Green building design criteria evaluation assessment of berde green building rating system

As a response to the strengthening inclination towards sustainability, Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence BERDE was named the National Voluntary Green Building Ratin

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HO CHI MINH CITY

HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

JUSTINE MHARZELINE GONZALES-GUANZON

GREEN BUILDING DESIGN CRITERIA EVALUATION: ASSESSMENT OF BERDE GREEN BUILDING RATING

SYSTEM ĐÁNH GIÁ TIÊU CHÍ THIẾT KẾ CÔNG TRÌNH XANH: THẨM ĐỊNH HỆ THỐNG XẾP HẠNG CÔNG TRÌNH XANH

THIS RESEARCH IS COMPLETED AT:

HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY – VNU HCM

Instructor 1: Dr Nguyen Anh Thu

Instructor 2: Ph.D./ Associate Prof Pham Vu Hong Son

Master’s Thesis is defended at HCMC University of Technology, VNU-HCM on December 07, 2022

The Board of The Master’s Thesis Defense Council includes:

1 President: Assoc Prof Dr Luong Duc Long

2 Secretary: Assoc Prof Tran Duc Hoc

3 Counter-Argument Member: Assoc Prof Do Tien Sy

4 Counter-Argument Member: Dr Nguyen Thanh Viet

5 Council Member: Dr Nguyen Van Tiep

Verification of the Chairman of the Master’s Thesis Defense Council and the Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering after the thesis is corrected (If any)

CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL DEAN OF FACULTY OF CIVIL _ _ENGINEERING

Assoc Prof Dr Luong Duc Long

Examiner 1: Assoc Prof Do Tien Sy

Examiner 2: Dr Nguyen Thanh Viet

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

HO CHI MINH CITY

HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF

THE TASK SHEET FOR THE MASTER’S THESIS

Full Name: Justine Mharzeline Guanzon

Date of Birth: October 16, 1996

Major: Construction Management

Student Code: 2070283 Place of Birth: Malolos, Bulacan, Philippines Major Code: 858032

I Thesis Topic: Green Building Design Criteria Evaluation:

Assessment of BERDE Green Building Rating System Đánh Giá Tiêu Chí Thiết Kế Công Trình Xanh: Thẩm Định Hệ Thống Xếp

Hạng Công Trình Xanh BERDE

II Tasks and Contents: To address the gaps about the BERDE User

Guide Version 4.2.0

III Tasks Starting Date: March 2022

IV Tasks Ending Date: December 2022

V Instructors: Dr Nguyen Anh Thu and Ph.D./ Associate Prof.

Pham Vu Hong Son

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost, I thank the Almighty God for guiding and protecting me in every part of this thesis project Many problems are encountered in this study, but through Him, everything becomes possible, and I can overcome everything

Also, I would like to thank and give my sincerest gratitude to the following people for their exemplary contribution to finishing this thesis project:

To Dr Nguyen Anh Thu and Ph.D./ Associate Prof Pham Vu Hong Son for believing in my capacity to finish this project, and thus providing me with their support for sharing their knowledge, insights, and over-all expertise in this research work, utmost thanks I want to express my sincerest gratitude for continuously encouraging me through this program

To my colleagues and mentors at Hydronet, especially Dr Danilo Jaque, Ms Joan Jaque, and Luzon Team, for their understanding every time I have school activities and programs Everything I learn under your supervision shapes who I am today You defined what mentors are supposed to be for me, communicative and supportive

To my closest friends here in Vietnam, John, Eby, and Poe, thank you for cheering me up throughout our thesis Without you three, this will not be possible

To my friends, who are always a call away, Ailyn, Terey, Gem, and Bren, you guys make dealing with everything a smile better

To my family, Mama, Ate, Andrei, Simone, and Nelzeim, thank you for helping me finish this study in every way possible, financially, physically, and emotionally Thank you for always being at my side throughout my life Thank you for your full support for me to get the best opportunities All my success is not ours

To my family and friends for giving their utmost support in everything I do, this is all for you

SUMMARY OF MASTER’S THESIS

The use of the technical term "sustainability" has recently increased As a response

to the strengthening inclination towards sustainability, Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) was named the National Voluntary Green Building Rating Scheme (GBRS) Department of Energy (DOE), with assistance from the Philippine Green Building Council (PHILGBC), created BERDE as part of the Philippine Energy Efficiency Program (PEEP) Nevertheless, despite being available

to the public for more than ten years, local businesses still prefer to use other GBRS over BERDE This study aims to pinpoint conceptual gaps in the BERDE User Guide Version 4.2.0 The author uses Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to examine whether there is a meaningful relationship between the 30 identified sustainability factors The principles deemed required by many vital stakeholders are suggested to be utilized as the foundation for the next version of the BERDE User Guide when data from the questionnaire is analyzed An in-depth comparative literary analysis is also performed to pinpoint errors and gaps

in the current version

As per this study’s conclusion, it is also advised to give some sustainability factors more weight over others because it is thought more suitable for projects in the Philippines, as indicated by the present BERDE users According to the study's findings and suggestions, BERDE needs to be revised and evaluated regularly Regular assessment ensures that the changes in sustainability and green building trends can be applied in BERDE It is anticipated that adopting these findings will increase the likelihood that BERDE will become a required process for all new construction projects Improvement in the gaps found in the current User Guide will also be helpful in the next round of the Council’s assessment

Keywords: green buildings, policy review and development, sustainability, GBRS

TÓM TẮT LUẬN VĂN THẠC SĨ

Việc sử dụng thuật ngữ kỹ thuật "bền vững" gần đây đã trở nên phổ biến hơn Để đáp ứng xu hướng ngày càng tăng đối với tính bền vững, Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) đã được đặt tên là Hệ thống xếp hạng công trình xanh tự nguyện quốc gia (GBRS) Bộ Năng lượng (DOE), với sự hỗ trợ của Hội đồng Công trình Xanh Philippine (PHILGBC), đã thành lập BERDE như một phần của Chương trình Hiệu quả Năng lượng Philippine (PEEP) (BERDE) Tuy nhiên, mặc dù đã được ra mắt hơn mười năm, các doanh nghiệp địa phương vẫn chủ trương

sử dụng phương pháp GBRS hơn là BERDE Nghiên cứu này nhằm mục đích xác định các lỗ hổng về khái niệm trong Hướng dẫn sử dụng BERDE Phiên bản 4.2.0 Tác giả sử dụng EFA và SEM để kiểm tra xem có mối quan hệ ý nghĩa nào giữa 30 yếu tố bền vững đã được xác định hay không Các nguyên tắc được coi là yêu cầu

của nhiều bên liên quan quan trọng được đề xuất sử dụng làm nền tảng cho phiên bản tiếp theo của Hướng dẫn sử dụng BERDE khi dữ liệu từ bảng câu hỏi được phân

tích Một phân tích so sánh chuyên sâu cũng được thực hiện để xác định các lỗi và

lỗ hổng trong phiên bản hiện tại

Theo kết luận của nghiên cứu này, người ta cũng khuyên nên coi trọng một số yếu tố bền vững hơn những yếu tố khác vì nó được cho là phù hợp hơn cho các dự án ở Philippines, như người dùng BERDE hiện tại đã chỉ ra Theo những phát hiện và đề xuất của nghiên cứu, BERDE cần được sửa đổi và đánh giá thường xuyên Đánh giá thường xuyên đảm bảo rằng những thay đổi về tính bền vững và xu hướng xây dựng xanh có thể được áp dụng trong BERDE Người ta dự đoán rằng việc áp dụng những

phát hiện này sẽ làm tăng khả năng BERDE sẽ trở thành một quy trình bắt buộc đối với tất cả các dự án xây dựng mới Việc cải thiện các lỗ hổng được tìm thấy trong

Hướng dẫn sử dụng hiện tại cũng sẽ hữu ích trong vòng đánh giá tiếp theo của Hội đồng

Từ khóa: công trình xanh, rà soát và phát triển chính sách, tính bền vững, GBRS

AUTHOR’S COMMITMENT

The undersigned below:

Place and Date of Birth: Malolos, Bulacan, Philippines, October 16, 1996

With this declaring that this Master’s Thesis entitled “Green Building Design

Criteria Evaluation: Assessment of BERDE Green Building Rating System” was

done by the author under the supervision of the supervisors, all works, ideas, and materials that were captured from other references have been cited accurately

Ho Chi Minh City, December 2022

Justine Mharzeline Gonzales-Guanzon

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background of the Study 1

1.2 Problem Statement 4

1.3 Research Objectives 5

1.4 Scope and Limitations of the Study 5

1.5 Significance of the Study 7

1.6 Contribution to Academic and Practical Fields 8

1.6.1 Academe 8

1.6.2 Practical Fields (Design and Construction) 8

CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 9

2.1 Green Building Rating Systems 11

2.2 Green Buildings in the Philippines 13

2.3 Philippine Green Building Code 13

2.4 Philippine Green Building Council 14

2.5 Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) 15

2.6 Core Framework of BERDE 19

2.6.1 Management 21

2.6.2 Use of Land and Ecology 22

2.6.3 Energy 22

2.6.4 Water 23

2.6.5 Waste 23

2.6.6 Materials 24

2.6.7 Transportation 25

2.6.8 Health and Well-being 25

2.6.9 Emissions 26

2.6.10 Community Engagement 26

2.6.11 Economic Opportunity 27

2.7 Minimum System Requirements (MSR) 27

2.8 Previous Literature about BERDE 31

CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 34

3.1 Research Framework 34

3.2 Questionnaire Design 35

3.2.1 Part II: Description of a GBRS 35

3.2.2 Part III and IV: Sustainability Factors 38

3.3 Data Collection 43

3.3.1 Part I: Demographics 44

3.3.2 Part II: Baseline Descriptions of BERDE 44

3.3.3 Part III: Sustainability Factors of BERDE 45

3.3.4 Part IV: Level of Importance of Each Concept of Sustainability 45

3.4 Qualitative Analysis 45

3.4.1 Analysis of Likert Items 45

3.4.2 Relative Importance Index 46

3.4.3 Exploratory Factor Analysis 47

3.4.4 Structural Equation Model: Outer Measurement Model Assessment 47

3.4.5 Structural Equation Model: Path Model 48

CHAPTER 4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 49

4.1 Analysis of Part I: Respondents' Socio-Demographics 49

4.2 Analysis of Part II: Baseline Descriptions of BERDE 51

4.3 Research Hypotheses 56

4.4 Analysis of Part III and Part IV: Ranking of the Concepts 56

4.5 Analysis of Part IV: Descriptive Analysis 60

4.6 Analysis of Part IV: Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) 62

4.7 Analysis of Part IV: Outer Measurement Model Assessment 65

4.8 Analysis of Part IV: SEM Path Model 66

4.9 Confirmation of Hypotheses 69

4.10 Comparative Literature Analysis 70

4.10.1 Adaptation to the Philippines' Local Green Building Culture 70

4.10.2 Relativity to Green Construction and Sustainability 71

4.10.3 Relevancy of Content and Requirements 71

4.10.4 Consistency with other documents, regulations, and laws 72

4.10.5 Effectiveness as a Guide for Applicants 72

4.10.6 Manageability of the Requirements 73

4.10.7 Rationality of the Content and Coverage 74

4.10.8 Syntactic Structure of the User Guide 75

4.10.9 Score Distribution 75

4.10.10 Consistency of Content 76

4.10.11 Economic Viability 76

CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE WORK 78

5.1 Recommendations for the Improvement of BERDE User Guide Version 4.2.0… .79

5.2 Recommendations for Further Study 80

REFERENCES 82

APPENDICES 105

1 Management 105

2 Use of Land and Ecology 113

3 Energy 121

4 Water 124

5 Waste 129

6 Materials 131

7 Transportation 135

8 Health and Wellbeing 139

9 Emissions 153

10 Community Engagement 157

11 Economic Opportunity 159

12 Questionnaire 162

FIGURE INDEX

Figure 1-1 Three Pillars/E's of Sustainability [2] 1

Figure 2-1 Green Buildings Around the World 10

Figure 2-2 Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle [28] 12

Figure 3-1 Research Framework 34

Figure 4-1 CFA using SPSS AMOS Model 68

Figure 4-2 Reference for Reasonable Thermal Levels, HW-04 72

Figure 4-3 Requirements for Water Base Case (Left) and Water Design Case (Right), WT-01 74

Figure 4-4 Stage 1 Score Distribution, HW-04 76

Figure 6-1 Invisible triangle Pop-up Link for Materially affected, MN-02 107

Figure 6-2 All Stages Score Distribution, EN-02 123

Figure 6-3 Requirements for Water Base Case (Left) and Water Design Case (Right), WT-01 125

Figure 6-4 Score Distribution (Graywater Reuse), WT-02 127

Figure 6-5 Requirements for the Waste Storage, WS-01 129

Figure 6-6 Notes about the Requirements if the Mass Transportation is Railway, TR-02 136

Figure 6-7 Purpose and Intent, HW-01 139

Figure 6-8 Reference for Reasonable Thermal Levels, HW-04 144

Figure 6-9 Stage 1 Score Distribution, HW-04 144

Figure 6-10 Score Distribution, HW-05 145

Figure 6-11 Score Distribution, HW-06 147

Figure 6-12 Requirements for Stage 1, HW-10 150

Figure 6-13 Stage 1 Score and Distribution, HW-09 151Figure 6-14 Stage 1 Requirements, HW-12 153Figure 6-15 Purpose and Intent, EM-01 154Figure 6-16 Non-Refrigerants using Projects Stage 1 (Top) and Stage 2 (Bottom), EM-02 156Figure 6-17 Requirement of On-loan artworks for Stage 2 (Top) and Stage 3 (Bottom), CE-02 159

TABLE INDEX

Table 2-1 Catered Project Variation by BERDE 16

Table 2-2 Star Rating Guide for BERDE 17

Table 2-3 Categories of BERDE, LEED, and BREEAM 19

Table 2-4 Credit Distribution for BERDE Version 4.2.0 20

Table 2-5 Minimum System Requirement of Stage 1: Design 28

Table 2-6 Minimum System Requirement of Stage 2: Construction 29

Table 2-7 Score Comparison between Version 1.1.0 and Version 4.2.0 32

Table 3-1 Descriptions of BERDE 35

Table 3-2 Sustainability Factors of BERDE 39

Table 3-3 Cross-referencing of Questionnaire’s Sustainability Factors with BERDE’s Sub-categories 41

Table 3-4 Questionnaire Part II Scale 44

Table 3-5 Questionnaire Part III Scale 45

Table 3-6 Questionnaire Part IV Scale 45

Table 4-1 Socio-demographic Characteristics (N=70) (a) 49

Table 4-2 Socio-demographic Characteristics (N=70) (b) 50

Table 4-3 Mean and RII of Part II Questionnaire 51

Table 4-4 Ranking of Sustainability Factors based on Mean 57

Table 4-5 Analysis of Data: Min, Max, Mean, Median, and Mode 60

Table 4-6 Results of EFA for Sustainability Factors based on Level of Importance (Part III) 63

Table 4-7 Cronbach's Alpha, AVE, and CR of Part IV 66

Table 4-8 Guide for Fit Indices [132] 67

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

There has been a growing interest and inclination worldwide toward sustainability in recent decades This is in response to the immediate human consumption and degradation of the earth’s resources, as concluded by many academicians, scientists, and researchers worldwide Although it is expected that most of these resources are renewables, the consumption rate is considerably higher than the replacement rate It

is estimated that the current volume of resources that humankind uses now will most likely be unavailable shortly if overconsumption is not controlled

Sustainability is introduced by the United Nations (UN) Brundtland Commission as the healthy and enough consumption of resources at a rate that will keep future generations thriving with the same aid [1] Further elaboration of sustainability includes the Three Es: Environment, Economy, and Equity, as shown in Figure 1-1 Three E’s was introduced to explain the need for prioritization for each concept equally in designing development programs and projects, especially in large-scale projects, to ensure that sustainability is achieved

Figure 1-1 Three Pillars/E's of Sustainability [2]

The synergistic process for these pillars creates a balanced design The method of interdisciplinary collaboration can ensure that the needs of the present generation can still be fulfilled while being prepared for the future These pillars, in combination of

twos, are seen to be inadequate Describing programs and projects as bearable, viable,

or equitable (a reference to Figure 1-1) might sound acceptable and justifiable Still,

it must be known that this foregoes one crucial pillar of sustainability Not considering these three pillars altogether, serious consequences can happen, just like mining disasters (neglecting the environment), massive resettlement (forgetting equity), and economic depression (ignoring the economy)

Although these three are the common pillars, other publications also proposed adding other important project parameters such as institutional [3], cultural [4] [5], and technical [6] The role of institutions in the decision-making process is significant since it decides which specific aspect/s of sustainable development will be pushed through It is defined under Agenda 21, as published by the UN, as a “necessary extension” to accommodate societal and cultural determinants of development [7] Agenda 21 began inter-disciplinary inclusiveness of the concept of sustainability with policy development It also started initiatives for healthy communities and millennium cities which paved the way for the current sustainable urban movements The importance of the cultural domain in shaping sustainability is also deemed vital

As mentioned in the study of Soini et al., culture is a foundation that balances out the three (3) pillars This psychological reference is rooted in the idea that human decisions and actions to achieve sustainable development are based on culture and humans’ ability to recognize culture itself [5]

Another raised concept is the importance of adding a technical pillar, as recommended by Hill and Bowen in 1997 [6] But instead of aligning it with sustainability, the authors introduced sustainable construction as an evolutionary concept from sustainable development Technical sustainability can mean varying designs dependent on parameters such as performance, quality, and service of life [6]

In terms of sustainable construction, many researchers disagreed with the combined

concept of sustainability and construction early on in the concept's inception The main reason is that the construction industry was known to have no ability to become sustainable (given the proposed definition of sustainability in Caring for the Earth: A Strategy for Sustainable Living [8]) This report describes that activities that cannot

go on forever are not sustainable, like construction activities Due to these varying definitions for sustainability and its branched-out concepts, sustainability is deemed endless and will continue to grow and develop

Based on Yahoo! Finance, the construction industry remains the Top 2 most significant industry, just after financial services, with a 12.5 trillion USD market value [9] Construction Industry, although profitable, foregoes the importance of prioritizing its ecological and environmental effects Based on the research performed by the construction blog BIMHow, the industry itself causes 23% of air pollution, 50% of climatic change, 40% of drinking water pollution, and 50%of landfill waste [10] Apart from its effect on pollution, the construction industry also consumes around 50% of the extracted resources worldwide [11] Niklas Hagelberg,

UN Senior Programme Officer for Climate Change, labeled material extraction as the chief culprit of climate change [12] Given these statistics, the construction industry must pursue more sustainable endeavors and practices

With United Nations as a leader, the sustainable development goals of 2030, also known as the SDGs, were released in 2015 The SDG solely focused on building sustainable communities is SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and communities The

mission statement for SDG 11 is: “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.” In addition, the World Green Building Council (WGBC)

published various articles regarding the supportive stance of the council on other

SDGs The committee mentioned that green building construction is a “true catalyst”

in the sustainable movement [13]

The Philippines' leading institution for green buildings is the Philippine Green Building Council (PHILGBC) The council supervises all affairs related to green

buildings [14] PHILGBC is also the supreme council for developing the Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) Green Building Rating System (GBRS) BERDE serves as the national voluntary green building rating system [15] through the Philippine Energy Efficiency Program (PEEP) of the Department of Energy (DOE) [16] This GBRS was initially released in 2009 but was continuously improved and developed by PHILGBC with its latest version, BERDE Version 4.2.0, released in 2021 The core framework of BERDE includes 11 essential concepts in green buildings: management, use of land and ecology, energy, water, waste, materials, transportation, health and well-being, emissions, community engagement, and economic opportunity Aside from these concepts, BERDE also provides the contractors a leeway to pursue elective concepts such as heritage conservation and promotion, innovation, and additional socio-economic credits Despite having a local GBRS, many international and local companies with their buildings and structures in the Philippines opt to attain other foreign GBRS like Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Based on the report

by PHILGBC, there are 43 BERDE-registered projects [17] While LEED, devised

by the United States of America (USA), certified about 65 buildings in the Philippines, this number is still growing [18] The difference between the number of buildings is still noticeable considering that BERDE is designed to suit local situations The first building in the Philippines that became LEED-certified is the Texas Instruments Building in Baguio City only happened in the same year BERDE GBRS was released, 2009 [19]

1.2 Problem Statement

Despite being introduced for over a decade, BERDE is still not a name in the local construction industry The slow immersion of the construction industry in the Philippines with the BERDE GBRS can also be related to several factors affecting green building development in the Philippines This study intends to find the reasons

for how to further integrate BERDE as a plausible GBRS for at least large-sized companies In response, PHILGBC must do a meticulous evaluation of BERDE regularly The assessment will focus on the accuracy of BERDE to measure the capacity of each building when cross-checked with the BERDE core framework The latest version of BERDE, BERDE Version 4.2.0, is used in the assessment This comprehensive review will also determine the rationale behind the preference of local construction companies in acquiring certifications for LEED and BREEAM Furthermore, this study is also intended to provide a summary of recommendations for the further improvement of BERDE

medium-to-1.3 Research Objectives

BERDE, as the national voluntary green building rating system of the Philippines, is still not widely used by many local companies and building owners To bridge and find solutions to this gap, this study aims to provide recommendations as possible addenda for BERDE Version 4.2.0 that can make BERDE accessible and suitable to the local construction industry Specifically, this study seeks to:

• Analyze the BERDE GBRS on macro and micro-scale in accordance capacity

of its users and the local industry itself

• Investigate the effectiveness of the current core framework of BERDE based

1.4 Scope and Limitations of the Study

The following restrictions and bounds will apply to this research to achieve the goals mentioned above:

1 The most significant limitation of the study of BERDE is the lack of many published studies and report that directly discusses BERDE Therefore, the primary and secondary data are highly reliant on the author’s review and evaluation of BERDE compared to the assessment and evaluation of other professionals within the local industry

2 BERDE was designed to be suitable for projects in the Philippines Therefore, the comparison with foreign GBRS is limited in areas and concepts that the author deems ideal for the local construction industry of the Philippines The recommendations identified in the study’s conclusion are localized in terms of their applicability in the Philippines

3 As a GBRS, BERDE has three categories for certification: new construction, renovation, and operations Each category has individual guides that can be used depending on the project's intent However, this study will only focus on new construction projects specifically The BERDE New Construction applies

to any new buildings for design and construction, classified as commercial buildings, vertical residential buildings, clustered residential buildings, and educational buildings [17]

4 Since BERDE is a considerable undertaking, this study will only focus on two life cycle stages: Stage 1: Design and Stage 2: Construction The review is limited to Purpose and Intent, Requirements, Score Distribution, and Compliance Notes which is similar to the structure of BERDE’s User Guide for the ease of listing the addenda

5 BERDE is a relatively new GBRS Also, given that it is not well-known, there are only a few individuals that are well-informed about BERDE and its User Guide As this questionnaire specifically targets respondents who are studying and using BERDE User Guide Version 4.2.0, the sample size of 70 is deemed acceptable Also, as this is a policy-centric study, the backbone relies on the literature review and cross-referencing to the BERDE User Guide Only

general conclusions (as listed in the hypotheses) were made from the quantitative analysis

1.5 Significance of the Study

Green Building Rating Systems (GBRS) are guidelines to redirect structural design and construction to green construction GBRS is designed to encourage its users to include various sustainability concepts such as proper waste management, water management, energy usage reduction, risk reduction, economic gain, innovative solutions, and quality of life and well-being in the construction process A far more important goal of achieving a sustainable community can be met through these systems However, this is only possible when all key stakeholders exert collective effort

At the opening of this millennium, many international organizations pushed for developing the green building industry to ensure collaborative involvement amongst all But despite these, Public Engagement with sustainable solutions is still lacking, especially in the Philippines Although most professionals who work in the upstream management of the local construction industry are aware of its importance, those who are using these structures, the public, are not well informed It is in this regard that this study is needed This study can identify these barriers to why using GBRS, especially BERDE, is not a quintessential part of design and construction The evaluation and assessment of BERDE can also significantly impact decision-making and infrastructure development in the country

The results of this study can support planning and response strategies for the continuously developing construction industry Knowing how the key stakeholders feel about the dependability, effectiveness, and improvement needed by this system can also be the key to how BERDE should progress in its future development as a policy Ultimately, this study can serve as foundation research on the possibility of BERDE transitioning from a voluntary system into a requirement by the national government

1.6 Contribution to Academic and Practical Fields

1.6.1 Academe

The academic community supports the research industry Any inventions and innovations created by academia have the potential to further fuel a far more significant transformation in society By comparing the results of this study to existing written works and other green building rating systems, it can establish a baseline for improving the current version of the BERDE User Guide The academe can use these recommendations as addenda to create a significantly more localized version by having it cross-evaluated with policies, programs, and projects led by national academic institutions in collaboration with the national government A lucrative development of the current BERDE rating system can occur through this

1.6.2 Practical Fields (Design and Construction)

The environmental impact of construction development projects is one of the essential post-construction considerations in this era of sustainability Many institutions are looking to control the significant adverse effects of these new advancements, given the exponential decline produced by modern developments everywhere The government and interested institutions can manage and properly account for this by creating an inclusive rating system for construction development projects connected to environmental efficacy and sustainability In addition to streamlining construction procedures within their purview, these upstream organizations can also ensure that the project's immediate environment is protected, conserved, and improved further

CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Green building is the term used to describe structures and buildings that are designed and constructed to reduce the impacts of the system on climate change and, at the same time, conserve natural resources [20] Through the years, the definition of green buildings has continuously evolved Unlike the initial description of green buildings

as solely based on the structure's design, nowadays, even the construction and operation aim to impact the natural environment positively It is not only expected to conserve but instead improve its immediate domain It is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout its life cycle from design to its deconstruction [21]

As defined by the World Green Building Council [22], the typical features of a green building cover the following:

• Efficient use of water, energy, and other resources

• Application of Renewable Energy sources (e.g., use of solar panels, rain cisterns)

• Practicing recycling and reusage, Reduction of pollution, and waste production

• Good indoor environmental air quality

• Usage of non-toxic, ethically manufactured, sustainable materials

• Environment-friendly design, construction, and operation

• Good Quality of Life for Occupants

• Adaptive to the Environment

These qualities are expected to grow in numbers in the following years with the improvement and exponential development in the engineering industry This growth makes green buildings better than ordinary ones It is evolving and adaptive to changing environments, making it suitable and practical in the long term It is worth mentioning that the improvement in the design of green buildings is co-dependent with sustainable development The urgency for sustainable development triggers the need to adopt green buildings [23] The initiative of the United Nations for the

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is one of the main drives in creating this venture for green buildings, especially under SDG 11 This SDG calls for creating sustainable cities and communities [24]

Some of the known green buildings of this age include the One Angel Square (United Kingdom, Figure 2-1A), Marco Polo Tower (Germany, Figure 2-1B), Copen Hill (Denmark, Figure 2-1C), and Sydney Opera House (Australia, Figure 2-1D) These landmarks were recognized for their desire to push engineering boundaries to meet the environment's needs Despite adopting these countries' green buildings, it is noticeable that there is a minimal wave created for green buildings in Southeast Asia (SEA) Historically, SEA has had a small market for this kind of building [25] In most SEA countries, no requirements or incentives are provided if a facility is rated green Thus, the contractors and developers still are inclined toward traditional building construction Even with the rapid growth and industrialization of the engineering industry in SEA, the integration of green buildings is still foreign to the local engineering industry Only large companies were able to invest in these kinds

of facilities

Figure 2-1 Green Buildings Around the World

2.1 Green Building Rating Systems

In coordination with the exponential increase in the number of green buildings being built worldwide, green building councils establish rating tools to quantify each building’s attempt to showcase green building technologies GBRS, as coined in the industry, is built to invite the public and private sectors to transition to green building construction Through these, it is expected that the national governments of each country can provide incentives for those construction projects that push for sustainable development [26]

The different GBRSs are designed dependent on their desired approach Rating tools focus on design and planning; some are in construction, while others highlight operation and maintenance Suitability for application is essential in creating the GBRSs since most of these GBRSs target varying environmental concerns differently [26] Even WGBC is not advocating any GBRS because they acknowledge that each GBRS is designed for a specific niche in the construction market However, to control the quality of each GBRS, the WorldGBC developed a guide to evaluating the effectiveness of a rating tool for each GBRS called Quality Assurance Guide for Green Building Rating Tools in 2015 [26] As promoted by the WorldGBC, this quality assurance guide can ensure that the development and implementation of the GBRS are “robust, transparent and to a good standard” [27] The International Organization for Standardization plays a vital role in the design of this guide The guide utilizes ISO 9001’s process approach This process is called the Plan-Do-Check-Act, as shown in Figure 2-2

Figure 2-2 Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle [28]

As of writing, most of the GBRS are just third-party, voluntary assessments for developers [29] However, many government agencies offer incentives whenever a building is granted certification for known GBRS Some of the famed rating systems are BREEAM (Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method, United Kingdom), CASBEE (Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency, Japan), Green Star (Australia, South Africa), and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, United States) are among the most applied worldwide These rating systems are almost similar in approach to the evaluation structure [30] Each criterion in the GBRS provides a specific number of points/scores to measure its adherence to being a green building

2.2 Green Buildings in the Philippines

The Philippines is a country with rich history and culture It is also with an increasing population and a growing economy To meet the needs of its citizens, the Philippines has been focusing on expanding its economy and growing businesses Unfortunately, the expansion of companies and the construction of new buildings have negative environmental consequences Therefore, sustainable building practices must be implemented to protect the environment This is the reason why green construction has taken off in recent years

2.3 Philippine Green Building Code

Philippine Green Building Code, also known as the GB Code, is a supporting reference for the National Building Code of the Philippines [31] by the Department

of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) The code was developed in collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Building and Construction Industry Division

of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), PHILGBC, and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) This code is the principal attempt of the Philippine government to infuse the local construction industry with green building technology It is the country’s primary regulatory tool for promoting the development

of green buildings It defines what a green construction project is and what measures must be adopted to ensure it is environmentally sustainable

The code contains provisions and guidelines about improving building performance efficiency Following a framework based on an acceptable set of standards, it will enhance sound environmental and resource management that will counter the harmful gases responsible for the adverse effects of climate change It is expected to be effective throughout the building’s life cycle, including efficient use of resources, site selection, planning, design, construction, service, occupancy, operation, and maintenance, without a significant increase in cost” (Section 3: Objectives, [31]) The GB Code prioritizes these main features for a green building: energy efficiency, water efficiency, material sustainability, solid waste management, site sustainability,

and indoor environmental quality The design requirements needed to satisfy these performance standards are enumerated and detailed in the GB Code in Section 9 The code is designed intricately, including the applicability and conditions for each feature The GB Code is written with the support of highly recognized and accredited academic and professional institutions in the building industry [32] The GB Code is the national initiative to kick off the roll-out for green building construction in the Philippines

The Philippine Government is acting to build an environment-sensitive national policy framework inclusive of all new emerging technologies for green construction The DPWH and Department of Energy (DEO) released the Adoption of the Guidelines on Energy Conserving Design of Buildings in 2021 as an additional reference for energy conservation [33] However, it must be noted that these codes are still written as a proposal for the design It is not yet implemented as a requirement for all construction projects These attempts to invite the industry to lean towards green construction are a failure, as reported by multiple news agencies [34], due to the lack of implementation and integration By just being mere initiatives, improvement soon with the Philippines’ green development industry will still be indefinite In this case, the current institutional arrangement of code implementation

is one of the main reasons for a weak, almost unrecognizable change in the local construction scene Unless the fragmented governance design disables it to close the gap with the private sector, the GB Code will still need more revisions and improvements

2.4 Philippine Green Building Council

As of 2021, there are 70 green building councils around the globe PHILGBC has been a member of the WGBSC since March 22, 2007 [35] Since then, PHILGBC has become a significant leaguer in transforming the local green building construction scene in the Philippines PHILGBC oversees the creation and continuous development of BERDE Since the release of BERDE, there are already

43 registered projects with a total gross floor area of 1.733.980.27m2 for all registered projects [17] PHILGBC also provides training and seminars that train professionals

to be BERDE Assessors Based on the Report by PHILGBC in 2019, there are currently 471 certified BERDE Professionals with 59 certified BERDE Assessors

2.5 Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE)1

BERDE, as described in the previous sections, is the national voluntary green building rating system in the Philippines It supports the nation's green-building initiatives, promotes industry trust, and inspires confidence This system is also developed under the requirements stated by the WGBC in its Quality Assurance for Green Building Rating Tools and the International Framework for Socio-economic Factors for Green Building Rating Tools in Developing Countries, also by WGBC in cooperation with the Green Building Council South Africa (GBSCA)

At the start of the certification process, the owner must register first It can be done

in the PHILGBC office or online Then, the owner will also have to provide all the compliance requirements to prove that the structure is indeed a green building The list of conditions can be seen in the user guide on the BERDE website After the registration, for new construction certification, each project must pass two (2) stages Stage 1 is mainly focused on the design of the project and the plans, policies, and procedures aimed to be implemented during the project operation Stage 2 focuses more on the construction and the policies and procedure implementation Each stage has a separate Assessment report, and one must comply with both stages to attain the new buildings certification award

BERDE promotes its brand as a guidance tool, credible marketing tool, transparency tool, and compliance and policy support tool As a guidance tool, BERDE identifies itself to be updated with the current best practice in the industry BERDE also brags about being capable of accommodating numerous projects under different parameters

1 The content for this section mainly uses the information from BERDE Website (berdeonline.org)

such as construction type, project type, life cycle stage, and occupancy type, as detailed in Table 2-1

Table 2-1 Catered Project Variation by BERDE Construction Type Project Type Life Cycle Stages Occupancy Type

• Clustered Residential building

• Educational buildings

• Industrial Buildings

• Health Facilities Apart from its variety of serviced projects, PHILGBC also categorizes this new GBRS as “resource-efficient, economically viable, and socially responsible” when applied by the users Many existing GBRSs brag about these three (3) characteristics However, not all are seen as working under these descriptions by the stakeholders Under these three, the typically questioned one is the financial aspect of getting the certification Most of the costs that take the most extensive cuts are for documentation time and effort, additional research and design, commissioning and modeling for compliance, different construction activities, and registration and assessment fees [36] As part of having the BERDE certification, many documents are needed, and its preparation will require an additional financial budget on top of the design and construction costs

BERDE also promotes itself as a marketing tool when awarding star ratings Like other GBRS, they positioned themselves to inform the public that the company behind the structure is serious about its sustainability initiatives It also gives the public the idea that the awarded facilities are better than those without the star certification Also, the third-party evaluation guarantees that each project will be evaluated, appraised, and certified reliably and objectively Aside from these, PHILGBC ensures that additional marketing support will be provided to these buildings during the events and activities led by PHILGBC

The star rating guide for BERDE is shown in Table 2-2 There are five (5) categories for a building to be called BERDE-certified Each star corresponds to the percentage score each project will attain based on the score gained by each project The lowest possible percentage to still get a star rating is 51%, equivalent to the building having

good practice

Table 2-2 Star Rating Guide for BERDE

The project may be awarded: If the project achieves a weighting of:

Performance

The percentage can be computed using the formula below:

𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 (%) = 𝐴𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒

𝑀𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑥 100 The awarded score is the total score achieved under the Score Distribution of each sub-core framework The maximum score, however, varies depending on the certification stage, project type, and occupancy type The possible total score ranges from 89 to 116 To note, PHILGBC subtracts 20 points from each project's total available score The 20-point provides leeway for more projects to pass the certification For example, assuming a building under the S1 certification stage could get the highest marks under each core framework, its total score will be 136 points PHILGBC opted to reduce the maximum score by 20 points to account for the change

in the recent version of BERDE As described by the current technical director of PHILGBC, Architect Mario Lawrence C Suelto, PHILGBC provided the maximum score mechanism to serve as the additional points previously under the category the Innovations or Electives included in its older versions In the older version of BERDE, electives are added apart from the core framework Namely, these are Heritage Conservation and Promotion, Innovation, and Additional Socio-Economic Benefits However, as mentioned by Architect Suelto, it was already removed and was replaced

by deducting 20 points from the maximum score

As a transparency tool, BERDE stands by its principle of being an unbiased, balanced, and impartial certifying party The compliance requirements of BERDE reflect this standby PHILGBC The credit awarded under each sub-core framework is only achievable if the set of conditions is served and passed to BERDE as evidence of the building’s compliance Since all the documentation needed will be coming from the building owners themselves, it eases the assessment team's work by knowing the documentation obtained as primary data of the building is valid and credible

Under each sub-core framework, the BERDE User Guide provides a detailed list of compliance requirements apart from the Minimum System Requirements The design

of BERDE is also based on how the assessment team can verify each pre-requisite listed under each core framework

The last branding stand of BERDE is its compliance with the established regulations, laws, and policies under the Philippine Government The Philippines has many agencies that oversee its initiatives toward sustainability, like the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the Department of Energy (DOE) BERDE swears that this system’s goal is aligned with these agencies It also acknowledges the importance of being updated with the current laws and regulations at the national and local levels Vis-à-vis, many government agencies also consider BERDE as a guide in developing policies and programs for the building sector

2.6 Core Framework of BERDE

The main framework of BERDE is shaped under 11 credit categories which will be discussed in this section In comparison, LEED Version 4 for Building Design and Construction has only eight categories [37], and BREEAM has ten categories [38] The different categories for these three (3) GRBS are shown in the table below

Table 2-3 Categories of BERDE, LEED, and BREEAM

• Sustainable Sites

• Water Efficiency

• Energy and Atmosphere

• Indoor Environmental Quality

a specific amount of scores it can add to the final total score for the star rating

Table 2-4 Credit Distribution for BERDE Version 4.2.02Core Framework Maximum Score Percentage

2 The table is applicable only buildings of occupancy type: office buildings, vertical residential buildings, clustered residential buildings, educational buildings, and industrial buildings

Core Framework Maximum Score Percentage

is given to Waste Category, which only has three (3) points Due to the lack of discrepancy with the computation of each credit category’s plausible maximum score, users might interpret this in the set-up where the waste management is not as important as water and energy management However, this observation also relies on the number of sub-categories under each credit category Comparing the point distribution between BERDE’s credit categories could result in a mistaken impression of how each grading system defines or quantifies environmental effects

by category, assuming this is the methodology used to weigh credits

A brief discussion of each category is listed in the following sections

2.6.1 Management

Under Management, there are six (6) sub-categories (seven sub-categories for Occupancy Type: Tenant) identified by BERDE, providing 21 credit points This category mainly focuses on the inclusivity of the employees and staff working under the project in creating a green, sustainable building This category ensures a collaborative and integrated process in each stage to attain the green initiatives of the building One of the notable sub-categories in Management is MN-04 which is about Certified Green Buildings This three-point credit is given when the building under assessment is already registered under other GBRS duly recognized by NGBC and WGBC Apart from this, the other six (6) categories focus on employing

knowledgeable professionals, public education about green buildings, and executing participatory planning campaigns with stakeholders

2.6.2 Use of Land and Ecology

Use Land and Ecology is the next highest score contributor amongst the 11 categories, with a maximum available score of 24 According to the BERDE User Guide, this seeks to promote sensible site selection and efficient land use that can significantly lessen a project's influence on the surrounding ecosystem and natural environment This category has nine (9) categories Still, only eight (8) are significant for this project as LE-08 Landscape Management is only applied for the project at Stage 3: Operations which is outside the study’s scope Land Use and Ecology, in broader terms, are also included in most international GBRS considerations like LEED and BREEAM Based on the sub-categories under this concept, BERDE focuses on developing flora within the building’s vicinity, such as adding vegetated open spaces and protecting environmentally critical areas Also, it must be noted that despite being under the Use of Land and Ecology category, area prioritization as a source of economic and social benefits is also traced, especially in LE-03 High Priority Site

2.6.3 Energy

The energy category covers various topics like reduction in usage, efficiency, conservation, and management This category is designed to avoid unsustainable, excessive energy use within the building’s system This six-point category has two sub-categories: Energy Consumption and Renewable Energy Energy Consumption

is designed to cater to the building’s capacity to be efficient in terms of management and conservation strategies in the reduction of the overall energy demand of the project The second sub-category, renewable energy, highlights the importance of using either off-site or on-site supply The inclusion shows the preference of PHILGBC in using renewable energy over others Although this has been a massive leap for the GBRS, the capability of the industry to avail and supply renewable energy

is far from being ready Based on DOE, the renewable energy suppliers registered

under Green Energy Option Program are 18 companies [39] The field location of these companies is also far from cities, wherein green buildings are usually built However, the number of renewable energy suppliers increased significantly compared to just six registered companies in December 2020 This trend provides a hopeful perspective for the future of the local industry

2.6.4 Water

The water category totaled nine points divided under three sub-categories: water consumption reduction, greywater reuse, and rainwater harvesting As described by BERDE, this category is included to manage the water demand of the project properly Proper management includes water usage volume reduction, wastewater recycling, and innovative and sustainable water strategies PHILGBC also stands by branding

it as a GBRS that aspires to be cost-efficient In addition to reducing projects' environmental impact, efficient water consumption, and wastewater management, it can benefit the project team financially by saving money and reducing the need for water supplies Another branding by BERDE is being an updated GBRS when it comes to policies and programs by the government Rainwater harvesting is currently under the “Pending” legislative status in the Senate under Senate Bill No 1309 as filed by Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao [40] The act generally requires the mandatory installation of rainwater harvesting systems in new commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential infrastructure in major cities in the Philippines The passage of this senate bill as a law can change the current BERDE version

2.6.5 Waste

As mentioned, the waste category only accounts for three credit points for waste management With the primary goal of reducing waste generated by the project and removing garbage from landfills, the waste category focuses on the proper management of solid wastes The requirement for waste infrastructure, the financial burden of managing solid waste, and the detrimental effects of projects on water, air, and land resources are all reduced due to effective waste management at the source

However, the main takeaway for this category is its effect on the final credit rating in BERDE, as its score will only provide three points at max It is mentioned that about 10-30% of waste received by landfills around the world comes from construction and demolition projects [41] Despite these statistics, it is concluded in one study that environmental reasons come second to the implementation of waste management practices [42] It is mentioned in the same study that prioritization of waste management for environmental-related reasons is only done when it is required by the client or as prescribed by GBRS The authors also pointed out that the main reason for this is the weak implementation of government legislation Thus, most building owners are not compelled as there is no accountability and responsibility for the lack

of a waste management system The credit distribution of BERDE supports this conclusion, given that the local national GBRS only assigned a small percentage for waste management

2.6.6 Materials

Materials as a category are further subdivided into three: green procurement, local procurement, and community-based enterprise procurement, with each category entitled to a maximum of three points for each Green Procurement encourages building owners to purchase construction materials with less environmental impact One specification highlighted for green procurement is the use of materials that pass the sustainability requirements established by other international organizations These organizations include the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and local organizations such as the National Eco-labelling Program by Green Choice Philippines Despite being a local GBRS, adopting international standards accentuates the Council’s dedication to its green initiatives The local procurement sub-category recommends the purchase of materials that are locally manufactured BERDE defines locally manufactured materials as those from at most 160 km from the project However, the allowable distance is challenging due to the discrepancy in raw materials sourcing and supply across the country This specific radial distance cannot fully account for

the lack of capability by neighboring towns and cities to produce green materials for

a specific project Thus, another hurdle for buildings to be built far from material sources The last sub-category attests to the pledge of PHILGBC to be socially responsible It encourages the purchase of sustainable materials from social enterprises and community groups for social benefit As buildings have a high material budget, buying from these kinds of enterprises will significantly contribute

to the economic growth of local artisans, community groups, and indigenous communities

2.6.7 Transportation

This category accounts for 15 credit scores under five categories These categories include Key establishment Proximity, Mass Transportation Access, Preferred Parking, Cyclist Facilities, and Pedestrian mobility The entirety of the transportation category supports sustainable transportation strategies With vehicles being one of the largest pollution sources, this consideration of the PHILGBC to encourage mass transportation motivates the national government to develop more mass transport systems However, it must be known that the transport infrastructure and system in the Philippines have been deemed insufficient in terms of the level of service The Philippines' transport systems have experienced a slight quality improvement, but multimodal integration is still generally lacking, and a sizable portion of the country's road network is in bad shape Ineffective sector governance also prevents the sector from operating efficiently [43] The other four sub-categories are mostly inclined toward the social benefit of those who will use the building still, BERDE representing its branding towards social responsibility

sub-2.6.8 Health and Well-being

Health care and Well-being is the category that accounts for the highest possible credit, which is 33 credit scores from 11 sub-categories Notably, there are 12 sub-categories, but only 11 apply to this study HW-11, with the credit name Places of Respite, only applies to healthcare facilities As the name of the category itself, this

category assures the future occupants of the structure of their well-being The concepts of sustainability included under this category are visual comfort, daylight access, outdoor views access, thermal comfort, acoustic comfort, indoor air quality, microbial control, low volatile organic compounds (VOC) environmental, active design, urban agriculture, places of respite, and enhance occupational safety and health The WGBC provided six principles for a healthy and sustainable built environment wherein the design of this category is perfectly fitted [44] This category ensures that the users' health and comfort depend on the place they dwell It also encourages the building’s harmony with nature as the urban agriculture specification requires Notably, it also invites the user to facilitate healthy behavior by using the building’s design and architecture and further fueling the social value of the occupants and neighboring communities

of a building's life cycle [45] Due to this reality, the construction industry has an inaccurate and potentially harmful grasp of the actual carbon footprint of a particular structure But establishing this GBRS that considers emissions is the substantial first step in achieving this goal: fully accounting for emissions' qualitative and quantitative effects and their corresponding environmental impact

2.6.10 Community Engagement

Community Engagement accounts for the total maximum credit score of four under two sub-categories: community facility (3 credit score) and Filipino Art (1 credit