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 The term ‘Sustainable Habitat’ comprises resource and energy efficient
buildings, sustainable construction practices, healthy and productive indoor environment,
as well as energy-efficient housing. Energy efficient buildings comprises two
main focus areas, namely energy and resource efficient (green) buildings, as well
as energy
and resource efficient (environmentally sound) housing and sustainable
settlements. Although sustainable habitat encompasses these issues, the establishment
of a green buildings market and supporting institutions remains its kernel. The
movement towards sustainable habitat faces many challenges, especially in developing
countries. The foremost being the fact that there is no market for green buildings.
IIEC adopts a strategy to address the following issues inhibiting the growth of
a green building market.
- Sustainable development has not become the standard practice: Sporadic,
disconcerted efforts have failed to mobilize the market
- There is
no well defined institutional setup to support the green buildings movement:
In most developing countries there is little technical support and information
available to the professionals engaged in the building industry, and consumers
at large.
- The scale of green buildings operation limits mainstream
market participation: Most of the green buildings projects are small scale
and limited in scope. To scale up green buildings, it is important to include
the design and construction industry which understands the business processes
behind the scale up, and has the knowledge of the building sector.
- Existing
local initiative and agendas are often ignored: International programs are
often not complementary to the local, or regional interests, needs, and existing
programs.
IIEC Approach & Experience
As the first step in achieving the program objectives, IIEC prepares a regional
roadmap for establishing a program for sustainable habitat. The roadmap is a thematic
extension of previous successes, and focuses on developing markets for green buildings
by developing institutions, providing new technological solutions, scaling up
existing proven technologies and new business models, and forming strategic local
and international partnerships. - Thematic Extension of the Green
Buildings Program: In order to achieve sustainable habitat, the first step
is the establishment of a green buildings program by supporting awareness and
capacity building programs. IIEC’s program in the Philippines and South Africa
are examples of successful programs, which led to conducive policy environments
and starter markets which could enable mainstreaming into the building industry.
- Geographical Extension: Green building concepts have been proven
in many projects all over the world. However, through its local offices, IIEC
presents the essential capability to develop a global program that is implemented
at local levels. For example, IIEC can incorporate the lessons learnt in green
buildings from the FEMP program in the US, which relies mainly on prescriptive
approaches, and the PeBBu program in the EU, which relies on performance based
approaches. IIEC’s offices also can interact with strategic research organizations,
like CIRIA in the UK, industry associations, like CIB in the Netherlands, and
standards organizations, like NIST in the US.
- Institutionalization
of Green Building Experience: The green building programs will be designed
so as to propel the market and sustain the momentum after the external funding
for the programs is over. The successful green buildings (resorts) program in
Philippines, run by IIEC, continues to operate and influence the market long after
the expiration of the initial program budget. IIEC designs business models and
related financial mechanisms to create a detailed strategy for institutionalizing
the programs in the new regions.
- Technological: Technological
improvements in materials, construction technology, and design process have enhanced
the quality and performance of buildings. IIEC focuses on new technological solutions
to assess innovative use of materials, new construction techniques and stress
on an integrated design approach to achieve sustainable habitat.
- Scale-up:
One of the crucial elements of the green buildings market is the scaling up proven
concepts and technologies. IIEC has promoted this model with the Development Marketplace
program, an example of technology transfer between a small brick making machine
manufacturer in the Netherlands and the South African housing market.
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Partnerships: Through the local offices, IIEC also forms long-term international
and local partnerships. Stakeholders are drawn into the process of formulating
the programs, and the local/regional concerns are brought to the international
agenda. Stakeholders that we have worked with include funders, industry, governments
and NGOs, and user groups.
Recent IIEC Experience
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