Carbon Neutrality for Costa Rica By 2030?

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.

Natural Lighting
By using innovative architectural design, you will rarely or never need to
turn on a light during the daytime. Houses can incorporate glass blocks mounted in the ceilings and walls to project sunlight into dark corners, while maintaining structural support. Clerestory windows and light tunnels, such as the “Solatube” brand now sold in San Jose, can be added to some designs to provide additional light. The light bulbs in the house should of course be long-lasting, low-wattage compact-fluorescents, or LEDs and should be strategically placed, with individual switches, so you can have light exactly where you need it, rather than wastefully illuminating an entire house or room.

Many people who move to Costa Rica find themselves going to bed earlier and rising earlier as well, following the natural cycle of the sun, so typically less power for your lights is needed here anyway. All ceilings should be painted a bright light color, and floors also can be light colored to help keep rooms illuminated with less power. For daytime illumination, of course having plenty of windows is key.

Strangely enough, Costa Rica does have its dry seasons and many are harvesting rainwater.

Water Catchment
Possibly the most important ecological consideration in areas affected by a dry season in Costa Rica. A house can be designed to channel water from its roof and deck spaces into an underground storage tank for use during the dry season. A tank can be tastefully designed so that it blends into the surrounding landscape, and the top can even become a grassy patio. If designed properly in relation to your primary structure the tank will act as a heat sink absorbing the day’s heat into the water, keeping your home cool.

Water catchment is also your best insurance policy against a water crisis  that may result from unmanaged development, and is much cheaper than drilling a well. A tank can be built out of cement like a swimming pool, or large plastic tanks can be used. Companies such as  Agua Solutions in in Liberia, Guanacaste province, and provides rainwater catchment solutions.

Reforestation
Consider planting and growing native hardwood trees to help replace so many areas that have been deforested. Seedlings should be planted near to the beginning of rainy season so their root systems will grow strong enough to keep the plants alive through their first dry season. These trees can be purchased for very reasonable costs from many viveros in the area.

We were happy to learn of a number of roofing supply companies that provide roofing material from recycled plastics. Look for Eco Tejas Costa Rica on Google for more information. There is also a company out of San Jose that makes faux-wood beams and boards from recycled plastic, that are ideal for outside use since they are impervious to insects and rot.

Costa Rica doesn’t have many building products made from recycled materials, but they are getting better with more and more companies offering green products. Tinted now in numerous shades, these recycled plastic roofs will be lightweight as well, and last for decades. And unlike ceramic tile roofs, they can be walked on without breaking the tiles, making maintenance easier. Last, but not least, a plastic roof is QUIET …  if you haven’t heard the tropical rain hitting a metal roof then you will be shocked at how loud it can be.

A Flat, Usable Roof
Green builders and permaculturists often talk about “stacking functions”, which means using a single part of the house for multiple functions. A flat roof will provide extra outdoor living space for your enjoyment. The roof will become one of your favorite spots, with your best views, an herb garden, a quiet space, reading nook, etc. A white color will keep the roof cool and adding vine-covered trellis above will create a feeling of great tranquility as well as providing fruit. A flat roof must be built extremely carefully to prevent rainwater leakage into the rooms below, with a noticeable inclination so that water easily runs off.

In part 3 of Decreasing the carbon footprint of new home construction in Costa Rica we will go on to examine a bit of the controversy surrounding Costa Rica’s Carbon neutral policies. We will also look a bit more closely in solar energy advances and waste and grey water treatment.

Thanks to many internet and periodical sources for the research that went
into this article.

See related 1st part of article,  Decreasing Carbon Footprints – Building Green in Costa Rica and Eco Friendly Home in Costa Rica

Article by Rodgers H. Bestgen Jr of   Playa Conchal Costa Rica Real Estate

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