Torres Vedras Municipality

Boavista Social Housing Rehabilitation

In the 1960’s, the Municipality of Torres Vedras constructed several Social Housing Complexes. Today, these buildings are outdated and have become a problematic source of pollution and a consumer of resources.

Throughout 2011, with a completion date of 31 Dec 2012, rehabilitation of the Boavista Social Housing complex will be undertaken. Improvement of energy efficiency and use of solar energy production technologies are to be implemented in order to increase building sustainability and reduce energy consumption.

Environmental Education Center of Torres Vedras

The Torres Vedras Environmental Education Center (EEC) will be built starting in the 2^nd semester of 2011. Evaluated at 1 070 000 Euros, 70% is funded by the Operational Plan of Territorial Improvement of the National Strategic Framework.

The new EEC building has an enclosed area of 661 m², and an open area of 432 m². It is projected to be a Class A⁺ environmentally sustainable building. Its purpose is to provide environmental education activities and a Project on Education for Citizenship and the Environment, tailored for citizens of lower social-economic strata, who would otherwise not be able to learn more about energy renewability and efficiency.

The new EEC will possess areas for interactive games with environmental themes, a workshop, a laboratory, a cyber-café articulated with environmental education activities, and a permanent exhibition on the different topics related to environmental sustainability.

The Center is forecast to receive about 80 000 visitors per year, with 50 000 being participants of education and training programs.

Building construction will be guided by bio-climate and sustainable principles. Walls, windows and ceilings have been designed in order to make the best use of the building’s location, orientation and design with respect to solar radiation, ventilation and natural lighting. Solar and photovoltaic panels will be installed, as well as energy-saving water and lighting resources. Some inner walls are to be constructed using recycled materials.

During the building process, eco-friendly practices will be in place, such as waste separation and recycling, pollution prevention measures and water waste reduction, in addition to a careful selection of environmentally-friendly materials.

Santa Cruz Eco Urbe

The construction of a Sustainable House in Santa Cruz (Municipality of Torres Vedras), Eco Urbe, began in January 2011. This building will serve as a showcase area of technologies and equipment associated with sustainable energy systems.

With an estimated investment value of 140 000.00 Euros, Eco Urbe will house the Blue Center and the Microgeneration and Energy Efficiency Support Office. The Blue Center provides support for all Environmental Education Programs within the framework of the European Blue Flag Program.

A modular building system has been designed, with minimum environmental impact, composed of a necessary 80 m²open space module, capable of functioning as a 40-person amphitheatre as well as an exhibit area. A 15 m² office space is allocated to the Microgeneration and Energy Efficiency Support Office and restrooms.

The Sustainable House will be equipped with photovoltaic and wind microgeneration systems, water recycling, efficient lighting and other measures to reduce consumption costs. Passive construction measures will be employed to lower energy requirements for heating and cooling systems.

Building completion is expected by 31 Dec 2012.

Sustainability Measures at Santa Cruz High School

On October 5th, 2010, the Santa Cruz Public High School (Municipality of Torres Vedras) was inaugurated after rehabilitation and remodeling of the original infrastructure, dated from 1982. The building is now environmentally sustainable, incorporating several technologies associated with renewable energies, such as solar.

This is a pioneering School because it is equipped with environmental characteristics such as LED public lighting, photovoltaic panels and geothermal energy, among others.

The geothermal system used for air conditioning consists of a high performance heat pump and 2 air treatment units with heat recuperation via enthalpy. With the installation of microgeneration using photovoltaic solar equipment, the School sells energy to the national grid, and solar heating is used for the School’s water heating. Outdoor lighting has been entirely replaced with LED.

The annual reduction in CO2 emissions is estimated at 2.3 tons.