Luis De Garrido Ecological Architecture

To carry out green architecture that is perfectly blends into natural ecosystem, Luis De Garrido over the past 20 years has developed and perfected a design and assessment methodology based on six pillars and 39 ecological indictors.

The basic pillars that should support the ecological architecture are:

1. Optimization of natural and artificial resources.
2. Reduction of energy consumption
3. Promotion of natural energy sources
4. Reduction of waste and emissions
5. Improve quality of life for building occupants
6. Reduced maintenance and cost of buildings

The extent to which each of these pillars are fulfilled is equal to the level of ecology construction.

As these pillars are very vague and ambiguous, it is necessary to separate and identify every component, which are very different from one another, while at the same time they are easy to identify, carry out, and evaluate. These components are known as ecological indicators, and are used to achieve two complementary objectives:

1. To assess the degree of ecology of a particular building.
2. Provide a set of design parameters to achieve true ecological architecture.

The 39 green indicators are as follows:

1. Optimization of natural and artificial resources.
   1. Use of natural resources
   2. Use of durable materials
   3. Use of recovered materials
   4. Reusability of the materials used
   5. Level of recyclability
   6. Capacity of materials to be repaired
   7. Level of use of recycled materials
   8. Level of use of recycled materials
   9. Level of use of resources used
2. Level of use of resources used
   1. Energy consumed in the production of materials
   2. Energy consumed in transporting materials
   3. Energy consumed in transporting labor
   4. Energy consumed in the process of construction of the building
   5. Energy consumed by the building throughout its life
   6. Technological level adaption for the satisfaction of human needs
   7. Energy efficiency of bioclimatic architectural design
   8. Level of thermal inertia of the building
   9. Energy consumed in the process of demolition relocation of the building
3. Promotion of natural energy sources
   1. Level of solar energy technology used
   2. Level of geothermal energy technology used
   3. Level of technological use of renewable energies based on the natural ecosystem
4. Reduction of waste and emissions
   1. Waste and emissions generated in the production of building materials
   2. Waste and emissions generated in the construction process
   3. Waste and emissions in the building maintenance
   4. Waste and emissions generated in the demolition of buildings
5. Improved quality of life for building occupants
   1. Emissions harmful to the natural ecosystem
   2. Emissions harmful to human health
   3. Number of diseases of building occupants
   4. Satisfaction and well-being of building occupants
6. Reduced maintenance and cost of buildings
   1. Level of consistency between the durability of materials and their functional life cycle
   2. Functionality of components
   3. Daily Resources consumed by the building
   4. Energy consumed by the technological equipment of the building
   5. Energy consumed in the accessibility to the building
   6. Residual energy consumed by the building when it’s not in use
   7. Maintenance level in the building
   8. Level of need for treatment of emissions and waste generated by the building
   9. Economic cost of construction
   10. Social and economic environment

Truly sustainable architecture must meet as many of these 39 environmental indicators as possible.
Take into account that LEED and BREEAM certification only consider 3 of these 39 ecological indicators and that a high certification level, under these certificates, means relatively little in comparison since they are based on just a fraction of the components of truly ecological architecture. The three indicators they are based on are the also the least effective and most expensive. These practices true goal is to promote the consumption of insulation products, and an array of technological devices, such as air conditioners, heaters, generators and fans. All of these are devices that are not needed when a truly ecological building is carried out.
Taking into account the 39 ecological indicators mentioned before Luis is able to carry out projects with the upmost ecological standards.