SM Investments Corporation through its property arm, SM Prime Holdings recently opened its 83rd mall in Balanga, Bataan by integrating sustainability features in its design and operations.
The location of the coastal city provides an opportunity for the company to incorporate disaster resiliency in its design in the flood-prone municipality.
Balanga experiences annual flooding based on its history of recurring disasters. SM has equipped the mall with two rainwater catchment tanks that can hold up to 900 cubic meters combined, or equal to 3.6 million 250mL glasses of water.
The catchment tanks aim to reduce soil erosion and flow of stormwater that causes urban flooding. SM City Bataan also utilizes clerestory windows, series of large windows, for better light ventilation which lessens the electricity consumption of the facility.
This could save up to approximately 2240 kWh of energy daily. SM City Bataan is the 25th mall of the group with a rainwater catchment basin, and 28th with an electric vehicle charging station.