The concept of green buildings stemmed from the realization that humans have destroyed nature, and that they should make up for the adverse effects of their comfortable lives to the environment.
The green building concept can actually benefit from the Davao City Rainwater Ordinance of 2009 authored by the environmentalist councillor, Leonardo Avila. The ordinance provides for the “Proper harvesting, Storage and Utilization of Rain Water in Davao City.”
With the ordinance, both households and businesses in the city will be required to harvest rainwater for purposes other than drinking. Rainwater can be used for watering plants, washing cars or cleaning the home.
Green buildings can become possible only when they are designed with a view to saving water, energy and construction materials. The end goal is to reduce as much carbon footprint as possible when constructing buildings.
“Harvesting rainwater is one way to reduce the impact of climate change even if we are not among the countries with very high carbon footprints,” Avila said. Dabawenyos may not be able to combat climate change on their own, he added, but saving up on water by reusing rainwater can be a way of adapting to climate change.
Avila said rainwater catchments or collectors need not be expensive; the challenge, however, lies in the determination of Dabawenyos to help in the full implementation of the law.
Even commercial establishments like shopping malls, institutions like schools and other establishments should start harvesting rainwater. Aside from this, rainwater can also be used as a strategy to prevent flooding.
Avila said Davao City has one of the best potable water in the world and it should start using its water resources properly before they run out.
The sustainable use of water is actually one of the factors considered under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED Green Building rating system, which awards points to a certain building for adopting specific green concepts. LEED is a green building certification system recognized internationally.
LEED gives a rating of 12 for a building with a sustainable site, eight if it follows a water efficiency system, 17 for efficient use of energy and the atmosphere, 13 for material and resources used, 15 for indoor environment quality, four for design and innovation and one for employing the LEED designer, for a total of 70 points. A LEED-certified building has to have between 26 to 32 points.
Davao City’s rainwater collection ordinance is not the first and definitely not the only law that requires people to collect rainwater. Republic Act 6716, which was enacted in 1989, provides for the “construction of water wells, rainwater collectors, development of springs and rehabilitation of existing water wells in all barangays in the Philippines.”
However, the implementation of the law, which was supposed to have been under the auspices of the Department of Public Works and Highways, is uncertain.
Section 2 of RA 6716 provides that the DPWH shall undertake the construction of water wells and rainwater collectors in all barangays in the country.
With the approval into law of the rainwater harvesting ordinance in Davao City, plus the prior existence of RA 6716, there is no reason why the concerned government agencies could not implement the law properly and help in the construction of green buildings, not only in Davao but in the whole country.
