Hotels can cut costs, save environment by going 'green'

MANILA – The hotel industry can cut its carbon footprint and reduce utility costs by applying green measures set by the International Finance Corp into their design, construction and operations.

Although the tourism industry contributes about 8 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), it also accounts for approximately 20 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the World Tourism Organization.

The IFC launched Edge in the Philippines in 2016 to provide a smarter and faster voluntary certification for compliance with green building standards, IFC senior industry specialist Ommid Saberi said.

“If we can adapt the right green building standards we can lock in energy and water savings for the future generation with very minimum upfront cost,” Yuan Xu, IFC Philippines country manager said.

Applying the Edge standard can help hotels save 20 percent or more on utility costs, the IFC said.