At the press event of the Sustainable Development & Green Construction conference: Mikhail Morozov, Colliers International (right), Valters Māziņš, Jaunrīgas attīstības uzņēmums, Ainārs Pauniņš, RE&RE, Harijs Jordāns, Zaļās mājas, and Uldis Zanders, Depo Projekts.

On November 22 in Rīga, a conference titled 'Sustainable Development & Green Construction' presented the first edition of the Latvian guidelines for sustainable construction and building maintenance. The document comprises criteria for sustainable buildings that are based in an integral approach to ecological, social and economic aspects, resulting in a balanced methodology of development.

The guidelines have been authored by a workgroup made up of representatives of construction business, architectural industry, real estate project developers, environment protection organisations and other interested parties. The initiative came from three partners: the Zaļās mājas association, SIA Colliers International and SIA Jaunrīgas attīstības uzņēmums. The group was joined by experts from the World Wide Fund for Nature, SIA Arhitekta J. Pogas birojs, architectural firm SIA Depo projekts, construction company RE&RE, AS Kolonna Nekustamie īpašumi, the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments, the Latvian Ministry of the Environment, AS Hansabanka, AS Aizkraukles banka, SIA Sorainen, SIA Jaunrīgas attīstības uzņēmums, SIA Colliers International and the Zaļās mājas association.

Photo courtesy of Fletcher Priest Architects (UK)

The established set of guidelines considers full lifecycle of architectural objects: starting from planning, blueprinting and constructing to dismantling or remodelling of a particular unit. It centres on sustainable development, for example, by laying down the principles of how to determine the environmental friendliness as well as social and economic viability of buildings, construction processes and maintenance.

There are already plans for a second edition of the document, in the preparation of which a wider range of public and professional bodies will be thoroughly involved.

Among the main principles highlighted by the working group for sustainable construction and maintenance, there are:

• conscientious utilisation of environmentally friendly sources of energy;
• use of environmentally friendly, harmless types of materials and other resources;
• efficient use of water;
• prudent methodology of land use planning for neighbourhoods, residential districts, clusters of office blocks, etc.;
• area improvement and landscaping;
• optimum architectural and structural solutions;
• introduction of buildings that promote the health and well-being of their inhabitants;
• the need to decrease harmful emissions and to handle waste efficiently.

"Knowing that natural resources are being depleted, we may not waste any more time on experimenting and waiting for what's going to happen to our planet and whether the worst predictions could indeed turn into the reality. It is now the time to take practical steps," addressing the conference, highlighted Mikhail Morozov, managing partner in the Baltic countries and Belarus for Colliers International (pictured). Morozov also added that the environmental issues of truly global scale require a much wider involvement of public.

"This type of construction practices has a future – and it is boosted by the support for sustainable development by both general public and commercial entities. The guidelines developed by the workgroup are the first attempt at defining a solid set of requirements and limitations for sustainable construction," explained Harijs Jordāns, chairman of the board of the Zaļās mājas association and head of the workgroup (pictured). "Following the public demand for environmentally friendly solutions and buildings, the market gradually becomes able to supply them, however criteria for evaluation and comparison were still missing. Thus, every supplier could come up with its own, conscience-based view of what green and sustainable construction ought to be like. I'm pleased that a number of experts of the field as well as businesses have become involved with the process of harmonising the system and bringing it to a common frame of reference, thus indicating a degree of social responsibility on the part of business. Society will greatly benefit from people for whom it is important to live and work in a nature-friendly and high-quality environment and who are able to genuinely assess and appreciate the varied offers of construction industry," elaborated Jordāns.

"The resources of this planet are being depleted at a rate that's 20 to 25 percent higher than that at which they can renew, therefore by 2050 we may need an entirely new home for our civilisation. When you know this, you simply must begin thinking beyond the sheer confines of your business, your city and country. Sustainable construction is not just a contribution to the activities of environmental protection, but it also includes a synergy of social, ecological and economic aspects. It typically involves a long-term approach to quality, state-of-the-art solutions and innovation, which increases the added value of projects. We will have to actively address the informing and educating of the members of society, central government, municipalities and businesses because the core principles of green construction apply to everyone, because both the consumers and the suppliers – including developers, architects and construction firms – will have to do their respective "homework"," related Ainārs Pauniņš, chairman of the board of RE&RE (pictured).

According to Valters Māziņš, chairman of the board of Jaunrīgas attīstības uzņēmums (pictured), complying with the sustainable construction guidelines may in the near future become "a voluntary pledge to increase the efficiency parameters of buildings and start saving various resources". "Serving as a basis for valuating of buildings and entire projects, these guidelines will allow finding out whether the structures meet sustainability criteria as well as presenting this information to the potential buyers and users.  A sustainable building means a quality living environment for its inhabitants in such aspects as healthier surroundings, long-term economy, energy savings, and so on," concluded Māziņš, by adding that there should be a greater involvement of government in the promoting of sustainable construction and that legislators should adopt certain standards and principles that would make sustainable construction practicable as a part of clear and consistent policies.