More and more people are being aware of our carbon footprints. Though more Filipinos lean on living in cities, we continue to shape the way we live. City dwellers shift to greener lifestyle choices including reducing overall carbon emissions to help save the planet. The successful movement to greener cityscapes begins with the construction of green buildings. SM Prime leads green buildings as they promote the well-being of the people who use these spaces by providing smart innovations that work with the environment,
Benefits of Green Buildings
A study made by the US Green Building Council shows that green buildings can reduce carbon emissions by around 40%. In addition, water consumption is reduced by around 30%, and waste generation by around 70%.
Other than the environmental benefits, green buildings also help meet social needs. It enhances spaces, protects human health, empowers differently-abled members of the community to take active participation, and ensures access to basic services at reasonable rates.
In addition, the economic benefits are evident in green buildings. As it commands higher rent potentials, encouraging ‘greenovation.’ It also promotes cultural and recreational activities without harming the environment.
SM Prime Leads Green Buildings
Committed to making living better, SM Prime has taken the lead in green buildings. The leader has been incorporating sustainability and resiliency in its designs. Thus, making each component work together as a fully-integrated city of the future.
“Constructing greener buildings provides holistic solutions not only reducing emissions but also promoting social well-being.” shares Hans T. Sy, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee. “We see this in our developments which drives us to build greener. And even retrofit our existing malls to meet green standards.”
Among SM’s developments, a number boast of receiving LEED Gold certification. While others are in the process of certification. Such as the SM Baguio expansion, SM North EDSA BPO offices, SM Megamall Mega Tower, and SM Retail Corporation.
LEED Gold Certified SM Developments
SM Aura
The iconic SM Aura is a mixed-use development that incorporates retail, trade halls, and a Grade A office tower. The LEED Gold Certified mall promotes resource efficiency, green mobility, and green landscapes.
Green Mobility
Cycling is encouraged at SM Aura. There are accessible bicycle storage, cyclists’ shower rooms, and convenient access to safe lanes for public transit.
Green Landscapes
The SM Aura Premier Park covers over 55% of the building, uses recycled water, and provides enough room for plants to grow while protecting the building and people from the heat.
Resource Efficiency
SM Aura uses 16% less energy than conventional buildings. Its high-performance building envelope reduces solar heat while allowing sufficient sunlight. Through its low flow water sensors and metering faucets, it also reduces a third of its potable water use.
Conrad Manila
Known as a lifestyle center, Conrad Manila is designed with a dramatically-formed angular structure. It houses a stylish 347-room hotel, spa, and function space. While S Maison is home to a swathe of smaller, more bespoke outlets for brands.
Luxury Means Green Mobility
Conrad Manila remains environmentally friendly. It provides preferred parking slots for low emitting fuel-efficient vehicles and car-sharing vehicles. In addition, it gives special parking spaces and facilities for cyclists.
Eco-Friendly Materials
The hotel uses locally manufactured and recycled materials and products whenever possible. More than 80% of the project’s construction waste is recycled. The filtration systems maintain a minimum efficiency rating of 90% to eliminate airborne particulates.
Resource Efficiency
Designed to reduce energy by around 12% less than the American energy standards, Conrad Manila is resource efficient. Its water heating system recovers heat from the chiller condensers to produce hot water. While its ventilation system recovers the coolness from the exhaust air, returning into the building.
he hotel is outfitted with occupancy sensors. Also, its rooms are tinted with low emissivity insulated glass to keep heat and noise out.
Sustainable Designs
The SM Engineering and Design Development, the mall’s design and construction arm, has implemented these sustainable design strategies on the following projects:
SM Baguio brings outdoor and indoors into one space optimizing natural lighting and ventilation with the Sky Garden. It has a green roof system as well as a provision for an underground water reservoir for storage and reuse of rainwater with a capacity of 4,389 cubic meters.
SM Seaside Cebu mall-goers can enjoy an extensive green area, center courtyard, and roof garden. The building is designed to maximize natural light and ventilation thanks to its low glass and use of EchoStop.
SM Lanang Premier showcases lush greens, a roof garden, and green pavers. The green pavers encourage filtration and allow stormwater back to the underground soil. It is equipped with a rainwater catchment system. There is also a water reservoir with a 546-cubic meter capacity based on 425mm per hour rainfall intensity. It also has a materials recovery facility that receives, segregates, and prepares recyclable materials for marketing to end-user manufacturers.
SM City Masinag helps communities avoid floodwaters through its 15,033 cubic meter water catchment facility. It is designed with green screens that promote vertical plant growth. In addition, it is constructed with Clerestory windows that use natural light.
SM North Edsa is one of the pioneers of the use of solar panels. It is also the first to have the Sky Garden and elevated parks.
SM Mall of Asia is uniquely designed. It has a seawall to avert any damage from potential storm surges or sea-level rise. Built on reclaimed land, it used an excavation method providing a greater degree of protection against liquefaction and seismic events. Elevated above the required building levels, it is equipped with wave return and drainage channels to prevent flooding due to storm surges and high waves.
SM Marikina sits on 246 stilts. It is built 20-meters beyond compliance with the safety zone. At 20.5 meters above natural ground level, it serves as a first responder and a place of refuge for the residents of Marikina during times of calamities.
Greener and More Sustainable Cityscape
Today, real estate investors have grown to prefer spaces that support the sustainability agendas of the growing population. Pursuing green building standards support the public’s aspiration for more sustainable communities. SM Prime believes that it is important for developers to work with communities. Especially on addressing climate change and achieving shared aspirations – a greener, more sustainable cityscape for all to enjoy.
Creating a more sustainable way of life requires a sustainable backdrop that supports the shift. At SM Prime, our passion is to create one that is sustainable and resilient for the life we want for today and the future.
Mr. Sy
