design specialist to project team.
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This paper claims that Green Building is more preferable to construct and to be experienced than the usual constructed buildings for us to have a healthy environment that brings up a healthy community. Based on our studies, there should be programs pursuing the construction of green buildings in the Philippines since Filipino experts, such as Mr. Carmelito Tatlonghari, have tested and approved this kind of construction in the country.
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Reference List
Aoyama, H. (2001). Design of modern highrise reinforced concrete structure. London: Imperial College Press.
Florida, S. (2009). Sustainable Proof – Post Occupancy Study of 12 Federal Buildings Demonstrates Value of Going Green. Green Building South Africa, 5(11).
Kibert, C. J. (2008). Sustainable construction: green building design and delivery (2nd ed.). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Kubba, S. (2010). Green construction project management and cost oversight. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Loyola, J.A. (2012, January 17). SM redeveloping Baguio City mall. Manila Bulletin,.
Prum, D. A. (2010). Villanova Environmental Law Journal: Green buildings, high performance buildings, and sustainable construction: Does it really matter what we call them?. Social Science Research Network, 21 (1). Retrieved from http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1731688
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