Green buildings can be more cost-efficient — experts

DEVELOPING green buildings may be more cost-efficient in the long run, due to the cost savings from lower energy and water usage, according to experts.

Giovanni Gusella, senior adviser of Italpinas Development Corporation, said building sustainable infrastructure means it will be more efficient in the use of power, water and other utilities.

“In long term, the return in profit, meaning that you have a low maintenance and reducing the expenses in energy and power, so that’s the advantage of green buildings,” he said during the International Built Environment Week’s Philippines Seminar at Makati Shangri-la on July 2.

“There is a really good response to green buildings. Of course now we see that the climate is changing and also the way you build and design is changing. You have to expect that technology assist you, of course,” he added.

Eduardo A. Manahan, chairman of the Building Owners and Managers Association of the Philippines, said nearly all property developers are using green building technology.

“You will say that green building costs a lot, but in the long run you will know that it costs less,” Mr. Manahan said.

Other technologies such as digital building construction could help in reducing the costs of constructing a building.

“This year, we’re hoping to be able to allow our government to utilize these technologies for the infrastructure developments that will be happening in our country,” ProdigyAE Incorporated Principal Architect Gio Carino said. — K.T.Mina