After achieving excellent results in recent years, our team remains motivated to achieve ambitious outcomes in the green building movement.
In this way, GBC Brasil would like to share our results for 2023, but mainly our optimism for 2024.
Our activities report (2023) indicates a new historical record of new projects registered in Brazil under the certifications we promote.
We achieved a record number of organized events and attendees at the Greenbuilding Brasil International Conference (over 15,000 participants). Our leadership in Zero Energy buildings, Platinum-level certifications, and the prominence of Brazilian projects at the G20 (India, 2023) regarding decarbonization and resilience were notable.
These results are the product of dedication and the formation of a robust collaborative network behind this green building movement. Today, we assertively state that we are the solution for the transformation process, focusing on efficiency, comfort, sustainability, decarbonization, and resilience. We genuinely discuss the sustainability concept’s opportunities and constantly develop short-, medium-, and long-term value propositions.
The event schedule organized and co-organized by GBC Brasil is robust in 2024. One of the events will be the Greenbuilding Brasil International Conference (hybrid format) in Porto Alegre in the second semester, in addition to in-person events in at least 8 Brazilian states.
We are also working on version 3 of the GBC CASA & CONDOMÍNIO certification. The residential certification will be aligned with the taxonomy materiality language and ESG policies considered by Financial Institutions and tied to financial outcomes in real estate development.
In technical terms, a second discussion is underway regarding creating a protocol to measure and certify the health status of spaces. The Life Performance Rating will identify spaces suitable for air quality, water, thermal comfort, acoustics, lighting…
In 2023, we achieved a historical record for GBC Brasil regarding new projects registered under LEED, GBC CASA & CONDOMÍNIO, LIFE, and ZERO ENERGY certifications. There were 239 new registrations in Brazil.
We increased the number of registrations by 9% compared to the previous year, with a 40% increase in the residential segment.
In the LEED certification, we rank 5th globally with the highest number of projects among 186 countries. However, the evidence of behavioral change is more important than the number of projects in certifications. This is where we will base our message.
GBC is not a certifier. We are a transformation movement!
We can now demonstrate milestones achieved during these 16 years of GBC Brasil’s operation, such as demystifying the idea that it costs more and strengthening green building as the best business model.
The market is more receptive to investing in engineering and architecture intelligence in the design phase. This is evidence of behavioral change.
Supported by project numbers, we can demonstrate that by investing in architecture and engineering and valuing experienced professionals committed to maximizing efficiency, comfort, and sustainability, we economically enable the application of technology and innovation.
When this behavioral change becomes a habit in all segments and market sectors we operate, we will be the main protagonists in this international movement.
For GBC Brasil, it is not enough to certify a residential building. We need to create a communication channel with the buyer and future residents. We did this through the LIFE certification for buyers of Alameda Jardins by Tishman Speyer in São Paulo, and we are doing it with MPD for buyers of Figueira Leopoldo. Along with the commercial, technical, and marketing teams of GT Buildings, currently the most extensive portfolio of GBC CondomÍnio in certification (8 developments), and the team of Moura Dubeaux, we are internally training those involved in the certification process of their projects in GBC CONDOMÍNIO.
In Porto Alegre, the leading real estate agency, ONE Luxury Real Estate, in addition to being a GBC member, trained its brokers to understand and better present the benefits of green building to potential buyers of residential developments in GBC CONDOMÍNIO and one commercial building in LEED certification.
We are a movement!
Another evidence of behavioral change towards investment in intelligence is the efficiency level achieved by recently certified developments.
Certifications have levels, and Platinum is the highest. While the global average of LEED Platinum-certified new constructions is 8%, in Brazil, it is 11.5%.
In 2023, 24% of what we certified in new constructions was Platinum. GBC understands that there has been an increase in projects investing in engineering and architecture, employing technology, and maximizing efficiency, comfort, and sustainability results. As a consequence, we have certifications with excellent results.
Another highlight of the best projects has been their ability to reconcile their reasons with mastery in addressing various green building concepts and practices, such as bioclimatic architecture, integrated design, natural lighting, high efficiency, renewables, water reuse and recycling, intelligent building concept, environmental product declaration, health and well-being, demonstrating high performance in all these areas.
Examples: The residential building IDEA BAGÉ by Capitânia, the first Platinum GBC CONDOMÍNIO, demonstrated returns to the buyer. Efficiency calculations will reduce the condominium fees for residents by over R$10,000 per year. The FM136 house by Miguel Aflalo, certified GBC CASA Platinum, was designed for sustainability with a construction cost close to conventional but offering a 50% reduction in water, gas, energy, and maintenance costs to future residents. The philanthropic hospital Erastinho, LEED Gold certified (and in the process of ZERO ENERGY), prioritized the concept of efficiency and humanization, cost reduction for an expensive operation, and total comfort and respect for its employees, patients (in this case children), and especially parents, who undergo a very emotional burden in this type of treatment.
In conclusion, by respecting their reasons and investing in intelligence, we have great projects resulting in efficiency, resilience, and decarbonization at the levels desired by entities engaged in discussions on climate change. Respecting the reasons of those we relate to and intelligently leading them to the green building movement is the best way to be effectively inclusive.
Felipe Faria, Chief Executive Officer – GBC Brasil