Costa Rica Real Estate

Cities in Costa Rica need more green buildings
Thu, Jun 18, 2009
Real Estate Buzz

Climate change in the world that has prompted many to turn trends more friendly to the environment, and construction is no exception.

Designing buildings more “green” requires not only investment, but of vision.

Luis Iturbe, representative for Latin America and the Caribbean of Icynene Inc., a company of foam insulation products, said the main patterns in the construction of buildings of this type.

How can a building be energy efficient?

An energy efficient building should take advantage of the characteristics of the environment that is built to be used as efficiently as the least amount of resources, especially energy.

Among the features there is shading, orientation, and painting, type of windows, doors and materials used in construction.

Who is responsible for the design?

The design must start at the design stage of the building, and that effort must involve all the professionals involved in creating it.

Costa Rica, in particular, what measures should be implemented?

It is important to have an adequate regulatory framework.

In countries outsie oof Costa Rica there are codes or regulations that require buildings to have adequate security to the occupants, the environmental impact is minimal and that the characteristics of energy efficiency are appropriate not only for today’s standards, but to comply with best margins efficiency.

Are there any buildings of this kind?

Yes, there are buildings with efficient and low environmental impact and energy, but it is necessary to disseminate the advances that other countries have with regard to this issue.

While Costa Rica has a wide variety of small buildings to serve the rural eco-tourism is also important in cities large buildings, both public and private, to adhere to the more commonly accepted practice in other countries.

At economic level costs, is more expensive?

In principle, create more efficient buildings could be more expensive, and that’s always the point that most conflicts occur at the building from the developer or investor of the construction and architect.

This conflict tends to fall when the developer, developer or investor is the person who will operate the building. The person who will operate the building as is usually the interest that the building is as efficient and less costly as possible; this may involve some initial cost or investment.

Ultimately, we must consider that cheap is expensive, as a necessarily inefficient building during its life will be more expensive than an efficient but at the installation of insulation, windows, doors, painting eaves and other elements might be considered expensive.

Which countries in Latin America take the lead in the topic?

As an example, Mexico has a legal framework and regulations for the construction of fairly complete, however in the field of application, it is in the hands of each of the country’s municipalities, which makes the task of dissemination and implementation of efficiency standards is more complicated.

Do you consider that Costa Rica may be a carbon neutral country by 2021?

The only way to Costa Rica to become a carbon neutral country in 2021, is to follow all the advances available to achieve that goal. It is absolutely necessary to have the regulatory structure and action.