Sedema launches certification for sustainable buildings in CDMX – CVBJ…

January 2, 2021 | 5:00 am

The Ministry of the Environment (Sedema) of Mexico City launched a program to certify real estate sustainability.

This is the Sustainable Building Certification Program (PCES) aimed at buildings in the design, construction and operation stages. The uses that can participate are housing, commercial, services, recreational, shows and mixed uses.

“The PCES certification process consists of four stages: registration, implementation, certification and certificate issuance. During the registration stage, a person authorized by the Directorate of Impact Assessment and Environmental Regulation (DGEIRA) performs the diagnosis of the building and draws up a strategy to improve the environmental performance of the property ”, indicates SEDEMA.

This program includes three categories of certification: compliance, efficiency and excellence, which are assigned according to a scoring system and will be valid for three years.

The items are Action in the Community, Water, Air and Mobility, Biodiversity, Quality of Life for Users, Energy, Materials and Waste, Efficient Energy Networks and Social Responsibility.

“The application of the PCES contemplates the generation of various benefits for the city and its inhabitants, among which the following stand out: the reduction of the load on the energy and water distribution networks, as well as waste collection; reduction in the carbon footprint of buildings; generate buildings as a meeting point for the development and integration of the surrounding community; create circular economy networks; intervene in the public space to improve resilience, inclusion, mobility and security; generate more urban green areas; recover and recycle waste; encourage green purchases and materials with recycled content; carry out actions for the conservation of biodiversity; improve the quality of life of the users of the building; give attention to groups in vulnerable situations ”, indicated the agency.

This program derives from an existing one since 2008 and, according to the agency, the main changes are that it incorporates more uses as well as sustainability and efficiency criteria.

In Mexico there are other certifications, one of the most widespread is the LEED Certifications of the US Green Building Council (USGBC). According to your information, the country is among the top 10 in Latin America as it has more than 3,000 certified properties.

However, they consider that there is still a lot of work pending. According to the UN, to achieve the goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions from built-up buildings to zero by 2050, governments and companies need to increase their efforts fivefold. During 2020, the building was responsible for 38% of carbon emissions to the environment.