BY Myrna M. Velasco – Aug 24, 2024 09:47 AM
from Manila Bulletin

At a glance

  • In the wide runway toward achieving genuine green credentials, a major strategic approach for corporations will be shift in energy usage to clean solutions like RE; and that may also be complemented with other initiatives such as those on waste reduction and prudent waste management, recycling of disposed materials as well as integration of energy efficient-design in buildings which is now a trend among property developers.

As it seriously takes its share of the burden on the global decarbonization goal, property developer Arthaland Corporation has signed a new power supply agreement (PSA) with Lopez-led First Gen Corporation for energy services that will ramp up its usage of renewable energy (RE) resources.

According to First Gen, Arthaland will be procuring additional RE-generated capacity to power its premium grade 18-storey Savya Financial Center, a development calculatedly fixed up with sustainable features that will be flourishing at the bustling Arca South estate in Taguig City.

First Gen Arthaland.jpg

Signing of new power supply agreement between First Gen and Arthaland for energy supply to the 18-storey Savya Financial Center in Taguig City.

“Arthaland’s new agreement with First Gen reaffirms the property company’s commitment to shift to clean and renewable energy sources all the electricity supply needs of its entire real estate portfolio by year 2030 as part of the property firm’s net zero goal,” the Lopez firm said.

First Gen Vice President for Power Marketing, Trading, and Economics Carlo Vega noted that their company shares a common vision with Arthaland “towards a decarbonized and regenerative future.”

He added “ it is our privilege to collaborate with Arthaland in helping deliver socio-economic gains while reducing our impact on the environment. As we expand our renewable energy portfolio, we hope to continue our partnership with Arthaland in their decarbonization journey.”

The parties have not revealed the scale of megawatt-procurements as well as the agreed tariff in the PSA, but it was highlighted that this is a complementary deal to their first supply arrangement cemented in 2019 for the Arthaland Century Pacific Tower (ACPT) in Fort Bonifacio Global City.

To achieve net zero in emissions, sustainability pioneers like Arthaland will have to make sure that the level of ongoing greenhouse gases (GHG) spewed out from their operations must be within the level that would be equal or balanced with the emissions already removed or reduced.

Oliver Chan, senior vice president for Sales Operations, Leasing, and Project Marketing and Chief Sustainability Officer of Arthaland, indicated that “we made every effort to ensure we source 100% renewable energy to decarbonize the building’s operations to provide a positive impact on people and the planet.”

In the wide runway toward achieving genuine green credentials, a major strategic approach for corporations will be shift in energy usage to clean solutions like RE; and that may also be complemented with other initiatives such as those on waste reduction and prudent waste management, recycling of disposed materials as well as integration of energy efficient-design in buildings which is now a trend among property developers.

At the Savya Financial Center, Arthaland conveyed that the upscale structure had been equipped with “energy-efficient lighting and air conditioning, double-glazed low-emissivity glass, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and a rainwater harvesting and recycling system,” emphasizing that “these features allow the building to save up to 40% on electricity and water consumption.”

Chan expounded “we envision the Savya Financial Center as a safe, healthy, and more productive working environment for all its occupants.”

To date, the Savya Financial Center development of Arthaland has already been pre-certified for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification.

Beyond that, the project is also well on its way to securing Philippine Green Building Council’s BERDE Certification and the International WELL Building Institute’s WELL™ Building Standard; as well as the International Finance Corporation’s Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE®) Advanced Certification.

First Gen similarly vouched that Arthaland’s Century Pacific Towers  holds “the distinction of being the first building in the world to earn a certification as a zero-carbon-neutral building under the EDGE certification program.”

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