BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) manages its greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption by retrofitting its old buildings, beginning with its historic Dasmariñas – Binondo building in Manila.
This effort, designed to boost energy efficiency, has not only yielded substantial cost savings but also stands as a compelling illustration of the advantages that retrofitting older buildings can bring to both businesses and homeowners.
Retrofitting refers to the process of updating old buildings with new technology and systems to improve their energy efficiency and functionality.
“This initiative by the Bank illustrates how seemingly small efforts such as opting for more energy efficient technology in lighting and elevators can provide huge benefits in the long run,” said Aurea Imelda Montejo, Senior Vice President and Head of Facilities at BDO Unibank.
In 2018, the Dasmariñas – Binondo building was one of BDO’s top five highest energy-consuming facilities, with an average monthly consumption of 144,993 kWh. BDO Dasmariñas – Binondo building’s electricity consumption for one month is equivalent to the electricity consumption of about twelve households in a year. Recognizing the need for substantial energy reduction, the Bank embarked on a retrofitting project in 2019, starting with the installation of energy-efficient LED lighting.
By the end of 2019, the building’s average monthly energy consumption decreased to 137,867 kWh, a 4.9% reduction compared to the previous year. This energy savings translated into cost savings of over P800,000. This also brings down the Bank’s overall greenhouse gas emissions for scope 2 on electricity consumption.
Following its previous achievement, BDO continued its modernization efforts by upgrading the building’s traditional elevators to smart elevators in 2020. This further reduced the building’s average monthly energy usage to 129,800 kWh by 2022, marking a 10% decrease from the 2018 baseline. These improvements came from an investment of P15.9M, which generated cumulative savings of over P5.9M from 2019 to 2022.
“Businesses and homeowners alike can achieve notable cost cuts by investing in energy-efficient technologies. Our experience shows that these investments pay off in reduced operational expenses, while creating a positive impact on our environment,” Montejo added.
BDO’s efforts at the Dasmariñas – Binondo building demonstrate that retrofitting is not only an environmentally responsible choice but also a financially sound strategy. By upgrading lighting systems and installing smart technologies, businesses and homeowners can considerably lower their energy consumption and reduce their utility bills.
About BDO Unibank Inc.
BDO is a full-service universal bank which provides a wide range of corporate and retail services such as loan and deposit products, treasury, trust banking, investment banking, private banking, rural banking and microfinance, cash management, leasing and finance, remittance, life insurance, property & casualty insurance brokerage, cash cards, credit cards, and online and non-online stock brokerage services.
BDO has the country’s largest distribution network, with over 1,700 consolidated operating branches and more than 5,500 teller machines nationwide. It also has 16 international offices (including full-service branches in Hong Kong and Singapore) in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.
The Bank also offers digital banking solutions to make banking easier, faster, and more secure for its clients.
BDO ranked as the largest bank in terms of total assets, loans, deposits and trust funds under management based on published statements of condition as of March 31, 2024. For more information, please visit www.bdo.com.ph
BDO is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
For concerns, please visit any BDO branch nearest you, or contact us thru our 24×7 hotline (+632) 8631-8000 or email us via callcenter@bdo.com.ph.