Protecting the environment and promoting individual health continues to be vital for developers in the Philippines. With more people keenly aware of these issues, the construction of green buildings is becoming more important. Simply put, the public has no desire to be in spaces that harm the ecosystem and their own wellbeing.

This has not been lost on SM Prime who have embraced green buildings to inspire change in the community. The firm has worked diligently to incorporate sustainability into its designs while empowering its developments with features that protect health and wellbeing.

“Constructing greener buildings provides holistic solutions not only reducing emissions but also promoting social wellbeing,” Hans Sy, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee, told The Manila Times. “We see this in our developments which drives us to build greener and even retrofit our existing malls to meet green standards.”

Examples of this in action can be found at SM Aura, a mixed-use development in Bonifacio Global City, and the legendary Conrad Manila hotel. The former boasts an immersive park that covers more than 55 percent of the complex. Not only does this protect the building and people from heat while allowing them to connect with nature, but the space uses recycled water to minimize resource usage.

Meanwhile, more than 80 percent of Conrad Manila’s construction waste was recycled while special features, such as noise and heat reducing occupancy sensors tinted with insulated glass, create an environment that protect the wellbeing of people.

SM Prime hasn’t stopped there, however. It continues to find ways to incorporate green building technologies at its malls throughout the Philippines. This is a pursuit that inspires the developer.

“Creating a more sustainable way of life requires a sustainable backdrop that supports the shift. At SM Prime, our passion is to create one that is sustainable and resilient for the life we want for today and the future,” Sy concluded.

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