| Costa Rica, the country where ecotourism was born, | | | | we could of the pre-existing landscape. We then |
| may well be the country where ecologically | | | | designed ecological corridors, or bridges, over the site |
| sustainable building becomes the standard. Not only | | | | so that internal roads would not disrupt the habitat of |
| does this make good environmental sense, it is | | | | the howler monkeys that live on the property, and |
| increasingly what prospective buyers prefer. | | | | they could move from one feeding area to another |
| "My clients are looking for properties in Costa Rica | | | | without having to leave the trees." Green areas |
| that help preserve the very things they fell in love | | | | occupy 7 of the project's 31 acres and include an |
| with in the first place here: the natural beauty, and | | | | aviary as well as orchid and butterfly farms. |
| the incredible variety of plant and animal life," says | | | | Many of today's developers are already taking steps |
| Diego Quesada, co-owner with Mike Fonseca of the | | | | in the right direction with features such as a |
| Intl-Investors Group ( | | | | wastewater treatment plant that restores all water |
| This growing market preference generates | | | | from domestic use to over 95% purity where they |
| momentum for the routine implementation of | | | | then use that water for irrigation. Rainwater capture |
| measures by private developers to protect and even | | | | systems to conserve excess water from the green |
| improve Costa Rica's rich and diverse ecological | | | | season along with other measures such as the use of |
| heritage, to be good stewards of Costa Rica's natural | | | | low-water toilets, front-loading washers, and compact |
| "golden goose." That, in essence, is what "sustainable | | | | fluorescent light bulbs show how simple and easy it |
| building" or "ecodevelopment" is: a strategy to lessen | | | | can be to produce significant energy and water |
| the negative impact of human habitation on the | | | | savings |
| natural world that incorporates a comprehensive | | | | One of the area's largest developments, Hacienda |
| series of considerations into the planning and | | | | Pinilla just south of Tamarindo recently earned |
| execution of housing and other facilities. | | | | certification as an "Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary" |
| How? Some of the measures make obvious good | | | | in recognition of its efforts to preserve the local |
| sense, such as minimizing the energy costs | | | | ecology, including leaving large tracts of tropical dry |
| associated with the routine use of the building over | | | | forest on the 4500-acre property undisturbed. The |
| time through insulation and the incorporation of | | | | nearby Sea Breeze Mountain, a low-density gated |
| natural means of lighting, heating, and/or cooling; | | | | community between Tamarindo and Junquillal, |
| protecting and restoring air and water quality and | | | | features its own well and windmill-driven water |
| indigenous biological diversity; and designing with an | | | | delivery system. Nature trails wind through a 60-acre |
| eye to the relationship between the building, the | | | | "reserve" of undisturbed forest. |
| contours of the land, and the habitats that surround | | | | The 2300-acre Reserva Conchal Beach and Golf |
| it. Other recommendations are more subtle, such as | | | | Resort has set aside 700 acres of forest and 95 |
| choosing building materials based on the | | | | acres of mangrove wetland as a wildlife refuge and |
| environmental impact of their production and | | | | research center in association with the Costa Rican |
| installation; supporting non-fossil-fuel-dependent | | | | Ministry of the Environment. Landscaping in the |
| activities by installing hike, bike, and horse trails and | | | | resort, residential areas, and on the golf course favor |
| even adapting the project to the livelihood and | | | | native plants, this translates into lower maintenance |
| development aspirations of the local community. | | | | costs and less dependence on year-round irrigation. |
| Experts on sustainable building agree that | | | | Buildings have been designed to take advantage of |
| ecodevelopment makes good economic sense for | | | | features such as shade, wind, and sun for natural |
| everyone involved. "Most green buildings are | | | | lighting and ventilation, and riding and hiking trails are |
| high-quality buildings; they last longer, cost less to | | | | part of the project's 25-year plan. Reserva Conchal |
| operate and maintain, and provide greater occupant | | | | Beach and Golf Resort has reached out to the local |
| satisfaction than standard developments," says Dr. | | | | community by organizing volunteer fire brigades, |
| Sam C.M. Hui, a leading researcher and author of | | | | environmental education courses, job training, and |
| Sustainable Architecture. "Sophisticated buyers and | | | | programs for youth. |
| lessees prefer them, and are often willing to pay a | | | | Tierra Pacífica Environmental Estates in |
| premium for their advantages." | | | | Junquillal is similarly ambitious in pursuing sustainability, |
| This doesn't mean, however, that sustainable buildings | | | | even linking the project's design and implementation |
| must be more expensive. According to | | | | to an ongoing series of on-site courses offered by |
| Olivier Luneau of the United Nations Sustainable | | | | the University of Vermont on issues related to local |
| Building and Construction Initiative, "To achieve | | | | ecological restoration and entrepreneurship. Members |
| improved energy efficiency in buildings you often do | | | | of Tierra Pacífica's management team include |
| not need to use advanced and expensive high-tech | | | | Tom Peifer and Will Raap, respected leaders in the |
| solutions, but simple solutions such as smart design, | | | | sustainability movement. The development features a |
| flexible energy solutions, and provision of appropriate | | | | wetlands-based storm water retention system, the |
| information to the building users." | | | | organization of a farming cooperative for organic |
| More and more area developments are incorporating | | | | fruits and vegetables, and an on-site nursery for the |
| principles of sustainable building into project design. | | | | regeneration of local flora. |
| Says Robert Irvin, developer of The Oaks in | | | | "It's exciting to see these important innovations |
| Tamarindo, "We began our conservation effort at | | | | already in the market, and setting a precedent for |
| The Oaks with something simple. Instead of clearing | | | | future development." says Diego. "After all, keeping |
| the site for construction like so many developers, we | | | | Costa Rica beautiful and healthy is in everyone's best |
| preserved over 70% of the trees...providing natural | | | | interest. |
| shading for the buildings and preserving as much as | | | | |