In Costa Rica, eco-friendly and sustainable construction is a 21^st century concept that has undergone formalization over the last few years. As previously reported by The Costa Rica Star, the Green Building Council of Costa Rica (GBC-CR) adopted the EDGE green building certification system for both residential and commercial structures in May 2015.

Costa Rica was the first Latin American nation to launch the EDGE system at a national level. By using the EDGE software for planning and certifying a construction project, design teams can easily assess the most cost-effective ways to incorporate energy and water saving options into their buildings. To reach the EDGE minimum standard, a building must achieve a 20 percent reduction in energy and water, as well as the energy spent to make the construction materials.

The green building cycle in Costa Rica starts with the identification of natural resources that will be impacted, followed by an evaluation of materials, construction, tenant use, demolition, and debris removal.

The Tamarindo Beach housing market has various examples of eco-friendly construction. According to the real estate professionals at RE/MAX Ocean Surf and Sun, a few of their listings were developed by residential architectural firms known to follow the GBC-CR green building guidelines.

Aside from choosing eco-friendly construction materials and preserving native plant species for landscaping, home buyers who acquire large plots of land can inquire about the possibility of setting aside primary forest sections for conservation under the FONAFIFO program, which provides government payments for environmental services.

Various listings offered by RE/MAX Ocean Surf and Sun in Tamarindo Beach and the surrounding communities have been built with sustainability in mind. Moreover, if you are interested in acquiring a home site to be developed in an eco-friendly manner, the real estate professionals at RE/MAX Ocean Surf and Sun can recommend the right architectural and construction firms for this purpose. To learn more, please contact:

RE/MAX Ocean Surf and Sun

#1 Sunrise Center
Beach Road, Tamarindo

• Toll Free: 1-866-976-8898
• Local: 2653-0073 / 2653-0733
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