Assessment System for Sustainable Residential Buildings in Bogota, Colombia

Abstract

Accelerated rates of resource consumption make the current sustainability paradigm insufficient if the natural, social and economic conditions of the present want to be inherited to future generations. It is no longer sufficient to minimise negative impacts on the environment as the earth’s carrying capacity has been exceeded. In order to address this issue, Positive Development (PD) raises the need to increase ecosystem goods and services, as well as the health of natural and human environments through design. Awareness about the environmental impacts of construction practises has increased in recent years and with it the development of tools that evaluate and regulate their performance, such as building environmental assessment methods. In spite of the limitations and critiques, their role in the transformation of the built environment needs to be recognised. However, they must revaluate their approach and functioning, otherwise there is a risk of accounting only for negative aspects instead of promoting positive solutions. Various assessment methods designed for specific locations have been developed in recent years after the recognition of issues arising when foreign models are applied and fail to reflect the particularities of that place. In response to this and based on the principles of Positive Development, this research’s main goal is to develop an assessment system for residential buildings in Bogota, Colombia’s capital. This city, due to its unique geographical position and complex physical, social and economic structures, offers great opportunities for the implementation of such methods. With a nonresidential certification scheme in the making by the local Green Building Council for more than two years and an increasing number of LEED certified projects, the interest in the subject within the context is evident. The recognition of the PD paradigm implies the necessity to change the predominant mechanistic approach of existing tools, and focus on a systemic one based on the complex and dynamic system that is nature. The research is structured in three major sections; the first provides a solid conceptual basis founded on the understanding of the context and of the existing evaluation methods. Then, an analysis of the acquired knowledge will determine the shape and guiding principles for the last section, where the proposed assessment system is presented. The resulting scheme focuses on qualitative aspects related to the three dimensions of sustainability. In addition to addressing environmental issues and pressing social and economic inequalities, emphasises the importance of design and innovation as key elements in the pursuit of sustainability. The thesis proves that through a strong framework and assertive guidance in the design process it is possible to create general indicators which successfully assess the performance of buildings.