Viviendas y Valores: Leading Sustainable Construction in Colombia
EDGE certification, developed by the Internation Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, seeks to promote more efficient buildings in the use of water, energy and construction materials, reducing operating costs and minimizing environmental impact. In 2014, Raúl Colmenares, Manager of Viviendas y Valores in Cúcuta, was certified as EDGE Expert by Camacol, which marked the beginning of the company’s commitment to sustainable construction.
“Sustainability in construction not only responds to an environmental need, but also to an opportunity to improve the owners' quality of life. EDGE allowed us to optimize our projects without making them more expensive, which is key in Social Interest Housing,” said Colmenares.
After certifying the Hampton by Hilton Cúcuta in 2017, the company decided to apply EDGE to housing projects, signing an agreement with IFC and Camacol to seek to certify 1,500 units in Cúcuta and Los Patios. Five projects emerged from this commitment: Guayacán, Tucán, Gaviota, Alondra and Azulejos, the first two of which are already certified.
EDGE certification has demonstrated to be an affordable and effective solution for sustainability in Colombia's construction sector. Certified projects guarantee at least 20% savings in energy and water, with some reaching higher figures. EDGE has enabled projects such as Hampton by Hilton Cúcuta to increase their value compared to other similar developments.
In addition, building contractors that have projects with this certification can access preferential rates on loans, and homebuyers can obtain better mortgage conditions. In addition, Resolution 319 of 2022, which exempts sustainable elements such as elevators, motors and windows in EDGE projects from VAT.
In terms of environmental impact, the Viviendas y Valores projects have achieved outstanding figures. In the case of Guayacán, savings of 24% in energy, 29% in water and a reduction of 692 tons of CO₂ per year have been obtained. Meanwhile, Tucan has achieved 22% savings in energy and 28% in water, thus consolidating the efficiency of certified projects.
Implementing EDGE certification in Social Interest Housing posed significant challenges, especially in terms of cost optimization. Viviendas y Valores faced this challenge by adopting strategies such as efficient passive design, prioritizing the orientation of buildings and the use of materials with adequate thermal properties. It also opted for the use of local materials, reducing costs and promoting the regional economy, in addition to the reuse of water and construction waste to minimize on-site waste. The incorporation of efficient technology, such as LED lighting and energy-saving faucets, was another key factor in meeting the certification standards.
“The key was to find a balance between sustainability and economic viability. With an intelligent design, we managed to reduce the environmental impact without affecting the profitability of the projects,” explained Colmenares.
Colombia has been a benchmark in Latin America in the adoption of EDGE certification, thanks to the leadership of Camacol and the commitment of the private sector. Since 2014, the country has made significant progress in the implementation of sustainability standards.
“Colombia's evolution in sustainable certifications has been impressive. In just a few years, we have gone from being an incipient market to becoming a model for the region,” said Colmenares.
This leadership has been supported by entities such as ProColombia, which has facilitated the strengthening of companies such as Viviendas y Valores, connecting them with foreign investors. For Viviendas y Valores, the future of construction is linked to sustainability. The company plans to certify new Social Housing Projects and expand EDGE certification to institutional developments in the health sector.
“We firmly believe that sustainability is the path. As government incentives and access to sustainable financing increase, more projects will follow this model, benefiting both builders and end users,” Colmenares said.
In a scenario in which the reduction of environmental impact is increasingly relevant, EDGE certification is positioned as a key pillar in the growth of the Colombian real estate sector.
