Mexico. On March 6, the third session of the Permanent Forum on Energy Efficiency in Buildings was held, organized by Conuee and in whose work public officials, academics, researchers and entrepreneurs participated in order to analyze the certification programs and those that grant recognition to efficient buildings in Mexico.
As in the two sessions held last year, the general director of this Commission, engineer Odón de Buen, reiterated that the Official Mexican Standards of energy efficiency issued by the institution for buildings and homes, are mandatory for designers, builders and owners of new buildings and extensions of existing ones (NOM-008-ENER-2001 and NOM-020-ENER-2011).
The various speakers and participants in this third session of the Forum agreed to highlight the importance of promoting the knowledge and application of these NOMs throughout the national territory, which requires the participation of local authorities for their compliance.
Similarly, it was highlighted that the verification includes not only the review of the design of the envelope of the buildings, but also the verification, by the Verification Units, and in the buildings under construction, that the elements specified in the design are the same that are finally integrated into the buildings.
The Arch. Alejandro Albarrán, from Infonavit, spoke about the green housing evaluation system applied by the Institute. He reported that from 2007 to date more than one million 400 thousand credits have been granted under the Green Mortgage scheme, which includes devices for saving water and energy.
For his part, Eng. Rubén Lazos, from the Ministry of Environment of the GDF, explained the Certification Program for Sustainable Buildings in the Federal District, while Mtra. Martha Niño, from Semarnat, presented the theme of "Sustainable building from the perspective of the Federal Environmental Sector".
The exhibition of the ECOCASA Program was in charge of the Arch. Rocío Montaña Novoa, from the Federal Mortgage Society; the presentation of the LEED Certification System corresponded to Lourdes Salinas, of Three, Environmental Consulting, and the description of the National Award of the Mexican Institute of Smart Building, to Eng. Jorge Hagg.
At the end of the session, the Head of the Conuee announced that next month will be held in Monterrey, Nuevo León, the International Workshop The envelope of housing as a key element for energy efficiency in warm climate homes in Mexico. The objective of this meeting, which is being organized by this Commission, will focus on taking stock of the activities undertaken in Mexico in the last ten years on the use of thermal insulation in housing.
