Even‘s residential development is the first in Brazil to receive AQUA Certification for its Implementation phase

São Paulo, May 21, 2013 – Even Construtora e Incorporadora S.A. – EVEN (BMF&BOVESPA: EVEN3), with operations in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul and Minas Gerais and a focus on residential developments with units priced above R$250,000, hereby informs that the True Chácara Klabin development by Even Construtora e Incorporadora is the first residential development in Brazil to receive AQUA Certification for its Implementation phase.

The seal, awarded by Fundação Vanzolini, is granted in recognition of the adoption of sustainable practices and covers three phases: the Program phase, which analyzes the building‘s functional and environmental planning; the Design phase, wherein the Environmental Quality profile must be proven in the executive project; and the Implementation phase, which certifies compliance with all certification categories in the execution of the project. “True was already the first residential project in São Paulo to obtain Program certification and the first in Brazil to receive Design certification. We continue to lead the way in Brazil by earning the seal for the Implementation phase, reflecting our pioneering approach to sustainability issues,” explains Silvio Gava, Even‘s chief technical and sustainability officer.

For customers, the benefits of the certification are reflected in several ways, such as:

• Water Savings – According to studies, consumption may be reduced by as much as 27%, thanks to the adoption of solutions such as flow reducers on taps, water reuse, etc.
• Energy Savings – In the common areas, there may be over 30% in energy savings through the adoption of automatic lighting that is activated by sensors, the selection of energy efficient light bulbs and architecture that makes effective use of natural lighting.
• Easy Recycling – The development provides spaces in each apartment and in the development for storing recyclable materials.
• Thermal Comfort – The project included a building orientation and window positioning that makes better use of natural ventilation.
• Acoustic Comfort – The developed was executed in a way that reduces noise pollution between the rooms of each apartment.

 
AQUA Developer
According to Gava, achieving the certification was a major challenge for the company, as well as an important learning experience. In August 2012, the company committed to designing all of its residential developments in São Paulo to qualify for AQUA certification in each of the three phases. “True was the first to obtain certification in all three phases, but we‘re working to repeat this result in many other projects,” he explains.

In addition to True, Even has already achieved certification for the Program phase of 16 other developments. “We believe that sustainability must be incorporated into the company‘s routine, not just applied for specific projects. The real winners from this approach are our customers,” Gava points out. “Gradually, these concepts are being incorporated by the industry and we‘ve been able to overcome the view that these items significantly add to the cost of a project,” he explains.

In addition to greater thermal and acoustic comfort, True will provide water and energy savings. Studies show that water savings could reach as high as 27% when compared to developments in which no efforts were made with respect to this issue.

Audit and highlights
The certification evaluated 79 sustainability requirements, divided into 14 categories. The audit was conducted on site by two senior auditors from Fundação Vanzolini, who spent two days meticulously analyzing the work being carried out by Even and Inovatech. At the end of the audit, Even received an excellent rating in six categories, particularly in water management, waste management and building maintenance, a superior rating in three categories and a good rating in five categories, which is above the minimum level required for certification.

“Fundação Vanzolini has verified that Even executed the project in accordance with the sustainability premises certified in the Program and Design phases,” explains civil engineer Luiz Henrique Ferreira, who is the CEO of Inovatech, a specialized consulting firm that assisted Even in achieving its certification.

AQUA Certification
Adapted from the French HQE certification, AQUA was created in Brazil in 2008 and is recognized internationally by a variety of entities that are part of SB Alliance. It is operated exclusively by Fundação Vanzolini, which is associated with the University of São Paulo and is the largest certification agency in Brazil, with more than 15 years of experience in the construction industry.

About Even
Even Construtora e Incorporadora S.A. is one of Brazil‘s largest builders and developers. It is the only company in the construction industry to be included in the Corporate Sustainability Index (ISE) of the BM&F Bovespa since 2009. After carrying out an initial public offering in April 2007, Even‘s operations have rapidly grown and expanded geographically, with a presence in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul. Even‘s growth in recent years has been underpinned by a successful commercial strategy, which focuses on strong operating and financial results, the development of projects with unique architectural designs and surpassing the expectations of its customers. Even‘s shares are traded on the Novo Mercado special corporate governance segment of the BM&FBovespa S.A. under the ticker EVEN3.

About Inovatech Engenharia
With a mission to provide sustainable solutions for buildings, Inovatech has stood out by providing innovative solutions that are focused on results. Founded in 2005, the company added a new business unit in 2007: its consulting firm for sustainable development certification. A leader in AQUA consulting services and one of the founders of the Casa AQUA project, Inovatech aims to contribute to making the application of sustainable building concepts a reality. More information is available at www.inovatech.eng.br

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