SM Engineering Design and Development Corporation President Hans Sy Jr. shared innovative solutions for water and energy sustainability during the 3rd Manila Bulletin Sustainability Forum on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

Sy underscored the importance of innovative solutions and practical strategies to ensure a sustainable future.

“Rainwater is a first-line defense, but it can’t sustain our long-term consumption needs. Even if we could capture an entire city’s worth of rainfall, it wouldn’t be enough due to logistical and practical limitations,” Sy explained.

To address this gap, he has advocated for a more sustainable approach which is recycling sewage water into potable water.

While the idea may seem controversial, he pointed out the successful implementation of the system in other countries such as Singapore where treated wastewater is integrated into the public water supply.

“Astronauts drink recycled water, and Singapore has adopted it on a large scale. It’s scientifically proven to be as clean and safe as bottled water,” Sy said, emphasizing that public acceptance is key to making this solution viable.

He also urged stakeholders to begin talks about the benefits and safety of recycled water to overcome initial skepticism.

In terms of energy sustainability, Sy turned his attention to one of the largest energy consumers in commercial spaces: air conditioning.

In establishments like malls, cooling systems account for up to 70 percent of electricity consumption, making them a critical area for optimization.

“Air conditioning is our biggest obstacle to energy efficiency,” he said.

“Even a small inefficiency, like a minor vibration in equipment, can lead to a 10 percent increase in energy costs,” he added.

For businesses with large-scale operations, this could translate to millions of pesos in unnecessary expenses.

“The biggest sustainability is simply being very, very good at what you’re doing,” Sy said.

“When we get things wrong—whether in design, engineering, or execution—it results in inefficiency, waste, and missed opportunities to build sustainably,” he added.