Property Firm in the Philippines Receives The World’s First EDGE Zero Carbon Certification
MANILA, Philippines—NEO’s real estate portfolio has earned them the International Finance Corporation’s EDGE Zero Carbon certification, the first in the world. The CEO and Managing Director of Property Management of NEO share their insights on how their structures can both be high quality and environmentally friendly.
The company originally aimed to reach Net Zero by the year 2030, but achieved this nine years early when EDGE partner, SGS-Sintali, verified seven office buildings in October 2021. A Zero Carbon advocate, NEO hopes to inspire property owners and managers around the world to commit to Net Zero, especially for existing buildings. As a climate catastrophe looms, vulnerable countries like the Philippines need to ramp up efforts across key sectors such as real estate where certifications for green buildings and Net Zero are powerful and compelling strategies.
EDGE or the Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies is such an example. An innovation of IFC, EDGE is a green building standard, rating system and free online platform designed for emerging markets. The EDGE Zero Carbon Retrofit Protocol was developed to provide a pathway to achieve zero carbon for existing buildings. For green retrofit projects to be certified under this new protocol, companies must verify that their retrofit design meets the minimum 40% operational energy efficiency improvements, as well as prove that the operational energy from the previous year is from renewable sources and/or carbon offsets. Once the retrofit is completed within a three-year period, the project will undergo final certification.
NEO’s buildings are projected to have from 41-49 percent energy savings with energy sources procured from the ‘Cleanergy’ portfolio of Aboitiz Power Corporation. Aside from their contribution to climate change mitigation, these green and zero carbon buildings positively impact NEO’s #theNEOway community. Companies and tenants can now be assured that they are working in buildings that promote and protect both human and planetary health. Green retrofits will play an increasingly important role in achieving global climate goals; they also represent a sizable investment opportunity in emerging markets.
According to Vivek Pathak, Director and Global Head of Climate Business at IFC, “NEO’s achievement sets a precedent. Developers with existing buildings should raise their climate ambitions toward improving returns for their investors and increasing the value of their assets while generating positive outcomes for the environment.”
“We desperately need our businesses to become Net Zero in order to avert a climate catastrophe. By publicly committing to Net Zero then being the first portfolio in the world to achieve EDGE Zero Carbon Certification, we have proven that it is possible even for existing buildings in markets like the Philippines. Regardless of your size, industry, or country – what matters most is that we start on our Net Zero journey as soon as possible,”
RAYMOND RUFINO-CEO of NEO
For Rufino, achieving such certifications is not only a matter of business choice, but rather a response to further protect the interest of the community, especially the youth and future generations who will be affected by our current decisions.
Sustainability has always been at the core of NEO’s business. For the past years, all buildings have achieved 5-star certified green buildings under BERDE and have been awarded by the Philippines’ Department of Energy (DOE) with Energy Efficiency Awards.
In 2020, NEO aligned with the goal of the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Greenprint Center for Building Performance to reduce the operational carbon emissions of its members’ collective buildings to net zero by the year 2050. In early 2021, NEO also signed the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment of the World Green Building Council and then achieved net zero certification for three of its buildings, One/NEO, Four/NEO and Six/NEO, as the pilot projects of the Philippine Green Building Council’s Advancing Net Zero Philippines program. The remaining buildings of the NEO portfolio are also slated for certification under the program.
“Net zero is far from simple, but it’s realistic and possible. Across any industry, it is important to look at the overall impact of emissions before taking any steps forward. Net zero pledges are achievable by accompanying them with deep management commitment and strategic policy structures. Our existing buildings were not initially designed to be net zero but we were able to achieve the goal for all 7 buildings. If we at NEO can do this, I’m sure all our fellow owners, developers, and managers can also make the commitment and reach net zero,” stated Gie Garcia, Managing Director of Property Management, NEO.
With this mindset, it is high time that “going green” falls under the most important category when it comes to building a structure. While quality, functionality and aesthetics are given the most consideration in such projects, conserving the environment by reducing carbon emissions will also reap its long-term rewards.
ABOUT NEO
NEO is the leading sustainable real estate developer, owner, and manager of high-quality workspaces in the Philippines with a portfolio of seven 5-Star BERDE certified and EDGE Zero Carbon Certified office buildings in Bonifacio Global City Taguig, Philippines. NEO also prioritizes the health, wellbeing, and productivity of its tenants by combining physical sustainability strategies and building features with community-oriented programs and activities through its innovative, best-in-class tenant engagement and community campaign called #theNEOway.
Source: NEO EDGE Zero Carbon Press Release
