October 26, 2007 · Posted in: Environment Watch, i Report Features
Building breathing spaces
CLIMATE change is not yet part of the daily concerns of the average Filipino, but it’s a topic that is getting harder to ignore. Indeed, the latest winners of the Nobel Peace Prize were recognized for their relentless work in warning the world about the effects of global warming. For those who missed that bit of news, the catastrophic effects of recent weather disturbances surely make the meaning of climate change all too clear.
![House in Coron, Palawan [photo courtesy of cliffordespinosa.com]](http://www.pcij.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/espinosa_house.jpg "House in Coron, Palawan [photo courtesy of cliffordespinosa.com]")
Creating homes and buildings that use less energy certainly would help ease the pressure on Mother Earth. Fortunately, reports the article, there is already a Green Architecture Movement in the Philippines that can only help promote living and working spaces that work in harmony with nature. There is also now even a Philippine Green Building Council that seeks to spread the gospel on building practices that will improve air quality and water efficiency, promote energy efficiency and conservation, establish solid waste management practices, advance ecologically friendly site development, and increase the use of green materials in all phases of construction.
Some upscale developers have taken on the challenge to create green communities and homes that ensure families will have smaller carbon footprints. But as the article shows, a posh address is not necessary for having a green house — just the right design.
We hope this latest piece in i Report‘s Power and Poisons series will encourage readers to try a bit of green living as well. Read on at pcij.org.
2 Responses to Building breathing spaces
rhodora a.
October 26th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
Educational article. Thanks. Forwarded it to a brother-in-law who is in the process of designing his retirement home in Tagaytay.
sgalanza
December 27th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
I stumbled across Homestyle magazine and my curiosity led me to this website. I like the article very much as I am planning to build a home sometime next year. Green design is always on my mind so I have spent a lot of my free time researching for cool ideas and this site is my latest find. Being in a working class means I cannot afford a lofty house. As a mechanical engineer I understand some of the concepts here like ventilation and lighting but I can’t just quite get those concepts into a house.
Anyway, I like the ideas on the Building breathing spaces article. Now I hope somebody would answer my questions.
1. With so many openings, how do keep the flies and mosquitoes out?
2. What is typically better or cheaper, insulating a GI roof or having thermoplastic roofs instead? Just considering having decorative pre-plated metal roofing over PVC roof.
3. If you have a gypsum board ceiling, do you still need to insulate your metal roof?
4. My lot is on a 30-40 degree slope. I’m considering having rainwater cistern on the basement next or opposite the bedrooms. How do you prevent leaks and flooding in this scenario?
4. Is it practical to use EVG 3D boards or other structural insulated panels if you have plenty of windows?
5. What is the typical price tag of a “French” window with a double glazed glass? The glass being not really tinted but still clear enough for sunlight to pass through but keeping UV and heat out.
Many Thanks and Happy New Year.
-Stanley