Colombia. The Colombian Council for Sustainable Construction (CCCS) formalized an alliance with the Ministry of National Education to develop sustainable construction policies that transform the country's educational institutions through the application of best practices in the field.
This alliance has two components: (I) an association agreement No. 1141 signed in October 2016 for a period of two years whose purpose is to join forces and develop sustainable construction policies applicable to the execution and operation of the country's school infrastructure; and (II) a contract no. 1380-63- 2016 with the Educational Infrastructure Fund (FFIE) for the realization of a guide for the implementation of sustainability strategies in the design and construction of new schools for single school day in the development of educational infrastructure projects. This guide will be released in the second half of 2017.
The goals established in the Development Plan 2014-2018, and especially those of the National Educational Infrastructure Plan - PNIE 2015-2018, whose national purpose is the construction of 30,693 new classrooms with their complementary services in support of the process of implementation of the single school day in the country, represents not only a very important volume of works to be executed but a very clear opportunity to generate a positive impact on environmental conditions of the country.
This alliance seeks to strengthen the Ministry to fulfill this purpose by applying the technical and regulatory criteria in force in the country in terms of environmental sustainability and especially those of the construction sector, among which is Resolution 549 of the Ministry of Housing for the saving of water and energy in new constructions, and design of school environments, included in the Colombian Technical Standard NTC-4595 and the guidelines and recommendations for the architectural design of the School "10" of the Single Day adopted in 2016.
Likewise, it seeks to promote greater knowledge and awareness on the environmental issue and changes in the educational infrastructure that will be reflected in the multiplication of sustainable spaces, the reduction of the impact of constructions on the environment and in the positive effects on the health, well-being and learning of students and educational communities.
In this same sense, the CCCS advances the Green Classrooms campaign "Alliance for Sustainability in Education" www.aulasverdes.co an initiative that was formed with the support of its members, public and private schools, public authorities and foundations, among other entities, and whose premise is that "sustainable construction achieves greater efficiencies in the use of resources and above all ensures a better quality of life and improves health conditions and in general for learning for the occupants of school buildings," said Cristina Gamboa. Executive Director of the CCCS.
Learn more at www.aulasverdes.co
