CHAPTER 1

The Problem and Its Setting

A. Introduction

Shelter is one of the basic needs of a man. That is why having

a decent home for our family is one of our wish. It is one of the
reasons why we are working hard to earn money so we can buy our
own house in the future. In connection to this, Community
facilities that are safe, user friendly and has reasonable cost
would be the best feature to any housing project.

The idea to build and design a community with Medium Cost

Housing that can solve more than just the housing problem but also
some of the environmental issues like ‘Energy Overconsumption’ that
can cause harmful effect to the Environment is really challenging
to all Developers, Engineers and other related in the field of
construction especially to all Architects and aspiring to be.
Proposing of thesis for this kind of project can create a big help
to our Society.

This thesis proposes the housing for Middle Income families.

A community that will provide the needs of its users and one that
can improve the conservation of the environment. It will be an
approach to confront environmental issues and propose opportunities
to reduce the impact of energy overconsumption to the environment
through good choice of materials, construction technologies, and
innovation of design.

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B. Statement of the Problem

This will determine what are the proper solutions needed to

solve the problems about Improper Housing and Overconsumption of
Energy used for Electricity in Homes of the Middle-Income Families
residing at Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija in the present.

The researcher seeks to establish an answer to the following

questions:

1.) How may the Greenscape Residences can help in

preservation and conservation of the environment through
Energy Efficiency?

2.) What is the expected price of the middle-cost housing

unit and it is reasonable to pay by the prospected end-
users?

3.) What other Amenities are needed by the proposed Medium

Cost Residential Subdivision to serve the home owners
better?

4.) How may the proposed Medium Cost Residential

Subdivision can give business and employment opportunities
to the people living in?

C. Scope and Limitations

The scope and limitation is one of the most significant part

in the research process. This part covers the area and the
limitation of the research study. It contains what the researcher’s
only have to work on.

Scope

This thesis focuses on the middle income families, those who

are first time families and house renters. It formulates design
solution to enhance the quality of life of the prospective end-

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users, while reducing the impact of energy overconsumption in the
environment. Activities inside the proposed subdivision will be a
concern in terms of what they are going to do in their everyday
life. It must be well-planned site development that can ensure the
user’s satisfaction.

Limitation

The researcher will limit its study in building the model

community in Sta. Rosa and the architectural aspects of the
project. It also limits to address the research in the details of
mechanical, and plumbing system. However, some topics like proper
water consumption and energy-efficiency features of the project
were slightly over run at least to have some ideas on its
possibility in order to clearly focus in the field of architecture.
The information contained in this project is thoroughly studied,
researched and examined.

D. Significance of the Study

In the development of this Energy Efficient Medium Cost

Housing, advantages and benefits will be possibly gain with regards
to a better housing. Housing is a basic need that serves as a
permanent shelter for human habitation. But the problem of
providing adequate housing has long been a concern of some
individuals and of the government. Housing has always been attached
from the social and economic agenda of any particular place.

Providing an Energy Efficient Medium Cost Residential

Subdivision will benefit the various elements and these are the
following:

Community- this project helps the community in giving

opportunities for neighbors to develop close ties with one another
and strong sense of community will be built.

Development Corporation- it will be the one who have the

authority to handle the project; the leader in providing high
quality land development and design of structures.

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 Environment- it will offer solutions on how to conserve and
protect the nature without undue waste of resources and design to
reduce impact of energy overconsumption to the environment.

Future Researchers- it can give them some information and

data whenever they research about this project.

Local Government Unit- it will be benefited with this project

for the reason that taxes will increase.

Prospective End-Users- it will help achieved no electricity

fee, through the use renewable source of energy in their power
supply rather than the hazardous conventional source of energy.

E. Theoretical Framework

According to the Rule I of the Revised Rules and Regulations

Implementing the Subdivision and Condominium Buyer’s Decree (PD
957) Pursuant to Article IV Section 5 c) of Executive Order No.
648 the following rules are hereby promulgated by the Housing and
Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) to implement Presidential Decree
Nos. 957, 1216, 1344 and other related laws applicable to open
market and medium cost subdivision and subdivision projects.
Residential Subdivision Projects shall conform to the following
minimum design standards, applicable Local Government Units (LGU)
zoning ordinances as well as pertinent provisions the National
Building Code if project is within Housing component.

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F. Conceptual Framework

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Data Gathering:
 User’s Profile
 Site’s Socio  Interview
Proposing of an Energy
Economic Profile  Internet Browsing
Efficient Mid-Cost
 Access to Basic  Library Subdivision with
Services Techniques Commercial Park in Sta.
 Environmental  Observation Rosa, N.E.
Problems  Questionnaires
 Data Review and
Analysis
Figure 01

Research Paradigm

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G. Justification of the Study

The study of “The Greenscape Residences” an Energy Efficient

Mid-Cost Subdivision with Commercial Park will be a big help to
the beneficiaries of the project, especially to the environment.
This community will serve as the foundation of a natural and social
environment for families and community members that will develop
it. A place where meaningful living experience occurs and non-
material needs and values are enriched.

H. Terms of References

Energy Efficient- it is the term used in the process less energy

usage although providing the same service like using LED light
rather than the incandescent bulb.

Green Building- is a construction method and adaption of building

materials with high efficiency, but do not have bad effects to the
environment.

Innovative Design Strategies- new method, idea on how to make an

existing design procedure more effective.

Medium Cost Housing- Housing price ranging from 3M to 4M Pesos

based on the HLURB (Housing and Land-use Regulatory Board) in the
year 2012.

Renewable Energy Resources- energy that is collected

from resources which are naturally replenished on a human
timescale, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and
geothermal heat.

Residential Subdivision- An area where the lot where being

subdivided to accommodate the Housing facilities for single or
multi-family.

Single Detached House– A dwelling for 1 family which is completely

surround by permanent open spaces, with independent access,
services, and use of land.

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I. Review of Related Literature and Studies
This part deals with the related literatures and studies to

the researcher’s study. It also includes the comparison of previous

studies to this study.

1. Related Studies

1.1 Foreign Studies

 Case Study(1), SOL The Net Zero Community in Austin

Author: Sol Austin
Texas, USA (2011)

SOL Austin – Solutions Oriented Living – is a model

development of a sustainable community that integrates social,
economic and ecological components to create a “holistic
community”. The project was a result of a partnership between KRDB
Architects, Beck-Reit contractors, the Guadalupe Neighborhood
Development Corporation (GNDC) and the Austin Housing
Finance Corporation. The medium density, single-family in-fill
project in central east Austin, just three miles from
downtown incorporates a significant portion of low-income and
affordable housing, sustainable practices and consideration for
the kind of future that developments like this can create.
The development is 5.5 acres, re-zoned to SF4-A and developed
into 38 lots composed of 40 units, ranging from 550 sf to 1800
sf. The units are arranged around a central pocket park and all
have access to quality outdoor space. Driveways are shared,
parking is off the street, a composition of variable setbacks
breaks the monotony inherent to most residential developments, and
creates a dynamic public realm. The landscaping is considerate of
Austin’s climate, all of which was chosen for its tolerance to
periods of drought. The project also incorporates the first
permitted sub-grade bio-filtration facility in the city.
Comparative Analysis

The foreign study entitled “SOL, The Net Zero Community in

Austin Texas | KRDB” is a topic concerns about energy efficiency
in all of its construction projects. This topic has the similarity
to the proposed project “The Greenscape Residences” An Energy
Efficient Mid-Cost Subdivision with Commercial Park in Sta. Rosa,
Nueva Ecija they are both aiming sustainability in terms of idea

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to a better community that will help the users and also the
environment by having energy efficient facilities that will be
useful in long period of time.

1.2 Local Studies

 Case Study (1), Via Verde SOLAR Community in Santo Tomas
Batangas

Developers: Imperial Homes Corporation

Barangay San Vicente, Sto. Tomas Batangas (2015)
Philippines first Solar-powered housing and providing the
needs of the user through proximity to the workplace and
convenience areas.

Comparative Analysis

The local study entitled “Via Verde SOLAR Community” is a

topic concerned about energy efficiency in all of the construction
projects. This topic has the similarity to the proposed project
“The Greenscape Residences” An Energy Efficient Mid-Cost
Subdivision with Commercial Park in Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija in terms
of offering energy efficient shelter for the middle income earners
that want to have a Green Home.

 Case Study (2), Alternative Building Technology: Prefab

Homes
Philippines Prefab Inc.
Sta. Ana, Manila (2010)

Affordability and durability sometimes do not get along with.

It’s difficult to find the right type of technology or even the
right contractor for your home especially if you wanted it
customized and at the same time affordable but quality. Prefab
homes, the new trend in construction technology, offers both. It
is practical to consider this technology for your home.
Prefabricated homes or factory manufactured homes are the fastest
way to build your home. It might take only few days, a week or a
month. Thus it saves you from longer labor payments and prevents

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too much scrap and excess materials while building your home.
Prefab homes or concrete modular homes are fabricated in the
factory so as to maintain a controlled-quality environment and
other factors that may affect the fabrication of the waffle box
houses or modular boxes.
In the Philippines, prefab houses can be the key solution to
housing problems. It is fast, affordable, durable, typhoon-proof,
flood – proof and sustainable.
Comparative Analysis

The local study entitled “Prefab Homes” is a topic concerned

about energy efficiency in all of the construction projects. This
topic has the similarity to the proposed project “The Greenscape
Residences” An Energy Efficient Mid-Cost Subdivision with
Commercial Park in Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija they both helps a lot to
speeds up construction, lowers material costs, offers greater
quality assurance and enhances affordability.

 Case Study (3), Solar Home in Angat, Bulacan

Developer: Gawad Kalinga

Angat, Bulacan (2010)

The community center seeks to provide connectivity to the GK

Enchanted Farm community and promote the use of clean energy in
rural Philippines.By developing a community center exclusively
powered by solar energy.
The community center will be divided into two sections: an
office space and a computer lab. The center’s appliances will be
powered solely by solar energy. All devices will be connected to
crystalline silicone batteries that will be charged by solar panels
attached to the roof. This set up will allow sustainable usage
during the day and night. On a sunny day the community center can
operate for up to 12 hours and on a rainy day up to 10 hours. The
center will be able to generate revenue through computer usage
fees, cellphone charging, and renting out USB Wi-Fi sticks.