Energy savings for building tenants
ArthaLand, developer of Cebu Exchange, targets business process outsourcing, multinational companies and corporate clients
Aside from building an environment-friendly structure, executives of a property development firm say their green office building allows occupants to make saving energy and recycling waste a priority.
Leo Po, executive vice president (EVP) of ArthaLand Corp., said their project, Cebu Exchange, will provide a high quality working space.
“What we do is that we look at three main parts: how much energy is saved, how water is conserved and waste is recycled,” Po said.
The 39-level Cebu Exchange has a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, and targets business process outsourcing (BPO) firms, headquarters for multi-national companies and corporate clients.
Po said they have introduced innovative functions for every part of the structure, including an optimized building envelope that maintains the temperature, using low double-glazed glass that reflects the ultra violet rays from the sun, a rain water collector that acts as a water saving feature, and its own septage treatment plant.
“We use low emitting materials that improve the air quality inside the building so you don’t get that heavy paint or accelerant smell. All the waste that we create in our project is properly segregated and disposed. We ensure that those materials are sold properly to the recyclers,” he said. He added that some of the wood used also came from renewable forests.
Cebu Exchange is registered with both the US and Philippine Green Building Council.
House rules for the future tenants also include waste segregation and water and energy conservation.
Currently, half of the building is sold. “We are very confident that we will be able to hit our target to sell out,” he said.
Aside from the working space, Cebu Exchange will also have a retail area to cater to the needs of its tenants.
“We would like to ensure a healthy mix so we can provide a balanced and working experience for people who work in the building and the community around it. (We will have) varied tenants that would complement the areas by making it convenient and comfortable, like healthcare to institutional and government services, to very simple day-to day-services like office supplies,” Christopher Narciso, EVP, said.
Cebu Exchange is located on Salinas Drive in Lahug, Cebu City, across the Cebu IT Park. /