Department of Energy signs a MOA with Philippine Green Building Council Incorporated

25 Mar 2009

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Angelo T. Reyes signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine Green Building Council, Inc. (PhilGBC) Chairman and Executive Director, Architect Christopher C. De la Cruz last 25 March 2009 at the Manila Polo Club.

PhilGBC through the said partnership commits to support the advocacy of green practices using the Guidelines on Energy Conserving Design of Buildings and other efficient lighting documents/materials developed under the Philippine Efficient Lighting Market Transformation Project (PELMATP), a 5-year project being implemented by DOE with support from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Salient points of the MOA include, among others, the promotion of green practices such as improvement of indoor air quality, promotion of energy efficiency and conservation particularly but not limited to artificial lighting, establishment of lamp waste management practices, and utilization of green materials in all phases of the building construction. Also, as PhilGBC is in the process of developing green building rating standards, the Guidelines for Energy Conserving Design of Buildings could be a useful reference.

The said forging of partnership was one of the highlights of the 1st General Membership Meeting this 2009, wherein in partnership with UK Trade and Investment, PhilGBC conducted “Green and Sustainable Building Back to Basics” Seminar with UK Experts as speakers. More than 300 advocates of green technologies (architects, engineers, businessmen, academe and others) participated in the event.