Evaluation of Strategies to Reduce the Ecological Footprint in Residential Buildings in a Tropical Climate

Abstract

In this investigation, the ecological footprint of a residential building, located in the province of Herrera, Panama, was evaluated through its carbon footprint and water footprint. This research was carried out with the objective of finding critical factors in which new low-consumption strategies would be implemented and the footprints found would be reduced. To carry out this work, simulation softwares such as DesignBuilder and Revit were used to find the building´s energy and water performance, correspondingly. Results showed that implementing strategies such as using new construction materials and using an efficient air conditioning system, creates a 57.0% decrease in the carbon footprint. At the same time, strategies such as installing efficient water devices, efficient irrigation techniques, use of rainwater and greywater create a 53.8% decrease in the current building´s water footprint. Finally, it was concluded that factors such as the level of insulation in the building enclosures and the use of the air conditioning system are the cause of the high level of carbon footprint in the building and are critical points on which the evaluated strategies cause a greater impact. It was also concluded that due to Panama’s great hydric potential, the use of rainwater and implementation of new technologies in water devices are the low consumption strategies that have the greatest impact on the water footprint of buildings.