The future is sustainable
Why sustainable architecture?
Buildings and construction account for 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 35% of global energy use. Domestic water use represents 22% of total consumption and is expected to grow by 80% by 2050.
How to be more sustainable?
Green building certifications are a guarantee of sustainability. They bring in high-impact, scientifically proven measures and set a market standard that guards against greenwashing. Our team delivers the most prestigious and widely used certifications on the market.
LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
The most prestigious and widely chosen certification worldwide. Used for office, retail, hotel, healthcare and urban development projects.
- — Location and transportation
- — Sustainable sites
- — Water efficiency
- — Energy and atmosphere
- — Materials and resources
- — Indoor environmental quality
- Certified (40–49 pts)
- Silver (50–59 pts)
- Gold (60–79 pts)
- Platinum (80–110 pts)
MAS
Environment, Architecture and Society
The first green building certification designed for Uruguay, used mainly for residential buildings.
- — Energy
- — Water
- — Indoor wellbeing
- — Construction
- — Social integration
- — Management and innovation
- Certified (prerequisites)
- Bronze (15–29 pts)
- Silver (30–49 pts)
- Gold (50–73 pts)
EDGE
Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies
A certification created by members of the World Bank Group. In Uruguay it is applied mainly to residential buildings.
- — 20% water savings
- — 20% energy savings
- — 20% savings in embodied energy of materials
What would it mean for my project?
Certifying a building doesn't require a large investment: it's about choosing better materials, designing better systems and controlling construction processes more closely.
Typical measures: double-glazed windows, efficient air conditioning (inverter splits, VRF), LED lighting, solar panels and dual-flush toilets. If your project already meets some of these requirements, you are probably very close to certifying at no extra cost.
Incentives · COMAP (Uruguay)
If your development falls under COMAP, Uruguay's investment promotion regime that grants corporate income tax (IRAE) exemptions, certifying is a must. Decree 268/020 awards points for green certifications (EDGE and MAS under the Ministry of Economy's sector indicator, LEED under the Ministry of Tourism's) and for the clean technologies they require.
Sustainable financing
- BBVAGreen mortgage for homes in EDGE, LEED and MAS certified buildings.
- HSBCSustainable financing program for businesses.
- SantanderSustainable mortgage for EDGE or LEED certified homes.