Mexico Strives For Green Buildings

Mexico City boasts the first LEED-gold certifieddevelopment. While the council is still forming its rating
building in Latin America. The HSBC Banksystem, requirements and procedures, in the
Headquarters Tower is one of the tallest skyscrapersmeantime builders are looking toward the United
in the city at 450-feet-tall with 24 stories, and theStates to provide the guidelines to follow. One
structure is 400,000-square-feet. The tower resideschallenge is that while members of the Mexican
on the Paseo de la Reforma, which is the city's maingreen-building industry look to the U.S. Green Building
thoroughfare, which allows for this green building toCouncil's LEED guidelines, some of these requirements
be appreciated by the thousands of people who passmay be American-specific, as they may relate to, for
by daily.instance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or
Although the HSBC Bank in Mexico is part of theCalifornia's building code. Overall, however, many
world's largest bank and financial services companystandards for eco-conscious buildings are applicable
based in London, that doesn't mean that only theacross the border.
wealthiest and largest global companies can attemptMembers of the U.S. green-building industry--in the
green-building projects. When designed andform of contractors, engineers, architects and
constructed properly, green buildings don't have toeducators--are taking up the reigns in assisting their
break the bank; not to mention, over the long term,Mexican counterparts with training and support. The
these buildings will produce significant savings forhope is that this assistance will allow Mexico's
owners and occupants in the form of energy savingssustainable-construction industry to come to fruition,
and reduced maintenance costs.instead of falling apart.
With the HSBC Bank Headquarters Tower serving asAs the Mexico Green Building Council states: "The
the catalyst, Mexico is now developing an interest ingreatest challenge for our generation is finding the
LEED certification for its new and renovated buildings.most intelligent way to build." The U.S. Green Building
The Mexico Green Building Council formed as a wayCouncil may have found this way through its
to support and promote ecologically-friendlyLEED-rating system, and is eager to share this
construction. MGBC is a founding member of theknowledge.
World Green Building Council and an affiliated memberAs for the HSBC Bank Headquarters Tower, several
of the International Initiative for a Sustainable Buildingsustainable strategies allowed the project to achieve
Environment.LEED-gold certification: Daylighting throughout the
The Mexico Green Building Council is an independentopen office space; a 4,000-square-feet green roof
non-profit organization that works within thethat reduces storm water runoff, filters pollutants
construction industry to encourage the creation ofand carbon dioxide out of the air, and reduces the
"design and operational options that minimize negativeheat island effect; low-VOC carpeting; an onsite gray
impacts on the environment while maximizing thewater treatment plant; convenient public
economic potential," as stated on its website. Thesetransportation located nearby; bike racks available for
buildings reduce the amount of greenhouse gases,employees; and the use of local materials and
solid waste and water pollution caused by the builtresources during construction.
environment.With this tower as the catalyst, perhaps the Mexico
The council is in the process of developing a Nationalbuilding industry will soon create other green buildings
Green Building Rating Tool, a voluntary certificationthat promote a better, and healthier, natural and built
intended to transform the market and designed as aenvironment.
national standard for sustainable buildings and