The expiration of the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order (TRO) against Meralco’s power rate hike on April 22 will once again put a spotlight on the issue of electricity costs. Consumers will be faced once again with the problem of a possible increase in their electricity bills. How can the country then resolve the issue on power consumption? What can consumers and industry leaders do to mitigate the costs of electricity?
Using smart grid technology in buildings may just be an effective way to better manage energy and allow consumers to save on electricity, as green property developer and renewable energy expert Atty. Jojo Leviste will present at the Mixed-use Development Conference in Ascott Makati on May 8. Leviste is the president of Italpinas Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corp. (ITPI), which specializes in green architecture and sustainable real estate development. Its first project is the internationally awarded and eco-friendly mixed-use condo complex Primavera Residences in Cagayan de Oro City.
Leviste’s talk will explore the synergy of smart grid technology and architecture for greater cost advantage using ITPI’s projects as case studies. A smart grid is a computer-based remote control automation that manages electricity demand in a sustainable, reliable and economic manner, built on an advanced infrastructure such as a building or home.
Primavera Residences, soon to be completed, will have photovoltaic solar panels installed on the rooftop to power the building’s common areas, minimizing the energy consumption cost of residents. According to Leviste, the goal is to have buildings that will produce the total amount of energy that they require. “The company is doing a lot of research to make its projects energy self-sufficient. The key is to combine different power sources so that they will not be dependent on the grid, which is volatile both in price and supply,” he said.
“With a smart grid technology to manage energy supply from the grid, solar panels and other energy sources, we will be able to dictate that the price for consumers will stay stable and affordable for a very long time,” he added.
The conference seeks to discuss the effective measures in managing construction costs and time as well as share the best practices in mixed-use development. Aside from Leviste, other mixed-use developers and industry leaders from various countries will also speak at the two-day event.
“As an advocate of sustainable development and renewable energy, I believe that exploring other energy-saving methods will enable developers to build better homes and buildings, thereby allowing consumers to also save on electricity costs,” shared Leviste. “I am looking forward to sharing these ideas at the conference.”
Leviste has recently been cited as one of the country’s new business leaders by the National Geographic Magazine in its February 2014 issue.
Primavera Residences, a twin-tower, ten-storey building is the first eco-friendly condominium complex in Cagayan de Oro with energy-saving and energy-producing features. Tower 1 was completed in 2012 and Tower 2 will be completed by September of this year. The property recently won in the Asia Pacific regional competition of the International Property Awards, a prestigious global award-giving body that recognizes excellence in property development. The official announcement of the winners will be held in Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur on May 9.
For details on Primavera Residences, visit the website at: www.primaveraresidences.com or call (088) 310-8173, 0917-7921078.
[Editor’s Note: As of May 2, 2014, the venue of the Mixed-use Development conference has been moved to InterContinental Manila.]
