12.07.2012 Power to the People – Sustainable Infrastructure and Architectural Interventions at the Torre David Jimeno A. Fonse

/ ITA Institute of Technology in Architecture Faculty of Architecture / ETH Zurich

12.07.2012 Power to the People – Sustainable Infrastructure and Architectural Interventions at the Torre David

Jimeno A. Fonseca, Arno Schlüter. Grafics: Anja Willmann, Barnim Lemcke.

Architecture & Sustainable Building Technologies Prof. Dr. Arno Schlüter ETH Zurich / Building HPZ / Floor G Schafmattstrasse 32 / CH-8093 Zurich www.suat.arch.ethz.ch Architecture & Sustainable Building Technologies Prof. Dr. Arno Schlüter

OUTLINE

1 INTRODUCTION 3 The Context 3 Project partners 3

2 APPROACH 4 A Sustainable Tower? 4 Potentials of the Site 4 Technologies 4

3 STATUS QUO 5 Water, Heat and Electricity 5 Resource Demand and Dynamics 5 Vertical Mobility 7

4 SITE ANALYSIS 8 Solar 8 Wind 8

5 THE CONCEPT 11 Demand Reduction 11 Water Supply and Storage 12 Wind Energy 13 A New Vertical Mobility System 14

6 A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE 16 Improving Living Conditions without Increasing Environmental Impact 16 Architectural Interventions 16

7 BIBLIOGRAPHY 19

8 ANNEX – SWOT ANALYSIS 22

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1 Introduction

Climate change (IPCC, 2007) and depleting fossil fuels force societies and econo- mies to rethink how much resources and energy we use, the way we use it and from which sources we obtain it. A dramatic shift, even a new industrial revolution necessary (Rifkin, 2011) is, moving from fossil fuel-based, centralized energy systems towards decentralized systems based on renewable energy sources. An increasing urbanization manifests in exponentially growing cities, they mark the place where this shift has to be effective. The Torre David represents a unique setting in an exemplary context. It is a challenging task to think about changing patterns of energy use and harvesting renewable energy when it is about the basic needs. In an admirable effort, the inhabitants of the tower have organized and established an improvised infrastructure of electricity, water and mobility. Only this infrastructure makes living in the abandoned tower even possible. Its maintenance and operation creates jobs and identification. Improvements are only possible by acknowledging the community, by asking the inhabitants to contribute with their knowledge, power and ingenuity. Realizing and integrating the environmental potentials at the site, the existing architecture and its verticality as well as the strong community of inhabitants opens up the path towards a livable and sustainable present and future.

The Context

The Torre David consists of a once abandoned complex of buildings nowadays host- ing a community of 3000 inhabitants in Caracas, Venezuela. This community occupied peacefully the set of buildings in 2005, where a tower of 190 m, planned to be the second tallest and more expensive project of Latin America, arises among the financial core of the City. Since the occupation, the community characterized by a low-income status, low conditions of living, but nonetheless, a strong character, struggles to rise up its standards of living and the acceptance of the City’s society. Our approach outlines the circumstances where the inhabitants of the Torre David can enjoy fair living conditions and a well-earned place in the widely uneven Vene- zuelan society. It is based on the integration of social, environmental and economic aspects for a future low-energy consumption society.

Project partners

Urban-Think Tank Chair – ETH Zürich Prof. Brillembourg & Prof. Klumpner Michael Contento, Rafael Machado, Alfredo Brillembourg, Hubert Klumpner, Daniel Schwarz, Ilana Millner.

Architecture & Sustainable Building Technologies Prof. Dr. Arno Schlüter

2 Approach

A Sustainable Tower?

Today the concept of sustainable architecture is characterized by an environmentally sensitive design, based either on the reduction of energy consumption and carbon footprint or on the achievement of self-sufficient structures, which mitigate a buildings environmental impact (Jarzomberk, 2003). Both approaches do not seem prop- er for a context like the Torre David, where environmental impacts are already much lower than the average. Concerning sustainability, occupying and reusing the abandoned tower can already be considered exemplary, finally making use of the enor- mous amount of land and resources spent its construction. The maximum reduction of the currently low energy consumption of the inhabitants is therefore not a priority. Low standards of living, social isolation and lack of infrastructure are a main concern in this context, inferring the need to take an approach capable to involve the social and economic aspects for a sustainable architectural solution.

Our approach on sustainable architecture of the Torre David therefore aims at improving current living conditions through improving and extending the existing infrastructure, while maintaining the current low consumption of resources and low environmental impact of the community during time. The measures taken will also trans- form the appearance of the Torre, visualizing the integration of the tower community into the city yet acknowledging its uniqueness.

Potentials of the Site

Our approach is based on realizing and harvesting existing potentials of the building site. Environmental potentials such as local renewable energy sources facilitate the introduction of a decentralized and more reliable infrastructure in the Torre David, which often faces power shortages. Among renewables, human power - the inhabitants - represents the strongest potential. The active participation of the community in activities related to the enhancement of services and current living conditions is not only the condition sine qua non but also facilitates the realization and operation of the infrastructure over time.

Technologies

Sustainable technologies constitute the toolset to achieve a solution that integrates social, environmental and economic aspects. The technologies to choose must facilitate a high social involvement, but also be of low cost, low maintenance and low environmental impact. An active participation of the community during the construction and operation of infrastructure not only leads to the reduction of costs, but more important, to a greater knowledge and awareness of the inhabitants about the need to maintain and preserve the infrastructure.

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3 Status Quo

Water, Heat and Electricity

The current water infrastructure in the Torre David consists of a limited pumping and distribution system connected to the central Caracas grid and operating once or twice a week. The improvised system lacks the network required for continuous operation and distribution to the tower apartments. It is susceptible to intermittence during dry seasons, when water is scarce in the grid.

The same applies to the electricity infrastructure. It comprises a self-constructed connection to the local grid and a local distribution throughout the tower. Although every family is connected to the grid, the tower system is susceptible to overloading and loses in the capacity during peak periods and dry seasons.1 For cooking purposes, all 750 dwellings located in the complex make use of propane/butane barrels that have to be manually transported to the apartments. The demand of resources in the tower follows a dynamic pattern, which is characterized by several fluctuations throughout the day (see figure 2). The pattern shows peak periods usually in the morning, at noon and in the evening, where 40% of all the resources are consumed and the highest needs in terms of power are at- tained. This fact leads to propose a decentralized power system to sustain the supply with electricity and thus level the peaks.

Resource Demand and Dynamics

The water consumed per dwelling unit (3.6 m3/DU per month) equals one third of the regional average and only one forth of the European average. This low water demand is caused by to restrictions of the water accessibility, distribution and storage infrastructure. In terms of its dynamic behavior, the daily water consumption is characterized by two demand peak periods in the morning (6am – 8am) and in the afternoon (6pm-8pm). During these periods of time, 41% of the total demand of water is consumed. Comparable to the water demand, the electricity demand (155 kWh/DU per month) represents just a fraction of the regional and European average consumption (1/3 and 1/4 respectively). The number of electrical appliances of every household in the Torre David is slightly lower than the ones in households with a higher income; however, low electricity consumption is due to lack of high energy-demanding appliances for cooling/heating purposes such as HVAC systems, domestic hot water heaters and dishwashing machines. Regarding its dynamic behavior, the demand of electricity presents two demand peak periods in the morning (9am – 12am) and in the afternoon (6pm-9pm). During these demand peaks 38% of the total demand of electricity is consumed (figure 3).

1 Empresa eléctrica socialista CORPOELEC, ”Profesionales debaten interrupciones eléctricas”. Cor- polec Informa 1, No 1 (2011), http://torre- http://www.corpoelec.gob.ve/corpoelec-informa (accessed 02 June 2012). During extreme dry seasons and high periods of demand, hydroelectric plants, which generate 66% of the total electricity of Caracas, run out of capacity, and the demand of electricity cannot be satisfied, in the same way, a supply of fresh water to the city is limited. Architecture & Sustainable Building Technologies Prof. Dr. Arno Schlüter

The demand of energy for cooking (169 kWh/DU per month) corresponds to just one half of the regional level demand. This low rate is caused by lack of appliances and distribution systems for the continuous heating and consumption of hot water. In terms of emissions, the total amount of CO2 produced at Torre David is about 0.8 ton/DU per year, equivalent to just one half of the regional average and one eighth of the European average. This low amount of emissions is due to equally low electricity and cooking consumption and the large fraction of 66% renewables2 the electricity in Caracas is created with. 60% of the total emissions are direct emissions caused by using natural gas for cooking purposes.

Figure 1: Resources for electricity production, Europe vs. Venezuela

2 Ministerio del poder popular para la Energía eléctrica, Hacer uso eficiente y racional de energía es un deber (Caracas, 2011a) http://www.mppee.gob.ve/uploads/65/c0/65c07baf7a2a168b0b169e748ae979d1/ENCARTE-WEB- Resolucion.pdf (accessed 14 April 2012).

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Figure 2: Resources consumption, Europe vs. Venezuela and Torre David

Figure3: Peaks and dynamics of resource consumption in the Torre David

Vertical Mobility

The vertical and horizontal traffic of goods and people is crucial for the functioning of the tower and its community. The lack of mobility infrastructure hinders the develop- ment of economic activities inside the complex. It constrains communication and accessibility not only within the tower but also of the surrounding neighborhood. Better means of vertical transportation will foster a more dynamic society, able to carry out its daily activities efficiently, and capable to develop its economic and social system more rapidly. Currently, each building of the Torre David complex comprises a series of stairways and corridors, some of them originally existing before the occupation, other Architecture & Sustainable Building Technologies Prof. Dr. Arno Schlüter

constructed after the occupancy. Although pedestrian corridors represent a perfect scenario for sustainable mobility inside the complex of buildings, moving 3000 inhabitants throughout a network of stairways that extend from 40 to 190 meters in altitude remains a challenge and represents a tedious, breathtaking but the only way to reach the apartments. The absence of more pleasant and efficient means of vertical mobility such as elevators and escalators has led to a variety of services, which strengthen the economical and social situation at the tower. For instance groceries stores, stationaries shops and Moto-taxi services for transportation of goods and passengers until the 10th floor, are direct responses to the limited access to external commodities. Additionally, they constitute a source of employment for over 30 fami- lies.

4 Site Analysis

Even though two thirds of the electricity in Venezuela is generated using renewable sources, the spatial composition of Torre David and the building itself offers interesting potentials to harvest decentralized sources of renewable energy.

Solar

The geographic location of Caracas close to the equator makes solar energy an interesting option. However, factors such as microclimate, feasibility of technology and the shape of the tower limit the suitability of this source for power generation: In comparison to other locations along the country, the solar insolation in Caracas is low due to highly recurrent overcast conditions. In the same way, the composition of the tower complex does not offer a large amount of horizontal but mainly vertical surfaces that are not equally suitable for harvesting solar energy (see figure 3).

Wind

Instead, vertical surfaces could be used to harvest another renewable energy source more promising; the height of the tower (190m) and the good exposure of large surfaces to constant winds (70% of the time) over 4m/s are a good potential for wind energy harvesting, especially, in the Northern and Eastern facades (see figure 4). In contrast to solar energy, wind power can be generated by simple low cost technologies, highly accessible to the users, and requires less maintenance.

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Figure 3: Solar irradiation on horizontal surfaces.

Figure 4: Prevailing winds. Architecture & Sustainable Building Technologies Prof. Dr. Arno Schlüter

The harvesting of renewable energy sources at the tower itself reduces the amount of energy generated from fossil fuels, but more important, they facilitate the supply with electricity at times where the central grid is down or overloaded. The availability of sun and wind varies over time (figure 5). The electricity generated during periods of high availability needs to be stored in order to be available at times where the demand is high and the availability is low. Among chemical energy storages such as batteries, energy can also be stored mechanically. At this point the vertical water supply and storage system of the tower comes into play.

Figure 5: Daily dynamics of solar radiation and prevailing winds

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5 The Concept

Based our understanding of the tower and the analysis of its context and site potentials, the concept for improving the tower conditions towards a sustainable future contains four key elements: demand reduction, improvement of water supply and storage, harvesting of wind energy at the tower and a new vertical mobility system.

Figure 6: Concept for electricity generation and infrastructure

Demand Reduction

Event though the inhabitants already consume less energy than the average, some additional energy savings resemble ‘low-hanging fruits’ that can be achieved easily. Saving energy is a direct and economically favorable action to reduce resource consumption and thus environmental impact. Reduction in the consumption of electricity can be achieved by either implementing more energy efficient appliances or by a more efficient use of energy. Supported by the local government, energy efficient Architecture & Sustainable Building Technologies Prof. Dr. Arno Schlüter

appliances have been implemented in the last years in many apartments of the Torre David. In addition, the local government provides economic incentives and penalties to foster the reduction in the consumption from 10% to 20%.3. Still, there is potential for demand reduction: 11% of the electricity is consumed by low efficient artificial lighting. This could easily be reduced by using low consumption light bulbs and improving daylight conditions of apartments close to the tower core.

Possibilities to reduce the energy demand for heating purposes are in contrast very limited. On the South American continent, Venezuela is the country with the highest reserves of natural and butane gas4; therefore, the local government pro- motes actively the use of these sources for heating and cooking purposes by means of financing and economic subsidies. Therefore alternatives to reduce the demand of heating are hardly economically feasible in this context.

Water Supply and Storage

Water supply is one of the most essential needs of the tower’s community. In a two- fold approach we improve the water supply of the inhabitants and extend the water system to store and generate energy using a pico-pumped hydro storage system. It can be installed, maintained and extended mainly by the inhabitants themselves. This will not only provide a more constant water supply throughout the year, but also, allow storing electricity that has been generated from wind energy for its use during demand peak periods. The water system employs a simple yet intelligent principle (see figure 7): An array of water tanks on different floors of the tower is filled using pumps driven by the electricity surplus during periods of high availability of wind. Water is pumped up to reservoirs positioned at a higher level from the occupancy location; at the same time that the reservoir is filled up, the daily demand of water is supplied by the system. On demand, these reservoirs supply pico-hydro turbines arranged in a vertical array that convert the potential energy of the falling water into electricity again. This way a part of the electricity needed at peak times can be supplied from stored wind energy. To host the necessary piping and electrical infrastructure, the building K will be extended in height to form an infrastructure backbone for the tower complex. Simple water tanks will be distributed over the floors to provide storage capacity.

3 Ministerio del poder popular para la Energía eléctrica, Hacer Uso eficiente y racional de energía es un deber (Caracas, 2011b) http://www.mppee.gob.ve/uploads/65/c0/65c07baf7a2a168b0b169e748ae979d1/ENCARTE-WEB- Resolucion.pdf (accessed 14 April 2012). 4 European Commission, Recipes Project: Country energy information: Venezuela (Luxemburg, 2006), 5. http://www.energyrecipes.org/reports/genericData/Latin%20America/061129%20RECIPES%20countr y%20info%20Venezuela.pdf (accessed 08 March 2012)

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Figure 7: Water supply and energy storage.

Wind Energy

From the environmental potentials discovered at the site, wind energy seems the most interesting due to the verticality of the tower and the orientation of its façade surfaces (figure 6). Low costs, low complexity and easy expandability make such a system suitable for an application at the facades of the Torre David. A pico-wind power system requires only little technical knowledge for its construction and maintenance. It can be realized, maintained and operated by a non-specialized work force which is available in the community. This property facilitates the social acceptance and integration necessary for the implementation and use of infrastructure at low costs and with high community involvement. The operation of the pico-wind power system is designed to cope with the daily peaks of electricity demand. Such a system will not entirely supply the electricity demand of the tower inhabitants but it will provide an option for back-up power generation during those periods when an electricity outage is more likely to take place and, in the same way, it will help to cope with a rising demand even for a low-energy vertical mobility system. Architecture & Sustainable Building Technologies Prof. Dr. Arno Schlüter

In detail, the system consists of racks of small pinion-shaped horizontal axis wind propellers interlocked horizontally to produce mechanical work (see figure 13). Con- trasting single wind propellers, this technology only uses one rotor for multiple propellers, transferring the energy collected to one single point for the generation of electricity. The façade-based wind power system is configured to supply up to 24% of the daily electricity demand for reduction of electricity peaks.

A New Vertical Mobility System

Vertical mobility not only provides benefits to the inhabitants in terms of accessibility, also it represents the basis for the integration of different commercial, religious, rec- reational and residential units existing at the complex. Vertical transportation fosters the internal economics and exchange – shops, culture - and its connection to the Torre’s neighborhood. The tower that can be considered a vertical city quarter does not need constant and immediate vertical transport but a ‘bus line’, a pulsed and simple vertical transportation system for people and goods. Extending the tower K to be the track of this bus line would provide vertical access to all relevant parts of the building cluster. In combination with water and energy infrastructure, the extension of tower K forms a functional and visible vertical backbone. Common vertical mobility systems for skyscrapers such as elevators and ca- ble cars are operated with large amounts of electricity to move cabins of passengers and goods up and down while a counterweight works as a unit to recover part of the energy used. For the Torre David, the electricity needed to power such a system is a great concern, making it extremely important to suggest an alternative that not only takes advantage of all the direct potentials of site for generation of electricity, but also, it prompts up the most important potential, the community itself. The vertical bus line of the tower is operated by balancing the loads of upcoming passengers and goods with the loads of passengers, waste and other materials going down. In other words, a continuous balance of the incoming and outgoing traffic allows a vertical transportation system with very small additional energy. It requires, however, what the community provides, in an exemplary way, direct and efficient means of coordination and communication. For organizing the traffic, the floor inspectors for example can define the timetables when outgoing carriage or passengers need to be counterbalanced with incoming loads and vice versa. The ubiquity of mobile devices facilitates easy communication between the stops on the line in order to organize the travel and transportation. During peak times of vertical movement such as in the morning, fixed schedules allow the downward transportation of people rushing to work and the upward transportation of goods to stock the markets on the different floors. At night time, the returning people moving upward to the tower apartments are counterbalanced with waste to be disposed or people visit- ing the sports facilities on the ground floor. The vertical bus line stops every five floors which depicts the minimum standards for accessibility in multistory buildings in terms of elevators (Peterson, 2010) as well as it takes into consideration aspects related to people behavior and use of stairways (Peters, 1997). From each stop, the existing corridors and stairways will provide access to every single housing or commercial unit in a vertical or horizontal distance of no more than one minute by walking (figure 8). Every stop will manage the flow of three floors down and two floors up of passengers (equivalent to 50 pas-

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sengers during a five min peak period), satisfying a better condition for mobility without compromising the current use of stairways and corridors. In the same way, the stops are placed in the vicinity to commercial uses inside the Torre David, groceries stores and stationary shops, assuring to attract enough consumers to maintain the economical system running (Watson et al. 2003). Accessibility to people with limited mobility can be given by preferential use of the apartments located in the floors close to the stops of the line. During peak times or occasions where no counterweight is available, the bus line can be operated using the electricity that has been stored in batteries, for example during times of high wind power availability. The batteries are also reloaded during downward travel, efficiently converting the potential energy of people and goods into electricity.

Figure 8: Backbone for Infrastructure and vertical mobility.

Architecture & Sustainable Building Technologies Prof. Dr. Arno Schlüter

6 A Sustainable Future

Improving Living Conditions without Increasing Environmental Impact

The four measures outlined before help to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants by providing better access to energy, water supply and vertical mobility. The overall consumption of electricity can be further reduced. Wind energy production and hydro storage allow for shaving off the local peaks of electricity consumption, thus balancing out the demand and stabilizing the local grid (figure 9). Both measures aim to decouple a potential increase in wealth of the tower inhabitants from the increase in energy consumption. Facilitating vertical mobility creates jobs for the tower inhabitants for operating, managing and maintaining transportation. Even a communal operation charging travel fares for external visitors is thinkable. The ease of vertical access stimulates the tower economy by transporting passengers even from the surrounding neighborhoods to the tower shops.

Figure 9: Measures combined: demand reduction and peak shaving.

Architectural Interventions

The improvements of the tower infrastructure also influence its architecture and its appearance. The façade-based wind power system adds another colorful and indi- vidual element to the facades, satisfying both the stated desire for a more conven- tional façade and eliminating the negative stigma of marginalized conditions of the self-constructed barrios. In addition to the wind power systems, the coloring of the makeshift façade elements creates a color- and playful exterior, constituting an exterior identity to proudly present to the surrounding city (see figure 11,12). The extension of tower K to constitute the backbone for infrastructure and vertical mobility vis- ualizes the dynamic flow of media, people and goods during day and nighttime. It is a vertical beam that connects the city quarter inside of the tower with the neighborhood. The measures proposed can be divided into different stages to make a step- by step transition possible, creating awareness, integrating the community and using the existing workforce (see figure 10). A first stage could consist of the installation of

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wind power system on the eastern façade and the construction of the pumped hydro storage system. This would provide the improvements to infrastructure and architecture for the current occupancy. In a second stage, the extension of the backbone tower K jointly with the installation of the vertical mobility system will provide access to infrastructure for either future occupation in the upper levels (+ 40% of current population), or extension of the wind power system.

Figure 10: Realization stages

Figure 11: Intervention at the east and north façade. Architecture & Sustainable Building Technologies Prof. Dr. Arno Schlüter

Figure 12: Intervention at the main tower façade.

Figure 13: Façade detail of the wind energy system

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7 Bibliography

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Intergovernmental panel on climate change IPCC, Contribution of working groups I, II and III to the fourth assessment report of the IPCC (Switzerland, 2007). 104. Mark Jarzomberk, “Sustainability in Architecture: Between fuzzy system and wicked problems”, Blueprints 11, No 1 (2008), http://web.mit.edu/mmj4/www/downloads/blueprints21_1.pdf (accessed 10 June 2012). Joint Research center JRC, “Performance of grid connected PV”, calculation methodology, http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvgis/apps3/pvest.php (accessed 18 April 2012). Jean-Marc Jancovici, “A tool for companies and office activities”, The carbon in- terventory summary of ADEME, Manicure, http://www.manicore.com/anglais/missions_a/carbon_inventory.html (accessed 25 April 2012). Ministerio del poder popular para la Energía eléctrica, Hacer Uso eficiente y racional de energía es un deber (Caracas, 2011a) http://www.mppee.gob.ve/uploads/65/c0/65c07baf7a2a168b0b169e748ae979d1/ ENCARTE-WEB-Resolucion.pdf (accessed 14 April 2012). Ministerio del poder popular para la energía eléctrica MPPEE, Medidas para el ahorro energético: rueda de prensa Caracas 13 de Junio de 2011 (Caracas, 2011b) http://www.mppee.gob.ve/uploads/a4/5a/a45ae10b86e2152d8bcf604d4952ef40/ medidas_electricasweb20110615-0900.pdf (accessed 14 April 2012). Motorwave, “Product description”, products, http://www.motorwavegroup.com/new/motorwind/product.html (accessed 02 May 2012). Odyssee, “Free Energy indicators”, Energy efficiency indicator Europe - Con- sumption per dwelling, http://www.odyssee-indicators.org/online-indicators/ (accessed 05 July 2012). Parlamentary office of science and Technology, “Carbon footprint of electricity generation”, Postnote 1, No. 268 (2006), 4. http://www.parliament.uk/documents/post/postpn268.pdf (accessed 02 May 2012). Richard Peters, “Lift Passenger Traffic Patterns: Applications, Current Knowledge and Measurement”, The international congress on vertical transportation technologies, 1997, 12, http://www.peters- research.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=57%3Alift- passenger-traffic-patterns-applications-current-knowledge-and- measurement&catid=3%3Apapers&Itemid=1 (accessed 12 June 2012). Terry Peterson, Illustrated 2009 Building Code Handbook. (New york: Mcgraw- Hill, 2009), 1119 pages. Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., “Proyecto bombona communal: del pueblo para el pueblo”, Temas, http://www.pdvsa.com/index.php?tpl=interface.sp/design/readmenu.tpl.html&new sid_obj_id=4595&newsid_temas=54 (accessed 12 June 2012). Bruce Powell, “An alternate approach to traffic analysis for residential buildings”, The international congress on vertical transportation technologies, 2011, 12. Jeremy Rifkin, The third industrial revolution: how lateral power is transforming energy, the economy, and the world (New york: Palgrave MCmillan, 2011), 291.

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Romleu I., Weitzenfeld W., and Finkelman, J, „Air Pollution in Latin America and the Caribbean”, Air Waster Management association 41, No. 9 (2006), 1166- 1171. Marja-Liisa Siikonen, “On traffic planning methodology”, The international congress on vertical transportation technologies, 2011, 13 pages. The national meteorological library and archive, Fact Sheet 6 – The Beaufort scale (Washington, 2004), http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/media/pdf/4/4/Fact_Sheet_No._6_Beaufort_Scale.pd f (accessed 17 April 2012). Unidad de Planeación Minero Energética UPME, Determinación del consumo final de energía en los sectores residencial urbano y comercial y determinación de consumos para equipos domésticos de energía eléctrica y gas (Bogotá, DC., 2006), 442, http://www.siel.gov.co/siel/documentos/documentacion/Demanda/Residencial/Co nsumo_Final_Energia.swf (accessed 13 May 2012). Unidad de Planeación Minero Energética. Formulación de un plan de desarrollo para las Fuentes no convencionales de energía en Colombia: volumen 3 (Bogo- tá, DC., 2010), 123, http://www.corpoema.com/pdf/Vol%203%20Tecnologia%20y%20Costos%20FNC E.pdf (accessed 13 May 2012). U.S Department of Energy DOE, EnergyPlus simulation software: weather data Venezuela (Washington, 2011), http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energyplus/cfm/weather_data3.cfm/region =3_south_america_wmo_region_3/country=VEN/cname=Venezuela (accessed 18 May 2012). U.S Department of Energy DOE, U.S Energy Information Administration, Resi- dential energy survey (RECS), Washington, 2012, http://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/reports/electronics.cfm (accessed June 2012). U.S Department of Energy DOE, U.S Energy Information Administration, Volun- tary reporting of Greenhouse gases Program, Washington, 2012, http://www.eia.gov/oiaf/1605/coefficients.html (accessed June 2012). Donald Watson, Alan Platious and Robert Shibley, Time saver standards for urban design (New york: Mc-graw hill, 2003). 863.

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8 Annex – SWOT Analysis

STRENGHTS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS The Community does not allow High-density profile. 650 If the building is occupied in its higher occupation in the Build- Du/ha. (The European com- totally, it would increase in 40% its ing A due to lack of infrastruc- mission 2009 & Condon P. density. ture. 2011) consider an optimal density of 100 DU/ha for sus- 1. Architectural tainable urban design. Profile Plenty of space for a possible Personal security problems: intervention: 24-45 floor build- Lack of handrails, lack of building A, - Ground floor of Atrium, ing envelope, Holes in the and ½ of the parking building. Floors.

Self-organized community, Low income per dwelling: The implementation of better Monthly fee for services, Inter- $1.780,45. BsF infrastructure could be fi- 2. Financial Pro- nal rules. No occupation without $414.00 USD (official rate) nanced by the government file authorization. $197.77 USD (Black market rate)

Architecture & Sustainable Building Technologies Prof. Dr. Arno Schlüter ETH Zurich / Building HPZ / Floor G Schafmattstrasse 32 / CH-8093 Zurich www.suat.arch.ethz.ch / ITA Institute of Technology in Architecture Faculty of Architecture / ETH Zurich

Current debt to the water sup- Electricity company offered to Not regulated water pricing. It ply company amounts to finance 75% of a new and might lead to uncontrolled water $510.000,00 BsF/ $56.500 better electrical system. consumption. USD

The system provides access to Low safety standards of the electricity to all the 750 dwell- electrical network due to a 3. Energy Sys- ings. non-technically supported tem Profile installation.

Electricity system composed by Lack of reliability of central An Enhancement of Electrical In- 66% hydropower generation, Electrical system. Constant frastructure system could lead 22% natural gas generation and outrage due to loss of capacity eventually to rise up the consump- 12% Fuel. during peak periods and dur- tion. ing environmental events (El Niño) Low Electricity consumption Low efficiency appliances for The government has current Low Energy cost rates might in- compared to regional (1:3), lighting corresponding to 20% plans for financing more effi- crease the consumption in the national (1:4) and European of the demand of Electricity cient appliances for lighting future. The current price/month is levels (1:4) per dwelling and refrigeration uses. equivalent to 0.1% of the minimum monthly income per dwelling.

3.1 Energy Con- sumption - Elec- Recent implementation of New economic incentives and tricity brand-new appliances financed cautions might lower down the by the government. It can be current consumption from 10% assumed a good efficiency for to 20%. most of the electronic appliances in the building. (Except appliances for lighting)

3.3 Energy con- Low Energy consumption for Use of Butane/propane gas The government supports the ac- sumption – DHW and cooking compared to barrels for Cooking. It amounts cess to all the population to Gas Cooking &DHW Regional (1:2), National (1:2) to the same amount of energy butane and natural gas for cooking Architecture & Sustainable Building Technologies Prof. Dr. Arno Schlüter

and European Level (1:5) consumed for electricity per and DHW uses. dwelling. Electricity system 66% based on Renewable Energy sources (RES) (Hydropower) assures low CO2 emissions. 3.3 CO2 equivalent emissions Low CO2 Equivalent Emissions Country with the highest reserves per household compared to of fossil fuels in the region. It might regional (1:2) and European decrease the market-share of re- (1:8) levels. newables for electricity generation in the future. The system provides access to Constant Outrage of the water water to all the 750 dwellings. supply. Lack of reliability of 4. Water system central water system. Constant profile Cut-offs due to overcome of its capacity during dry periods. The water currently supplied is not potable.

An enhancement of the water In- frastructure system could lead to 4.1 Water Con- rise up the frequency of water use, sumption and thus its consumption. Low water consumption per Inexistent payment of water ser- household compared to Euro- vice may lead to a careless con- pean level (1:4), which might be sumption. given due to restrictions in the frequency of water supply.