MANILA, Philippines - Top ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigerating engineers in the country are heeding the call to combat climate change, setting new standards and a rating system on energy-efficient buildings to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and tackle global warming.

Over the weekend, the Philippine Society of Ventilating, Air-conditioning and Refrigerating Engineers, Inc. (PSVARE) launched a book entitled “2010 PSVARE Standard on Energy Efficient Buildings” in an effort to advance and institutionalize energy conservation in buildings and establishments in line with the government’s promotion of so-called green infrastructures.

The book lays down the benchmark on Building Envelope, which involves mandatory measures of fenestration such as windows, glazed doors, and skylights that significantly impact on the overall energy performance of buildings.

It also identifies the standards on mechanical systems, which include HVAC energy use, natural and mechanical ventilation, air conditioning, water heating, etc.; construction; indoor lighting/outdoor lighting; and sign lighting. However, the book does not cover low-rise residential or those below three-story buildings.

The creation of green infrastructure is part of the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change, which was drafted by the Climate Change Commission (CCC) and approved by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last Wednesday in Puerto Princesa City.

In the same event held in Makati City, the CCC signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with PSVARE and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers or ASHRAE-Philippine Chapter to promote green infrastructure in the country and develop a credible professionally-crafted and acceptable Philippine Green Building ratings system that will encourage "green banking" support. It also aims to make possible the development of a system of independent GHG reporting, monitoring, and review to encourage the use of clean building technologies as instruments that will cut carbon emissions.

CCC vice chairman Secretary Heherson T. Alvarez said buildings in the country contribute some 33 percent of the carbon dioxide emission of human settlements.

Residential and commercial sectors, meanwhile, are major emitters of GHG, consuming 50 percent of primary electric energy, according to the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change. High-rise buildings, on the other hand, are said to consume 72 percent of electric supply.

According to Alvarez, having energy-efficient buildings, besides reducing carbon emissions, will reduce energy costs for owners while also increasing reliability and availability of electricity for the country. “The full implementation of a new code for green buildings, like this one from PSVARE, will help minimize GHG by as much as 2.4 million tons a year,” Alvarez said.