Sustainable building institutes in Mexico (IMES)

In Mexico, sustainable building is promoted by specialised institutes and councils that drive the adoption of greener practices in the design, construction and operation of buildings. The best-documented organisation of this type is IMES (Instituto Mexicano del Edificio Sustentable), a non-profit civil association working to reduce the environmental and energy impact of the built environment. Note that acronyms in this space are easy to confuse, so it is worth checking the exact legal name and registration of any institute before citing it.

What these institutes do

Their purpose is to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon, efficient construction industry focused on people's wellbeing. They act as knowledge, training and advisory platforms that connect developers, architects, engineers, academic institutions and governments with green-building best practice, and they promote internationally recognised standards such as:

• LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
• WELL Building Standard
• EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies)

They also support environmental measurement systems, circular economy strategies, and certifications related to energy and water performance.

Typical services and activities

• Professional training and accreditation in sustainability and green-building certifications.
• Technical advice for projects seeking green certifications.
• Development of environmental impact assessment tools.
• Technical publications and continuing-education events.
• Partnerships with business chambers, governments and international bodies.

Relevance for the Mexican market

Organisations of this kind have been important in professionalising the construction sector in Mexico around sustainability, training specialists and supporting high-efficiency real-estate projects in both the public and private sectors. Their integrated approach applies sustainable design principles from the concept stage through to building operation, which translates into resource savings, greater comfort and improved corporate reputation. In Mexico, voluntary criteria such as the standard NMX-AA-164-SCFI-2013 set minimum environmental requirements for sustainable buildings.

A key player in sustainable construction

Specialised institutes such as IMES are strategic allies for any organisation that wants to embed sustainability criteria into construction, strengthen the uptake of standards like LEED, and access practical solutions to the country's environmental and urban challenges. At Manglai we help organisations measure the carbon and environmental footprint of their buildings and operations and prepare their sustainability reporting. Discover how Manglai can help you.