Strengthening Capacities for Energy Efficiency in Buildings in Latin America - Phase 2 (CEELA)

Persons:

(i) Professionals, teachers and students of architecture, engineering and related professions in the building sector
(ii) Officials of ministries of housing, energy and environment, and municipalities involved in construction
(iii) Officials of the financial sector active in the building sector
(iv) Occupants and users of sustainable buildings

Organisations:

(i) Ministries of Housing, Energy and Environment
(ii) Municipalities
(iii) Universities and training centres
(iv) Developers and real estate companies
(v) Financial and banking institutions

Outcome 1 - Integrated design in practice:

Latin American building professionals adopt integrated design process (Design Charrette) for energy efficient and thermally comfortable buildings.

Outcome 2 - Capacities, knowledge and communication:

Latin American building professionals and technicians have improved capacity in sustainable and energy efficient solutions.

Outcome 3 - Regulatory framework:

Regulatory tools to promote energy efficient and thermally comfortable buildings are improved and effectively implemented as well as a multi-country community of practice has been created to promote regulatory changes at both national and municipal level. Further, financial instruments for sustainable construction are promoted.

Expected results:  

• 8 real estate companies integrate the Design Charrette methodology in their planning process and apply it in at least 12 projects (Outcome 1)
• The Swiss Minergie-Areal Standard is adapted to Latin American realities. 4 projects are analysed with recommendations and 2 projects receive Minergie certification (Outcome 1)
• 2'000 people (50% women) are trained in sustainable construction through 13 in-person and digital training events (Outcome 2)
• 5 new instruments for the effecive implementation of the regulatory framework for energy efficiency in buildings are introduced at national level and 3 sustainability measurement tools are applied at municipal level (Outcome 3)
• 2 guidelines for matching sustainable construction projects under the relevant green taxonomy (Colombia and Mexico) with financial instruments to promote them are developed (Outcome 3)

Results from previous phases:  

Outcome 1 - Showcases:

• The 15 energy efficiency and thermal comfort (EETC) principles for new buildings were established.
• 3 showcases (Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico) have demonstrated quantifiable impacts with a design based on the EETC principles.
• Recommendation guide for buildings in the education sector (data based)

Outcome 2 - Capacities, knowledge and communication:

• More than 8'000 professionals trained in sustainable building methods
  
• A thematic community of 100 building sector leaders (academic, public and private) from 15 countries created
• 25 universities in LATAM commit to zero emission campuses by 2030

Outcome 3 - Regulatory framework:

• Two international seminars in Ecuador and Mexico, on the regulatory framework for sustainable construction conducted
• Colombia: Energy demand calculation tool and platform to apply for the Cali Building Label created
• Ecuador: Support for updating the energy efficiency standard for buildings, conducting a baseline study on greenhouse gas emissions in the construction sector, and developing a matrix of sustainable buildings for Galapagos

CEELA also generated benefits in two SDC priority themes: digitalisation and gender equity

Global organisations: Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC); International Energy Agency (IEA); World Green Building Council (WGBC); International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Regional organisations: Development Bank of Latin American and the Caribbean (CAF); Green Building Council (GBC) of Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico and Peru; SECO offices in Colombia and Peru.