Up until quite recently in Costa Rica, the proposition of saving both money and the Earth with photovoltaic solar systems has stood on some pretty shaky ground. But that is changing. Nowadays, more and more Costa Ricans and expats are installing stand-alone or autonomous photovoltaic systems in the country’s remotest regions and have made it possible for people to live well where ordinarily they could not. Also, although stand-alone solar systems are worth their investment versus a generator, with their large battery banks they do constitute a hefty initial outlay – but it is worth it? Yes it is!
Imagine investing in a product that builds the most home equity, requires no maintenance, comes with a factory warranty of 25 years, begins paying for itself the month after it’s installed and diminishes your home or business’ carbon footprint. A photovoltaic grid-tie system reduces or eliminates electricity bills through solar panels that generate energy for the grid, which is obliged to deduct the energy’s cost from the owner’s monthly bills. In other words, the electricity bill is either reduced substantially or eliminated. The system is essentially solar panels and an inverter. Read more... (743 words, 3 images, estimated 2:58 mins reading time)
Local products like these hand painted bowls, not only helps the community but are eco-friendly
Everyone comes to Costa Rica with a dream. The dream can be the lazy, sand swept beach life with a margarita in hand, or a jungle getaway, a pair of rockers on a balcony with views of the Central Valley. My dream was to have both, and truly enjoy this Costa Rica paradise and to discover what living in Costa Rica was all about. Having 16 years experience in residential Historic Restorations, the itch soon began to do something fresh and new. With a country as lush and green as Costa Rica, you cannot help but be enveloped and caught up in the idea of how to preserve such natural beauty and at the same time live in it and with it, leaving as little impact on it as possible. Eco Construction was my new passion! Read more... (1728 words, 4 images, estimated 6:55 mins reading time)
Costa Rica is one of four countries trying to set a goal of Carbon Neutrality by 2030.
Little did we all know but that tiny Costa Rica is one of only four countries in the world that has set a concrete goal of Carbon neutrality by the year 2030.
Former Environment Minister Roberto Dobles said the tiny, jungle-cloaked Central American nation would clean up its fossil fuel-fired power plants, promote hybrid vehicles and increase tree planting to balance its emissions.
“The goal is to be carbon neutral,” Dobles told Reuters. “We’d like to do it in the next 20 years.” He said Costa Rica would also eliminate net emissions of other greenhouse gases. While this policy is not without some controversy the heart of MINAET seems to be in the right place.
Iceland, New Zealand, Norway and Costa Rica are all hoping to turn their economies green, but the challenges they face are formidable.
So what can we do to help? In part two of “Decreasing the carbon footprint of new home construction in Costa Rica we are going to offer some simple small scale strategies that will help Costa Rica achieve this very formidable goal. Remember think Globally but act locally is a strong tune if enough people carry it. Read more... (986 words, 2 images, estimated 3:57 mins reading time)
This Tamarindo home is a wonderful example of how the use of renovated shipping containers have become a popular use of recycled materials. Two containers braced by bamboo support beams. The light color and high ceilings contributes to a sense of airiness and space.
“Green’ Construction or decreasing “Carbon Footprints” in the beach areas of Costa Rica is a doubly demanding task as the weather conditions reach two extremes for a considerable period of time depending on what part of the country you are in.
In the dry tropical rain forest in the Province of Guanacaste the rainy season and the dry season are on full throttle roughly half the year. The green minded Costa Rica contractor, architects and engineers must plan for 6 months of torrential rain and high humidity, but must also keep an eye open for 6 months of almost desert like conditions of high heat and little to no moisture.
In Central Valley and Caribbean locations moisture is a year round issue. Fortunately many techniques used for cooling in a hot climate also apply to humid conditions. Natural ventilation is the key. Read more... (917 words, 1 image, estimated 3:40 mins reading time)
Using natural products and custom furniture with all amenities helps make a eco-friendly home.
The beauty of Eco-friendly architecture is that you are tapping into and amplifying the peace and exhilaration of nature.
Since graduating from Santa Clara University with a double major in environmental studies and anthropology I have remodeled and landscaped our family vacation home into a luxury villa which is now available to rent by night, week or month. When I first walked the hill above the Sarapiqui River I could feel how peaceful that area was. The goal of remodeling the villa was to combine luxury in the jungle with a peace beyond imagination.
Arriving from the Juan Santamaría airport you will experience a scenic 2 hour drive passing through the pristine forests of the national park Braulio Carrillo. We are 20 minutes from the world famous La Selva Biological Station (OTS), with its 400 bird species and just 2 minutes from the Tirimbina Rainforest Center.
Eco-friendly activities surrounding us include many one-day tours like bird watching, day and nighttime jungle tours, whitewater rafting, kayaking, canopy zip lines, rappelling, horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking, Read more... (658 words, 3 images, estimated 2:38 mins reading time)
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