Sustainable Development - Riviera Maya

Solar energy class in Costa Rica and online

2008-11-14T10:33:00.001-08:00

From Dr. Ken Walz, the course instructor:

The Madison Area Technical College (MATC) offers a new course: Renewable Energy for the Developing World Class.

The 3-credit, college transfer class combines 9 days of field study and hands on work in Costa Rica, with 8 weeks of additional online instruction.

The study abroad portion is being coordinated with Solar Energy International, and the online class is being created with funding from a U.S. DOE Title VI International Education grant. The class is being offered on a pilot basis starting in January, 2009. Students will travel to Costa Rica Jan 1-9, and the online course will be held Jan 12-March 14.

Registration for the class is currently underway, and a limited number of slots are still available. To register for the class, contact Diana Paynter at dpaynter@matcmadison.edu.

For more information: FAQ and slide presentation

Workshop: Green Homes in the Riviera Maya

2008-06-27T13:48:00.000-07:00

CANCELLED!

Regrettably, the workshop has been cancelled.

The number of registrations has not come close to the number needed to cover the workshop's expenses, and I can't imagine getting enough registrations in the next two weeks or so. Only Miguel and one other person registered, even though thousands looked at various Web sites and postings about it.

Centro Ecológico Akumal plans to hold a workshop on sustainable construction in November. I'll post details when they're set.

I might plan another workshop on green homes when the global economy ever recovers.

In the U.S., you could check the workshop schedule for the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (www.the-mrea.org) if you want to take some courses.

Ed Blume
********

Green Homes and Renewable Energy in the Riviera Maya, a three day workshop, will be November 6-8, 2008, in Akumal, Mexico. More details.

Sustainability workshop, Nov. 6-12, 2006

2006-10-05T10:09:00.000-07:00

Centro Ecológico Akumal (CEA) offers a sustainability workshop, November 6 – 12, in Akumal, Mexico, one of the most beautiful spots along the Mexican Caribbean.

The course will cover alternative technologies for the production of energy, the treatment of wastewater, and the disposal of solid waste. See all the details at Sustainability Workshop.

Akumal is as close to paradise as I’ve ever experienced. The shallow, crystal-clear water and sandy beach of Akumal Bay define tropical perfection. Shops for renting snorkel and dive gear are right on the beach. The small, but stunning, Tulum ruins hug the sea 10 minutes south of Akumal, and the jungles hide many, many small sites that you can visit on your own or with a guide. Additionally, local guides can lead exceptional nature walks, and CEA staff give entertaining and educational presentations nightly.

Contact Ed Blume (ed@ceakumal.org) for more details.

Alternativas tecnológicas de aprovechamiento de energía, tratamiento de aguas residuales y disposición final de residuos sólidos, 6 al 12 de Noviembre

2006-07-31T16:53:00.000-07:00

EL CENTRO ECOLÓGICO AKUMAL
Y
EL CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIÓN CIENTÍFICA DE YUCATÁN, A.C., UNIDAD QUINTANA ROO

Lo invitan a participar en el taller

MEDIO AMBIENTE Y SUSTENTABILIDAD:
Alternativas tecnológicas de aprovechamiento de energía, tratamiento de aguas residuales y disposición final de residuos sólidos

LUGAR:
Centro Ecológico Akumal
Akumal, Quintana Roo

DURACIÓN DEL CURSO:
7 días (De lunes a domingo), 56 horas

FECHAS:
6 al 12 de Noviembre del 2006

OBJETIVO GENERAL:
Capacitación de recursos humanos para la utilización e implementación de alternativas tecnológicas de aprovechamiento de energía, tratamiento de aguas residuales y disposición final de residuos sólidos aplicadas al desarrollo sustentable de la región del arrecife mesoamericano (Honduras, Guatemala, Belice, México y Estados Unidos).

OBJETIVOS ESPECÍFICOS:
o Proporcionar a los participantes los conocimientos necesarios para diseñar e implementar tecnologías alternativas, teniendo como base los principios del desarrollo sustentable.
o Aplicar los conocimientos adquiridos durante el taller en un caso de estudio.
o Promover el intercambio de ideas y experiencias sobre los avances tecnológicos de las alternativas de aprovechamiento y tratamiento; y su contexto sustentable en el desarrollo urbano costero.
o Establecer y mantener una red de comunicación entre los participantes, los ponentes y los organizadores del taller, para el intercambio información de interés para el grupo.

META:
Al término del taller los participantes:
o Serán capaces de diseñar y operar proyectos, utilizando alternativas tecnológicas para el aprovechamiento de energía, tratamiento de aguas residuales y disposición final de residuos sólidos.
o Entregaran propuestas de proyectos para la aplicación de los sistemas tecnológicos alternativos en sus comunidades.
o Tendrán acceso a una red de comunicación virtual, en la cual podrán compartir información de interés para el grupo.
o Obtendrán una constancia de participación que avala las sesiones teórico-practicas.
o Obtendrán las memorias del taller.

Evidencias de participación:
Entrega de los resultados obtenidos durante la aplicación del proyecto propuesto para su comunidad.

Notas:
Para lograr la acreditación final del taller, los participantes deberán presentar su propuesta de implementación de tecnologías alternativas (Incluyendo factibilidad económica) para lo cual, estos contaran con 60 días posteriores al taller para llevar a cabo las actividades de los proyectos y sus respectivas evaluaciones.
Las memorias del taller serán entregadas junto con el certificado de acreditación, y una vez que se cuente con la evaluación de cada participante y que se haya procesado por completo la información de los ponentes.

DIRIGIDO A:
Ingenieros civiles, arquitectos, técnicos, docentes, integrantes de ONG’s y personas interesadas en conocer e implementar eco-tecnologías, en proyectos productivos.

REQUISITOS DE INSCRIPCION:
- Currículum Vitae.
- Llenar el formato de Pre-inscripción.
- Pago del Curso.

CUPO MÁXIMO:
20 personas
Hospedaje: En el Centro Ecológico Akumal.

Inscripciones e informes:
Con Edith Sosa Bravo al
Tel/Fax: 01 (984) 8759095
e-mail: agua@akumal.org

PRELIMINAR PROGRAMA
MODULOS TEMAS

1. Presentacióna

Marco teórico
Ecosistemas
Desarrollo sustentable: principios básicos

2. Construcción sustentable

Construcción sustentable

3. Energías renovables: uso eficiente

Introducción
Solar
Eólica
Arquitectura del paisaje

4. Tecnologías alternativas de tratamiento de aguas

Introducción
Plantas de tratamiento
Humedales artificiales para el tratamiento de aguas residuales

5. Desechos sólidos

Introducción
Rellenos sanitarios: definición y problemática
Las tres R’s (Reciclar, Reutilizar y Reducir)
Separación de residuos
Industria de los residuos sólidos
Baños composteros
Elaboración de composta

6. Marco legal

Introducción
Documentación requerida para implementación de tecnologías alternativas
Legislación (Estatal, Nacional e Internacional)

7. Aspecto económico

Estudios de factibilidad económica
Ahorro: por el uso de dichas alternativas, exención de impuestos
Mercadotecnia: eco-labels, responsabilidad social

Construction Practices for Hurricane Areas

2006-06-27T12:49:00.000-07:00

Udi Saly, of Maya Caribe Arquitectura, made an excellent presentation at the workshop in February of 2006. His presentation (in PDF) analyzed hurricanes Emily and Wilma and then showed how to build homes to minimize hurricane damage.

Udi's detailed presentation is uploaded in three parts:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

2006-02-06T10:05:00.000-08:00

Sustainable Development in the Riviera Maya
Akumal, Mexico
February 17 & 18, 2006

Sustainable development in the Riviera Maya means development that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Given the rapid tourism and urban growth along the Mexican Caribbean coast, and as part of our on-going efforts to promote sustainable development in the region, Centro Ecológico Akumal (CEA) is hosting a two-day workshop focusing on sustainable building. Our hope is to encourage new models of development that will help ensure that our children’s children will enjoy the richness of the jungle, the coolness of cenote water, the beauty of the reef, the brilliance of the sky, and all of the other wonders of the Mexican Caribbean coast.

Sustainable development means growth which:
- Minimizes dependence on fossil fuels;
- Minimizes dependence upon chemicals and unnatural substances;
- Minimizes encroachment on the natural world; and
- Meets human needs fairly and efficiently.

The two-day conference will present the principles, strategies, and techniques primarily for professionals on Friday, and for small scale buildings (homes, condos, and small businesses) on Saturday.

Who should attend:
Architects, developers, builders, condo and homeowners, building owners and managers, and government officials. The ideas presented during the conference will apply to the Riviera Maya, as well as any other area of the world where development puts pressure on a coastline.

Spanish and English:
All presentations will be translated into both Spanish and English.

Co-sponsor:
Rocky Mountain Institute

Registration information below.

More information:
Paul Sánchez-Navarro: paulsn@ceakumal.org
or Ed Blume: ed@ceakumal.org

Schedule
Friday, February 17
Sustainable Cities, Developments,and Large Enterprises
Friday’s presentations focus on principles and practices for larger scale developments, such as cities, housing developments, and large resorts and businesses.

8:00 a.m. Registration
Light breakfast (included in registration fee)

8:30 a.m. Intelligent and Green Building in Mexico
Initiatives, developments and projects for new sustainable building, construction and property in Mexico. Includes market trends and explores how to identify business opportunities around technological integration in homes and buildings.
Cesar Trevino
President, Mexico Green Building Council

9:00 a.m. Considerations for a Coastal Environment
Uniqueness of the Yucatan Peninsula, including geohydrology, ecosystems and the Mesoamerican Reef
Sam Meacham
Director, Centro Investigador del Sistema Acuífero de Q. Roo (CINDAQ)

9:30 a.m. Construction & landscaping to minimize hurricane damage
Design, contruction, and landscaping to minimize the damage to homes, buildings, and shorelines from category-4 storms.
Udi Saly, Engineer
In Tune Management, Akumal

Speaker to be determined

10:30 a.m. Case Studies of Green Communities
Examples show the potential for green communities in the Riviera Maya
Greg Franta
Principal Architect, Rocky Mountain Institute, Boulder, Colorado, USA

11:00 a.m. Break

11:15 a.m. Beautiful Design Complements Sustainability
Successful projects combine striking designs and sustainability
Greg Schnurr
Developer of Los Arboles Tulum

12:15 p.m. Lunch (included in registration fee)

1:00 p.m. Large-scale Energy Production
Solar and wind generated electricity for housing developments, resorts, and large businesses
Cameron Boyd
Centro Ecológico Sian Ka'an (CeSiak)

2:15 p.m. Break

2:30 p.m. Alternatives to Traditional Waste Management
Composting toilets, wastewater gardens, storm water control
Dinah Drago
ReSource Institute for Low Entropy Systems (RILES)

3:45 p.m. Possibilities for a Sustainable Akumal Pueblo
Design considerations and options for a larger Akumal pueblo
Paul Sánchez-Navarro
Director, Centro Ecológico Akumal

Schedule
Saturday, February 18
Sustainable Homes and Small Businesses
Saturday’s presentations focus on sustainable principles and practices for individual homes, condo buildings, small businesses, and other smaller enterprises.

8:00 a.m. Registration
Light breakfast (included in registration fee)

8:30 a.m. Intelligent and Green Building in Mexico (Review)
Initiatives, developments and projects for new sustainable building, construction and property in Mexico. Includes market trends and explores how to identify business opportunities around technological integration in homes and buildings.
Cesar Trevino
President, Mexico Green Building Council

9:00 a.m. Considerations for a Coastal Environment (Review)
Uniqueness of the Yucatan Peninsula, including geohydrology, ecosystems and the Mesoamerican Reef
Sam Meacham
Director, Centro Investigador del Sistema Acuífero de Q. Roo (CINDAQ)

9:30 a.m. Outstanding Examples of Sustainable Homes and Buildings
Greg Franta
Principal Architect, Rocky Mountain Institute, Boulder, Colorado, USA

10:00 a.m. Capturing Nature's Freebies: Siting and Good Design
Site selection and planning, landscaping, rainwater management and use, healthy building materials, and energy efficiency
Sherrie Gruder
Sustainable Design Specialist and Energy Program Coordinator University of Wisconsin-Extension, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

11:00 a.m. Tour of Sustainable Homes and Businesses in Akumal

12:15 p.m. Lunch (included in registration fee)

1:00 p.m. Small Scale Energy Production
Solar electricity and hot water, wind-generated electricity for homes and small businesses
Cameron Boyd
Director, Centro Ecológico Sian Ka'an (CESiaK), Tulúm

2:00 p.m. Break

2:15 p.m. Waste and Water Management for Homes and Small Businesses
Dinah Drago
ReSource Institute for Low Entropy Systems (RILES)

3:15 p.m. Construction and design to minimize hurricane damage
Udi Saly, Engineer
In Tune Management, Akumal

4:15 p.m. Real World Sustainable Design Issues
Bring your designs and ideas for green building projects and get advice from the presenters on solving problems or on improving the designs in three separate breakout sessions on siting and design, waste treatment, and energy.

5:15 p.m. Future Considerations and Conclusions

5:30 p.m. Adjourn
* The final program might vary slightly.

Registration
Sustainable Development in the Riviera Maya
Akumal, Mexico,
February 17 & 18, 2006

Sign up for the workshop on-line or please send check or money order along with the following information:

_______________________________________________
Your name and Organization name (if appropriate)

_______________________________________________
Mailing address: City/State/Postal code/Country

_______________________________________________
E-mail - Phone (day time) - Phone (evening)

Course fee (check one):
_____ $40 (USD) or $400 MN one day.
_____ $80 (USD) or $800 MN for both.

Lodging:
Several lodging options are listed on CEA’s Web site

Make check payable to:
Yucatan Environmental Foundation

Make checks in the U.S. payable to:
Yucatan Environmental Foundation
Mail to:
Yucatan Environmental Foundation
PO Box 2116, Madison, WI 53701-2116 USA

Make checks payable in Mexico to:
Centro Ukana I Akumal, A.C.
Mail to:
Centro Ecológico Akumal
Apartado Postal 2
Akumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico 77760

Register on-line at CEA Workshops.

More information from Ed Blume, ed@ceakumal.org

CD of green built case studies

2005-12-30T09:45:00.000-08:00

The Rocky Mountain Institute offers an excellent CD with over 200 case studies of green buildings from around the world.

Architects Call for Fifty Percent Reduction by 2010 of Fossil Fuel Used to Construct and Operate Buildings

2005-12-20T10:00:00.000-08:00

The American Institute of Architects issued a press release endorsing sustainable design:

Washington, D.C., December 19, 2005 — Through its Board of Directors, The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has adopted position statements to promote sustainable design and resource conservation to achieve a minimum reduction of fifty percent of the current consumption level of fossil fuels used to construct and operate buildings by the year 2010. In order to accomplish this goal, the AIA will collaborate with other national and international organizations, the scientific research community, and the public health community. As part of this initiative, the AIA will also develop and promote the integration of sustainability into the curriculum for the education of architects and architecture students, so that this core principle becomes a guiding mindset for current and future architects.

World's largest solar-powered residential community

2005-12-09T11:08:00.000-08:00

This Army project illustrates the use of solar electricity generation in a climate similar to the Riviera Maya:

United Solar Ovonic will provide solar panels to power 3,000 new homes as part of a U.S. Army family housing project in Hawaii. The company signed an agreement on Monday to provide 7 megawatts of thin-film solar modules to Actus Lend Lease for the project on Oahu, which will be the world's largest solar-powered residential community. According to United Solar Ovonic, the grid-connected solar power systems will reduce dependence on fossil fuels by 30 percent for the entire complex of 7,894 new and renovated Army homes. Actus Lend Lease announced in May that it had earned the Army contract for the project, which involves upgrading the housing and community services at seven different Army bases on the island. See the press release from United Solar Ovonic and Actus Lend Lease.

A military base on Oahu currently features the largest federal solar power array in Hawaii. PowerLight Corporation installed a 309-kilowatt installation at Pearl Harbor in September and helped dedicate it in mid-October. The solar power system is expected to save the U.S. Navy about $40,000 per year. See the PowerLight press release.

Hurricane Recovery: Reconstruction Design & Technologies

2005-11-30T10:26:00.000-08:00

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has a Web site of cost-effective, durable and energy-efficient building reconstruction to highlight topics and techniques for rebuilding in the wake of recent hurricanes in the Gulf Coast region. The application of proven building technologies and designs can make a long-term difference in areas vulnerable to natural disasters, resulting in safer, healthier, more economically viable communities that are less susceptible to disaster.

Cashing in with Green Buildings

2005-11-29T06:48:00.000-08:00

An excerpt from a story in Small Business Times:

For years, environmental activists have advocated the construction of "green" buildings, instead of conventional buildings, to conserve precious natural resources. However, an increaing number of bottom-line driven busineeses are constructing green buidlings or renovating older buildings to make them more "green." In an era of skyrocketing energy costs and dwindling supplies of fresh drinking water, it pays to be green. "Absolutely, it can save you money," said Kenneth Peintka, chief operating office of Madison-based Planning Design Build Inc.