SM City Baguio continues to Integrate daily sustainability measures into mall operations
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Behind the daily operations of SM City Baguio are employees whose routine work integrates environmental sustainability into commercial property management.
From tracking energy consumption to diverting waste, staff members across various departments carry out operational measures designed to reduce the venue's overall environmental impact.
In the engineering department, staff members monitor building infrastructure to maintain energy efficiency. Engineer Lester De Guzman oversees equipment functions and implements daily energy-saving protocols to optimize resource usage during peak and off-peak operating hours.
Mall Manager Jerico Bernardo stated that energy and water conservation are integrated directly into the facility's baseline operating procedures. Building systems, including lighting and air conditioning, are adjusted according to daily schedules and real-time operational demands. Regular preventive maintenance is also conducted to ensure equipment efficiency.
Water management forms another major component of the facility's operations. The mall's Rainwater Treatment Facility has processed over 56 million liters of rainwater since July 2023 to supplement its operational water supply.
Treated wastewater is recycled for sanitation and landscaping irrigation, reducing reliance on Baguio City's local water supply. Long-term plans for the facility include a proposed solar power installation to introduce renewable energy into its power grid.
Waste management procedures at the site focus on sorting materials to maximize recovery and recycling. MJ Belwa, a supervisor for Federal Management and Maintenance Inc., noted that systematic segregation prevents recyclable materials from reaching landfills while generating secondary value from recovered items.
Organic waste generated by mall tenants is also repurposed on-site. Items such as coffee grounds and fruit peels are collected and processed into fertilizer for the mall's plant nursery. For the general public, the venue operates a Trash to Cash collection program on the first Friday and Saturday of each month, allowing local residents to drop off recyclable materials for proper processing.