PH GREEN BUILDING CODE
PH Green Building Code minimizing the negative impact of buildings
● Referral Code of the NBC
● Approved on Jun 22, 2023
● Implemented by DPWH
● serviceability and comfort.
Rationale
● PH’s commitment to the Paris Agreement to cut
the greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030
(revised from 70% in 2021)
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Policies
● Right of the people to a balanced and healthful
ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony
of nature against the harmful effects of climate
change
● Safeguard the environment, property, public
health in the interest of the common good and
general welfare consistent with the principles of
sound environmental management and control
Objectives
● Improve efficiency of building performance
through a framework of acceptable set of
standards.
● Set minimum standards for compliance and not
intended to rate buildings.
Principles
● The technical professionals, developers,
contractors, property managers and building
owners involved in the planning, design,
construction and management of buildings have
the opportunity and responsibility to help the
government address the adverse effects of
climate change by ensuring that buildings are
planned, designed, constructed, operated and
maintained to the required efficiency level.
● Resources must be used efficiently to
equitably meet the developmental and
environmental needs of the present and future
generations.
● Occupants of green buildings will benefit from
improved indoor environmental quality, which
promotes higher productivity and better comfort.
Concept
● Green building is the practice of adopting
measures that promote resource management
efficiency and site sustainability while
on human health and the environment.
● This practice complements the conventional
building design concerns of economy, durability,
Green Design
● Energy-efficient healthy, comfortable, flexible in
use and designed for long life (Foster+Partners,
1999)
● Minimal impact on the environment, in terms of
products and materials used in the construction
and in the functionality of the building
● Improve overall building performance and
minimize life-cycle environmental impact and cost
(AIA)
● Construction and lifetime of operation assure the
healthiest possible environment while
representing the most efficient and least
disruptive use of land, water, energy, and
resources.
● Key to a cost effective green building and site
design lies within the interrelationships and
associated cost and performance trade-offs
that exist between different building systems.
Coverage and Application
● All new construction and/or with alteration of
buildings in the following classification with the
required minimum TGFA
For residential
condominiums,the TGFA is the
sum of the dwelling
areas, common and accessory
areas within the building.p
The areas for Mixed
Occupancy classification shall
have a total aggregate area
equal to the TGFA
● Does not apply to existing buildings of the above use /
occupancy classification constructed before the
effectivity of the Code
● When alterations, additions, conversions and
renovations of existing buildings constructed after the
effectivity of the Code, which reached the TGA are to
be made, the whole building shall be subject to
the applicable provisions of the Code.
 Performance Standards ● Non-toxic Materials
● Energy efficiency ○ Volatile organic compounds (VOC)
● Water efficiency ○ Sick Building syndrome
● Material sustainability ○ Building related Illness
● Site sustainability Solid Waste Management
● Indoor environmental quality ● Adoption of efficient waste management practices
ENERGY EFFICIENCY and use of eco-friendly materials
Adoption of efficient practices, designs, methods, and Material Recovery Facility
technologies that reduce energy consumption resulting ● a facility designed to receive, sort, process, and store
in cost savings. compostable and recyclable materials efficiently and
● Building envelope in an environmentally sound manner.
○ Air tightness and moisture protection ● fully enclosed and easily accessible from within
○ Glass properties the building and from the outside
● Natural ventilation ● Containers for at least 4 types of wastes:
● Building envelope color ○ compostable (biodegradable)
● Roof insulation ○ non-recyclable (to be disposed off in the landfill)
● Mechanical systems ○ recyclable (paper, cardboard, plastic, metal,
○ AC systems wood, etc.)
○ Water heating systems o Variable speed drives & ○ special waste
high efficiency motors ● For hospitals, provide isolated bins for hazardous
○ Enthalpy recovery of exhaust air wastes.
● Electrical Systems SITE SUSTAINABILITY
○ Daylight provisions ● Adoption of Planning, design, construction, and
○ Daylight controlled lighting systems operation practices that minimize the adverse impact
○ Lighting power density of buildings on ecosystems and water resources
○ Occupancy sensors
Open Space Utilization
○ Vertical transportation
● Allow the re-charging of natural groundwater
○ Transformer
reservoir
● Overhead or Elevated water storage
● Control stormwater surface runoff
● Cool the building surroundings
Water Efficiency ● Provide indoor to outdoor connectivity for the users
Adoption of efficient practices, plan, design, materials,
equipment, and methods that reduce water consumption Requirement:
resulting in cost savings. ● Minimum of 50% of the required USA is vegetated
● Water Fixtures with indigenous and adaptable species.
● Water Managements
INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
○ Rainwater Harvesting
adoption of efficient design and operation practices that
○ Water Recycling
take into consideration the building environment to
Rainwater Harvesting improve occupant health, productivity and safety
● Min storage tank size (in cubic meters) is calculated ● Minimum fresh air rates
by dividing the building footprint area by 75. ● Designated smoking areas
● Collected water shall be used for non-potable ○ EO 26, s. 2017 bans smoking in enclosed public
purposes such as toilet flushing, irrigation, and places and public conveyance (e.g. PUVs)
cooling towers. ○ Outdoor smoking areas must be at least 10m
Water Cycling away from building entrances, windows, and air
● Recycled water from STP is reused for non-potable intakes.
purposes, such as toilet flushing, irrigation and
cooling towers, through a distinct and separate INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
piping system from the potable water supply system. ● Regular review conducted by the NBCDO TWG every
Material Sustainability 3 years from the date of effectivity.
All matters related to resource efficiency and material ● Professional and technical assistance provided by
selection and use with the least impact on the other NGAs (e.g. CCC, DENR, DOE, etc), accredited
environment. professional organizations of various building trades
 (e.g. UAP, PIEP, PICE, PIID), and other aligned
organizations (e.g. PABA, PABO)

Certification Process
● The Office of the Building Official shall review the
building permit application for Green Buildings as
prepared by the design professionals in compliance
with the requirements of the Green Building Code and
the various referral codes in accordance with Rule 3
of the NBC.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Green Methods
● Ventilation systems designed for efficient heating,
cooling
● Energy-efficient lighting and appliances
● Water-saving plumbing fixtures
● Landscaping with native vegetation and planned
to maximize passive solar energy
● Minimal harm to the natural habitat
● Alternative renewable energy power sources
such as solar power or wind power
● Non-synthetic, non-toxic materials used inside
and out
● Locally-obtained woods and stone, eliminating
long-haul transportation
● Responsibly-harvested wood
● Adaptive reuse of older buildings
● Use of recycled materials
● Efficient use of space
● Optimal location on the land, maximizing sunlight,
winds, and natural sheltering
● Rainwater harvesting and grey water reuse

Green Products
● A collection of green products applied to a
building design do not necessarily make it a
green building
● Achieving higher sustainability requires a
carefully orchestrated, integrated approach to
the following:
○ design principles
○ client priorities
○ environmental considerations
● Consider trade-offs
○ "green label" may not be sustainable
○ not so/las green" material may be sustainable
in the long run or for particular purposes