Experts debate on the keys of urban development in the V National Forum of Sustainable Cities

The focus of the debate during the V National Forum of Sustainable Cities, held at Antel's Telecommunications Tower in Montevideo, was on the development of more efficient cities that are capable of optimizing the use of energy using renewable systems, with a multi-modal urban transportation system, and a method to recycle residues that makes it possible to reduce the carbon footprint. 

The Uruguayan-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized the meeting, which was supported by CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, and included the participation of Montevideo's Mayor, Daniel Martinez, and national and international urban planning and environmental experts. The speakers agreed that there is a need to develop  a comprehensive vision when thinking about the cities of the future, emphasizing the needs of the population without neglecting the planet. 

Gladis Genua, CAF's Director Representative in Uruguay, stated that the greater urbanization of the population worldwide and the growth of cities in the region constitute an important challenge for the countries. In Latin America, more than 80 percent of the population lives in cities, and more than one fourth of that urban population lives in informal settlements, without access to basic services. This implies a greater demand for infrastructure and public policies that respond to a comprehensive planning. 

Genua explained, "It is necessary for interventions to focus on people. We must work on initiatives that are comprehensive and multi-disciplinary, to make more inclusive cities that are competitive, efficient, intelligent, and sustainable". To achieve this, CAF goes beyond financing for "hard" infrastructure projects, and recommends the development of diagnoses that include a comprehensive urban development plan, with social interventions that optimize the results of each work, making them useful for people. She added, "The cities of the future must be human, planned with a comprehensive vision, thinking about everyone and for everyone". 

This concept was similar to the one developed by the Mayor of Montevideo, who in his presentation referred to the policies adopted in the city, summarizing from the measures taken to improve the final disposal of residues in the Felipe Cardoso dumping site, to the development of the Energy and Mining Strategic Plan, which seeks to diversify the productive matrix, including a more efficient public transportation system and an environmental commitment promoted domestically.  

He added, " It is necessary to incorporate the new concepts even in the digest, to apply environmental care to construction norms. We need constructions to ensure the efficient use of energy, making sure that incandescent lights are not used. We have a commitment with the environment, and in this respect, we will be just another worker". 

Energy efficiency in modern cities was also addressed by the Director of the Leibniz Institute for Urban and Regional Ecological Development, Bernhard Müller, who referred to the advances in diversifying the matrix in German cities. He explained, " Measures were taken in homes, starting with the replacement of heating furnaces, change of windows, roof and wall insulation, and optimization of heating systems". Starting from this social awareness, advances were made at an urban level. He stated, "The success of energy transition depends on a long term governmental commitment and citizen support". 

In Uruguay, a country whose advances toward diversification were highlighted by all the speakers, there are diverse projects to optimize the use of energy, which were summarized by Carolina Mena, Engineer and Manager of the Demand, Access, and Energy Efficiency Area of the National Direction of Energy at the Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Mining. The expert indicated that with respect to urban issues, the country is advancing toward the incorporation of solar equipment or pre-installations in social housing, and thought is being given to labeling for buildings to distinguish those that are efficient, analyzing the costs of the measures starting from the construction phase. 

The possibility of building an intelligent house, taking the experience to whole neighborhoods, was also presented by Architect Eliseo Cabrera, who headed a team of students and professionals from Universidad ORT, which will participate in December in the world finals of the contest Solar Decathlon, with their project "The Uruguayan House". The proposal consists of a self-sustainable low-cost house, conceived to generate responsible consumer habits and to educate about the correct use of energy. The functioning of the house is based on a computer system that informs when unnecessary lights are on, or may turn the air conditioning off when a window opens. 

These sustainable building systems find their ultimate expression in the project called "The Crystal", a building developed by Siemens in England, which was presented at the Forum by Engineer Sergio Zanor, responsible for the Smart Grid Solution area at the company. As an intelligent urbanization project at a lower scale, "The Crystal" has a remote supervision system that allows for energy and water consumption controls, minimizing emissions of greenhouse gasses by 71.1 percent by integrating renewable energy systems. 

The meeting also included a presentation by Doctor Anabela Aldaz, representative of the Guyer & Regules Office, who referred to the legal framework of the metropolitan water provision, and the challenges faced by Uruguay to try to preserve the resource.