The rotational brownouts in Mindanao might have waned, but the region is still in the midst of a power crisis. As the power crisis continues, consumers are left to bear the brunt of brownouts and rising electricity costs. What can property developers then do to help minimize the consumers’ dependence on the power grid while at the same time offer affordable projects? How can they make buildings more energy efficient?

Using a combination of smart grid technology, renewable energy sources and high-performance design may just be the solution, according to Italpinas Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corp. (ITPI) chairman and CEO Arch. Romolo V. Nati, who will present at the Affordable Housing Conference on June 25 in Ascott Makati. ITPI is a young Cagayan de Oro property developer specializing in sustainable architecture and design. Its first project, Primavera Residences, is the first eco-friendly condo complex in Cagayan de Oro.

“Renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic solar panels can reduce the power consumption of a building and save on electricity costs,” shared Nati. “Energy produced from the solar panels can be used to power some areas, if not all, of the building, thus making it self-sufficient and less reliant on the grid.”

According to Nati, integrating these renewable sources with the smart grid technology will further make the building energy-efficient. A smart grid is a computer-based, remote-controlled system that regulates the power supply and efficiency of a building or house.

“Designing buildings in consideration of the surrounding environment and local climate will also enable developers to build sustainable structures that can withstand extreme weather conditions. This is what we call high-performance design. However, there is a general misconception that green buildings are expensive to develop. As a sustainable developer, I believe that constructing sustainable buildings does not need to be costly. You just have to come up with a design that does not use expensive materials in order to build affordable projects,” he added.

The conference aims to gather property developers, building contractors, members of the public and private housing sectors, and environmental groups from across Asia to discuss and share ideas on the best measures in building quality housing at affordable prices as well as on sustainable development. It also seeks to address issues on the lack of supply but increasing demand for low-cost housing.

ITPI president Atty. Jojo Leviste will be moderating a panel on a session called “Venturing into sustainable ways in building low cost houses.”

Primavera Residences is an energy-efficient mixed-use development in Cagayan de Oro City. Its green features include cantilevers on the exterior walls that protect the windows from the harsh sunlight during the hottest part of the day, thus lessening the need for aircon use. The building will also be fitted with photovoltaic solar panels on the rooftop to produce its own energy and power its common areas. Because of its eco-friendly features, Primavera Residences has recently been awarded as Best Mixed-Use Development in the Philippines by the prestigious International Property Awards during the 2014-2015 Asia Pacific Property Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

To learn more about Primavera Residences, visit the website at www.primaveraresidences.com or call (088) 310-8173, 0917-7921078.