US towers Go Green

Hello Everyone,

I came this news article and I thought it might be a good idea to post it here since I’ve been talking about Ayala Land’s green vision for Nuvali.

Enjoy!

Coco Midel

Ayala Land Premier

Mobile 0917 580 2013

Email coco.ayala@gmail.com

Iconic skyscrapers find new luster in green tech

By CHRIS KAHN, AP Energy Writer Chris Kahn, Ap Energy Writer – Sat Jul 4, 12:30 pm ET

NEW YORK – When owners of the Empire State Building decided to blanket its towering facade this year with thousands of insulating windows, they were only partly interested in saving energy.

They also needed tenants.

After 78 years, Manhattan’s signature office building had lost its sheen as one of the city’s most desirable places to work. To get it back, the owners did what an increasing number of property owners have done — they went green, shelling out $120 million on a variety of environmental improvements, a move would have been considered a huge gamble a few years ago.

Buildings that define city skylines across the country, some national icons, are catching up to the sleek, new structures designed with efficiency in mind, as property owners and managers become convinced that a greener building now makes financial sense.

That’s because in recent years environmental retrofits have begun to pay off for owners and tenants alike. Higher-profile companies are seeking out more efficient office space, and new technology at older buildings has started to translate into higher property values, leases and occupancy rates.

“In a good market, we’re going to get the best rents for the best tenants,” said Anthony E. Malkin, who leads a real estate group that owns the Empire State Building. “In a bad market like we have now, we’re going to get tenants when other buildings won’t.”

Renovation specialists around the country have been plugging porous walls in numerous old buildings, adding high tech water systems and using recycled material in carpets and tile.

One of them is the Christman Building in Lansing, Mich., an 81-year-old Elizabethan Revival office that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While repairing the limestone exterior and preserving unique details like the mica light fixtures, the building owners spent $8.5 million to add water-efficient plumbing and increased the amount of natural light. They also capped the building with a reflective “cool” roof.

Chicago’s Sears Tower announced late last month that it will embark on a five-year, $350 million green renovation. The 110-story, staggered skyscraper, which turned 36 this year, will crown its rooftops with solar panels, wind turbines and up to 35,000 square feet of sunlight-absorbing gardens.

When complete, the improvements will cut the tower’s annual electricity use by 80 percent and save 24 million gallons of water, property managers say.

Building owners trumpet their environmental commitment when extensive modifications are made, yet in many cases those changes are being pushed by tenants.

Many high-profile tenants won’t even consider moving into a property without the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, said Allan Skodowski with Transwestern management group. They may not even know what the certification means, he said, but they demand it nonetheless.

“They say ‘We want LEED,’” Skodowski said, “and that’s it.”

Nine of Transwestern’s properties received certification this year. A combination of energy efficient light bulbs and other green equipment helped those buildings slash energy consumption. On average, they’ve seen a 2 percent drop in energy costs, even as electricity rates jumped between 10 percent and 40 percent, Skodowski said.

Leasing rates have not risen as a result of the changes, Skodowski said, yet at the same time occupancy rates have not fallen. That’s a victory for an industry hit hard by the recession. Vacancy rates at office buildings nationwide have gone from 10.9 percent at the end of 2007 to 12.4 percent in the first quarter of this year.

“If one extra tenant comes and looks at the building, if the owner gets an extra penny or so a foot, then at the end of the day it’s paying for itself,” Skodowski said.

A recent analysis by real estate researcher CoStar Group, Inc. found that green-certified buildings had fewer vacancies than other buildings with similar age, size and location.

The CoStar study, which included about 3,000 green-certified offices, found that buildings with the council’s certification enjoyed higher occupancy rates (90.3 percent) than their peers (84.7 percent) in the first three months of 2009.

Certified buildings have fetched higher lease rates for several years. The CoStar report said the buildings rented at an average of $38.86 per square foot in the first quarter of 2009 compared with $29.80 per square foot for their peers.

“This isn’t just a ‘We are doing the right thing’ movement,” said Marc Heisterkamp, U.S. Green Building Council’s director of commercial real estate. “In the end, the numbers pencil out.”

At the Empire State Building, Malkin proposed a top-to-bottom renovation that included a $13.2 million investment in new green technologies. The goal was to sufficiently reduce greenhouse gases without spending more than he could justify to his investors.

What the owners settled on was a series of upgrades that include retrofitting all 6,500 windows. Under every window, radiators will be padded with extra insulation. The building’s lighting, cold water and ventilation systems also will be upgraded.

The renovation should take 18 months. Afterward, the owners expect an annual energy savings of $4.4 million, enough to pay off the new technologies in about three years.

Already, the renovation has lured upscale, energy-conscious companies like Swedish construction firm Skanska, said Ray Quartararo with Jones Lang Lasalle, which is managing the renovation.

Skanska wanted its U.S. headquarters to have a LEED “platinum” certification — reserved for only the most efficient of buildings — and it found a willing partner in the Empire State Building. Skanska officials said the building’s management helped them install bike racks and add other energy-saving details on the 32nd floor.

“We had looked at several downtown spaces, but the Empire State Building made the most sense,” a company spokeswoman said.

Jacques Catafago, an attorney who works 16 floors above Skanska’s new office, is also happy with the changes. Catafago has fought the building management before on other fees, but he said he wouldn’t mind paying more rent if it goes toward renovations that cut his electric bill.

Besides, Catafago said, he’s already checked out the rent for similar buildings in the city and realizes he has a pretty good deal at the Empire State Building.

“We’d be paying twice as much” uptown, he said.

SOURCE:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090704/ap_on_bi_ge/us_signature_skyscrapers_efficiency

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July 5, 2009 Posted by cocomidel | Blogroll, Nuvali, Real Estate News, Uncategorized | | No Comments Yet

Westgrove News Article

Modern living in a rustic setting

By CZARINA NICOLE O. ONG / Manila Bulletin

June 30, 2009, 1:55pm

Whoever coined the phrase “get away from it all” must have been thinking of an oasis – a likeness to Adam and Eve’s garden, if you will, way before it was tainted by sin. This ideal is what Ayala Land must have had in mind when they developed Westgrove Heights.

Located in the idyllic city of Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Westgrove Heights is a 400-hectare property that offers a modern lifestyle set in a more rustic environment. Yet being in close contact with nature, however, does not mean Westgrove Heights has given up on certain urban luxuries. Rather, houses in this subdivision are havens all their own, replete with modern luxuries.

Each house comes with three bedrooms with individualized bathrooms, a kitchen, attic, pantry and clean storage, maid’s room, dining area, and a garage that can accommodate four parking spaces.

What Westgrove Heights has to offer is this: interested homeowners get to pick the type of house they want – Cypress, Laurel, or Olive – and they also get the privilege of picking the lot where to build the house. And in a period of 15 months, a dream home is built.

“You get a signature house; it’s customized and you can build any house you choose at any lot you choose,” further explains Tom Mirasol, head of sales and marketing of Ayala Land.

Cypress is the smallest unit of the three, and if one wishes to upgrade to the Laurel house, a balcony is included, while the Olive house has a covered lanai.

There are four lots to choose from, each with its own advantages. The Estate Lots boast of the largest lots in the subdivision, the Sunrise Lots, as its name suggests, has the best view of the morning sun, the Enclave Lots are ideal for those wanting to privacy, and the Orchard Lots have direct access to Orchard Park.

As for the design, the houses at Westgrove Heights adhere to a singular theme: Mediterranean. And while this theme can be distinguished mainly by the design of the roof, several factors also add to it: from the dual-tone earth colors to the high ceilings and open windows.

“The more visible features are the double volume living room and the maximized space; with ceilings at almost 10 feet high. The windows are designed so that when you’re lying in bed, you can appreciate the view,” says Arch. Conrad Onglao, designer of the houses at Westgrove.

What would probably catch any person’s attention in Westgrove Heights is how similar and yet distinctive e the houses are. The houses may have been designed by a single architect and have a collective appeal, but they still impart the personal aesthetics of the homeowner. “We make sure that every house would be markedly different from the other in terms of space planning,” adds Arch. Onglao.

For more information, please call COCO MIDEL at (02) 215 0361 or (+63) 917 580 2013.

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July 2, 2009 Posted by cocomidel | Ayala Westgrove Heights, Blogroll, Real Estate News, Uncategorized | | No Comments Yet

Montecito News Article

Having ample breathing space

A new community focuses on environmental sustainability

By MAAN D’ASIS PAMARAN

June 30, 2009, 1:58pm

Because of the bizarre weather the world has been experiencing, protecting the environment has transcended from being a trend into being a way of life. And an eco-friendly lifestyle is exactly what the new Ayala Land Premiere residential community, Montecito, has to offer.

Aside from the vastly spacious lots which range from 600 to 1,300 square meters each, ample spaces have also been allotted for various ecologically sound and sustainable elements in its community. In fact, approximately 50 percent of the 60-hectare community is dedicated to parks, roads, and greenways.

Greenways are common grounds that course through the blocks that make up 280 residential lots. They form recreational and social spaces for the neighborhood. These five to 30 meter wide open spaces have another purpose as well – they are designed to help ventilation and light flow through the houses, and act as a quiet buffer between the lots. This translates to less energy required for lighting and cooling the houses.

Greenways, along with the community parks, likewise allow water to seep underground and replenish the water table.

Another significant highlight of the development is the Lake Area, which is actually composed of two lakes, with a shoreline of about one kilometer. The smaller lake sources its fresh water from Matang Tubig (an artesian spring coming from the Tagaytay Ridges), and is used as a utility lake to irrigate the greenways and other common areas.

The larger lake is about two hectares big, and three meters deep. This likewise gets its water from Matang Tubig, and serves as a recreational area where residents can go fishing, race RC boats, or enjoy a picnic. Twin gazebos have been set up to allow homeowners and guests to enjoy the tranquil surroundings and beholdthe panoramic view of the Makati skyline.

To further ensure the environment-friendly aspect of the waterworks, Montecito has a sewerage plant that can treat household sewage into usable gray water. Two deep wells and two reservoirs cater to the community’s water supply needs.

Other amenities include a clubhouse, which was once the Yulo ancestral residence. This huge villa was once the setting for the clan’s family reunions. It has since been transformed into a recreational venue that features a swimming pool, a library, game rooms, function areas and wellness facilities. A chapel has also been built.

Because it is nestled in the sprawling hills of Canlubang, Laguna, Montecito offers fresh air and a feeling of tranquility. It was developed to be a place that can relieve residents of the pressures they have to put up with in the city. The surrounding areas of Laguna de Bay and the Tagaytay Ridge further enhance the feeling of being close to nature.

But quiet Montecito has a busy beat as well. Right outside this quiet enclave is the rising commercial district that includes the Sta. Rosa lifestyle center and The Nuvali Central Business District.

SOURCE LINK:

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/208447/having-ample-breathing-space

IF you are interested to be part of Montecito, feel free to call me at 0917-580-2013. Thank you!

- Coco Midel, Ayala Land

July 1, 2009 Posted by cocomidel | Blogroll, Montecito, Uncategorized | | No Comments Yet

Investors Go for High-End

Investors still going after high-end development, Ayala units says

Written by Miguel Camus / Reporter

WEDNESDAY, 24 JUNE 2009 20:09

INVESTORS reeling from the financial crisis have begun to turn to the relative safety of property investments, said Ayala Land Premier (ALP), the high-end land development unit of listed builder Ayala Land Inc. (ALI).

“People are going back to basics and have simplified their investment portfolios. [Philippine] real estate has a good track record in producing good returns,” said Ayala Land president Antonio Aquino.

Speaking to select business reporters during a company-organized briefing yesterday, Aquino said ALP is seeing a positive trend in terms of reservations, which surprisingly reported four months of consecutive growth since February. He said this followed five months of uncertainty which pulled first-quarter sales down by a tenth to P7.41 billion.

Reservation sales are considered a primary demand indicator by the real-estate firm. Aquino said June reservation sales breached P1 billion, or about double the figure reported in January this year.

“And July is expected to outperform June,” said Aquino.

“When [people] start talking in terms of the remittance slowdown, that has been more than made up for by the domestic market. This is a case where the fairly good domestic market is helping push things along,” said Aquino.

He said ALP buyers typically belong to the upper-income socioeconomic bracket, given that the high-end firm’s typical prices for units range from P4 million to over P20 million.

Aquino also pointed out that the same trend in uptakes was seen in the ALI’s middle-income and affordable units under Alveo Land and Avida Land respectively.

Currently, local clients make up between 85 percent and 90 percent of ALP project buyers, with the remainder from overseas, mostly those based in the US.

Meanwhile, ALP senior vice president and group head Bernard Dy said the company is looking at a better second half also because of the better quality of investors. He said the bulk of the buyers are either end-users or long-term investors as opposed to speculative buyers who look to sell properties within a year of purchase to book immediate profits.

Aquino said ALI is also looking to launch more projects, particularly in the second half of the year. The publicly traded firm has allotted P17.4 billion in capital expenditures for ongoing and new projects this year, of which only between P7 billion and P8 billion has been spent, Aquino estimated.

“We have a fairly healthy level of inventory today,” said Aquino, who noted that the firm will raise it’s inventory to match the market’s demand.

ALI was established after parent Ayala Corp.n decided to spin off its real-estate division into an independent subsidiary to focus on its real- estate business

SOURCE LINK:

http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/companies/12221-investors-still-going-after-high-end-development-ayala-units-says.html

June 29, 2009 Posted by cocomidel | Blogroll, Real Estate News, Uncategorized | | No Comments Yet

Ayala Sales Getting Better

Property sales start to recover — Ayala

By Jenniffer B. Austria

SOURCE LINK:

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business2_june25_2009

Ayala Land Inc. said yesterday it is starting to see the recovery of the high-end property market as reflected by a resurgence in reservation sales from March to May.

Ayala Land president Antonino Aquino in a briefing attributed the recovery of the high-end market to strong sales from local buyers.

“This is a case where good domestic market is the one helping push things along. The slowdown in the remittance has more than made up for by the domestic market,” Aquino said.

Figures showed that reservations sales of Ayala Land Premier, the company catering to the high-end market, rose 52 percent in March, 7 percent in April and 52 percent in May. Reservation sales in June are expected to approximate the growth in May.

“It was really the high-end market that was affected by the global financial crisis. But what we are seeing now is that high-end market is on the upswing. Over the last four months, we see positive trend in terms of sales for the high-end segment,” Aquino said.

Aquino hopes that the trend will continue in the second half of the year barring further turmoil in the global markets.

“The trendline is good and, of course, everything is premised there will be no further stressed on the global side. There is really nothing wrong on the domestic front. We continue to be fairly good,” Aquino said.

Sales to migrant Filipino workers remained weak as the bulk of the company’s sales of high-end projects come from United States, which has been badly hit by the financial crisis.

From a high of 30 percent, sales of Ayala Land Premier projects from migrant workers now account only for 10 percent to 15 percent.

June 29, 2009 Posted by cocomidel | Blogroll, Real Estate News, Uncategorized | | No Comments Yet

« Previous Entries

Intro

Buying a home is a touchy-touchy matter. Even those who buy properties purely for investment can’t help but be emotional at some point. It’s a basic human trait that goes long way back when primitive men grunted in happiness about their nice caves. Of course, in time, we got smart, got tired of caves, and moved into modern living spaces where there’s that perfect spot to hang the high-definition two-inch-thick TV. Deciding which house or condo to purchase remains a matter of taste. We are still inclined to be mushy about home-sweet-homes. The downside is the heart doesn’t always make good investment sense. So the emotions, I leave to you. Now, the investment-sense, if you read on, I will try to add some more. Happy reading.

Coco Midel, Ayala Land Premier, In-house Property Specialist, Mobile (+63) 917 580 2013, Landline (02) 215 0361, coco.ayala@gmail.com or midel.jerico@ayalalandinc.com

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Buyer’s Guide to Ayala Land

by Coco Midel

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by Coco Midel

Iconic skyscrapers find new luster in green tech

Modern living in a rustic setting

Having ample breathing space

Infrastructure boom seen in Camp John Hay with entry of Ayala Land

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