Developer to build first green subdivision in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines -  Green houses developer, the Greenovate Corporation is building the first green subdivision in Cebu to address the growing need for affordable, yet sustainable residential units.

Greenovate Corporation general manager Pinky  G. Sy announced that the company is now starting a project, a 1.4 hectare property in Agus, Lapu-Lapu City, that will provide a total of 130 green residential units.

Contrary to the general impression that owning or building an environment friendly homes is expensive, the company is offering affordable pricing house and lot package, ranging from P3 million to P5 million.

The company decided to build its own green home village, noting the strong demand for green houses in Cebu.

At present, Greenovate is doing renovation projects to convert a traditional house to a “green house” concept, all around Cebu.

According to Sy the company will start the construction and will launch the green house subdivision by second quarter of 2013.

“The Cebu market is ready for green home technology,” Sy said adding that although awareness is there, the market has to be educated that it is not necessarily expensive to build a green house.

Aside from its sustainability, Green Homes are easy to construct, durable and owners can save money both in short and long terms.

Recently, Greenovate has partnered with a Singapore-based Grenzone Pte. Ltd. company that focused on eco-designed building systems.

Singaporean engineer Liong Siok Jen was in Cebu recently to introduce the different eco-designed construction materials, through its partnership with Greenovate Corporation.

According to Liong Siok, building an environment-friendly houses, or converting a traditional house to a green-home is not necessarily expensive, while environmental friendly products for construction are now becoming affordable.

Besides, she said “green homes” are mostly recommended in island countries, like the Philippines, as Green home systems are the most sustainable, and can withstand calamities such as typhoons, among others.

Grenzon’s environment friendly materials include a solar panel that will provide a house with its own energy supply.

A single solar panel for instant costs US$150, a single house with one television, five lighting, small fridge, one mobile phone, can get its energy source from four solar panels, she explained.

“Eco-design houses are not only for the rich, but it is more suitable for the mass market,” Liong Siok said.

Green Homes uses environment-conducive designs and affordable construction materials which brings to owning a sustainable eco-friendly home that allows clients to save on electricity and water, he said.

Buildings and their construction contribute a lot to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Based on a report published by UK’s online construction directory, the building industry is currently responsible for almost 40 percent of global greenhouse emissions.

Cement and steel industries on the other hand that provide materials for building construction are deemed resource intensive, thus, giving a big blow to the use of natural resources.

Greenovate is strictly using alternative construction and pre-fabricated materials, that’s why it can complete a house project, in shorter period of time, in three to four months.  (FREEMAN)