THE PORT TOWER IS MORE THAN A DECADE AHEAD OF EU REQUIREMENTS
The building already exceeds the standards set for 2030 by the Climate and Energy Framework at the design stage.
The port tower Malaga is more than a decade ahead of the European Union’s requirements in terms of energy efficiency, use of renewables and reduction of CO2 emissions. This is the main conclusion drawn from the conference ‘Sustainability technologies in building’ held at the School of Industrial Engineering of the University of Malaga, with the presence of leading professionals from the sector. The European Commission’s Climate and Energy Framework for 2030 sets a binding target of at least a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions; at least a 27% share of renewable energy; and at least a 27% improvement in energy efficiency, all relative to 1990 levels. But overcoming these requirements goes much further at the Torre del Puerto, according to Manuel Gallardo, director of INGHO, the Malaga engineering consultancy that is designing the hotel’s facilities. In fact, the building’s energy footprint will be “almost zero”, meaning that it will produce as much energy as it consumes “at least over 80%”. Therefore, already in the project phase, it is more than a decade ahead of the EU target.
Pioneer in water reuse
The Torre del Puerto will be at the forefront in key concepts such as energy efficiency, water consumption, savings, environmental sustainability, ventilation and cooling and air filtration. In addition, it will reuse the condensation water from refrigeration for use in cleaning or laundry, something in which it will be a pioneer in Andalusia.
During the conference, held in the auditorium of the School of Industrial Engineering of the University of Malaga, the latest technical advances in building, such as reverse osmosis plants, desalination, cooling and air conditioning technologies, ventilation on demand, air filtration, reduction of the carbon footprint or LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, awarded by the US Green Building Council and which has the Torre del Puerto) have been presented.
Co-organised by the College of Industrial Engineers of Eastern Andalusia and the Association of Hotel Entrepreneurs of the Costa del Sol (Aehcos), the conference was also attended by Fernando Feldman (director of Aire Limpio), Rafael Ramos (product manager of Danfoss) and Roberto Ruiz (Carrier Spain); as well as the architect responsible for the project, José Seguí; José Ramón de Andrés, member of the board of the College of Engineers, and Luis Callejón, president of Aehcos.
In his speech, Feldman explained that the incorporation of the most advanced ventilation and filtration technologies will give the Torre del Puerto “a competitive advantage and differentiation compared to the rest of the buildings” in Malaga, not only for hotels, but for any other use. From his part, Ruiz stressed the exchange of energy with the sea and Ramos, in the reductions in electricity consumption that the building will have.
Vehículos eléctricos
Por su parte, el director de INGHO ha añadido que las novedades en eficiencia energética se acompañarán en el proyecto con la apuesta por vehículos eléctricos para el acceso al hotel, la instalación de puntos de recarga, la priorización de la bicicleta, lanzaderas eléctricas a terminales de transportes o la generación de energía en la frenada de los ascensores, que permitirá el funcionamiento sin consumo.
Seguí assured that sustainability today is “more a cultural aspect than a purely technical one” and recalled that the triple A for energy consumption was “the first requirement of the developer of the Torre del Puerto in order to carry out the project”. Finally, Callejón explained the association’s support for the Torre del Puerto: “We are talking about the generation of employment, direct and indirect, as a five-star hotel has more workers than the rest; and the quality of the clients, with a high out-of-pocket expense, which benefits the whole province”.