"For me, it's a selling aspect," says Pingel. "More and more people are into this issue (of global warming)."
But despite growing awareness and excited talk of an eco-building boom in Asia, Shailendra Yashwant, a climate campaigner with environmental group Greenpeace, says Thailand still has a long way to go.
"The policy makers will tell you that the potential is immense, but none of them are working on removal of barriers," he says.
"It is imperative that governments and financial institutions enforce legislation and mandatory requirements for all new buildings to incorporate and adopt 'green building' concepts," he adds.
Bangkok's Governor Apirak Kosayodhin in May announced an environmental plan for the capital, which included promoting energy-efficient buildings. But as yet, no incentives or laws for green buildings have been put forward.
Nikom Wairachpanit, director of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's environment department, says they will switch to energy-saving light bulbs and simply ask other government and commercial buildings to do the same.
"We don't plan for any measures to enforce them. If we do not receive any cooperation, we may consider later what should we do," he said.
"We are confident people are aware of global warming and ... will comply."
Yashwant predicts that brightly lit and inefficient buildings will dominate Bangkok's skyline for years to come, and it be some time before "eco-houses" start sprouting up like the mango trees they aim to copy.
"Soontorn's house is an experiment at best, that will be replicated by a few wealthy or alternative minded individuals," he says.
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