Eco/sustainable building

in Portugal

The construction industry, which absorbs large quantities of resources and produces a high amount of waste, bearing at the same time a significant weight in the country’s economy, namely for its relationship with society, cannot keep away from the objectives and goals of sustainable development. According to the Institute for the Development of Ecological Buildings (IDHEA), sustainable construction is a system promoting conscientious and sustainable changes aiming to preserve the environment. Eco-construction consists of building with as low an environmental impact as possible, creating buildings with repairing impacts on the environment.

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1) Define from your country context what eco/sustainable building means

Minimize resource consumption

Maximize the reuse of resources

Recycle materials

Protect the environment

Eliminate toxic materials

Increase the quality of the built environments

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Sustainable construction proposes to:

2)What legislation exists about eco building in each country, does it exist?

 In Portugal there is no legislation specifically concerning sustainability in construction, only some regulations on issues which are important for sustainability in construction, such as: 

Regulation of the thermal efficiency of buildings

Regulation on the quality of indoor air

Regulation on the use of solar energy

Regulation on the use of soil space

Regulation on the environmental impact of large construction

sites

Directives concerning the environment in the EU

Legislation on waste from construction 

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In Portugal there are systems for evaluating sustainability in construction, but they are merely voluntary. Here are a few examples:

LiderA platform

SBTool platform

DAPHabitat platform (for construction materials) 

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3) What training paths already exist in your country and at what level (vocational / university/other)?

At the level of higher education for architects and engineers, there are a few curricular units concerning innovation and sustainability in construction.At the level of vocational training there are still no paths specifically oriented towards sustainable construction, only a few organizations and associations locally promoting some training actions on this topic. 

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4) Questionnaire/Survey (still under way, for later study and comment)

 4.1- Is it possible to combine the new and old or eco techniques

considering the need for energy efficiency?

                YES 4.2- What are the challenges in the new and old and combining

the two?

                A LOT 

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Thank you!