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JEG Tower In Focus: Roof Deck Garden featuring Cebu’s Endemic Flora

One of the most distinguishing features of JEG Tower @ One Acacia is its unique green roof that makes the 22-storey commercial tower a standout in the Cebu City skyline. This roof deck garden offers a dedicated green space in the middle of the cityscape to tenants and visitors of the buildings.

As a proud homegrown real estate developer, JEG Development Corporation (JDC) celebrates its Cebuano roots through their company and brand identity, especially through their first high-rise venture in the real estate industry. The rooftop is set to feature purely endemic flora of Cebu such as:

  • White Kalachuchi Tree
  • Peacock Plant Shrub
  • Pandanus Shrub
  • Eugenia Shrub
  • Peace Lily
  • Yellow Iris

Aside from pushing for a greener Cebu, JDC has also partnered with local businesses, suppliers, and contractors in the completion of the commercial development. JEG Tower @ One Acacia becomes a portfolio of Cebuano skills, talents, and heritage.

READ MORE: Cebuano Pride: How JEG Development Corp. partners with local businesses to showcase expertise and culture

Planting the ‘Right’ Trees

Choosing endemic flora to be featured in JEG Tower’s roof deck garden also allows the improvement and continuity of the local natural landscape in Cebu. Planting native species of greenery leads to better utilities management and savings. Since these trees and plants are familiar with the local climate, they do not need extra resources to thrive and flourish.


Preserving Cebu’s Biodiversity

As the economic center of the Visayan Region, Cebu is rapidly becoming a concrete jungle, especially in the Cebu Central Business District and the metropolis. According to reports, deforestation is one of the main environmental issues of the region because of population growth, rampant urbanization, and small-scale mining.

Combating Air Pollution

In 2019, the air quality in Cebu City was officially declared as ‘unhealthy’ by the Environment Management Bureau (EMB-7). The government organization has urged the public to take safety precautions to combat this environmental problem.

Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon told the media in January that the local government unit will push for more initiatives and encourage the business sector to help decrease the air pollution levels in the province.

“While we cannot totally eliminate air pollution given that this is one of the realities of rapid urbanization, we can at least make investments to lower the levels of air pollution in our city to improve the cardiovascular, respiratory, and mental health of our people, both in the short and long run,” Dizon said.

Extensive planting within city centers is now widely recognized as a means of improving air quality. Scientists and researchers also encourage the creation of as many green spaces within cities to reduce the number of polluting air particles and compounds. Plants also reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and produce more oxygen.

Building green roofs also benefit the building’s tenants and occupiers by contributing to sound reduction, improves workplace aesthetic, reduces ambient temperature, and regulates indoor temperature. Roof deck gardens also help in saving energy and encourage biodiversity in the citray.

RELATED: How Green Roofs Help the Environment

JEG Tower @ One Acacia is Cebu’s newest PEZA accredited premium green building. Being named the country’s Best Green Commercial Development in 2020, the tower serves as a milestone in the Visayan Region’s shift to sustainability.

As the concept of sustainability gets redefined to encompass a holistic approach in real estate, a building’s green features do not only lessen the negative impacts to the environment, but also provide an ideal space for the physical and mental well-being of the building’s tenants. Dedicated to offering the best workplace in Cebu City, JEG Development Corporation is set to open a unique and impressive architectural feature in JEG Tower @ One Acacia.

Want to learn more about the tower’s green advantage and benefits? Contact Lorenzo Rodriguez at (+63)-917-825 6884. For listing inquiries and more information, call us at (+63) 2-8403-5519 or send an email to info@kmcmaggroup.com.

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How Green Roofs Help the Environment

Sustainable developments are growing increasingly in demand especially with the calls to act on Climate Change and the realization of the severe impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. According to the World Green Building Council, green buildings now go beyond the environment as it can also create resilient and thriving communities, and drive economic growth.

Advancement in climate-proof construction paves the way for more estates to adopt sustainable features. One of the widely considered amenities is the Green Roof. The US Environmental Protection Agency defined it as a layer of vegetation grown on the rooftop to provide shade, remove heat from the air, and reduce temperature on the surface.

More urbanized cities move to encourage green roofs on most buildings due to its main benefits: temperature and energy. US EPA reported that these roofs significantly lower the heat island effect during the day, and the city-wide ambient temperature. According to studies, it can drop temperatures by 30 – 40 degrees Fahrenheit lower than the conventional roofing.

Green roofs also prove to be more cost-efficient in terms of energy as developments record 0.7% less usage after it reduced electricity demand. This leads to annual savings of $ 0.23 per square foot of the roof’s surface, making it increasingly popular globally.

The shift to resilient and green buildings can also directly impact overall recovery. It can result in the creation of more job opportunities and boost economic growth further due to innovation to deliver appropriate technology and healthy manufacturing or construction activity.

The Co-Benefits of Green Roofs

The advantages of green roofs have a direct relationship to society and the environment. Apart from temperature and energy efficiency, it has a role to play in minimizing the risks of pollution and building better biodiversity in urban areas.

The plants in the green roof can help clean or purify the air that guarantees that communities within and outside the building breathe better. The reduction in ambient temperature makes the working environment cooler and produces a more comfortable indoor climate while lessening the demand on the air conditioning system. Building who use solar panels can also do well with a green roof as it maximizes its efficiency without the burden of high energy costs.

Green roofs can also act as a sound barrier. It can absorb sound that provides for quieter surroundings and less noise pollution inside and outside of the building. Enhanced property protection is also an observable selling point of a green roof as plants tend to create more moisture reducing the risk of fires, and it can also cover roofing material from external factors that can further extend its lifespan.

Increased biodiversity can also improve city environments as it becomes a habitat for birds, butterflies and insects, and plants. Such greenery also promotes healing and interactions. These spaces can help put people in better moods and trigger positive emotions while maintaining social interaction and movement in well-ventilated areas.

A Move Toward A Greener Philippines

The Philippines is at the forefront of installing green spaces or biophilic design in real estate. In Cebu, JEG Tower @ One Acacia is one of the few developments that take the responsibility of creating more sustainable spaces to protect the health and wellness of its community.

Developer, JEG Development Corporation is committed to bringing a greener approach to its high-rise tower. The addition of ground floor gardens, pocket green spaces for better ventilation, and a state-of-the-art green roof continues to herald its dedication to sustainability. Apart from a diverse curation of flora and fauna, a live tree will also be placed on the rooftop to further preserve the natural elements and biodiversity it carries.

Discuss your green building options today! Contact Michael Glindro at (+63) 917-584-0443 or email him at mike.g@kmcmaggroup.com.