MANILA, Philippines?At a glance, it looks like any other one-bedroom model house. Inside is no different for within this 53-sq-m abode are the usual household appliances and furniture, including an air-con.

But there is nothing ordinary about the Eco-Jao Bahay Kubo that was exhibited at the recently concluded Construction Show Manila (ManilaCon) 2009 in Pasay City.

Its solar panels on the roof power all its lights as well as a number of appliances while solar heaters provide the hot water. It also has a cistern that gathers rain water that could be used for flushing the toilet, washing or watering plants while its walls, floors, frames and posts are made from sustainably harvested and reclaimed wood products.

?What I would like to prove here is that you don?t need to be rich or famous to be able to afford a sustainable and ecologically friendly house. Who knows, the Eco-Jao Bahay Kubo could be the beginning of a trend that would someday change the way we live here in the Philippines,? said its designer, architect and interior designer James Jao.

The Eco-Jao Bahay Kubo is so relevant these days especially since electricity is becoming too expensive for middle-income families, he said.

?One should realize that the purchase of electricity is one of the largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions, the gas largely blamed for global warming,? he said.

Carbon-neutral house

But what is more interesting about the Eco-Jao Bahay Kubo is the fact that this P1.5-million detached unit may be regarded as the Philippines? first example of a carbon-neutral house?the amount of carbon dioxide it generates daily is offset by its use of conservation techniques and of recyclable / reusable / biodegradable building materials and renewable energy source.

?The Eco-Jao Bahay Kubo employs several technologies that enable its occupants to live ?off-grid,?? Jao said.

?Materials like PVC/carbon fiber roofing, thermally insulated walls, large double-glazed, low-emissivity (reflecting solar radiation) windows, light-colored interior and high ceiling work together to cool the house during hot and humid days,? he said.

What would these innovations mean to an average middle-income family?

?Just like in car racing, the goal is to achieve the top performance that the household members get from a house. This involves lowering a family?s energy expenses?from cooking, lighting, cooling and running different sorts of appliances?without sacrificing life?s comforts,? Jao said.

Mission

Since he completed his bachelor?s degree in architecture at the University of Santo Tomas and master?s degree in city design and social science at the London School of Economics and Political Science, Jao has promised himself to one day help every middle-income family live in an ecologically sound home.

?It?s not very easy to do this initially since not many see the significance of sustainable living. Also, the materials I was seeking were still too expensive or not yet available here in the local market,? Jao said.

Last year, Jao teamed up with LA Ducut and Co., the organizers of ManilaCon, and was able to build and display his first eco-house?named LuzViMinda?during an exhibit at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

?Considering our group?s advocacy for green and sustainable building, Jao?s eco-house exemplifies what we are campaigning for years through our yearly exhibit,? said Lilibeth Ducut-Abais, managing director of LA Ducut and Co.

Abais said that after the exhibit last year, the 121-sq-m LuzViMinda was disassembled and transported to Bulusan, Sorsogon, where it was rebuilt for its new balikbayan owner.

Innovative products

?Since then, so many innovative products have become available locally and [these were] incorporated in this year?s version of the eco-house,? Jao said.

He described the Eco-Jao Bahay Kubo as a modern example of Filipino architecture, featuring a shaded veranda that helps keep natural air to freely circulate and allow sunlight to easily penetrate the house?s interior.

?Apart from the comforts that one may be able to enjoy, the owner of this type of eco-house would be able to recoup his investment in just five years,? Jao said.

He said a developer or home builder constructing say, six to 12 units, could lower the cost of each unit since the developer may be able to build a single energy source that could be shared.

He said he was fortunate to be part of the annually held ManilaCon, as he was able to impart his concept to a wider audience.