Mention climate change and people would immediately think of erratic weather changes and phenomenon like La Niña or El Niño, with record-high temperatures recorded across the globe and natural disasters occuring in many places all over the world. Climate change has never been more real – it’s happening here and now, and dealing with this new reality starts right in our own homes.
Filipino architect James Jao is one of a growing number of professionals advocating sustainable projects in pursuit of their profession, cognizant of the impact of climate change.
In 2005, after obtaining a post-graduate degree at City Design and Social Science at UK’s London School of Economics and Political Science, and witnessing the wonders of an “ecohouse” at Antwerp in Belgium, architect Jao became impassioned in bringing the same concept to the Philippines.
In 2008, he introduced the concept in the country by showcasing his design at the Manila Construction Show. Jao built an “ecohouse” and called it LuzViMinda to represent the three main island groups of the country. Since then, Jao’s body of work has become anchored on the concept of the “ecohouse,” applying it in his projects like schools, cafés and commercial buildings up to this very day.
When super typhoon Yolanda struck, he visited Tacloban City a month after the devastation. Jao was even more convinced that “ecohouse” could address the issue so he created the “eco-ecohouse,” an “ecologically sustainable and economically affordable” climate-resilient housing model.
The architect considers his “ecohouse” advocacy as his career highlight, and rightly so, taking the time to explain the notable features which he deems as very relevant in these times.
‘Ecohouse’ defined
An “ecohouse” is an environmentally friendly home designed and built using materials and technology that significantly reduces its carbon footprint and lowers its energy requirements.
Jao explains an “ecohouse” possesses several features, like the heat insulated building envelope, low-e (low emissivity) glass on uPVC window frames, LED lighting, eco-friendly roofing, and low carbon footprint finishing materials. Some ecohouses have solar panels on the roof to supply the basic power requirements, and can be coupled with a wind turbine, which can produce power even at nighttime.
“The building envelope refers to the thermal wall with exterior panel that keeps the heat from penetrating the interior walls of a home. Usually in an ordinary concrete hollow blocks wall when it’s cold outside or when night time approaches, the stored heat inside the wall is pushed toward the interiors. With thermal wall, the heat is being managed, making the house cooler,” the architect explained.
“The thermal wall panels need to be waterproof and the joints need to be sealed. There were instances, when I was starting the technology, that the risk of hairline cracks is high because of the changing temperatures.”
Jao, who is also the president of the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID), visualizes a nation of “ecohouses,” saying he also wishes to create an eco town.
“After I’ve built ‘ecohouses, I want to build an eco town. The whole thing is all about master planned sustainable communities. After all, an ‘ecohouse’ is not site specific and the products to build one can be sourced almost everywhere,” he said.
Just like Architect Jao, RCI and Pioneer also share in the vision of developing an eco town by producing innovative yet environment-friendly products. Aside from the Pioneer Pro variants that help contribute to the building and construction industry’s quest for a greener future, RCI is also active in spearheading green initiatives, among them an environmental campaign titled “Our earth. Our responsibility.” through its CSR arm Pioneer Adhesives Foundation.
In partnership with Boracay Foundation, RCI conducted the “Coral REEFurbishment” project to help fix damaged coral fragments (with over 3,600 tubes of Pioneer EpoxyClay Aqua donated) and to conduct a coastal cleanup and underwater coral transplantation.