QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF SUSTAINABLE VERTICAL DWELLING IN NUEVO LEON, MEXICO

Abstract

Climate change has become a big concern nowadays since the effects of fluctuation in the weather are more notable every day. In Mexico construction industry generates around 33% of the countries CO ₂ emissions, and 7.64% amount for housing alone. Sustainable Vertical Dwelling was considered as a suitable solution to cover the housing shortage and lower the impact to the environment. An assessment of awareness of sustainability was carried out in the housing sector including government, developers and institutions. Two interviews were designed one for each kind of interviewee. According with the outcome of the interviews, guidelines to address sustainability in the housing sector were proposed. An ongoing project was selected and a qualitative comparison analysis was established, making green improvements and discussing the impact of such improvements.

As an outcome we observed that sustainability is getting attention from the government and developers. The Housing Found has launched the Green Mortgage to promote green housing for the low income families, this program could be expanded to higher income classes and for vertical dwelling. There is not a proper regulatory framework for the condominium regimen neither for the construction of green dwellings, thus, problems arise for the condominium users.

Some developers are implementing some green features on their projects, but not as a mean to address sustainability, but as a marketing strategy. Finally, vertical dwelling represents a greener way to build by the fact that it requires less land space, vacant lands within urban areas can be recovered, thus the use of existing infrastructure and services make the projects efficient and less expensive.