Flexibility and innovation

One of the first decisions we made was to rethink what a business means to us: sustainability involves both a shift in technologies and a change in mindset, a cultural shift. Part of that change involves considering our profit expectations: do we prefer to squeeze every bit of profit from a project, or can we think about earning well while also respecting a standard of quality and sustainability?



Without addressing this, the building would not have been possible, as some of the decisions we made wouldn’t make sense from a typical market perspective. However, we chose to absorb the increased costs, sacrificing some profitability because we see it as an investment: we believe we are not just in the current market, but in the one to come.



Sustainability started with the selection of the site: we prioritized a strategically located plot close to various public transportation options (subway, train, buses). In terms of design, we aimed to create adaptable units that could serve individuals both in the initial stage of their independent lives and in a subsequent phase. That’s why all apartments have double-height spaces and a structural layout that allows for easy construction of a second floor. To foster a connection with the surroundings, we abandoned the idea of minimal balconies and opted for spacious ones that resemble a deck, making them livable spaces.



While the project was designed with a strong sustainable profile, we decided not to pursue LEED certification because we believed that users in Argentina wouldn’t value the label enough. Instead, we invested the money that the certification would have cost into building improvements.



For the construction of the structure, we used Prenova, a national system of lightweight slabs with recycled PVC spheres that reduce the weight of the structure, thus lowering the amount of concrete, steel, cement, and iron used. This is crucial because material transportation has a significant impact on the building’s carbon footprint.



We also focused on insulation: conducting a thermal analysis, we decided to create a double facade to prevent direct solar radiation from generating heat inside. For this second skin, we wanted to use a warm and ecological material, but wood required extensive treatment to avoid degradation. We chose bamboo: besides being a rapidly growing and renewable material, its bark withstands the test of time better. We found a very hard species, originally from China but locally grown in Tucumán and Salta to control water channels, and therefore, it’s abundant.



In all windows, we included double-glazed sealed units, but we also worked with a carpentry consultant to determine the width of the air chamber since this, and not just the double glazing itself, ensures proper insulation.



Within the building’s structure, we created a unique water reuse system. Recognizing that a shower typically uses between 80 to 100 liters of water, each toilet flush about ten liters, and people shower once a day or every other day, we saw a correlation between these water consumption patterns and decided to focus on reusing shower water for toilet flushing.



Through a separate installation, shower water is collected and directed to a tank located in the basement. There, it goes through a graywater filtration process, chlorination, and slight coloration. Subsequently, the water is pumped to a tank on the rooftop, from where it gravity-feeds to all the building’s toilets.



We estimate that with this system, we will save around 30% of the municipal water supply once the building is operational, compared to another building of similar size. It’s important to note that the system won’t require special maintenance costs or complex tasks for the building manager. Developing this system was particularly challenging since the building’s structural cores occupied space that could have been sold, and water savings were not economically significant in Argentina where water costs are low. While opting for a dual-flush toilet is a relatively easy risk for a developer, a system like this carries more substantial risks. Despite it being an unprofitable undertaking, it was a moral decision and a pursuit of innovation for us and, we believe, for the building’s future residents.



For the hot water supply, we decided to use a central system with solar preheating, and we designed it to deliver true efficiency rather than being just a marketing gimmick.



There’s a difference between what’s perceived as ‘green’ and what’s genuinely sustainable, and it lies in analyzing actual consumption. Considering the cost-benefit ratio, solar panels in Argentina make more sense when used for generating hot water. Therefore, we chose to install around 40 square meters of solar panels for water preheating, specifically selecting Apricus vacuum tube solar collectors, which are more expensive but of higher quality. The municipal water supply comes at 20°C, and the final consumption typically requires 60°C. With the solar panel, we generate a temperature rise from 20°C to 40°C, with the gas consumption covering the additional rise from 40°C to 60°C.



As solar hot water generation occurs during the day, and residents in a Buenos Aires residential building tend to shower at night, it was essential to address the issue of accumulation. Without proper planning, the small amount of water heated during the day would be depleted quickly, and gas usage would rise significantly. To overcome this, we included a thermally insulated accumulation tank of about a thousand liters. Before going to the showers, the water is passed to a second 300-liter tank, also thermally insulated and attached to two boilers, ensuring that when the preheated water runs out, the boilers can respond quickly. This way, while the building is ecologically conscious, it maintains the same level of comfort as a regular building.



To further optimize water conservation, we insulated all the pipes, preventing temperature loss during the water’s journey from the tanks to the residences. The difficulty in this decision was not so much related to costs but rather cultural. We had to challenge the contractors’ habits, as they are accustomed to quick and standard practices.



Another innovative aspect was related to drinking water: the kitchens have two taps, one for washing dishes and the other for consumption. For the latter, we installed a reverse osmosis system, providing water of the same quality as artificially mineralized water sold in stores.



This might seem extravagant, but it’s environmentally justified. Due to concerns about the municipal water quality, people often resort to bottled water, leading to increased plastic waste from disposable bottles. By providing this service, we aim to reduce that consumption and subsequently the generation of plastic waste. Additionally, the machine is domestically produced, and we discovered a company in Córdoba that manufactures these systems for laboratories, and they developed a special one for our project.



To decrease electricity consumption, apart from using LED lighting throughout the common areas of the building, we made significant investments in air conditioning.



As we didn’t want to rely on gas for heating (considering the changing gas supply scenario in the country), we opted for air conditioning units that provide both cooling and heating. While developers usually leave the choice of equipment to the users, we wanted to select the most energy-efficient system possible. We decided on a central condenser system, which is more efficient than individual units, but we connected it to separate units in each apartment and integrated software that identifies each unit’s consumption.



In this way, energy generation occurs at a general level, but the consumption is determined at a local level and charged through shared expenses. This type of system is commonly used in office buildings, and its application in residential construction is unprecedented. However, users will directly benefit from energy savings and cost-effectiveness.