International Master in Sustainable
Development and CR
GreenSphere: A framework of interventions for urban sustainability Flagship project in Valle Real Residential Executive Summary
2010-2011
STUDENTS Gorny, Hélène Noriega Casas, Daniela Tapia Regla, Alejandra
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INTERNATIONAL MASTER IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND CR GreenSphere: Executive Summary
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Preface
Concerns over environmental issues and their impacts on the living beings are growing.
Climate change is a recognized man-made process that generates various reactions from
governments, corporations and society; which are gradually taking responsibility. The proportion of
population living in urban areas is increasing at a rate that is compromising the quality of life and
causing severe damages to the environment. As a result of the growing awareness regarding climate
change issues, the need for healthier and more environmentally friendly living spaces is significant.
The aim of this paper is to provide an understanding of the measures that can be applied in
communities enabling them to move towards sustainability. The interventions are structured in a
framework, further referred to as GreenSphere, which is applied to develop a pilot project for Valle
Real, a private residential area in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Chapter one introduces the theoretical background of green neighbourhoods. The possible
interventions and sustainable solutions (individual and collective) available in the market are
identified and a replicable framework of interventions is developed so that any other private
neighbourhood in Mexico and Latin America can follow it. This strategic approach will lead to
reduce the use of resources and increase the efficiency in communities.
In order to apply the framework and create a tailored GreenSphere project, the local
characteristics need to be analysed. Chapter two presents the local context in Mexico, introducing
the social, environmental and economic conditions of the country, the regulatory framework and
the financial instruments available to support a project of this kind.
Three elements facilitate the successful implementation of a project for urban sustainability:
political will and regulatory policies, sustainability driven citizen culture and financial viability.
Financial resources are one of the most important challenges to implement changes for creating
sustainable communities. This is the reason for choosing a high-income community as an example of
the application of the framework. In general, they tend to have a higher level of education and
awareness on environmental issues as well as the economic means to implement technological
solutions. In chapter three, the specific characteristics of Valle Real are described and the
suggested framework is applied to develop a specific project and a set of recommendations that
Valle Real’s administration can use as a road map for sustainability.
Mexico is an appropriate case for starting the implementation of green urban communities
because of its high proportion of urban population (78%)1; the replicability of such projects across
the country would have remarkable impacts.
1 The World Fact Book
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1. Green Neighbourhoods
1.1. Theoretical Background
1.1.1. Justification
In 2007 a report from the IPCC revealed that residential and commercial buildings
accounted for 7.95% of the total world’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while OECD studies show
that cities contributed in 60-80%. In 2010, 50.5% of the world’s population was living in urban areas
with an annual growth rate of 1.85% expected for the next years until 2015.2 An immediate response
from society and the government is needed to address the environmental damage of urbanisation.
Adapting current lifestyles to make the urban areas sustainable will avoid high costs in the future,
when solutions will be urgent or mandatory.
The previous planning of the cities was mainly focused on accessibility and infrastructure of
public services to fulfil basic needs: roads, electricity, gas and water utilities and others. Until now,
the electricity system has been unidirectional; power plants generate the electricity and distribute
it to the cities. In this system there is significant potential to generate electricity in different points
of the urban developments, which has not yet been exploited. Green neighbourhoods promote the
decentralization of electricity production by encouraging homeowners to install their own
renewable energy systems; which also reduces the risk associated with cities relying on one energy
supplier.
Figure 1. Energy Generation and Distribution Grids
IEEE SMART GRID
2 The World Fact Book
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1. Zero carbon
2. Zero waste
3. Sustainable transport
4. Local and sustainable materials
5. Local and sustainable food
6. Sustainable water
7. Natural habitats and wildlife
8. Culture and heritage
9. Equity and fair trade
10.Health and happiness
1.1.2. Green Neighbourhoods: Concept around the world
From the pilot models and attempts to implement sustainable neighbourhoods, it can be
observed that each one has a different main focus and definition of a green neighbourhood.
Although some differences exist, they all intend to preserve the environment while increasing the
quality of life of their inhabitants creating welfare. This section covers several views of the concept
and details the issues on which they focus.
The Copenhagen Agenda for Sustainable Cities was created at the 51st International
Federation for Housing and Planning Conference, in Denmark in 2007. The agenda consisted of ten
principles aiming to encourage and strengthen the development of sustainable cities. In this
conference there were three challenges identified: the need for a new way of thinking, a new form
of planning and a new management style.
Steffen Lehmann3, in his article published in 2010 “Green Urbanism: Formulating a Series of
Holistic Principles” provides a conceptual model with fifteen universal principles that support the
GreenSphere framework. Lehmann’s principles are based on three main pillars of urbanism: energy
and materials, water and biodiversity and urban planning and transport.
One Planet Living is a global initiative developed by BioRegional and the World Wildlife Fund.
The concept is based on the integration of 10 main principles:
Other initiatives have a specific focus on health issues. Health is a social issue that can be
positively impacted by proper surrounding conditions and can be addressed when implementing
environmental solutions. Improving health conditions is an important driver that motivates people
to adopt a sustainable lifestyle. However, we cannot forget the economic incentives as a powerful
tool to drive changes in habits and behaviour.
Time, place and socioeconomic conditions are key aspects to the strategic planning of a green
neighbourhood. The greening of an urban area should maximise the return on investment increasing
3 Dr. Steffen Lehmann is Professor of Sustainable Design at the University of South Australia and Director of the Research
Centre for Sustainable Design and Behaviour (sd+b), in Adelaide. He also holds the UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Urban Development for Asia and the Pacific (2008-2010). He is the General-Editor of the Journal of Green Building. His latest books include: Back to the City, Hatje Cantz Publisher (Stuttgart, 2009) and The Principles of Green Urbanism, Earthscan Publisher (London, 2010).
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the length of its life cycle. Innovation is fundamental all along the process, from the design to the
implementation phases; in order to come up with alternative solutions, reduce future costly repairs
and increase the durability of the project.
1.1.3. Green Neighbourhood Definition
A green neighbourhood is a limited area where the houses and surrounding infrastructure is
adapted to support the environment, while integrating the society in the process of creating a
better atmosphere that ensures the highest possible quality of life. The intention is to achieve
independency of external inputs in order to satisfy the needs of the inhabitants as well as the
environment’s.
The different aspects that are considered in this project as key issues for a green
neighbourhood are: Energy, Waste, Water, Urban Landscaping, Building, Transport and Citizen
Culture.
1.1.4. Challenges and Benefits
In order to be able to implement the recommended interventions, three main requirements
ought to be fulfilled. The financial viability, the applicability based on local conditions and
regulatory framework; and the tangible benefits for the inhabitants of the condominium as well as
the citizen culture for them to commit to the project. Several challenges need to be addressed in
order to guarantee the success of the project:
Ecological and efficiency mechanisms as well as infrastructure transformation can imply
high initial investment costs. The financing instruments have to be available in order to be
able to wait for the long-term returns.
Developing countries tend to have bureaucracy that can delay legal procedures and permits;
however they are working hard to create sustainability related policies that can support
environmental projects.
The market for green products and services is still developing. An exhaustive research has to
be conducted in order to find suppliers for the interventions at the most competitive prices.
Promoting awareness and providing information to the community is key to combat
reluctance and scepticism. The inhabitants of the neighbourhood need to have clear
incentives to change their habits and apply green measures in their daily lives.
A strong citizen culture has to be developed through participatory approaches in order to
avoid disagreements and confrontations when taking collective measures that require group
consensus and commitment.
Aesthetic concerns have to be incorporated in the project. Establishing architectural styles
that are harmonious with the surroundings and creating clear guidelines for the
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implementation of new technologies can help avoid the rejection of interventions because
of their visual aspect.
Taking these situations into account, a deep investigation of the local context is crucial to
prevent negative results or failure of the project. The suggested solutions must be developed
according to the local conditions in order to promote sustainable lifestyles among communities. The
benefits will be measured using indicators such as carbon emission reductions, diminution of the
waste and consumed resources, energy and water savings and the creation of job opportunities. The
combination of these benefits will eventually generate economic paybacks that can be used as
incentives; together with the added value of the properties for being in a community where such
sustainable practices are applied. In order to evaluate the impact of the project, the outcomes will
have to be compared to the current performance of these indicators; therefore it is very important
to establish the baseline.
1.2. GreenSphere: A Framework of Interventions for Urban Sustainability
This section presents a framework that can be followed by any private neighbourhood or
residential as a road map for sustainability. It provides an outline of the stages of the greening
process and a description of the different interventions that can form part of the project. It is
intended as a reference guide to create holistic project in which the interventions are integrated
and applied in a systematic and adapted way. These interventions are based on the guidelines4
provided and the criteria required by institutes such as EarthCraft5, Enterprise Green Communities6
and LEED7 certification for neighbourhoods.
The interventions are categorized in seven broad areas that should be considered and
evaluated in any approach to sustainable urbanisation in general, but that particularly apply to
existing private condominiums. For established communities, the approach should be similar to
acupuncture; intervening in strategic elements to make the neighbourhood as sustainable as
possible.
4 For detailed information of the certification processes and requirements refer to the original institutional guides. 5 “Developed in 1999 by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and Southface, EarthCraft is the Southeast’s standard
for green building, integrating building science with regional know-how. The EarthCraft Communities program is a certification system for sustainably planned and constructed communities. It offers holistic approaches to development for rural, suburban or urban projects.” (Earthcraft) 6 “Enterprise is an organisation in the US which provides financial support and technical expertise to enable developers to
build and rehabilitate homes that are healthier, more energy efficient and better for the environment on a cost-effective basis. They work with state and local governments to ensure their housing and economic development policies are smart and sustainable.” (Green Communities Initiative) 7 “LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is an internationally-recognized green building certification
system. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in March 2000, LEED provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.” (USGBC)
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1.3. The Greening Project
The framework should be used to develop specific projects, according to the characteristics,
local context and particular needs of every neighbourhood. The suggested interventions provide a
reference to create a particular action plan with tailored solutions. A greening project includes
eight phases that ought to be planned and implemented with the community. These are the
different stages to follow:
1. Introduction: Explain the project, develop citizen culture, engage with different parties
involved and establish objectives.
2. Exploration: Explore and analyse local conditions. Research the possible interventions.
3. Identification: Detect resources available including people and financing instruments.
Evaluate the applicability of the interventions.
4. Design: Develop a plan with clear lines of action, targets and specific activities, define
indicators and measurement methods. Ensure the viability and approval of this plan.
5. Implementation: Obtain the financing and permits, execute the planned activities, contact
suppliers and perform the interventions.
6. Monitoring: Check the outcomes and the implementation of the interventions. Execute the
measuring plan.
7. Improvement: Make pertinent changes and adaptations.
8. Evaluation: Compare the expected impact with the actual impact achieved.
Introduction
Exploration
Identification
Design
Implementation
Monitoring
Improvement
Evaluation
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1.4. Interventions
1.4.1. Citizen Culture
Engaging the local community and the key stakeholders as well as strong leadership from the
directing board of the condominium will enable the support required for the decision-making
process. An "environmental coordinator" can be appointed to support, coordinate and monitor all
environmental initiatives within the community. Inform the residents on the environmental features
of the condominium, their economic and environmental benefits and their responsibility in reaching
the goal of becoming a sustainable community. Develop policies and incentives to ensure
participation and cooperation of the inhabitants in the different initiatives.
1.4.2. Energy
The goals are to move away from fossil fuels towards emission-free energy supply and reduce
consumption by promoting renewable sources of energy and increased efficiency. The use of on-site
renewable energy technologies (including solar photovoltaic (PV), solar thermal, wind, biomass and
geothermal) can also result in cost savings. The local conditions of the site and availability of the
technologies will be fundamental to decide which solutions are the most suitable in every case. A
mixture of renewable electrical generation should be combined with energy storage, smart metres,
smart grid and efficiency measures in order to have and integrated solution.
1.4.3. Waste
Sustainable waste management should be integrated into the operation of the condominium.
This includes a change in behaviour of all the residents towards a zero-waste community, through
the triple bottom line of waste: reduce, reuse and recycle. Recycling avoids the flow of usable
material into the waste stream. Efforts should start with waste prevention and awareness building
to reduce the waste produced in the community, followed by promoting the habit of separating the
different waste materials to enable their recycling. “Clean points” should be established inside the
neighbourhood and organic waste can be composted on site. Identify local recycling companies or
waste management cooperatives and handlers and develop agreements for them to collect and buy
the different waste materials.
1.4.4. Water
Water management will include different solutions for the common areas and for the houses.
Both approaches should address reducing consumption, promoting efficient use of water and
irrigation, rain water collection and recycling of waste water. Water conservation measures directly
translate into cost savings for residents. To conserve potable water in common areas the best
alternative is to use rainwater or treated wastewater (from the public utility or sourced on-site) for
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irrigation. Other recommendations include installing water conserving fixtures such as aerators and
dual-flux systems. Interventions to reduce water runoff minimize the risk of flooding and erosion as
well as maintenance costs resulting from fixing pavements. Rainwater can be harvested from the
whole area of the condominium, conducting it from non-permeable surfaces such as roofs and
pavements through gutters or ditches to storage tanks, cisterns or even an artificial lake.
When there is no public wastewater treatment infrastructure available for the condominium
to connect to; different alternative treatment systems could be contemplated. Constructed
wetlands, anaerobic biological treatment facilities, biological aerobic reactors and septic tanks are
some of the technologies available in the market. Depending on the water treatment process or
technology chosen, there can be great differences on the scale of the building work, the investment
costs, the durability of the system and maintenance required. It is always best to consult with an
expert on the matter.
1.4.5. Urban Landscaping
Open space and natural resources in residential areas improve quality of life and provide the
opportunity for inhabitants to value the environment. Common areas in condominiums serve to
integrate landscaping and create communal gardens that reduce the impact of urbanisation,
promote biodiversity and reduce the urban heat island effect8 while presenting leisure and
recreation opportunities. Vertical gardens, green roofs and urban agriculture9 should also be
considered to integrate nature in urban areas. The local biodiversity and regional characteristics
should be considered to preserve the original ecosystems so that less water and energy has to be
invested in the maintenance of the green areas. In any case, landscape and farmland should be
managed using organic fertilizers and herbicides, permaculture principles and an integrated pest
management system, avoiding noxious chemical substances that will affect the water quality and
soil health.
1.4.6. Transport
Enhance sustainable mobility inside the condominium by providing collective transport when
possible or promoting carpooling. Pedestrian and bicycle friendly environments encourage residents
to walk and cycle as alternative transportation reducing the use of motor vehicles, promoting
healthy lifestyles and fostering community interaction. Bike racks can be installed along street
sidewalks and close to the entrances of common use buildings, sports centres or convenience stores.
Other measures include electrical vehicles for services such as vigilance and maintenance.
8 The heat island effect occurs on urban areas where the local air temperatures increase due to the absorption of solar
energy by the buildings and pavements. 9 Local farms and vegetable gardens can bridge the urban-rural gap and push cities towards more ecological food production
systems.
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1.4.7. Building
New projects bound to be developed on available land should also be taken into account to
promote the use of regional and sustainable materials in new houses, reducing emissions generated
by their transport. The administration of the condominium can develop policies to encourage land
owners to build their houses considering bioclimatic principles and passive architecture design; that
reduce the consumption of resources and materials while reducing the energy bill.
Adapting an existing neighbourhood to be sustainable is far more complex than creating a
sustainable community from scratch, because several aspects might not have been taken into
account and which are difficult to change once everything is built. Innovative engineering and
creative solutions need to be developed and coupled with technology and behavioural practices to
create a holistic approach tailored to the specific context.
2. Local Context: An Overview of Sustainability in Mexico
Although Mexico is considered a developing country, its GDP is ranked number twelve and has
the 11th largest population10 in the world. Due to the debt acquired in the past, the financial and
economic structures weakened. The lack of a long-term strategy affected the environmental sector
performance and caused the over-exploitation of natural resources.
Mexico faces important environmental issues; scarcity of hazardous waste disposal facilities,
rural to urban migration, freshwater scarcity and pollution, deforestation and air pollution, among
others. The current president, Felipe Calderón11
has pledged a shift towards environmental
practices by creating a National Plan for Development to place Mexico on the right track towards
“Human Sustainable Development”12
. The topics covered by this strategic plan and the specific lines
of action can be directly related to the principles of green neighbourhoods. The political stance on
sustainability combined with the geographical and climate conditions create an interesting scenario
and incentivise investors and entrepreneurs to start green projects.
Most of Mexico’s energy comes from oil and natural gas, which is also the main source for
electricity production. There is a small percentage produced with coal and nuclear energy, the rest
are in fact renewables, most importantly hydro, biomass and geothermal. Recently, renewable
sources of energy are being highly promoted in Mexico. The goal for 2012 is to achieve an 8% of the
electricity production from renewables (excluding large hydroelectric plants) and several policies
have been passed to achieve this objective. The Global Environmental Facility, the United Nations
10 The World Fact Book 11 Felipe Calderón was awarded Champion of the earth 2011 by the UN Programme, for his political leadership in
sustainability. 12 Described as an atmosphere where everyone can improve his capabilities and where opportunities can be expanded for present and future generations.
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Development Program (UNDP) and the World Bank have supported several initiatives in the country
to complete projects that would be based on the use of renewables for the country’s development
through important loans.
Section 2.2 explains the current environmental and social conditions of Mexico in order to
outline the challenges and identify the opportunities that make it the perfect scenario to develop
green neighbourhoods. It presents an overview of the policies that have been adopted, the
environmental performance indicators, the climate conditions and the potential for renewable
energies, the natural resources available and the country’s performance in terms of waste, water
and transport management. The citizen culture is also analysed to determine the habits and
behaviours that need to change to become sustainable.
The development of a green economy in Mexico has confronted with two main problems: the
shortage of public sector resources allocated for the financing of green projects and the lack of
interest from the banking sector in this type of investment13. Section 2.3 goes over the financial
system and economic conditions of the country, as well as the housing market and urban
development strategy.
Section 2.4 introduces the institutions managing housing in Mexico and the main private and
public financial instruments available for households to bear with the initial investment of a
greening project. The general characteristics, requirements and application process of every
financial tool are also explained.
Among the different types of credits proposed by INFONAVIT14, the most suitable for
households to finance a greening project in a neighbourhood, would be a green mortgage. Since
February 2011, INFONAVIT has launched a New Scheme for Green Housing that now applies for, not
only the purchase of new homes but also for used houses, remodelling, expansion, and construction
in the beneficiary’s own land. This loan is directed to purchasing ecological houses or performing
changes through the implementation of eco-technologies that reduce the energy, water and gas
consumption, therefore contributing to the efficient and rational use of local natural resources.
3. A GreenSphere Project for Valle Real
Today, urban areas are booming and thus need, more than ever a complete shift to adopting
sustainable and eco-friendly practices. Inhabitants are the key actors and must therefore be placed
at the centre of this transformation. Greening a neighbourhood also requires a complete analysis of
key variables, location and land specificities. Obviously, this conversion will not be achieved
overnight but step-by-step. This process, encompassing various actors and a plethora of possible
13 Alejandro Garduño, advisor to the Mexican Ministry of Treasury. 14 Instituto del Fondo Nacional de la Vivienda para los Trabajadores, in charge of providing mortgage credits to workers.
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actions can appear as complex, hence the idea of creating a roadmap for neighbourhoods willing to
go green.
Valle Real is a private neighbourhood with a suitable context to implement a successful
greening project. It is a high-income condominium situated in Mexico, where the recent
environmental policies create instruments and incentives to promote the adoption of sustainable
practices, and whose inhabitants and management team are willing to initiate a greening process.
Valle Real was built in 1987 in the outskirts of Guadalajara, to be a residential area for
medium-high income society. The condominium had more success than planned, many high-income
families started to move to this kind of urban complex to have greener spaces and higher security.
Nowadays, the lots and houses in Valle Real are among the ones with highest added value for the
investment, in Guadalajara. Many factors contribute to make Valle Real to be considered a symbol
of the status and high acquisitive power of their residents. It has a capacity of 2400 houses; from
which 1850 are already build and 162 are currently under construction. The number of inhabitants
of the condominium is around 9250, considering that the average family consists of five members.
Annex 1 of the complete report includes images of different features of the condominium.
The blocks and houses are surrounded by green areas and recreational parks, to which all the
residents have access. Within the condominium there are different divisions that could be
considered as small condominiums; some of them even have increased security at their entrance
and the physical environment also varies; different landscapes or house sizes. There is a main street
that integrates all the small divisions, which also communicate the three entrances to Valle Real.
The median of the main street is wide for the residents to walk or exercise, and in the last year a
cork runway was built for runners. This street is a long-term concession from the local government
and there have been some requests from neighbouring communities and companies to open the
main street for public access to cut distances and avoid traffic jams when moving around the zone.
Due to the long distances that need to be travelled to get to the city centre, residents of
Valle Real depend completely on the use of their private vehicle. Vehicles inside the condominium
are not allowed to go faster than 40 km/hr. Internal security moves within Valle Real mostly in
electric golf cars, but also in trucks and cars.
The management of the condominium is handled by an internal council formed by some
residents and external people as staff. The services that in a public neighbourhood are commonly
provided by the government such as public lighting, streets cleaning, gardens irrigation and waste
collection are completely managed by the residential administration as if they were autonomous.
Chapter 3 includes the description of Valle Real and presents the GreenSphere project
proposal. This part describes the recommended interventions divided by sector of actions: citizen
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culture, energy, waste, water, urban landscaping, transportation, and building. Each intervention is
detailed, taking into account the local conditions and the particularities of the condominium.
This condominium will be a pilot project, the flagship for sustainable neighbourhoods in Latin
America. The management council of the condominium will be provided with a concrete set of
proposals that they can apply themselves or by using the services of recommended professionals.
Annex 2 of the complete report provides a list of possible suppliers that offer products and services
for the recommended interventions. Given the lack of data regarding the operative system and the
residents’ consumption information, certain interventions do not go further into detail and
therefore will have to be developed in joint collaboration with a team of experts.
Palm Trees in Median
Median, road and Streetlamp
House Facade
Air View of the Condominium
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