Minimizing hidden costs
in residential condominium
An underrated energy alternative, piped-in LPG could help residential condominium dwellers save as much as 40 per cent on their energy bills.
Without the luxury of space for washing and hanging out laundry, high-rise residents tend to be more highly dependent on washing machines and driers. Limited opportunities for cross-ventilation in a condo unit likewise mean that they tend to be more dependent on air-conditioning, particularly during the summer months. It is even more difficult for some dwellers of residential buildings where LPG cylinders have been banned for safety reasons. They must use electricity for cooking, which happens two to three times in a day.
All of these additional energy uses mean a higher electric bill every month. "It bothers me that a significant amount of my budget goes to my electric bill," said a Makati executive who lives in a residential development on Pasong Tamo. As though that were not enough, she said, higher usage of electricity means being slapped higher energy fees, which bloats her energy bill all the more.
A newly married professional relates that she enjoys the conveniences of living in the heart of Makati in a one-bedroom flat close to everything. "What I don’t enjoy is paying so much for electricity." The use of air-conditioning and an electric laundry drier, she said, are what significantly drive up her energy costs.
In one part of the metropolis, nevertheless, a number of condo dwellers worry less about electric bills. Because they have the luxury of being connected to a network of piped-in gas, they have access to the less costly alternative fuel. According to Serge Bernal, general manager of Bonifacio Gas, piped-in gas costs around 40 per cent less than electricity. "A condo resident who can cook and heat food using gas and dry clothes with gas truly enjoys significant savings," said Bernal.
As more and more building developers ban the use of LPG cylinders for safety and other reasons, being linked to a 24/7 piped-in gas network like that found in Bonifacio Global City has magnified the benefits of being a Bonifacio Gas user.
Bernal relates that restaurant owners, in particular, appreciate tapping into the Bonifacio piped-in gas network in Taguig. For cooking, piped-in gas is unsurpassed because it is cheaper than electricity and is available 24/7 unlike LPG cylinders which can run out and are bulky to store.
At the Bonifacio Global City, over 800 residences and commercial establishments highly appreciate their reduced energy bills and the network’s hassle-free and safe delivery system. Aside from offering savings to residents, the piped-in gas produces less carbon dioxide than other widely available fuels.