Sustainability and Resilience
What efforts have been made to reduce the carbon footprint of the initiative?
Due to the unique characteristics of the project natural site, the initiative was designed as a biological corridor associated. Several actions were implemented: planting different species of native trees in the streets and public spaces, as well as in the internal spaces of buildings (little gardens), projects to promote plants on the balconies of new homes and even promoting actions to recover historic trees (that have a historical social interest) that unfortunately, were cut due to technical needs.
In order to reduce the carbon footprint in construction, the housing project was awarded with the “National Seal of Sustainable Housing”. Savings were estimated in several categories, namely Energy (62%), GHG (44%), Site (20%) and Water (1%). This was achieved in part with the supply of hot water through solar heaters, LED lamps in public spaces, and trees to mitigate the urban heat island effect.
At present, work has been done on the management of residential waste recycling, including the neighbourhood within the system already implemented in the formal city. Recycling points are incorporated (with personalized attention to receive recyclable waste) and “green” containers placed in the street.
These actions are complemented by carrying outdoor-to-door awareness campaigns to ensure that the greatest number of residents are aware of and participate in the segregation of recyclable waste (cardboard, paper, metal, glass and plastic). By reusing these materials, we reduce emissions from transportation (the closest landfill is 38 km away) and avoid consumption of virgin materials.
How have the anticipated impacts of climate change been considered?
The initiative was designed to minimize the consequences of climate change and achieve resilient environments. Specifically, the project aims to respond and address local impacts (such as floods, heat waves, severe storms) on a vulnerable sector.
The selection of street trees was done considering the presence of the Urban Reserve aside, to enhance its biodiversity, generate bio corridors and integrate the ecosystem into the new neighbourhood and beyond. Thus, the species already planted, and the future new ones (after finishing the planned works) are native and diverse. The choice of native plants contemplates their tolerance to heat and flood, taking into account the recurrent “sestinas” coming from the very next Rio de la Plata and a warmer climate in the next decades.
The planned works address the possible impacts of Climate Change on the edge projects: on one hand, the Coastal Edge involves relocating the families most affected by possible floods and building adequate infrastructure to avoid overturns in the stream that borders the neighbourhood. Besides, the natural edge of the wetland is maintained, allowing the growing and decreasing river.
The project anticipates the impact of climate change by building new houses and improving existing ones, opening public roads, vehicular streets and pedestrian paths, provisioning urban equipment and infrastructure in accordance with the population density and the needs of the neighbourhood, intervening and improving public space, differentiating treatment of waste, and educating and warning of environmental issues.
What processes does the initiative include for it to be considerate in its use of soils and other natural resources?
The consumption of large volumes of water increases the cost of supply and treatment. In turn, drinking water is a unique and limited resource, which is directly related to energy use. Each drop that falls from a faucet requires some type of treatment or pumping and that is why reducing the consumption of drinking water also implies energy savings.
As already commented, in order to reduce the carbon footprint in construction, the housing project was awarded with the “National Seal of Sustainable Housing”. Various categories were analysed, in which “Site” reached up to 20% of savings considering use of the soil, distance of the project site in relation to the availability of public transport, health and other aspects related to water resources (exploitation and treatment).
Due to the unique characteristics of the project site, the initiative was designed as a biological corridor associated with the natural habitat where it is located. Several actions were implemented in order to achieve this goal: planting different species of native trees in the streets and public spaces, as well as in the internal spaces of buildings (little gardens).
The works undertaken in the re urbanisation, especially those that require soil filling, incorporate the debris generated by the demolitions, thus avoiding the import of soil from other parts of the region.
