BRE helps Latin America develop sustainable standards

Foreign Office-funded move will help nations tackle carbon reduction, resource and energy use, and climate adaption in construction

Report from – Jo Smit

In a series of projects with BRE, Mexico, Chile, Peru and Panama in Latin America are developing sustainable built environment standards based on UK building and community standards. The projects are supported by funding from the UK's Foreign & Commonwealth Office Prosperity Fund, which helps emerging economies to tackle climate change, strengthen energy security and promote an open global economy.The standards being developed will address a range of parameters, including energy efficiency and carbon reduction, climate adaption, water and resource use and biodiversity.

A sustainable masterplanning framework developed by BRE planning experts will help regenerate a 363ha site known as the Granadas Project, in the centre of Mexico City. Currently home to the Corona Beer factory and with the US Embassy due to relocate there, the framework will set a benchmark both for a number of developments planned for thesite and and for future schemes across the city. The project reflects a period of unprecedented growth in the Mexican built environment with issues like sustainability, energy efficiency and security high on the agenda for new buildings, homes, communities and infrastructure.

BRE is also developing a roadmap to sustainable housing for Panama and a sustainable dwellings standard for Peru. BRE project manager Chloe Murphy said: "Peru has some building regulations in place that guide developers; however, much of the housing is termed as informal. There is a push from the government to upgrade housing standards and construct more social housing across the country. The standard we create will help them to deliver better quality, more sustainable homes that work well for those living there and for local communities as a whole."

The Chilean government, which launched its first sustainability-focused national urban development policy at the beginning of this year, has already worked with BRE on developing the country's first sustainable construction code. A key part of the continuing work in the country is to develop standards that not only support the government's drive for sustainable development but also have the flexibility to adapt to the diverse climate, which includes seven major climatic zones.

Source:

http://www.building4change.com/article.jsp?id=2419#.U71EGvldWKI