CZP Article

How ‘Green’ is Turks & Caicos’ Development?

Do you suffer from eco-anxiety?

I do. I am not sure when the condition started but I find comfort in the thought that I am not alone. As Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Oscar winner and former Vice-President Al Gore’s words echo within the walls of meeting rooms, bars, hotels and supermarkets around the world, millions of people adopt a green consciousness. I feel it the moment I wake up every morning. Did I leave the front lights on over night? Did I take too long in the shower? Are the products I use eco-friendly? Should I recycle more? How can I reduce my consumption of imported goods to improve my carbon footprint? Unfortunately, living on Provo, the latter is particularly tough. As I ask myself these questions and seek ways in which to increase my contribution to eco-awareness, I am thankful for being a resident of Turks & Caicos where the environment takes centre stage.

Mr. Gore inspired hundreds of Islanders to make a difference during a historic speech on climate change at the 2007 Conference on the Environment in Provo in November 2007. He said that the Islands were truly “beautiful by nature but when nature is threatened, so is that beauty.” Turks & Caicos’ vision for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction enjoys the full support of the local government. With the goal of reducing the vulnerability of both the Turks & Caicos islander and visitor population to climate change and natural disaster hazards, the destination is setting a benchmark as the Caribbean leader in climate change prevention.

During the November conference, Mr. Gore spoke about the changes that can be made by just a few people. “This region has an opportunity to do the right thing globally, regionally and to provide leadership locally,” he said. “We have to change the way we think and find the moral courage to act boldly and quickly. Between what we have seen and heard at this gathering, I am inspired because you (the people of Turks & Caicos) have laid the foundation for all the seeds of actions that will create a better world for us to live in,” stated Mr. Gore.

This foundation is clearly evident in a few distinct developments sprouting along the shores of Grace Bay Beach. Amongst them, Wymara, a 52-condominium resort scheduled to open in December 2008, has adopted numerous environmentally friendly upgrades, such as energy conservation measures and waste management systems, to help ensure economical running of the property. Rob Ayer, Managing Director of Apollo Developments elaborates, “Probably the most important area of Wymara’s ‘Green’ initiative is the choice of air conditioning system. Concerned with the overall operational efficiency of each condo unit, we decided to use a VRV system, which has a higher first cost but a lower operational cost. In short, VRV equipment is the most efficient and technologically advanced system for heating and cooling.” He adds, “The system has a centralised PC system or ‘intelligence controller,’ which can monitor the whole development’s HVAC components. Public spaces can be scheduled as to when equipment runs and at what temperature, and they can diagnose problems and have early warning systems in place to maximise energy efficiency. The system can link to telephone lines to send text messages to service personnel in the event of any error or problem.”

“In choosing the wastewater treatment system, we sought out the best-performing and most environmentally responsible system. The BIONEST™ system wastewater surpasses most stringent government imposed standards and changes wastewater into environmentally safe, reusable water, which will be used for landscaping irrigation. This will reduce the need to purchase desalinated water, as well as the need for fertilisers, without posing any environmental or health risks,” states Mr. Ayer.

Turks & Caicos’ planning department demonstrates the island’s awareness through their policy on setbacks from the beach, which is stricter than many other similar destinations such as the Cayman Islands. It may not seem much but the setback allows the primary dune to remain untouched and thereby do the job of protecting beachfront property by reducing beach erosion, avoiding the need for artificially built protection or reclamation. Associated to this is their policy on the retention of natural vegetation during and after the development process. For example, trees that grow naturally in Turks & Caicos’ environment are typically in less need of additional water and fertiliser to survive in the islands’ warm dry climate. While there is often pressure from developers to replace native vegetation with imported species such as coconut and Royal Palm trees, the cost of importing and maintaining such species should be strongly considered during the design process. Developers should, where possible, follow the lead of such developments as Amanyara or The Turks & Caicos Sporting Club on Ambergris Cay whose sensitivity to the native fauna is part of their appeal to patrons who appreciate the true island experience and the low impact approach.

According to Rory L. Stevens, Wymara’s Project Architect and Director of one of Turks & Caicos’ leading architectural firms, Simon Wood Associates, designers and planners should continue to be at the forefront of ensuring that developers fully understand the natural benefits of Turks & Caicos’ climatic and topographical environment so that appropriate measures are employed to their specific site conditions. “Orientation and positioning of buildings to reduce solar gain (particularly in summer) and increased cross ventilation should be paramount in thoughtful design. The constant trade winds of Turks & Caicos hugely reduce the need for artificial cooling in developments. Incorporating shade planting and indoor/outdoor spaces in the design can greatly improve the comfort levels of a naturally cooled living space while at the same time promoting the enjoyment of the natural environment and wonderful climate that the islands are so famous for.”
Some of the other energy saving devices currently evident in Turks & Caicos, but which Mr. Stevens suggests should be more widely considered by local developers in order to reduce their carbon footprint, are as follows:

Shading and natural ventilation. While large openings are naturally favoured for an inside/outside appeal and unobstructed views (which sell the island’s beauty to the visiting population), sensible shading of these openings or overall building structure greatly reduces artificial cooling requirements through solar, otherwise known as radiant heat, gain. Achieved via roof overhangs, terrace roofing, shading pergolas and window shading devices, Mr. Stevens believes that much may be learnt from the study of traditional (pre HVAC) Turks & Caicos building methods in the application of contemporary design. “High cathedral ceilings in gable-ended structures allow warm air to rise and expel through high-louvered openings, the addition of operable louvered windows in openings facing away from the primary view allows cool air to enter a naturally ventilated living space.”  
    
Solar water heating. Already installed in many Turks & Caicos residences and successfully pioneered in the local tourist sector by the 100-room Comfort Suites hotel, solar heating panels and associated hardware has recently become increasingly accessible thanks to this governments duty exemption on energy saving devices. “The Islands’ climate is perfect for the application of these panels; almost entirely negating the need for electrical water heating which otherwise contributes to a large percentage of ongoing electrical costs and associated emissions,” says Mr. Stevens.

Roof, wall colour and design. Though insulation has become the industry standard in maintaining a stable and comfortable environment in both residential and commercial buildings, Turks & Caicos’ naturally stable climate requires less of this environmentally unfriendly material when sensible design is applied. “As heat gain in Turks & Caicos is largely via radiant heat produced by the sun, a reflective white or light roof and wall surfaces are the most efficient in reducing heat gain on the interior. Examples of properties that have successfully adopted this environmentally friendly method include Point Grace, The Palms and Le Vele.” Roof finishes, he says, are particularly important and his own research reveals that the traditional white ‘tin roof’ is the winner for reflecting radiant heat over the many other typical roof coverings widely used in the Caribbean. As metal (usually aluminium sheeting) may not be everyone’s favourite roof finish, he suggests that a simple reflective barrier applied with the correct air gap under a naturally ventilating roof finish such as cedar shingles (applied to the roofs of Wymara and West Bay Club) can also greatly reduces heat gain. At the other end of the scale, asphalt shingles as well as darker coloured roofs (“particularly green, blue or dark grey”) do little to reduce radiant heat gain increasing the need for artificial cooling and the overall carbon footprint of the building.

Massing. The requirements for strong, hurricane-resistant buildings built from concrete masonry contributes in adding ‘massing’ (or volume) to the buildings in Turks & Caicos. “The massing allows only slow heating of the building fabric after a typically cool night. This can be further enhanced by the use of concrete construction in less typical items such as furniture, flooring, cabinetry and counter tops.” He also points out that such an approach, typically found in Mexican architecture, reduces the need for imported furniture and the overuse of rare wood species in interior finishing, which also contributes to a lower impact design.

Buy local. This is where it gets a little harder when residing and/or developing in islands such as Turks & Caicos as almost all building materials are imported. Nevertheless, Mr. Stevens is quick to point out that the resident population of Turks & Caicos (local or ex-pat) enjoys highly skilled labour and professionals. “The use of local labour to build your development is an environmentally aware approach. Consider the carbon effect of flying to meet consultants before hiring an overseas architect. In addition, hiring locally greatly contributes to developing Turks & Caicos’ workforce, who is more likely to understand the sensitivity of the islands in which they live. Raw materials are also easier and more cost efficient to ship than finished product, which is often shipped with plenty of air inside (i.e. cabinetry). The use of island-based skills reduces the need for prefabrication and wasteful shipping, which is a huge contributor to the problem we are all now facing,” concludes Mr. Stevens.

Premier Michael Misick said that special attention needs to be given to the less developed countries and small, island-developing states such as Turks and Caicos. “My Government supports the conclusions of the UN conference that more attention should be given to nations that are at greatest risk and that our concerns should be at the centre of the global agenda on climate change.”
The answer is now in your hands. Seeking environmentally friendly products and securing eco-aware investments is vital in preserving the future of generations to come.         

Tina Lyra Stevens
published October 2007
Real Life magazine