Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Sta. Mesa, Manila

College of Architecture, Design, and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture

In partial fulfillment of the requirements in

ARCH 30383
Professional Practice 3 (Global Practice for the 21st Century)

Mid-Term Activity:
Specialized Practice: Green Building Specialist

Submitted by:
ZABALA, Nicole P.
BS Architecture 4-1

Submitted to:
Ar. Rey S. Gabitan, uap

June 27, 2022

 Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Sta. Mesa, Manila
College of Architecture, Design, and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture

Specialization: Green Building Specialist

The practice of Architecture and an Architect can mean a lot of things. An architect can be
someone who specializes in the design of residential buildings, housing projects, hospitality
buildings, or recreational spaces. Architects can also be a ‘sound’ architect, who specializes in
acoustic architecture, an investigator as a forensic architect, and even a ‘lawyer’ type of architect
who specializes in dispute and avoidance resolution. In the previous lecture on Standard of
Professional Practice (SPP) on Specialized Architectural Services or SPP Document 203, I just
found out that there is more to the life of being an architect of different building typologies.

Out of all the specialized architectural services discussed, I have found myself to be
interested in the Green Building Specialist. Ever since I started being interested in architecture,
all I see around me are buildings that look similar to one another. This may be normal, living in
the city, but I think architecture can be more than just a block that occupies a space. Green
Architecture is a method of designing structures that are sustainable, energy-efficient, and
environmentally friendly (United Architects of the Philippines, n.d.). Structures with these
characteristics are called green buildings. In addition to this, I have been curious about green
architecture ever since knowing its existence. It has been a really interesting topic to me as
architecture is usually known to be a disruptor of the ecosystem and natural environment,
therefore, architecture that exists mutually with the natural environment has been needed for the
ecosystem’s sustainability and conservation. It is an architecture designed not just for its users
but for the natural environment too, which in turn makes it available for coexistence.

A Green Building Specialist works in the design of structures that are within the green
building criteria. This can also be referred to as Sustainability Specialist. They work with projects
that aim to achieve characteristics or strategies such as sustainable, environmentally friendly,
carbon zero or net-zero, no significant or low carbon footprint, use of renewable energy, human
health, and other green attributes. Usually, they evaluate a project, its goals, and objectives, then
determine the ways to make the project sustainable for existing buildings, new buildings, and
buildings under renovation (United States Green Building Council, 2019). This is done while
ensuring that the decisions are aligned to what the user needs and what the building should be
according to green building criteria. The common job responsibilities of a Green Building
Specialist may include analysis of sustainable and energy-efficient building design and operation,
executing LEED, GREEEN, BERDE, or other green rating system certifications, policy
 Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Sta. Mesa, Manila
College of Architecture, Design, and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture

development for sustainable practices, and project management, and other services customized
to client needs. Moreover, Kumar (2021) of Inhabit stated that the usual scope of work of a green
building consultant is:

• management of green building rating compliance;

• creation of project strategies for renewable sources of energy;
• promote usage of eco-friendly building materials;
• optimization of indoor environmental quality;
• creation and conservation of a sustainable site;
• reduction of construction waste and promotion of better waste management;
• staff training and awareness on green building projects and features; and
• provision of sustainability-related practices advice, services, and assistance.

Architects and project managers usually are qualified for being Green Building Specialists.
This is certified through training in the respective Green Building Organizations like LEED,
GREEEN, and BERDE. On the other hand, Green Building Specialists often work side by side
with architects, building owners, developers, engineers, climate change analysts, environmental
economists, financial analysts, industrial ecologists, and property management teams.

In the Philippines, the existing and usually used green building certifications include the
Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE), Geared for Resiliency and
Energy Efficiency for the Environment (GREEEN), and Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED). BERDE is a tool that comprises criteria for assessing, measuring, monitoring,
and certifying the performance of green building projects. These are aligned with the existing
national and local building and environmental laws, regulations, and mandatory standards
(Philippine Green Building Council, 2021). The Philippine Green Building Council also offers an
ONLINE BERDE Professionals Basic Training Course and BERDE Professionals Qualifying
Examination for aspiring Green Building Professionals, which will also count as being a Green
Building Specialist. On the other hand, Geared for Resiliency and Energy Efficiency for the
Environment or GREEEN is also a green building rating system that offers a voluntary, code-
based, environment-responsive set of criteria for building evaluations (Green Building PH, n.d.).
Similar to BERDE, GREEEN also aims to achieve resiliency, energy efficiency, user well-being,
environmental performance, and socio-economic benefits of buildings. This is strategized through
the practice of established and innovative ways, standards, and technologies. They also produce
 Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Sta. Mesa, Manila
College of Architecture, Design, and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture

GREEEN Assessors that can be categorized into three: Accredited Design Associate (ADA),
Accredited Design Professional (ADP), and Accredited Assessor (AA).

On a global scale, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) leads the green
building certifications wherein it provides a framework for healthy, efficient, carbon-free, and cost-
saving green buildings. Unlike BERDE and GREEEN, LEED evaluates a project through a point
system earned by following the prerequisites and credits addressing green goals in carbon,
energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health, and indoor environment quality. The
Green Business Certification Incorporated reviews and verifies projects, then bestows a
corresponding LEED certification level which can be: Certified (40 to 49 points), Silver (50-59
points), Gold (60-79 points), and Platinum (80 and above points).

Locally, one of the known firms that practice the goals of sustainability and green building
architecture is LDG Architects. Daya + Garcia International Corporation’s Leaders in Designing
Green (LDG) Architects is a “team of professionals in the field of architectural design,
construction, and other allied design, focused on the principles and application of Green and
Sustainable Design” (LDG Architects, n.d.). The firm is recognized internationally bearing a BCI
Asia’s FuturArch Green Leadership Award.

Ar. Maria Luisa Daya-Garcia, the Principal Architect of LDG Architects is a member of the
United Architects of the Philippines, an ASEAN Architect, an International Associate AIA, Certified
BERDE Professional, member of the Green Architecture Advocacy of the Philippines (GreenAP),
and the Philippine Institute of Arbitrators (PIArb). She is known as the Philippines’ Queen of Green
and is the leading green architectural resource expert consultant. Ar. Lui Daya-Garcia graduated
from St. Scholastica’s Academy, University of Santo Tomas, and the Lund Universitet, Sweden
where she was awarded a scholarship course by the Swedish International Development Agency
(SIDA). In addition to being a BERDE Professional, Ar. Lui is also a LEED Professional as she
trained in Hong Kong under Fore Solutions, USA.

The Green Queen has worked and built several projects in collaboration with big companies
such as Ayala Land Corporation, SM Development Corporation, Petron Philippines, PLDT Smart
Corporation, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), Shangri-La EDSA
Plaza, Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), NET 25, ABS-CBN Network, Housing and Urban Development
Coordinating Council (HUDCC), St. Scholastica Colleges, and others.
 Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Sta. Mesa, Manila
College of Architecture, Design, and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture

At the last Asia Clean Energy Forum 2019, Ar. Lui shared her innovation on the Bahay Kubo
called DHouse: A Sustainable Innovation of Passive Traditional Systems of Bahay Kubo,
Designed for Urban Resilience (ADB Knowledge Events, 2019). The DHouse is an existing,
modern shelter developed in a city that frequently floods and was created to solve impending
issues with the built environment's ecology and urban development. It illustrates how viable
solutions like natural ventilation, daylighting, lighting control, and indoor thermal control using
building envelope techniques reduced energy usage by more than 50% compared to the base
case. It employs the bottom of the structure with a series of rainwater cisterns that incorporate
natural and passive filtering without the use of additional energy. Inspired by this innovation,
further developments were made for housing, community offices, district hospitals, and
evacuation facilities aiming for the same benefits.

Being a Green Building Specialist means unending and continuous learning of innovations
and techniques to be applied to the ever-changing world. It is a practice that is starting to build its
name due to its proven importance and contribution to the environment, human well-being, and
climate change. To conclude, this specialization requires more than just knowing the natural
environment and its users like the usual practice of architecture. It includes a deeper
understanding of the materials, operations, effects, use, sustainability, quality, and humans with
a strong passion for achieving sustainability and a green future.
 Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Sta. Mesa, Manila
College of Architecture, Design, and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture

References:
BERDE – Philippine green building council. (2021). Retrieved from
https://philgbc.org/category/inthenews/berde/
DHouse: A sustainable innovation of passive traditional systems of Bahay Kubo, designed for
urban resilience. (2019). Retrieved from
https://events.development.asia/materials/20190618/dhouse-sustainable-innovation-
passive-traditional-systems-bahay-kubo-designed
GREEEN | Philippine green building initiative. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.greenbuilding.ph/greeen
Kumar, V. (2021). What is the general job description of a green building consultant? Retrieved
from inhabit.co.in/blogs/post/job-description-of-a-green-building-consultant.
LDG™ architects. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.ldg-architects.com/
LEED rating system. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.usgbc.org/leed
Sustainability specialist. (2021). Retrieved from https://green-
careers.usgbc.org/careers/sustainability-specialist