Solons want to introduce green architecture in universities and colleges

Tuesday, 20 September 2011 01:45

Universities and colleges will soon offer subjects on green architecture under the proposed "Green Energy Education Act."

Authored by Reps. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2nd District, Pampanga) and Diosdado M. Arroyo (2nd District, Camarines Sur), House Bill 5220 seeks to introduce high performance building, which integrates and optimizes all major high-performance building attributes, including energy efficiency, durability, life-cycle performance and occupant productivity in architecture and engineering courses. "This will help improve the ability of engineers, architects, landscape architects and planners in the country to adopt more relevant concepts in their field of endeavors," Arroyo said.

The bill mandates the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Commission on Higher Education (CGED) to introduce programs related to the design and construction of high performance buildings in the universities and colleges.

Arroyo cited the recent Annual General Membership Meeting of the Philippine Green Building Council (PhilGBC) held in Makati City, where British experts from building and design companies shared their latest and most innovative environmental technologies with local counterparts.

"As part of their global commitment, the United Kingdom is reportedly seeking to bring in countries like the Philippines cutting-edge environmental technologies, particularly in building designs, to address climate change," Arroyo said.

Arroyo said technology sharing is timely since the PhilGBC is currently working on a set of standards for the Philippines called Building Ecologically Responsive Design for Excellence (BERDE).

The bill mandates DOE to give priority to university programs in design, architecture, landscape architecture, and city, regional or urban planning.

Arroyo said the bill will improve the ability of engineers, architects, landscape architects, and planners to cooperate on the incorporation of advanced energy technologies during the design and construction of buildings.

"The bill shall prepare the next wave of design and construction professionals and improve the energy efficiency and productivity of the buildings in the country," Arroyo said.

Under the bill, the DOE may contribute funds to curriculum development activities for the purpose of improving undergraduate or graduate interdisciplinary engineering and architecture education related to the design and construction of high performance buildings, including development of curricula, laboratory and training.