Cámara de Comercio Santa Marta
Located in the heart of Santa Marta’s city center, the Chamber of Commerce’s new headquarters serves as an example of resource-efficient building design for the region. The nine-story building combines the latest technologies with an open, flexible floorplan to serve the city’s business community and support Magdalena’s growth. Constructed by Mipko Constructores, the building was designed and built to make a low environmental impact.
The building’s façade works as a thermal insulator with the windows adapting to the conditions of the city, limiting the use of the office’s internal cooling systems and improving its energy efficiency. Solar panels and the selection of a variable refrigerant flow cooling system also reduce the building’s energy and water usage.
Cámara de Comercio has received a preliminary EDGE certificate from CAMACOL.
Predicted Savings of EDGE Certification
47%
Energy Savings*
52%
Water Savings
33%
Less Embodied Energy in Materials
Technical Solutions
Energy
Reduced window to wall ratio, reflective paint on the roof and external walls, energy-saving lighting in internal and external spaces, external shading devices, and a solar energy system.
Water
Dual flush water closets, water-efficient urinals in the bathrooms, and less water usage in the cooling towers.
Materials
In-situ trough concrete slabs on the floor and roof, common brick walls with internal and external plaster, and a finished concrete floor.
*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.
EDGE is currently funded by the UK Government with original funding by Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
Additional support has been provided by Austria, Canada, Denmark, ESMAP, EU, Finland, GEF, Hungary and Japan.