Company

Anahuac House as an sustainable achievement

This project considers every sustainable characteristic in the book: envelope specifically designed for the location with continuous insulation all around the home, double-glaze windows and skylights, energy efficient appliances, 100% LED lights, above 50% water savings through low-flow water fixtures, capture and reuse of rainwater (storage up to 10,000 lt.), greywater treatment and reuse (treatment up to 64,750 lt per year), draught tolerant landscape and a smart programmable irrigation system with humidity sensors; HVAC system with continuous air renovation, MERV filters, and occupancy sensor for the exhaust in restrooms; all top with a south-facing roof filled with a solar thermal for domestic hot water and 69 photovoltaic panels that generate up to 4,500 KWh bimonthly.

Project

First LEED Zero Energy residential project outside the United States

The project goes beyond conventional construction practices in the area because of its process: a detailed deconstruction of the original house was performed to reuse, donate, or sell as many materials as possible (with a final account of 89% materials diverted), insulation of piping and sealing of joints was carefully executed, recurring educational sessions were imparted for all workers to preserve best practices and the integration of WaterSense fixtures and Energy Star appliances. The result is an all-around sustainable, technological, and healthy home.

Challenges

The goal of making the project as efficient as possible was always in mind, initially aiming for LEED for Homes Gold level certification.  Thanks to the efforts of all involved, computerized performance analysis and the best practices present during construction made it possible to move to the Platinum level.

Solution

Not only did we get what we expected, we got something better

The general contractor includes best management practices under its normal construction process, since the benefit was tangible and the “extra effort” almost imperceptible. This type of project will help to change the construction housing market in the zone by providing an example of information and education for other contractors while ensuring measurable results and benefits for the final user through comfort and operation cost reduction.

Results

Casa Anahuac is the first project to achieve Platinum level under LEED for Homes certification in Latin America and the first residential project certified LEED Zero Energy outside the United States. While the construction appears to be traditional, the structure is made of steel elements and the exterior walls are concrete blocks; allowing for a low-maintenance, enduring home, that allows flexibility for future needs.

 LEED Platinum® BD+C: Homesv3 - LEED 2008

Our Challenges

Anahuac House

Family, highly committed to carry out projects that have a positive impact on society, demonstrating its commitment to contribute to a better world. Always striving to raise the standards and quality of its projects, seeking not only to meet expectations, but to exceed them.

In particular, their commitment to the environment is evident in each of their efforts, focusing on promoting sustainable and responsible practices to minimize environmental impact. They are leaders in this aspect, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps on the road to a greener and more sustainable future.

The client sought to design and build the house of their dreams, following the highest international standards and that these results could be measurable and comparable, which is why they chose to pursue LEED® for Homes Certification.

The project was developed on a site that was already impacted, since it had a construction that covered almost the entire 1,985 m². The building was deconstructed and more than 60% of its materials were recycled.

The project was designed to maximize the exterior spaces, achieving that more than 45% of the land, are green areas, linked to a landscaping design of low consumption, as well as an urban garden, intended for the production of food for its inhabitants. The use of regional species resulted in a 68% reduction in water consumption for irrigation, which is supplied by water collected from the roofs, since 50% of all the roofs channel and collect rainwater, which is then used for the efficient drip irrigation system.

The selection of materials was carefully analyzed, since there were three main requirements that the materials had to meet: they had to be modular, low/no maintenance and regional. Because of this, the entire design and construction was developed from prefabricated and custom-made steel structure, covered by thermal insulation panels and with exterior cladding sheets, with details of reclaimed bricks. Performing this analysis at the design stage and applying it strictly during construction ensured that 90% of the waste generated was reused and/or recycled.

Regarding the energy performance of the project, thermal comfort analysis, natural light use, as well as energy modeling were carried out. Through various iterations, the ideal envelope was selected, considering the cost/benefit for the project. The envelope has continuous insulation (floors, walls and ceilings) of extruded polystyrene, double window systems with argon gas separation and Low-E coating, and all the windows and doors are made of PVC with thermal bridge break. To ensure that the envelope did not leak to the outside, airtightness tests were carried out in each of the spaces, which translates into energy savings, since losses due to leaks are minimized.

The selection of Energy Star appliances, high efficiency HVAC, incorporation of LED lighting, solar pool heater and the installation of 30 photovoltaic panels, allow the project to generate 100% of the electricity consumed by the house.


Being a residential project, the challenge was to achieve a balance between aesthetic design, function and also to be one of the first LEED for Homes Platinum projects in Latin America.

Balancing the efforts between the different services THREE provided to the project, from Architectural design, Environmental Consulting and Architectural Supervision.

Internal coordination with the consulting team, with the design team, as well as with all the specialists involved, demonstrating progress and concrete solutions to the client.

Generation of renewable energy (photovoltaic panels)

Reduction in potable water consumption for landscaping

Reduction of construction waste sent to the municipal landfill site

Urban Concrete Home is the second project to obtain LEED® for Homes certification in Latin America at the Platinum level. This project has an industrial design, in which all systems and ductwork are exposed, so that the selected materials are revealed to the naked eye.

Modulated steel sheets are the predominant façade material, as well as exposed concrete walls and brick details. These materials were selected considering regional availability. Reused materials were also integrated, such as bricks salvaged from an old building dating back to 1906, which was recently demolished.

In addition, the project was designed to maximize natural light, reduce heat gain and ensure comfort, achieving maximum energy efficiency through strategies considered from the initial design, such as:

- Continuous insulation in walls, floors and ceilings.
- Orientation.
- Shading elements.
- 100% LED lighting.

Other important savings of the project are related to water services, also included in the initial design strategies:

- Low consumption sanitary equipment (achieving water savings of 49%).
- Rainwater capture and reuse (storage of up to 10,000 liters).
- Drought tolerant landscaping and an intelligent irrigation system with humidity sensors.

The dimensions of the different construction materials were determined during the design stage, achieving a careful modulation of the different spaces. 90% of the construction waste was reused or recycled, thus promoting the detour of materials to landfills.

An existing building was located on the site; for this reason, a detailed construction and demolition waste management plan was developed to facilitate the recycling process. More than 60% of the previous construction was recycled.

In terms of materials, this project was designed to eliminate unnecessary finishes that would require maintenance throughout their life, avoiding the consumption of additional maintenance products, as well as the negative impacts associated with their manufacture, transportation and human health.

Urban Concrete Home shows innovation by combining design, functionality and sustainability. It has become a benchmark for new construction in Mexico and Latin America.


Sustainable Family

LEED®-HOMES v2008 Platinum

Urban Concrete Home

ARCOS are developers of integrated communities that foster and promote well-being for families.

Condado Naranjo is a master plan - like no other in Guatemala City - designed to provide spaces that adapt to the needs of the people who inhabit, transit and visit it.

In the interior, several real estate, commercial and housing projects are being developed with the purpose of improving people's quality of life, transforming spaces that generate community and added value.

Thanks to long-term urban planning, Condado Naranjo has residential, commercial and business spaces to offer families a better quality of life in a reliable and comfortable place to settle.

One of the main reasons and outcomes of LEED for Communities certification was to establish international metrics in Condado Naranjo, as well as to obtain and monitor indicators for natural systems and ecology; transportation and land use; water efficiency; greenhouse gas emissions and energy; resources and materials; quality of life; and some innovation projects. 

The Condado Naranjo community integrated new sustainability strategies and became aware of best practices that were already in place.

It was the first LEED for Communities certification in Latin America, so the indicators and strategies requested were different in Guatemala.

New sustainability metrics were developed, and a permanent person was appointed to the sustainability area. 

Lower average water savings compared to the global average 

Average tons per month of waste diverted from landfills 

It is a community whose development began in 1998 and obtained LEED Platinum® for Communities: Existing certification in October 2022, becoming the first in all of Latin America to obtain this achievement. It has an area of 2.92 km² and is located in Zone 4 of Mixco, Guatemala.

Furthermore, it consists of more than 25 residential projects, 2 schools, 250 stores and 1 industrial area, generating more than 7,000 jobs. In 2021, it began its certification process in order to reinforce the community's commitment to the environment, opting for LEED certification to establish international standards.

About ARCOS

LEED® Platinum Communities: Existingv4.1 - LEED v4.1

Leaders in Sustainability

Condado Naranjo

Environmental Results

New Metrics

The municipality of San Pedro Garza García decided to seek LEED for Cities certification because this tool, as well as the objectives established in the Municipal Development Plan 2021-2024, aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. By adopting it, the SPGG reaffirms its commitment to the environment and the quality of life of citizens, as well as its adherence to the global agenda. This certification provides a framework for measuring and obtaining indicators on the city's performance, promoting continuous improvement. In doing so, it reinforces the strategies implemented so far and poses new challenges for the future.

The relevance that SPGG gives to urban environments and natural areas is one of its most outstanding characteristics. All residences in SPGG have the proximity of a park within 800 meters, which represents 26.25 m² of green areas per individual. This provides the community with opportunities to enjoy recreational activities, while improving the safety and quality of life for residents.

The city's first challenge was to create an emissions registry in collaboration with a university in the Nuevo León Metropolitan Area. This registry will be updated annually. In addition, indicators such as the amount of waste generated and diverted from landfills, the distance traveled per vehicle, the percentage of renewable energy, and the percentage of homes with access to green areas were taken into account. Aspects related to water, energy, waste, quality of life, safety, air quality and transportation were entered into the ARC Skoru platform.

Green areas in SPGG have multiple benefits, such as improving quality of life and air quality. It was reported that there are 26.25 m² of green areas per inhabitant, and 100% of homes have access to green spaces within 800 meters walking distance.

Free classes are offered to citizens, with the objective of promoting their active participation. These classes cover a variety of activities, from sports that require physical skills and teamwork, to mindfulness sessions that encourage concentration and presence.

 Measures such as the restoration of public parks, the preservation of natural resources, urban regulations that encourage diversity in the city, the safeguarding of our architectural and urban heritage, and the implementation of a collection system and recycling centers have begun a process toward a more sustainable city.

of green areas per person, exceeding the level recommended by the UN.

are dedicated to the protection and conservation of natural resources.

collection centers for various recyclable materials

recreational activities provided to citizens in the municipality's parks

San Pedro Garza García (SPGG) is a municipality that has been and continues to be an exemplary model in terms of the quality of life it offers its residents. It is located in the state of Nuevo Leon and is part of the Monterrey metropolitan area, covering an area of 7,093 hectares with a population of 132,169 inhabitants.

In December 2022, this municipality stood out as a leader in transformation and innovation in terms of urban sustainability by obtaining LEED® for Cities certification, reaching the Gold level with a score of 68 points. This achievement made San Pedro Garza García the first city in Mexico and in all of Latin America to receive this recognition. LEED for Cities certification not only serves as a tool to identify areas for improvement and prioritize investment in future plans, but has also been a strategy to raise sustainability standards and improve the quality of life of its inhabitants.

SPGG

LEED v4.1 for Cities: Existing

Environmental Impact

Social Impact

Health and Wellness

San Pedro Garza García

Real estate development and management company dedicated to providing professional services to its clients, partners and investors.

Its objective is to provide profitable real estate services and innovative projects that are environmentally friendly and contribute to the improvement of communities. The company's vision is to become the Mexican leader in real estate business and investments, both nationally and internationally.

Torre Caliza sought EDGE certification to become a sustainable building that promotes energy efficiency, responsible use of water and materials in building projects.

These studies and process helped to reduce its environmental impact and obtain long-term economic benefits while demonstrating its commitment to sustainability.

Three key areas: energy, water and materials

To obtain this certification, a project must demonstrate significant improvements of at least 20% in the consumption of energy, water and embodied energy in the materials used compared to a conventional reference building.

Long-term operating costs were significantly reduced by reducing energy and water consumption. 

In addition, EDGE certification added value and differentiation to the project by demonstrating commitment to sustainability and efficient use of resources.

Caliza is a development with apartment and retail typology. It is part of Distrito Domo, a project that offers residential, recreational, commercial and service spaces designed to meet the needs of a contemporary, avant-garde and sustainable lifestyle. 

It has 2 and 3-bedroom apartments ranging from 60 sq. m. to 95 sq. m. and ground floor commercial spaces ranging from 35 sq. m. to 190 sq. m.

The project sought to save energy, water and materials, thus EDGE certification was sought.

Desarrollos Delta

EDGE Certification

A high impact project

Torre Caliza

Armando Ramos is an architect based in Baja California who has worked on international projects ranging from residential to commercial and mixed-use.

The site was analyzed to determine the best strategies to implement taking into consideration the climate characteristics. 

Comfort studies were used to determine the best R-value for the walls and roofs of the houses, as well as the VLT and SHGC values of the glazing to achieve the greatest number of hours of indoor comfort.

The implementation of eaves on the facades with windows was recommended to reduce radiation and maximize natural lighting.	

The project consisted of the study of two different typographies. After analyzing one of them, it was determined which one gave better results.

We worked hand in hand with the client to redesign the typology and maximize the benefits of the strategies applied.	

Reducción en el porcentaje de radiación solar en fachadas

Percentage of spaces with adequate levels of natural illumination

Net Zero San Felipe is a visionary residential project in Baja California that aims to create sustainable and affordable housing, while reducing its environmental impact and promoting a healthy community lifestyle. This project will not only benefit the residents, but will also serve as an inspiring example of how to address the challenges of housing and sustainability in the 21st century.

Different projects, one mission: to improve the environment.

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