Philippines’ first ‘green’ Starbucks coffee shop opens in Bonifacio Global City
MANILA, Philippines—Do your bit for the environment by enjoying your favorite brew in an "environmentally responsible location."
MANILA, Philippines—Do your bit for the environment by enjoying your favorite brew in an "environmentally responsible location."
Starbucks Philippines announced Tuesday that its branch on 32nd Street, corner 7th Avenue, in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, is its first "green and environment-friendly" shop in the country.
Noey Lopez, chief operating officer of Starbucks Philippines, said they "incorporated everything from responsible building materials and furnishings to energy- and water-efficient measures" in creating the branch.
Rustan Coffee Corp. (the Philippines’ franchisee of Starbucks) partnered with Philips Electronics in making the outlet the first Starbucks shop in the country to use Light Emitting Diodes (LED) solutions. This is one way of "designing, building and operating our stores in ways that reduce our impact on the planet," said Lopez.
LED lighting solutions provide customers and employees with "bright, yet soothing, ambient lighting conditions." Ria Nuñez, Philips Electronics' product manager told reporters that different lightning conditions had been set up for both the coffee shop's customers and its employees.
The soft LED lighting solutions not only let Starbucks experience "significant savings" by consuming less electricity, but also make the customers feel more relaxed with the subdued lighting fixtures installed throughout the shop.
Philips revealed that "LED sources can be five times more efficient than incandescent and most halogen sources and are quickly gaining ground on fluorescent." The company also explained that LED lights are environmentally safe as they do not contain mercury, unlike standard and compact fluorescent light bulbs. LED sources do not emit infrared and ultraviolet radiation, which can be harmful to its users.
Gonzalez said a "long-period payback" can be expected by those who use LED sources as they "can last significantly longer than traditional technologies." Philips said LED lights "can withstand impact, vibration and other disruptions,", which means less replacement and maintenance requirements.
The intensity of the light emitted is brighter in the kitchen and serving counter areas to ensure that the baristas and store attendants "can see the food they are preparing,” said Nuñez. Light color from LED can be changed for decorative purposes "to create a visual effect or a unique environment," according to Philips. This particular Starbucks branch maintained its "cozy atmosphere" by sticking to its warm, yellowish light, Nuñez elaborated.
Nuñez also said that instead of using halogen lamps, which consume up to 50 watts, to light the wall paintings, the shop uses 7-watt LED lights. She said that all of the light fixtures in the building efficiently use electricity, saving the company money and being environment-friendly at the same time. The Starbucks-Philips partnership sends "a message to everyone (to) be more environmentally responsible," she said.
"(Philips) has repositioned itself as a health and well-being company," said Rico Gonzalez, Philips Electronics' country manager for the Philippines. The company is "pushing the subject of health and well-being... (while) focusing on the lighting needs of consumers," he stated, adding that this was the reason they partnered with Starbucks Philippines in pushing for its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) compliance agenda.
Although creating a shop that uses only LED light can be quite expensive at first, Gonzalez said that Starbucks on 32nd Street, corner 7th Avenue, saves a lot in the long term. He told reporters that the LED-using cafe gets to "save on energy but also create the right ambiance," he said, adding that "lighting has a major role in creating ambiance."
"Starbucks is always looking for ways to improve the environmental performance of our stores," said Lopez, agreeing with Gonzalez who said that the partnership was a good way to "go green" and promote energy conservation.
Gonzalez stressed that "we work to start change and make an impact, one light bulb at a time."
Noey Lopez, chief operating officer of Starbucks Philippines, said they "incorporated everything from responsible building materials and furnishings to energy- and water-efficient measures" in creating the branch.
Rustan Coffee Corp. (the Philippines’ franchisee of Starbucks) partnered with Philips Electronics in making the outlet the first Starbucks shop in the country to use Light Emitting Diodes (LED) solutions. This is one way of "designing, building and operating our stores in ways that reduce our impact on the planet," said Lopez.
LED lighting solutions provide customers and employees with "bright, yet soothing, ambient lighting conditions." Ria Nuñez, Philips Electronics' product manager told reporters that different lightning conditions had been set up for both the coffee shop's customers and its employees.
The soft LED lighting solutions not only let Starbucks experience "significant savings" by consuming less electricity, but also make the customers feel more relaxed with the subdued lighting fixtures installed throughout the shop.
Philips revealed that "LED sources can be five times more efficient than incandescent and most halogen sources and are quickly gaining ground on fluorescent." The company also explained that LED lights are environmentally safe as they do not contain mercury, unlike standard and compact fluorescent light bulbs. LED sources do not emit infrared and ultraviolet radiation, which can be harmful to its users.
Gonzalez said a "long-period payback" can be expected by those who use LED sources as they "can last significantly longer than traditional technologies." Philips said LED lights "can withstand impact, vibration and other disruptions,", which means less replacement and maintenance requirements.
The intensity of the light emitted is brighter in the kitchen and serving counter areas to ensure that the baristas and store attendants "can see the food they are preparing,” said Nuñez. Light color from LED can be changed for decorative purposes "to create a visual effect or a unique environment," according to Philips. This particular Starbucks branch maintained its "cozy atmosphere" by sticking to its warm, yellowish light, Nuñez elaborated.
Nuñez also said that instead of using halogen lamps, which consume up to 50 watts, to light the wall paintings, the shop uses 7-watt LED lights. She said that all of the light fixtures in the building efficiently use electricity, saving the company money and being environment-friendly at the same time. The Starbucks-Philips partnership sends "a message to everyone (to) be more environmentally responsible," she said.
"(Philips) has repositioned itself as a health and well-being company," said Rico Gonzalez, Philips Electronics' country manager for the Philippines. The company is "pushing the subject of health and well-being... (while) focusing on the lighting needs of consumers," he stated, adding that this was the reason they partnered with Starbucks Philippines in pushing for its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) compliance agenda.
Although creating a shop that uses only LED light can be quite expensive at first, Gonzalez said that Starbucks on 32nd Street, corner 7th Avenue, saves a lot in the long term. He told reporters that the LED-using cafe gets to "save on energy but also create the right ambiance," he said, adding that "lighting has a major role in creating ambiance."
"Starbucks is always looking for ways to improve the environmental performance of our stores," said Lopez, agreeing with Gonzalez who said that the partnership was a good way to "go green" and promote energy conservation.
Gonzalez stressed that "we work to start change and make an impact, one light bulb at a time."
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