CACMU Verde
At CACMU Verde, vulnerable women and their families can find the financial services and health care they need to live productive and sustainable lives. Women United Savings and Credit Cooperative (CACMU) is a co-op and credit union with eight branches designed to help women access financial services such as savings accounts, credit and insurance. CACMU Verde will offer even more services such as healthcare, skills training, and support for entrepreneurs, all in a resource-efficient office space. CACMU Verde is a pioneer project of the CACMU Tantanakushka Warmikunapac branch and is financed by Triodos Bank.
CACMU chose a historic building for the CACMU Verde branch to emphasize the heritage of Ibarra and the surrounding region. Developed by EMCOPRODE and designed by Procesos Urbanos, CACMU Verde is carefully designed to preserve the history of the building with minimal impact to the surrounding environment. By choosing sustainable construction materials and re-using existing walls and window frames, embodied energy in materials is reduced by more than 70 percent.
CACMU believes that credit unions should be sustainable, not only in the way they are constructed, but also through services that help vulnerable women mitigate and adapt to climate change. By investing in sustainable technologies and providing innovative services, they hope to bring about environmental, economic and social benefits to the country. CACMU Verde has received a preliminary EDGE certificate from GBCI.
Predicted Savings of EDGE Certification
Energy Savings*
Water Savings
Less Embodied Energy in Materials
*Part of the energy efficiency percentage may be associated with virtual energy for comfort depending on the presence of heating and cooling systems. Note that virtual energy does not contribute savings to utility bills.
Technical Solutions
Energy
Reduced window to wall ratio, reflective paint for external walls, energy-saving lighting and solar photovoltaics.
Water
Low-flow faucets for bathrooms, dual flush water closets, water-efficient urinals and a rainwater harvesting system.
Materials
Composite in-situ concrete and steel deck (permanent shuttering) for floor slabs, clay roofing tiles on timber rafters and thin precast concrete deck and composite in-situ slab for roof construction, re-use of existing internal and external walls, stone tiles/slabs and finished concrete for flooring and re-use of existing window frames.
Location
Sucre 3-10 y Borrero Ibarra, Imbabura, Ecuador
Stage
Preliminary EDGE Certificate
Date
July 1, 2019
Floor Space (m2)
874
Total CO2 Savings (annually)
10.1
Client Details
Certified By
Green Business Certification Inc.