LAWMAKERS have filed a bill mandating the application of “green” architecture in the construction of future government buildings in the country. Rep. Juan Pablo “Rimpy” P. Bondoc of Pampanga, author of House Bill 5011 to be known as the “Green Building Act,” said the future architectural design of government buildings should be environment friendly.
“Green building uses [only] one-third of the energy [that are used by] conventional buildings. It espouses the reduction of operation costs by increasing productivity and using less energy, water and other resources; improving public and occupants’ health due to improved indoor air quality, and decreasing waste, pollution and environmental decay,” Deputy Majority Leader Bondoc said.
He said it is imperative to adopt policies that will decrease the general adverse environmental impact of the building and will consequently cut costs and save environmental resources. Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles of Davao City, another author of the bill, said it requires all government buildings to be set, designed, constructed, operated, maintained and retrofitted using environment-friendly materials, sustainable architecture techniques and other green-building practices in order to reduce the buildings’ impacts on the environment and human health.
Nograles, chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Employment, said buildings consume large amount of land, energy and water. This runs counter to the very policy of the sustainable development and the constitutional right of the people to a balanced and healthful environment, he said.
Under the bill, the government shall ensure that objective, accurate, comprehensive and updated information on green-building policies and standards are available at all times not only to government institutions but also to the general public.
All historic structures shall be exempt from the requirements of the proposed law. Nevertheless, the green-building policy may still be adopted in the operation or maintenance practices, renovation and expansion of such structures, provided that the historical integrity of the structure shall not be compromised.
Furthermore, applicable standards shall be set for the purpose of planning, designing, constructing, operating or maintaining, renovating and expanding building projects and for retrofitting existing buildings. The measure provides for the creation of a Green Building National Board tasked in the planning, design, construction, operation or maintenance, renovation and expansion of government-owned buildings and in the retrofitting of existing government buildings.
It is also mandates to promote the benefits of green-building standards, monitor the issuance of “Green Building” certification by authorized accrediting body and maintain registry of “Green Building” accrediting bodies and government institutions.
Every March shall be known as “Green Building Month” throughout the country to raise awareness on the importance and benefits of green-building standards.