Costa Rica’s “green” image as a world-class eco-tourism destination draws tourists and real estate investors to the tune of nearly two million a year. At the same time, however, discontent is growing over the negative impact of real estate development on the country’s much-trumpeted natural environment.

Now, a nascent organization is hoping to help settle those differences and “green” the construction industry.

Representatives from the industry have founded a Costa Rican chapter of the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), a sustainable building organization with ten chapters around the globe and another 17 “emerging” chapters, including that in Costa Rica.

“It is ‘emerging’ from a 12-month grace period during which (the WorldGBC) can determine if it is going well and if it is including everybody and is participatory,” said Rodrigo Díaz, a member of the Costa Rican Construction Chamber and a senior consultant with the construction materials company Holcim, which helped found the new Green Building Chapter.

“(The WorldGBC) has been doing this for years, and has generated a network of information and research and resources, and as a member, it shares that information with you,” Mr Díaz said.

Just what kind of information? At the heart of the initiative is an effort to make construction of both commercial and home properties a more environmentally friendly process, and to produce buildings that are not only more energy efficient, but also healthier.

In the United States, the demand for so-called “green homes” is on the rise, according to a recent report by McGraw-Hill Construction, which closely follows housing and real estate trends in the US.

In addition, some 40 per cent of Americans remodeling their homes are doing it “green” — that is, with materials and methods that are more energy efficient and have less of an impact on the environment.

“Green homeowners are motivated by their concern for the health of their families and their impact on the environment. In fact, improving health and helping the environment led to the greatest satisfaction green home buyers had with their new homes,” states the report, titled The Green Homeowner.

“Around 40 per cent of carbon dioxide is from building operations,” said Jean Schiettekatte, the French-Canadian developer behind Seabreeze Mountain, the first development in Costa Rican to begin the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification process, a green building rating system pushed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

“A LEED house is a better house to live in and it has a better impact on health,” Mr Schiettekatte continued. “It takes care to have air circulation in the house. It takes care to use paint that is not damaging to the health. Some materials will always dissipate toxic vapors. This is trying to get better materials.”

In the US, LEED certification covers a broad spectrum of points such as if the site protects or restores habitat or maximizes open space, the building’s water efficiency and energy efficiency, what percentage of materials are recycled or reused and how well the building’s design is used to improve heating and cooling, among other requirements.

LEED certification also includes a project’s interaction with the surrounding community, Mr Schiettekatte said, rewarding efforts to keep nearby housing accessible for local populations.

“You get points in LEED for helping keep the local community near the project,” he said. “In Guanacaste, it’s not like that anymore. You have all the coastal areas built up, and there is no more accessible housing for Costa Ricans. People are traveling from Liberia to work in Tamarindo.”

For the time being, LEED certification must be done through the USGBC, at considerable expense to the developer — though it is a long-term goal to get a local certification, with “tropicalized” standards, done in-country. The Costa Rican chapter, still in its infancy, is focusing now on bringing together the different sectors of the real estate and construction industry and spreading green consciousness and information.

“If the entire society participates, it will be successful,” said Mr Díaz, of Holcim and the Costa Rican Construction Chamber. “We have knocked on the door of the Construction Chamber, the Association of Engineers and Architects, the University of Costa Rica, Veritas University… the business university INCAE is helping us do research for a strategic plan.”

Mr Schiettekatte said the organization is particularly focused on the Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y Arquitectos (Federated Association of Engineers and Architects), and helping the designers of Costa Rica’s buildings incorporate greener techniques.

“The traditional block houses that the Costa Ricans are building are basically something that should be disappearing. We should go to new types of materials,” he said. “It is very important that the industry get involved. This is not a government-enforced effort. It’s very important for developers on the coast to lead that process. Within two years, people will be asking for LEED certified buildings.”

But while those behind the project do not foresee government-mandated regulations, they are meeting with officials from President Oscar Arias’ administration, and said government incentives — such as tax breaks like those offered in the United States for building green — would go a long way.
Realtors, added Mr Schiettekatte, are also an important part of the equation.

“They should be promoting green buildings,” he said.

The Costa Rica Power Team, a division of the Arizona-based Crystal Clear Realty, has already figured that out. Though not affiliated with the Costa Rican Green Building Council yet, the real estate agency recently announced it will only be promoting projects that pass its 12-point “Certified Green Worldwide” environmental standards program, based on USGBC standards.

Those include the protection of wildlife habitats, wetlands, natural waterways and aquifers; soil erosion safeguards; groundwater protection; involvement with local community; density restrictions; usage of low-wattage appliances and fixtures; insulated windows and walls; and other requirements.

“It boils down to an awareness and realizing that development is a natural result of economic prosperity,” said Jason LaFlesch, President of the Costa Rica Power Team. “The ideal thing is whatever causes the least amount of damage.”

Mr LaFlesch and Mr Schiettekatte both agreed that these standards take on a particular importance in Costa Rica, where both the government and realtors widely broadcast Costa Rica’s “green image”.

“If you’re trying to promote an image about the environment, you should be in this process,” Mr Schiettekatte said.