Arthaland’s flagship office building in Bonifacio Global City, Arthaland Century Pacific Tower (ACPT), is the first development in the world to be granted EDGE Zero Carbon certification. ACPT is projected to achieve 45 percent in energy savings, 64 percent in water savings and 34 percent in embodied energy in materials. It is the only triple-certified project in the Philippines to have received the LEED Platinum rating and BERDE 5-star certification in addition to the EDGE Zero Carbon certification, all of which are the highest and most prestigious categories in green building rating standards.
EDGE, which stands for Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies, is the green building certification system of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. IFC is the largest global development finance institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. EDGE was created in response to the need for a measurable solution to provide the financial case for building green.
The EDGE Zero Carbon award recognizes a building that is highly energy efficient (at least 40 percent energy savings compared to a base case building) and fully powered from on-site and/or off-site renewable energy sources. ACPT, the multi-awarded corporate office building, uses 100 percent hydroelectric energy supplied by First Gen’s Pantabangan-Masiway Hydroelectric Plant located in Nueva Ecija. This makes ACPT non-reliant on carbon emitting coal-based energy sources. First Gen is the largest clean energy company in the Philippines and is also the only power generating company of its size that does not have coal power in its portfolio.
ACPT’s use of higher thermal performance glass, reflective paint on the roof, efficient lighting fixtures with occupancy and daylight sensors, an energy recovery ventilation system and a Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV) Cooling System contribute to huge energy savings for building users. Arthaland also purposely chose construction materials that have less embodied energy such as aluminum window frames, in-situ reinforced concrete slabs for the roof and floor slabs, among others. Water saving measures include the installation of water-efficient water closets, faucets and urinals. Also, in place is a graywater recycling system for the collection, treatment and reuse of water for irrigation and toilet flushing. Other systems include a condensate water recovery system and a rainwater harvesting system.
“We are honored to receive this award as it shines a light on our other office projects, Cebu Exchange and Savya Financial Center, which are currently under construction. These office projects will adhere to the same sustainable standards and once completed will apply for EDGE certification,” said Jaime C. Gonzalez, vice chairman and president of Arthaland. “By achieving EDGE Zero Carbon certification, we have once again raised green building development standards in the country and have kept true to our commitment of building sustainable and exceptional developments.”
“This distinction is an exceptional achievement for Arthaland Corporation as it continues to show the way in developing a sustainable and green model for future office developments in the country and globally,” said Jane Xu, International Finance Corporation country manager for the Philippines. “IFC remains committed to supporting developers like Arthaland to help transform the way buildings are built in the Philippines through EDGE.”
Building green not only allows Arthaland to protect and preserve the environment but offers its tenants substantial savings from lower utility bills and enhanced working conditions. Future tenants of Arthaland’s Savya Financial Center and Cebu Exchange can expect comparable benefits being enjoyed by ACPT’s tenants.
For more information about Arthaland properties, call (0917) 77 ARTHA (28742), e-mail [email protected], or visit www.arthaland.com.
