Torre Universal: benchmark in sustainability issues in the heart of the capital

Managing business in a sustainable way is increasingly relevant, not only in the real estate and construction industry, but in the different sectors of the country. Sustainability seeks the comprehensive development of the current needs of companies, without putting future ones at risk, and for this, businesses must rethink the way they manage their operations and their impacts.

In order to achieve this transformation, Portafolio Inmobiliario, developer and operator of Torre Universal, has created a plan that aims to integrate sustainable management into the DNA of the business and all its projects. This strategy contemplates four axes: Collective Empathy, Circular Operation, Eco-ntruction and Governance and Communication.

“Aligned with the Real Estate Portfolio Sustainability Strategy, at Torre Universal we seek to promote continuous improvement and be responsible in our facilities, and at the same time we involve key actors, such as: the surrounding communities, the government, the tenants and collaborators, to achieve altogether, a common good for society and the environment”, indicated Diana Villareal, director of the Universal Tower Project.

7 sustainable practices of Torre Universal

  Comprehensive waste management programs: the corporate center has implemented a program for comprehensive waste management, which includes the measurement of 100% of the waste generated, the reduction of recoverable waste sent to the landfill through recovery of organic and recyclable waste, the realization of ecoblocks with different co-processable waste and the conditioning of three collection centers. During the year 2022, more than 15 tons of waste have been recovered.

 Measurement and mitigation of the carbon footprint: by having several measurement mechanisms and sustainability programs, it is possible to calculate the inventory of Greenhouse Gases (GHG), monitor them and subsequently generate actions to reduce these emissions, all this within the framework of the Country Program for Carbon Neutrality.

 Intelligent energy consumption: the Universal Tower architecture incorporates a large number of windows for natural light to enter, making the need for artificial light less, it also uses high-efficiency LED lights and motion sensors, which are constantly monitored to improve the energy efficiency of the building.

    Water management: smart water meters have been installed to quantify the volume, track the use of water in the facilities and make decisions that reduce consumption. In addition, there is use of rainwater and the water table in irrigation processes or use of toilets. So far in 2022, these actions have saved more than 1,400 cubic meters of drinking water.

    Monitoring of indicators: the sustainability committee was created, through which employees of the Real Estate Portfolio monitor the indicators to implement the Sustainability Strategy.

    Strategic location: having a strategic location in the heart of the capital is not a coincidence. Within the initial plans, the current location was proposed as it is an easily accessible space by multiple means of transportation such as: train, bus, taxi, car and bicycle, thus providing great access for customers and users.

    Involvement of interest groups: community, tenants and condominium owners have joined the objectives of the Real Estate Portfolio Sustainability Strategy, through correct management of their waste and the creation of environmental, social and economic programs; with the community, volunteer projects and the preparation of a collection center have been developed. Torre Universal's staff has been trained in sustainability, greenhouse gases and circular operation indicators.

 

“The execution of these actions has generated benefits such as: complying with the sustainability work plan and has been recognized through several awards, the most recent being the Ecological Blue Flag recognition in the Climate Change category, which shows the commitment of Torre Universal and its long-term vision”, added Villareal, director of the Universal Tower Project.