Asia home to energy-efficient, cost-effective structures.

(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Byline: Tessa R. Salazar

EYES of the giant flies, huge rib cages, kinetic forms of a human eye, vertebrae forms, twisting human torsos, spiraling spider webs, and replica of a durian fruit. These forms are seemingly unrelated, but in the world of construction and architecture, they have the ability to harness energy to the human advantage.

Despite their unorthodox shapes and sizes, energy-efficient buildings are precisely designed to utilize natural ventilation and light and to efficiently use building equipment.

Most modern buildings are designed to reduce electric consumption for air-conditioning and lighting. A typical building spends about 60 percent in airconditioning, 20 percent in lighting and another 20 percent in motors, pumps, elevators and other mechanical system, explained architect Amado de Jesus of the United Architects of the Philippines' Green Architecture Movement.

De Jesus said there are buildings that exploit the natural daylight, and think of many other ways to make the buildings energy-efficient.

Using nature most effectively