Robinsons Land Corporation’s Giga Tower in Bridgetowne has just received its LEED Gold certification, a rewarding acknowledgment of the firm’s pursuit of greater sustainability in both its existing and future office buildings.
The Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership by the US Green Building Council. Touted as the world’s most widely used green building rating system, it provides a framework for sustainable practices in building design, construction, operations, and maintenance.
Based on a development’s points earned during the stringent review process, its level of certification can fall under the following: LEED Certified (40 to 49 points), Silver (50 to 59 points), Gold (60 to 79 points), and Platinum (80 or more points).
Today, locating in a LEED-certified building is becoming increasingly desirable, as there is rising demand for green and sustainably designed office spaces from corporations and companies with growing ESG (environmental, social, and governance) workplace requirements.
RLC’s Giga Tower is its fourth building to be LEED certified after Robinsons Tera Tower (LEED Gold) and Robinsons Exxa and Zeta Towers (LEED Silver), all in Bridgetowne. Located in the same destination estate, GBF Towers 1 and 2 are both aiming for LEED Gold certification, while in other parts of the country, RLC’s Cybergate Iloilo Towers 1 and 2 are now pursuing their LEED certification.
“As the leading office building developer in the Pasig-Quezon City area, we are committed to building greener office towers and apply for LEED certification for these ongoing and upcoming Metro Manila projects, as well as some provincial offices,” said RLC Senior Vice President and Business Unit General Manager Jericho P. Go.
Similar to how Robinsons Land has tapped solar energy to power its malls around the country, Go shares, “We plan to install solar panels on our future buildings that meet the minimum requirements. We also intend to enroll more buildings with independent power producers to provide us with electricity coming from renewable energy sources.”
Aside from using greener power sources, RLC also aims to be more responsible in its water usage by adopting sustainable practices. According to Go, the company has installed rainwater harvesting systems in selected office developments, with more installations planned at some of its existing office buildings. The rainwater collected can be used for cleaning purposes as well as for watering plants. These types of water recycling facilities will also be incorporated in the plans and designs of RLC’s office towers that will be built in the future.
For Giga Tower to achieve its LEED Gold certification, RLC restored a third of the building site by using native or adapted vegetation, satisfying the LEED requirement to “conserve existing natural areas and restore damaged areas to provide habitat and promote biodiversity.”
Points were also earned by reducing the building’s heat island effect by having all parking spaces under cover and using paving and roof materials that are Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) compliant.
Giga Tower’s indoor water use was reduced by 45.90% by installing low-flow and low-flush plumbing fixtures. The building was also able to achieve energy cost savings of 9.5% by using LED lights, double-glazing its façade, and using daylight sensors in its parking areas. Then, to support energy management and identify opportunities for additional energy savings, energy meters and advanced sub-meters that track building-level and system-level energy use were also installed.
There is also marked waste reduction due to the building’s Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), which includes segregated compartments for mixed paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, metals, batteries, and electronic waste.
Another important planet-saving measure was the use of non-CFC refrigerant (R-410A) in its centralized cooling system to reduce the threat of stratospheric ozone depletion.
To boost health and wellness for those who live and work in the vicinity, RLC has provided for generous sidewalks lined with plants and trees, making it pedestrian friendly and encouraging people to walk within the Bridgetowne Destination Estate.
For more information on Robinsons Land and development portfolio, visit robinsonsland.com
