In a move to lower the carbon footprint of the Philippines, Daiichi Properties has partnered with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on a program to institutionalize sustainable construction and resource use. Daiichi Properties under the guidance of IFC’s EDGE program conducted assessments of the energy efficiency and water efficiency of building facilities incorporating applicable resource efficiency measures. They are now looking into energy efficient retrofits for existing projects while utilizing renewable energy sources to power buildings.
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group focused on the private sector, developed EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) to provide property developers anywhere in the world a realistic and attainable way to change their construction practices to move the industry globally towards net zero. EDGE focuses on resource efficiency in buildings, encouraging design and construction that reduce energy and water use, and embodied carbon in materials. The Philippines is one of the fastest adopters of EDGE in the world with over 200 projects certified and more in the pipeline.
“Our successful experience with LEED certification led us to explore other sustainable building standards. We are pursuing EDGE Zero Carbon certification for our latest and upcoming office buildings,” Charmaine Uy, President of Daiichi Properties, disclosed. “While getting the organization to prioritize sustainability was very challenging early on, we have since shifted our culture towards continuous improvement so the hurdles are getting easier for us to clear.”
Reducing power and water consumption, utilizing alternative energy sources are among the main objectives. Increasingly, the companies that buy and rent office space look for sustainable certification as a major criterion for choosing a location. Daiichi Properties is a 32-year old property development company known for developing commercial properties to meet exacting international standards. In addition to this, the company is committed to incorporating green building practices, utilizing eco-friendly materials and implementing energy-efficient technologies.
“We see a growing demand to move beyond green building standards to net zero, which can be especially challenging for older buildings, said Angelo Tan, Country Lead for Climate Business at IFC. “We’re excited to partner with Daiichi Properties as they adopt EDGE to systematically reduce energy, water, and embodied carbon in their real estate portfolio—across both new developments and existing buildings.”
Charmaine Uy acknowledges that there is much to do; “We greatly appreciate Mr. Ommid Saberi and Mr. Angelo Tan of IFC in the Philippines, who encouraged us to begin our journey with EDGE. Their team has been hands-on in guiding us as we immerse and navigate challenges.” She continued, “Right now, we have several older buildings, and we are looking to implement energy-efficient retrofits to future-proof and bring them by integrating the latest sustainability and technological standards. Achieving EDGE certification represents our dedication to creating more environmentally friendly and healthier buildings for our tenants, and is a testament to our commitment to preserving the environment for our future generations.”
