The Recent Legislation for Eco-efficient Design in Quito, Ecuador: A Review and Case Study

Abstract

This paper sets out to review the recent legislation that was put into place for eco-efficient design in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. It is argued that the resolution for Quito is better suited to ecological building design parameters than using international certifications imported from abroad, such as LEED or BREEAM. The background of the parameters used for the resolution is explored in depth in this paper. The results of an international review workshop are then given, followed by a summary of the resolution being put into practice through a brief case study of the water systems proposed for a building designed under the legislation. Quito´s urban sprawl poses fundamental challenges from an ecological and economic perspective, but reverting this trend also provides a unique opportunity to plan, develop, build and manage a city that is simultaneously more ecologically and economically sustainable and more resilient. The present paper analyses how the New Resolution in Eco-efficient Design for Quito helps out in this task and becomes a versatile instrument, part of a broader tool, in contributing to the goals of eco-efficient design, providing incentives to the construction industry and reducing the number of private vehicles coming into the city. The paper concludes that it is possible to construct an effective eco-efficiency code aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of buildings whilst improving people’s quality of life. Furthermore, as the tool can be modified in future updates, research and better building practices are required to improve results and to adjust it to the ever-changing socio-economic contexts of the city. However, in order to be effective as the backbone of urban planning in Quito, the tool will need to be upgraded to the status of a municipal ordinance in future.