Groundbreaking, literally, has commenced at Gran Monovar Ecociudad, near Alicante, Costa Blanca, Spain. The development of 828 eco-homes, believed to be the first eco-development in Spain, includes apartments, townhouses and villas. Construction of the first properties is expected to commence within the next few months said developer Joaquin Cuenca Franco of the family run business, Familia Cuenca.
“We have spent three years studying and planning Gran Monovar Ecociudad,” he said. “We are committed to building an eco-development that will, we believe, set the standard for Spain. Other developers ask why they should build eco-friendly developments, we say why not. We aim to show that innovative, environmentally sound practices can be implemented that cost no more than conventional building.”
Eco-features of the community include dual-orientation of the properties to facilitate energy efficiency by generating natural cross-ventilation and maximising sunlight year-round. Solar panels will heat the water supply. Grey water recycling, air-flow taps, and rainwater capture will ensure water conservation is a priority. Composting facilities will aid recycling. Wood used in construction is from sustainable sources.
The mayor of Gran Monovar, Salvador Poveda Bernabé, gives the community his full backing. “Gran Monovar Ecociudad fulfils the town’s commitment to environmental issues,” he said. “It is a new and fresh approach, one that will bring prestige to the community, will assist with population growth and draw industry and services to the town. It fits very well with Gran Monovar’s aims.”
The developer anticipates approximately half the eco-homes will be bought by Spaniards, the majority of whom will live at Gran Monovar Ecociudad year-round. The remainder, it is predicted, will be sold to British, Irish, Scandinavians and other northern Europeans – although the community will be “one of the mind rather than determined by nationality”
Editor’s note: The construction of Gran Monovar Ecociudad will the focus of a ‘Green Watch’ on whathgreenhome.com over the forthcoming months and years. It’s our aim to report monthly on the development’s progress from its current infrastructure stage through to the completion of the community, predicted to be five years hence. The feature will place particular emphasis on the developer’s eco-initiatives, monitoring whether or not the aims specified now, at the outset, are realised as the community is constructed and matures.
