Filinvest REIT gets global green certification for 6 buildings

Six (6) properties under Filinvest REIT Corp. (FILRT), the real estate investment trust (REIT) of the Filinvest Group were formally recognized for their outstanding commitment to sustainability through the Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE), putting FILRT on track toward becoming an EDGE Champion. 

EDGE is the green building standard and certification developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. These certifications were awarded last Sept. 22, in Northgate Cyberzone, Filinvest City in Muntinlupa City. 

With six certified buildings under its belt, FILRT has the distinction of having the highest number of EDGE-certified office buildings among the REITs in the Philippines, bolstering its commitment as the country’s first sustainability-themed REIT. 

These Grade A, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)-accredited buildings representing 33% of FILRT’s nationwide office portfolio in terms of leasable area are Vector One, Vector Two, Filinvest Two, Filinvest Three, Plaza A and Plaza D. 

"Through our commitment to outstanding design and sustainability, FILRT proudly celebrates the recognition of our six EDGE-certified properties. These buildings, comprising a significant portion of our nationwide portfolio, showcase our vision to grow a trusted portfolio of sustainable commercial properties that enriches the lives and well-being of our community,” said Maricel Brion-Lirio, FILRT President and Chief Executive Officer.  

Filinvest has identified a pipeline of projects that will be EDGE-certified, towards becoming an EDGE Champion by accelerating the adoption of green building practices through the promotion of voluntary green building certification programs based on the EDGE software, standard, and certification system. 

For its part, FILRT aims to EDGE-certify an estimated 74% of its projects (based on current office portfolio) in about two years, with a view to increasing this to approximately 67% in the next six months. 

“FILRT’s achievement with EDGE is a testament to the Filinvest group’s steadfast commitment to sustainability, said Jean Marc Arbogast, IFC’s Country Manager for the Philippines. “We are heartened to see that IFC’s investment in Northgate Cyberzone is not only creating jobs but is now also a prime example of green infrastructure in the IT industry.” 

An innovation of the IFC, EDGE helps property developers build and brand green in a fast, easy, and affordable way. EDGE is supported by a free software that encourages solutions to green building solutions to reduce energy, water and the embodied energy in materials used to make building materials by at least 20% compared to base case, which is the standard for EDGE certification.

Within 6 months, FILRT’s six properties emerged as EDGE-certified, with an average consumption of 25% less energy, 39% less water, and 55% less embodied energy in embodied materials compared to other buildings in the Philippines. This was accomplished without any retrofitting work.

As a result, locators at these prime FILRT properties possess a distinct and key competitive advantage (validated by a third party) in operational efficiency and environmental sustainability. 

At present, FILRT's EDGE-certified properties are in Northgate Cyberzone, an 18.7-hectare information technology zone that is home to the country’s largest district cooling system (total capacity of 12,000 tons of refrigeration), which is fast becoming a key center of productivity in South Metro Manila.

In 2001, IFC provided a $22 million loan to Filinvest Alabang, Inc. to help develop Northgate Cyberzone, its first investment in an IT park in the country.

Northgate Cyberzone is located in the 244-hectare Filinvest City, the premier garden central business district (CBD) of the Metro South and the country’s first and only LEED-certified (LEED V4 Gold for Neighborhood Development Plan) and three-star BERDE-certified (Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence) CBD.

“We are honored to be contributing to the growth of Northgate Cyberzone, a smart and sustainable office district that supports productive and active workplaces. We envision Northgate Cyberzone as a multifaceted center of productivity: an efficient and vibrant workplace where the best minds diverge to create dream spaces for their employees, fuel paths to career growth, build professional networks, nurture social lives – the possibilities are endless with FILRT properties,” Brion-Lirio said.