Factores de éxito ambiental en la construcción de un hotel en Bogotá, Colombia, mediante el uso del software edge (excellence in design for greater efficiencies)

Abstract

In the current global context, there is great concern about the devastating consequences of climate change, which negatively impacts the quality of life for all people and has caused irreparable environmental damage. Various economic sectors have rethought their development models, including the construction sector. This sector, in particular, represents one of the economic activities with the greatest environmental impact due to the excessive consumption of energy, water, and natural resources. Specifically, the construction of hotel projects, due to their continuous operational demands, consumes a large amount of resources from the planning, design, and construction phases to the commissioning of services for guests. It is relevant to mention that in Colombia, the development of hotel infrastructure has grown considerably in recent years. According to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, investment in tourism projects increased by 18% in the last five years, with a growing focus on sustainability (Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, 2022). This means that, in a growing industry like the hotel sector, the environmental impact also increases if appropriate construction and operational practices are not implemented. Therefore, the need to identify environmental factors that would contribute to more sustainable building practices becomes evident. For this reason, this work aims to identify the environmental success factors influencing hotel construction using EDGE software, and to analyze how this technological tool can contribute to sustainable construction in the sector. Therefore, it is essential to implement the use of technological tools that allow for the identification, evaluation, and generation of opportunities for improvement in the environmental performance of hotel projects from the initial planning and design stages. Furthermore, the methodology employed is descriptive, with a quantitative approach, based on the analysis of a specific case study using simulations in the EDGE software, derived from the collection of technical data from the hotel project. This tool was chosen for its accessibility, practical approach, and adaptability to local contexts such as that of Bogotá. Moreover, the importance of this study lies in its contribution to technical knowledge regarding the use of environmental assessment tools, as well as its contribution to decision-making in the sustainable construction process throughout its life cycle and compliance with international standards in the development of hotel infrastructure