ARELLANO, LOU ANGELI B. 03 AUGUST 20122007100409 ARCH. GACUTAN

ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

LOCAL:

The Filipino Worth Greening For

The same people worth dying for are worth living for.

I pause, in the midst of much outpouring of love and remorse, and think of our lives and our causes.

How much of this love is love for the nation: for we mourn for loss of one, who loved the nation, and done exceedingly beyond wild expectations?

How much love has caused the improbable possible: a widow, inexperienced, politically untainted, could muster much strength, and grit, and courage; but for faith?

How much hope and inspiration could be lost, and gained, and again, lost, and regained in the lives lost of our heroes?

I pause, in the midst of much mourning and reminiscing, and think of our lives and our causes.

How much of the life we lived could find meaning: more than any heroic deaths, for the day to day that’s given us, is time more than enough for our defining?

How much of the gifts received are shared or given out: we’re blessed often beyond our satisfaction and beyond our appreciation? Can we give a bit, a little, some, much, or all we can bear to give? The source of all gifts, the Giver, has resources beyond exhaustion. Do we give off His palms? 

Do we ever know the time or sum to share or give back out? When we have enough for ourselves, or like the widow in the temple, when we have but ourselves?

I pause, in the midst of thinking, and write: I shall for the nation be the Filipino, the Maker, surely would want me to be: a good father and husband, teacher, builder, entrepreneur, and through this academy, a steward of a healthy earth.

The Filipino worth dying for and worth living for, to me, is worth greening for.

FOREIGN:

The Synergy of Economic Freedom and Sustainability

Politicians, bureaucrats and scientists from around the world met in Brazil this summer for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. Many attendees called for greater government control over our economic lives in order to preserve more of earth’s resources for future generations.

Sadly, their efforts are sorely misdirected. A better way to promote sustainable economic growth is to maintain a free marketplace where individuals with private property rights and knowledge of their local markets are encouraged to invest in, and protect their valuable resources.

Indeed, real world data reveals that, for a given level of goods and services produced in an economy (GDP), nations with free markets have far less impact on their environments. By comparing data from the Economic Freedom of the World Report, which ranks nations by their levels of economic freedom, with ecological measures from the World Bank database, the synergy between high levels of economic freedom and sustainable development is striking:

• Greenhouse Gases: Those nations with the freest economies emit only one-third the level of carbon dioxide and just five percent the level of methane per dollar of GDP when compared to the least free nations.

• Air and Water Pollution: The freest economies also emit one-sixth the level of sulfur dioxide, 7 percent the level of nitrous oxides and only 11 percent the level of organic water pollution per dollar of GDP compared to the least free economies.

• Energy Consumption: With nearly all nations heavily dependent on fossil fuels to produce the energy needed to operate their economies, the world’s freest economies consume just 20 percent the energy per dollar of GDP produced in the least free.

How is this possible?

First, private property rights encourage owners of a resource to prudently manage it because of the potential profit they can gain from preserving its value—both in the short and long terms. Consider an example that I use in my economics course: Imagine you inherit a farm that you didn’t want from a deceased relative. What would motivate you to expend the time and resources necessary to properly maintain this farm?

Through the free marketplace, others who value this farm more highly can compete to pay for ownership. Knowing that you would keep all proceeds from this sale would encourage you to bear the cost of preserving its value until it is sold. Awareness that you would be throwing away significant profits would

prevent you from letting the farm deteriorate through neglect or become spoiled by pollution. In this way, private ownership provides direct and powerful incentives that no government resource manager faces.

A second, and often overlooked, aspect of the free market is that it taps into the local intelligence and talents of the people in that economy. Each person has some unique knowledge of the diverse, local opportunities for profitable production and trade. This wisdom allows people to make better choices when weighing various ways to manage their resources. Kellogg’s® exemplified the power of local knowledge when it tapped rice farmers in Louisiana and Louisiana State University (LSU) scientists to help the company adopt more sustainable production methods.

Specifically, these farmers and scientists were asked to develop a more efficient way—using less natural resources including water, land, fuel and fertilizer—to produce the rice to make Rice Krispies® and other breakfast cereals. Using their knowledge of rice growing and Louisiana’s ecosystem, this team was able to identify more sustainable methods to grow and process rice using less ground water, land and energy while taking care to avoid subsequent, unintended impacts on the larger environment.

For example, developing a more efficient electric motor for the milling process reduced the energy needed for production. Farmers using fewer inputs to generate the same amount of rice cut costs while reducing the impact on the environment. It is hard to imagine that a bureaucrat in Washington would have been as able or motivated to discover cost saving innovations that successfully improve environmental impacts. 

To move closer to the goal of sustainable growth, we must involve the individuals and empower them as stewards of their valuable resources through private ownership.  If we want to leave a better world economy for future generations, we should call for greater freedom from government involvement in our nation’s economies, rather than demanding more government control over our individual economic independence.

ARCHITECTURE

LOCAL:

Green By Design: Sustainable Living Through Filipino Architecture

If you want to go green, go Filipino.

This seems to be the not-so-subliminal message within “Beyond the Bahay Kubo: 16 Climate-Conscious Tropical Homes,” a new book featuring top-shelf residences designed in the contemporary Filipino style by the father-and-son design team of Bobby and Angelo Mañosa.Published by the Tukod Foundation, the Mañosa and Company’s corporate social responsibility arm, the book focuses on design elements inspired by traditional Filipino houses that make these homes sustainable and environment-friendly, such as passive cooling through natural ventilation, natural lighting and the use of indigenous materials.Many of the homes featured also make use of green technology, such as solar panels, energy-efficient lighting, and high-tech glass that actually repels solar rays.  As a result, despite being high-end luxury living spaces, these houses consume much less energy and water than typical homes in the same price range.Founded in 1976 by Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa, best known for such landmarks as the Coconut Palace and the Edsa Shrine, the firm has built its reputation-and an A-list clientele-by pushing for contemporary Filipino design, often against the overwhelming trend toward western or foreign architecture.The architect, who has worked for popes and presidents, once famously stated, “I design Filipino, nothing else.” And in the last 35 years, he has made good his boast, tirelessly promoting indigenous materials and vernacular forms in such projects as the exclusive Amanpulo and Pearl Farm resorts, the Moonwalk “Nature Church” (sadly, now lost to fire) and the new Medical City building.Mañosa’s vision of contemporary Filipino architecture remains the guiding spirit behind the family firm, whose day-to-day operations he has largely passed on to his three children: architect Angelo now serves as CEO, daughter Bambi runs the interior design department, and son Dino runs Mañosa Properties Inc., a spin-off property development and management firm.Under the new generation, the firm has placed even more emphasis on sustainability and environmentally-responsible construction practices, although in truth, traditional Filipino architecture has always been “green.”“The bahay kubo was the original sustainable house,” says Angelo Mañosa.“In its form, it already embodies all the design principles we think of as ’green.’  It is made of low-cost, readily available indigenous materials and it is designed for our tropical climate: the tall, steeply-pitched roof sheds monsoon rain while creating ample overhead space for dissipating heat, the long eave lines provide shade.  The silong underneath the house creates a simple, utilitarian space while allowing ventilation from below through the bamboo slat floors. The large awning

windows, held open by a simple tukod (sturdy rod), provide cross ventilation and natural light. All of the materials used in it are organic, renewable and readily available at little cost. And yet it is strong enough to withstand typhoons.  The bahay kubo even survived the ash fall from Mt. Pinatubo, when more ’modern’ houses collapsed.”These same design elements were carried over when the bahay kubo evolved into the bahay na bato during the Spanish colonial period, he continues, because they worked.  The bahay na bato was simply modified to suit a more urbanized lifestyle.It was only in the 20th century with the advent of modernism that foreign architectural models began to be adopted wholesale, with little regard for our tropical climate.  The results were predictable: enclosed buildings with glass windows required air conditioning, or else they became unbearable ovens in summer.  New building facades were soon streaked with watermarks, because their flat roofs weren’t designed for our rainy season.  Despite these drawbacks, the trend toward foreign architectural style persists.

With skyrocketing energy costs and growing environmental awareness, however, many of today’s designers have begun to reexamine the humble genius of the bahay kubo and its elegant approach to the challenges of climate.

In this regard, the Mañosas are well ahead of the curve.“From the point of view of a modern architect, the bahay kubo provides a surprisingly practical template for designing sustainable, climate-conscious, energy-efficient houses and buildings,” says Mañosa.“Of course, we’re not suggesting that you live in a bahay kubo or a bahay na bato, although some people do.  What we’re saying is, keep the design principles and elements that work, but design contemporary homes for today’s needs and lifestyles: Hence, ’beyond the bahay kubo.’”Like his father, the younger Mañosa is a product of the University of Sto. Tomas College of Architecture and Fine Arts.  He also has a master’s degree in design science from the University of Sydney, and his own practice has focused on sustainable design, while remaining strongly influenced by his father’s work.One of his designs, a suburban family home, won the grand prize in the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence (MADE) competition in 2010 for its sustainable features.“In the end, green design is just good design,” he says.

18 Ways to a Green HomeBuilding a sustainable house, says architect Angelo Mañosa, is less about spending on technological solutions and more about making intelligent design choices.   Here are some of the key ideas to keep in mind:

Passive cooling:Up to a third of the energy costs in the average home goes toward temperature control, i.e., fans and air-conditioners. Homeowners can save a lot of money if

their homes are designed to be cool in the first place. Maximize cross-ventilation by designing doors and windows to take advantage of prevailing winds.  (There are Internet resources that plot the prevailing winds in your area.)Take advantage of the “stack effect”: Warm air rises as cooler air comes in.  Placing vents along the ceiling allows warm air to escape, resulting in cooler interiors.Water installations, such as koi ponds can lower the ambient temperature by as much as one full degree through evaporative cooling. Situate them so they cool the air as it enters the house.Minimize heat gain by plotting the sun’s path beforehand (computer software has been developed just for this purpose) and designing preventive measures for the hottest parts of the house, such as using adobe or stone to insulate against heat, or lengthening roof eaves to provide shade.  A more expensive technological solution is to use argon-gas filled glass windows that block heat rays from solar radiation.  A more economical solution is window film that filters out harmful UV radiation while letting light in.

Natural lighting:Situate windows and doors to make full use of natural sunlight and minimize the need for artificial light.Solar tubes and skylights are a low-cost solution for interior parts of the house without accessible windows.When you do use artificial light, use energy-efficient LED or compact fluorescent bulbs.

Water management:One way to conserve precious drinking water is to install a “grey” water system, which is basically a tank or cistern for collecting rainwater and used water from drains.  Grey water can be used for irrigating plants, flushing toilets and washing cars.Pool water can also be recycled if you use salt instead of chlorine as a disinfectant.Select plants that require minimal irrigation.

Carbon footprint:Be mindful of the environmental impact your home creates during its construction.Local indigenous materials have a much smaller carbon footprint than imported materials.Use recycled or repurposed material whenever feasible, such as adobe from the foundation work, or planking from previous structures.Set aside as much of the land area as you can for greenery.Use low volatile organic compound (VOC) paint; it’s better for the environment.

Alternative energy:Solar power is a cost-effective energy source for hot water.

Solar panels can also be used to generate supplementary power for some uses, helping lower energy costs.Choose appliances which consume less energy, such as inverter-type air conditioners, and washing machines and dryers that run on LPG.

FOREIGN:

Is It Enough for a ‘Green Building’ To Simply be Green?

The idea of green building has evolved to the point where technology, design and environmental elements now culminate in a holistic model that goes much further than ever before.As consumers and the industry at large continue to evolve to a point where expectations are greater, is it still appropriate to call architecture green if its main environmental contribution is that it includes a number of plants and promotes their growth?

M-City, designed by Vladimir Plotkin and Roberto Meyer is a tower concept that breaks with tradition when it comes to traditional structural typology. The ‘stacked’ form of the building – something that is becoming increasingly common in skyscraper design – allows the building its uniqueness. This notion is only further compounded by the tower’s layout, which includes open-air courtyards, and triangular opening that culminate to create its namesake ‘M’ shape.While this is an incredibly unique tower, it is also garnering acclaim from a number of green building promoters and supporters for its extensive use of hanging plants and natural lighting options. While the building plans may include more environmentally responsible features, the green promoters who instead focus on the extensive incorporation of interior greenery do not clarify what else is being done to make the building environmentally friendly.

The benefits of incorporating greenery into the architecture of a building are well-noted, from reducing stress levels of those working or living inside to offsetting excess carbon and increasing the air quality of a space, balancing the built with the natural should never be discouraged. Its praise should, however, be moderated, something everyone in the green building industry could take note of.Adding plants and trees to a development is great green inspiration, but a site that incorporates greenery and calls itself ‘green’ should not be given more praise or recognition than a carbon zero development that uses various green technologies but is not dripping in ivy. To laud greenery over truly going green is simply misleading and will cause the general public to develop misconceptions as to what ‘green building’ really involves.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

LOCAL:

A Mountain Bike Trail Right In The City.

YOU don?t have to travel far to savor the sweet rush of trail biking. A bike trail in the heart of the metropolis has been mapped out by the Philippine Army. The commanding officer of the Security and Escort Battalion at Fort Andres Bonifacio, McKinley Hills, Taguig City, is a mountain bike enthusiast.

Already a hot topic in many mountain bike (MTB) forums and blogs, the MTB circuit at the Fort Headquarters is the brainchild of Col. Antonio G. Parlade Jr., who initially wanted to clean up the neglected side of army property when he assumed the post last May.

He introduced proper waste disposal, sold recyclable ?garbage? and reused many of the scattered trunks and wood to build gazebos and cooperative canteens.

?I wanted to improve the landscape. The grass alone grew all the way up to a man?s chest, and no one dared walk across it for fear of snakes and other animals lurking there,? Parlade said.

More challenges

Since he needed a trail to be able to quickly inspect the back section of the army property, he and his men created a bike trail. Soon enough the trail became the training ground for the Philippine Army cycling team. When other MTB enthusiasts got to test the trail, they requested the army to create more challenging drops and ascents.

Today, although not quite finished, the MTB circuit on McKinley Hills is considered by many hard-core MTB buffs as one of the excellent trails where one could hone one?s technical skills.

?Although the trail is short, it covers almost all the technical skills you must learn or master in MTB. What would have normally taken anyone six months to hone in a regular trail outside Metro Manila, one can achieve here in about a month and a half,? said Bong Arroyo, member of the Bataan Trail Riders, who comes to McKinley Hills twice a week in the morning to train.

Another Bataan Trail Riders member, Eboy Roselada, said the 6-km trail?which will become 9 km by April and will include a creek to cross?improves one?s agility and art of body balance and skills. MTB is more demanding than road cycling, for it deals with a variety of terrain and surface during a single ride.

Has it all

The McKinley MTB circuit offers tight turns, rude descents and even one slow turn to a sudden ascent. McKinley MTB circuit has it all: single tracks, shifting gears, shifting the body, learning when and how to use the brakes, keeping the body mounted on the bike, maximizing energy when pedaling up a steep ascent, riding on pump trails, single tracks on the edge of a ravine and dealing with pebbles, dirt, loose sand and grass.

?The MTB circuit here perfectly mimics the natural terrain of the mountain. What?s even better, it?s accessible to urban dwellers. You can come here to practice your skills as much as you want. You can?t beat that,? Roselada said.

The trail is built around the tree sanctuary of the army premises. Soon, said Parlade, signages will be put up beside each tree with a brief information on the species. Parlade hopes that through this new MTB circuit, young people will come to appreciate and respect nature.

Leisure and sports

There are two circuits to choose from: Leisure (beginners) and Sports (advanced). Anyone with basic MTB skills can ride the Leisure trail.

The more adventurous can do the Sports trail.

Turn signs are coded blue (Leisure) and red (Sports).

Now accepting families as guests, the circuit will soon open a Kiddie trail. There is also a shower area where one can freshen up, for a minimal fee.

?If you choose to bike here you are assured of yours and your bike?s safety. No one will block your path and kick you just so they can steal your P100,000 bike,? Parlade said.

Rules must be followed by civilian and military personnel: Come in proper MTB getup; no helmet, no ride; no racing; only low-impact riding is allowed to avoid creating ruts.

Since many of the trails are single tracks, one must make one?s approach known.

Other rules: Avoid rolling over grass and plants; anticipate other riders, especially when hitting in blind spots, and avoid blocking and overtaking.

In summer, the Philippine Army will host its first MTB competition, a five-hour race called ?112 Years Old.? Teams must be composed of three people, their ages adding up to 112 years old.

With a P50 entrance fee, the MTB circuit is open to civilians, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-9 a.m. and 3-6 p.m., and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

FOREIGN:

Trail Biking: Climb Every Mountain

Whether you race off at 100mph or, like Catalina Stogdon, take a more sedate pace, trail biking is addictive .

"Go on, go for it!” yells Ollie. Right. This is it. Foot to pedal, eyes forward, scan the horizon, don’t think about the looming jump ahead, or crashing into the nearest tree. I clasp the handlebars as though rigor mortis has set in and set off on the track, overtaken by muscly show-offs in shiny Lycra shorts and eight year-olds who pass me at breakneck speed. “Some riders blast 100mph over this course, others tiptoe down,” Ollie says. I know which approach I’ll be taking.I am at The Loop course in Hamsterley Forest in the North Pennines, trying to work out why I have agreed to test out my mountain biking “skills” over a succession of 22 potential pitfalls. I know how to cycle, usually at a wobble, but have never mountain-biked before and it shows. The Loop’s challenges are designed to hone your technique, balance and, of course, bring out your sheer bravado. There is a “tabletop” jump, a stone ramp on either side with a flat top, a double jump and several others I’m aiming not to fly over the handlebars for.The reassuring voice at my side is Ollie Graham, a biking fanatic, who works for a conservation charity and the Hamsterley Trailblazers. This network of volunteers organises coaching sessions – and its members help to carve out the 33 miles of biking trails running throughout this stunning 2,000-acre forest in County Durham.“Nice and confident, nice and loose,” Ollie says. “Survey the area ahead, choose your line and commit to it – you don’t want to end up in a heap on the floor. But don’t be too overconfident or that can end in tears.” I make my way creakily over one of the ramps and breathe a deep sigh of relief.Cautiously we then pedal forward to the next obstacle. “Mountain-biking is all about moving your weight around,” he says. “Get the balance right, and use your body to propel the bike, instead of just being a passenger. Keep your weight to the back and stand up, so you can go down steeper tracks.” Standing up more will also save you from walking around like John Wayne the next day.He takes me through the best pedalling technique (“pedal as though you are a bull clawing the floor”); gears: (“basically the steeper you go, the lower the gear and vice versa, but practise on different terrain to see what is most comfortable for you”); and most importantly, how best to brake: “Keep two fingers on both brakes so when you need to stop you don’t do it too hard and lift one of the wheels of your bike up.” On this undulating rocky downhill it is best I lay off my

front brake altogether, as using it at speed is the easiest way to go over the handlebars.Thankfully there’s more to this track than leapfrogging over rocks. It’s the spectacular scenery, which only a mountain bike can really take you to, that I’m looking forward to seeing.And what a sight it is. Mile after mile of intense purple heather-blanketed hills stretch before me, lending a serene backdrop to the glistening pines. Even on a late summer afternoon, with the light fading and a fog encroaching, it is mesmerising. It brings to mind the freedom that biking embodies: once you are up and away, you are alone with your thoughts and answerable to nothing but the tiredness in your legs.But, now, push on – it’s back to the physical stuff and another trail to try. There’s a black route, which includes 10ft drops and the need for American football-style body armour and full suspension bikes to withstand the punishment. Or how about a night-ride, where you weave your way through the woodland with the help of full-beam head torches? But really, it’s the call of the Grove that tempts me. The track winds you around a trail carved through a silent, ancient woodland, at any pace you deem fit. The best part about this one is that anyone can give it a go. And it is this appeal to all ages and abilities that makes mountain biking so popular. “Families love it because they can do it together,” Ollie says. “It’s not like football, where dad and son are playing, sister is bored and mum is standing around waiting for everyone to finish – everyone can join in.”And there are, of course, health benefits. Biking not only releases endorphins to brighten the mood and improve cardiovascular health, but it is lower impact and kinder on the joints than sports such as running. Many professional athletes use mountain-biking to achieve a core level of fitness.But what of the teetering novices tiptoeing their way down a mountain track? “People aged six to 60 come and try mountain-biking,” Ollie says, “and they always come back for more.”I’ll certainly be one of them.

SOURCE:http://theenergycollective.com/michaeldstroup/96766/synergy-economic-freedom-and-sustainability

http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/46495/green-by-design-sustainable-living-through-filipino-architecture

http://designbuildsource.com.au/green-building-simply-green

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20090217-189622/A-mountain-bike-trail-right-in-the-city

http://pinoygreenacademy.typepad.com/pinoy_green_academy/2009/08/the-filipino-worth-greening-for.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/active/6193502/Trail-biking-climb-every-mountain.html