March 23rd, 2010
a real eco house in cebu city!
NOTE: This site got hacked last month and boo that my back-up didn’t include the latest 4 posts (lesson learned: back-up everyday!). I’m resurrecting this second of four posts (original publish date: January 2010) from loose emails and saved drafts.
Check out this Eco house made by Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival (cost him around Php7M!). Dubbed “the house close to nature”, it occupies 400sqm (in a 7,000 sqm property), is self-sustaining, and uses lots of recycled materials. It has facilities for vermicomposting (30 wormbeds!) and wastewater treatment, and a pig farm with a biodigester (which harvests gas that can be used for cooking).
The artist community I want to build in Tagaytay will be something like this, but with a bigger open space in the middle that’s open to the public, and (hopefully) a lively, creative mix of residents surrounding it..
In any case, I’m glad to see the green-home concept is being implemented already, and by government people at that!
UPDATE: Councilor Archival was recognized just this month (March 2010) as one of the country’s top 10 councilors, and yes, for his environmental efforts!
Colleagues pick Archival among RP’s 10 outstanding councilors
Out of 10 national awardees, Archival is the only one from the Visayas. Archival attributed his win to his advocacy on mixing environmental awareness with livelihood.
He said Cebu City’s “Kwarta sa Basura” program not only promoted clean surroundings through garbage segregation, but also provided livelihood.
Another program Archival initiated was the Metro Cebu Air Shed Board (MCASB), the first of its kind in the country.
The MCASB is composed of local chief executives in Metro Cebu who agreed to take part in efforts to improve the quality of air in their communities.
Archival proposed the creation of MCASB last year. It is supposed to help the Department of Environment and Natural Resources check air quality, set emission standards, determine penalties for violators in a particular air shed, as well as draw up anti-pollution programs suited for a given area.
Archival is also responsible for the formation of the Cebu Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team (Ceset), which allows the strict implementation of environmental laws, such as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law.
As of yesterday, about 20,000 violators have been formally charged through the help of the local police, and about P2 million have been collected as violation fees.
Aside from Archival, other winners of this year’s PCL 10 Outstanding Councilors of the Philippines were Edwin Piano of Olongapo City, Abigael Sable of Santiago City, Ellen Reyes of San Pablo City, Raul Rivera of Cabancalan City, Gedo Jarbin Jr. of Legazpi City, Roman Melliza of General Santos City, Lourdes Tabanda of Baguio City, Aurelio Paolo Bartolome of Taguig City and Maria Belen Acosta of Davao City.
(Source: Sunstar Cebu)
Hurrah! Spread the green please!
Personal pieces, adventures in quiet places, reflections, details that make me go aha!, all in the name of finding beauty in this city (and country) we love to hate.
Comments
I have visited his eco-house in Talamban Cebu city and I just can’t contain my astonishment. It is not only because the house itself is really beautiful with lots of creative furnitures, decorations made of recycled softdrink cans, and paintings, but also because you’ll really see how architecture made its way in building a house that’s eco friendly.
Like for example, he doesn’t have an airconditioning system in his house yet it is well ventilated. It could even accomodate up to 50-70 people unya di jud xa init. Simply because he studied the winds’ movements and made sure that it can pass through the house freely. That way, bugnaw jud ang balay bisag walay electric fan or AC.
If people and the government would work together and do things in a way where we coult hurting the environment, the WORLD would a much better place to live in!
fretzchie Canonigo
August 23rd, 2010
I have visited his eco-house in Talamban Cebu city and I just can’t contain my astonishment. It is not only because the house itself is really beautiful with lots of creative furnitures, decorations made of recycled softdrink cans, and paintings, but also because you’ll really see how architecture made its way in building a house that’s eco friendly.
Like for example, he doesn’t have an airconditioning system in his house yet it is well ventilated. It could even accomodate up to 50-70 people unya di jud xa init. Simply because he studied the winds’ movements and made sure that it can pass through the house freely. That way, bugnaw jud ang balay bisag walay electric fan or AC.
If people and the government would work together and do things in a way where we could stop hurting the environment, the WORLD would a much better place to live in!
fretzchie Canonigo
August 23rd, 2010
Thanks for sharing, Fretzchie. I just came from some farms in Palawan, so inspired to live sustainably! Back-to-basics doesn’t necessarily mean we have to give up the modern conveniences we’ve gotten used to… I think there is a way to marry the two (technology and nature).
There’s also a farm in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, where they will be holding a 4-week live-in workshop on Ecovillage design. The course starts this weekend though, but if you’re interested to visit, maybe they’ll be open to visitors on a day-to-day or per-workshop basis.
Here’s their site: http://www.happyearth.info/index.html
manilarat
August 26th, 2010