43 international real estate developments stand out in new green ranking
October 24th, 2009
Welcome to our inaugural real estate GreenList where we highlight the master planned communities and international real estate developments in Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua and Belize that are making a public commitment to environmental responsibility.
We’re releasing the list just as an earthship makes landfall in Nicaragua at Casa Llanta. It’s the first building of its kind in Central America - totally off grid and made out of recycled materials. Today is also International Day of Climate Action so it seems like a good time to showcase the greenest real estate developments in Central America.
There is no global standard yet for green building, but there are initiatives in the pipeline and plenty of guidance, webinars, TV shows and research reports on what constitutes a green approach to construction and development.
To build the 2009 GreenList we reviewed public disclosures made by real estate owners and developers against the following 5 criteria: Biodiversity, Energy Management, Green Building, Water & Waste Management and Social Responsibility & Giving Back.
Developments with a general environmental slogan (e.g. “eco-friendly”, “earth-friendly”, “eco-luxury”) that did not provide additional evidence of social and environmental action steps taken or planned were not included.
Like many green rankings, the list is imperfect. It captures commitment (and at worst, just good public relations) and not effectiveness. Also the list probably under-reports what is going on in the region as some developers may keep information private.
We’ll be improving the list over time. But for now these real estate developers are laying down an environmental commitment, and we’re keen to recognize this.
Keeping track of the green pioneers
As more buyers actively seek to invest in a way that helps produce a healthy and livable world for all, how real estate developments perform on environmental and social issues will have a direct impact on their competitiveness and profitability. They’ll be perfectly poised for future growth driven by buyers looking to live green and invest well.
Buyers, if you’re interested in buying green and eco-friendly homes, then have a look at these places. But make sure you dig deeper that we have here. This list is just to get your started. Ask for a copy of the policies and then check for real evidence on the ground before you make your purchasing decision.
The 2009 GreenList
Click on the table headers to sort them. You’ll find more information in the right hand sidebar of each development page by following the links in the table.
B=Biodiversity, E=Energy Management, G=Green Building, W=Water & Waste Management and S=Social Responsibility & Giving Back.
| Name of development | Country | Location | B | E | G | W | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casa Llanta, Nicaragua | Nicaragua | South of San Juan del Sur | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Finca del Mar | Nicaragua | Central Pacific Nicaragua | _ | Yes | _ | Yes | Yes |
| Tierra Pacifica | Costa Rica | Playa Junquillal | _ | _ | _ | Yes | Yes |
| Better in Belize | Belize | Belmopan | Yes | Yes | Yes | _ | Yes |
| Finca las Brisas, Costa Rica | Costa Rica | Nicoya | Yes | _ | Yes | _ | Yes |
| Las Fincas de Escamequita and Las Haciendas | Nicaragua | South of San Juan del Sur | Yes | Yes | _ | _ | Yes |
| El Encanto del Sur | Nicaragua | San Juan del Sur | _ | Yes | _ | _ | Yes |
| Montecristo Beach and Golf Resort | Nicaragua | Central Pacific Nicaragua | Yes | _ | _ | _ | Yes |
| Portasol | Costa Rica | Dominical | _ | _ | _ | _ | Yes |
| Piedras y Olas a Pelican Eyes Resort | Nicaragua | San Juan del Sur | _ | _ | _ | _ | Yes |
| Parque Maritimo el Coco | Nicaragua | South of San Juan del Sur | _ | _ | _ | _ | Yes |
| Orchid Bay | Belize | Corozal | - | _ | _ | _ | Yes |
| Gran Pacifica | Nicaragua | Central Pacific Nicaragua | - | _ | _ | _ | Yes |
| Finca Java | Nicaragua | Matagalpa and Jinotega | - | _ | _ | _ | Yes |
| Alegria Costa Rica | Costa Rica | Flamingo | - | _ | _ | _ | Yes |
| Los Faros de Panama | Panama | Panama City | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | _ |
| Sea Breeze Mountain | Costa Rica | Tamarindo | - | Yes | _ | Yes | _ |
| Paradise Dreams | Panama | Bocas del Toro | - | Yes | _ | Yes | _ |
| Palmetto Bay Maya Beach Belize | Belize | Placencia | - | Yes | _ | Yes | _ |
| Los Suenos Marriott Ocean and Golf Resort | Costa Rica | Herradura | Yes | _ | _ | Yes | _ |
| San Buena Golf | Costa Rica | Southern Pacific | Yes | _ | _ | Yes | _ |
| Reserva Conchal | Costa Rica | Flamingo | Yes | _ | _ | Yes | _ |
| Secret Cove | Nicaragua | South of San Juan del Sur | - | _ | _ | Yes | _ |
| Rancho Villa Real, Costa Rica | Costa Rica | Tamarindo | - | _ | _ | Yes | _ |
| Balcones de Majagual | Nicaragua | Marsella / Maderas | - | Yes | Yes | _ | _ |
| Belize Reserve | Belize | Cayo | - | Yes | Yes | _ | _ |
| Pacific Palms Jaco | Costa Rica | Jaco | - | _ | Yes | _ | _ |
| Apanas Lake Estates | Nicaragua | Matagalpa and Jinotega | - | _ | Yes | _ | _ |
| Valle Escondido | Panama | Boquete | - | Yes | _ | _ | _ |
| Lake View Estates | Panama | Cumbres Lake | - | Yes | _ | _ | _ |
| Waterside | Belize | Flowers Bank | Yes | _ | _ | _ | _ |
| Villas Cabo Vela | Costa Rica | Playa Grande | Yes | _ | _ | _ | _ |
| Selva del Mar | Nicaragua | Tola | Yes | _ | _ | _ | _ |
| Pura Jungla, Costa Rica | Costa Rica | Paraiso | Yes | _ | _ | _ | _ |
| Paraiso de Amelia | Nicaragua | San Juan del Sur | Yes | _ | _ | _ | _ |
| Montanas de Caldera | Panama | Boquete | Yes | _ | _ | _ | _ |
| Lomas del Mar, Costa Rica | Costa Rica | Playas del Coco | Yes | _ | _ | _ | _ |
| Ladera del Mar | Costa Rica | Playas de Coco | Yes | _ | _ | _ | _ |
| Hacienda Matapalo Costa Rica | Costa Rica | Matapalo | Yes | _ | _ | _ | _ |
| Casa Grande Bambito | Panama | Chiriqui Highlands | Yes | _ | _ | _ | _ |
| Camino Del Rio | Belize | Belmopan | Yes | _ | _ | _ | _ |
| Brisas del Los Lagos | Panama | Chorrera | Yes | _ | _ | _ | _ |
| Azueros | Panama | Azueros Peninsula | Yes | _ | _ | _ | _ |
More details on the 5 criteria:
- Biodiversity (for example re-forestation project; large dedicated green areas that will not be developed, accreditation as a private reserve)
- Energy management (use of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, thermal energy)
- Green building (eco-friendly architectural design such as solar chimneys, natural ventilation, thermal exchange, roof overhands, water catchment systems and green building materials such as FSC certified wood products, recycled materials, straw bale)
- Water and waste management (for example water catchment systems, grey water recycling)
- Social responsibility and giving back (support for local charities and community groups; use of local suppliers of goods and services and local employment schemes)
Owners and developers, if our analysis has missed social and environmental action steps that you have taken, we’d love to hear from you, so please contact us with the details or reply in the comments.
From Reveal Real Estate - charting overseas property trends in Central America.
