Press Release
August 10, 2008

Amid high energy prices, Legarda bats for "green" building code

Amid soaring energy prices and rapid global warming, Sen. Loren Legarda said Congress should adopt a new "green" building code that lessens in a big way the use of electricity and water. "We can definitely use new 'green' building rules that aggressively encourage greater energy-efficiency and water conservation," Legarda said.

"Our 36-year-old building code has become totally obsolete. We've since had two major energy crises, yet the law remains the same. We have to make the code more responsive and relevant to the changing times," she said.

Congress passed Republic Act 6541, the National Building Code, in August 1972. "In 1972, oil was under $20 per barrel. Now, oil is well above $100, and some say could hover at current, or even higher levels for a long time," Legarda said.

"We envision a new code that promotes practical conservation measures, such as the use of available sunlight to illuminate work spaces in public and private buildings, energy-saving lighting materials, and new devices such as occupancy sensors that automatically turn off lights," Legarda said.

The senator also cited the need to advance the use of cleaner renewable energy sources and new technologies, such as solar panels, in new building designs.

"With respect to the conservation of water, which is getting scarcer and pricier every day, we should push for the installation of rainwater collectors in new structures, in order to promote (rainwater) recycling for public flush toilets," Legarda said.

The senator stressed the need for Congress to fight adverse climate change and protect the environment. Legarda is also author of a bill proposing to create a commission that would find ways for the country to adapt to global warming and other adverse climate variations, and to mitigate the impact of such unfavorable conditions.

In the 12th Congress, Legarda authored the Clean Air Act and the Solid Waste Management Act. She is also founder of Luntiang Pilipinas, the nationwide tree-growing plan that received the 2001 United Nations Environment Program Award.

Californiarecently adopted a new building code that seeks to improve energy-efficiency and cut water consumption in all new construction projects across the state.

The California Building Standards Commission said the new rules would help reduce the carbon footprint of every new structure in the state.

The code aims to reduce landscape water use by 50 percent. The statute also calls on builders to reduce energy use of new structures by 15 percent more than existing standards. Other measures include encouraging greater use of recycled materials in carpets and construction materials.

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