ROSE HALL, St James — A local architect is urging designers to incorporate traditional methods in their efforts to construct smart buildings.

“Simple things like orientation, using the right type of windows; these are low-hanging fruit that we can all achieve. We just need to pay attention to what we knew and grew up seeing: Good practices and valuing good design,” said architect and director at MODE Architects Brian Bernal.

He was speaking last Thursday, during a panel discussion on “Green and SMART Building”, one of the topics discussed at the International Real Estate Conference and Home Expo hosted by the Realtors’ Association of Jamaica.

Bernal explained that while other strategies such as the use of renewable energy are effective, simpler solutions can also contribute to improving the end product.

“Having a verandah on your house, where it is shaded that cools the air before it comes to the house. It’s not something that all of us don’t know, it is just that perhaps, we get away from it in trying to make our buildings appear more like they belong to other jurisdictions,” he told the Jamaica Observer after the discussion.

“The building that is in Toronto cannot be in Jamaica; it is two different environments,” he stressed.

The topic of green buildings has for years featured prominently in discussions about combating climate change. According to information presented during the panel, the real estate sector and buildings are responsible for 40 per cent of global emissions and 70 per cent of that amount is produced by heating, cooling and mechanical activities related to structures.

There are now rating systems used in certifying structures, especially those constructed for commercial use, which meet certain benchmarks.

“Even if the building is going to cost a little bit more, one to two per cent in the beginning to be a part of the rating system, the savings that they are going to gain [make it worth it],” he said.

“In the first year they may save 20 per cent or 30 per cent on operating cost by using those green measures,” he continued.

He offered suggestions for developers who may still be concerned about cost.

“There are ways, if they are interested, in utilising the guidance from the rating systems without having to get the actual certification. They can build in the principles even if you are not going to get an external certified rating system,” he said.

Bernal had explained, during the panel discussion, the importance of Jamaica’s construction sector grabbing the opportunities to be had in incorporating green tech in buildings.

“Green buildings represent the biggest investment section of the real estate market for the next decade,” he said.

“That’s where there’s going to be a huge push. And if we understand that, and we believe that the private sector can lead this process by building those things into our projects at the very beginning, I think what we will see, as a nation, that any country that starts to lead in building sustainably is going to be at the forefront of the global economy,” said Bernal.