CIT SUR awards this recognition to the ITER Bioclimatic Houses for their contribution to responsible tourism and the protection of the natural environment in the south of Tenerife.
The Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables (ITER) celebrates the recognition that the Centro de Iniciativas Turísticas del Sur (CIT SUR) has given to the ITER Bioclimatic Houses at the Gánigo 2024 Awards gala, in the category of “Sustainability”. The awards gala took place on Friday, October 25, at the Hotel Landmar Playa de La Arena, in Santiago del Teide.
The ITER Bioclimatic Houses have been awarded in the category of “Sustainability” for their commitment to responsible tourism and respect for the natural environment of Tenerife, actively contributing to the development of a sustainable tourism model and care for the environment in the southern region of the island.
The award was collected on behalf of ITER by the Councilor for Innovation, Research and Development of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Juan José Martínez, who stressed the importance of this recognition in the field of sustainable tourism and the environmental commitment of the island. “This award not only reinforces the role of Tenerife as a benchmark in innovation and sustainability, but also reminds us of the importance of continuing our commitment to tourism that respects and protects our environment. ITER’s Bioclimatic Houses demonstrate that the integration of architecture with nature is possible and necessary for our future,” said Martínez.
The ITER Bioclimatic Houses, located in the south of Tenerife, constitute an authentic full-scale bioclimatic laboratory (Living-Lab), composed of 24 unique housing units, designed under bioclimatic criteria and integration of renewable energies. This experimental laboratory originated in 1995 with the international architectural competition “25 Bioclimatic Dwellings for the island of Tenerife”, and since its inauguration in 2010, it has served as a benchmark in sustainability and energy efficiency, from which the importance of bioclimatism is researched and disseminated.
The houses are spaces of continuous research both in the monitoring of their daily use and in the implementation of systems, materials and partial solutions in each one of them. The urbanization is organized in 3 blocks delimited by four streets that run radially from the northern part, the point of connection with the Visitor Center.
Each of the 24 houses is capable of self-sufficient energy supply thanks to its solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems, achieving an autonomous and ecological whole. The individual design of each house adapts its construction to the local climate, minimizing the need for air conditioning and maximizing the use of natural resources. In addition to being a housing space, this complex is an active research platform where the daily use and implementation of new sustainable systems and materials are monitored.
With this award, ITER reaffirms its commitment to the development of sustainable models that contribute to the welfare of Tenerife and promote responsible and environmentally friendly tourism.
