Building Blocks

Green integrated design approach

MANILA, Philippines – At the rate we are spending the Earth’s natural capital, we are compromising future generations’ ability to meet their own needs.

Is this due to overpopulation in the planet? Consider the following: The Earth’s population of 6.7 billion if placed in the United State’s Texas with a land area of 691,000 square kilometer will have a population density of 21 percent over that of Singapore.

As we know, Singapore has only one-half of Metro Manila’s population density of 16,000 per sq km. Metro Manila’s population density is similar to that of Jakarta, Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, and Seoul. And yet the second most densely populated region in the Philippines next to Metro Manila, Calabarzon has a population density of hardly 600 people per sq km.

If the cause of the Earth’s degradation of natural resources is not overpopulation, this writer believes it is this present generation’s high consumerism. Our tremendous appetite for material goods has indeed put a big strain on the natural functions of our planet. To achieve a sustainable society is therefore an important goal of each responsible citizen.

Buildings are the source of 40 percent of waste worldwide, and use 40 percent of the world’s raw materials. This puts building industry practitioners in a good position to put forward the sustainability imperative.

Integrated design approach

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