CABEI inaugurates new cutting-edge, eco-efficient headquarters in El Salvador
The new environmentally-friendly building that houses the CABEI offices in El Salvador was inaugurated yesterday by Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes.
The ample new CABEI headquarters in El Salvador features installations equipped with state of the art smart systems. “This is the first CABEI project of its kind in the region. The building is covered with a metal curtain that increases heat energy management efficiency by acting as a deflector of direct light and dissipating heat, which results in reduced electricity use for its cooling," said CABEI Director for El Salvador, Mr. Guillermo Funes Cartagena.
The Bank is committed to social responsibility and environmental sustainability as stated in its 2010-2014 Institutional Strategy, "Competitiveness with Social Integration and Development." The Strategy posits the goal of fostering the sustainable development of Central America and its resources. CABEI Executive President Dr. Nick Rischbieth noted that the Bank is carrying out eco-efficiency programs in its offices throughout the region.
Inaugurated by the President of El Salvador
The official inauguration of the new CABEI headquarters was held last night in San Salvador. A commemorative plaque was unveiled by the Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes in a special act attended by the CABEI Board of Directors, the Bank’s top authorities, and special guests.
The table of honor was presided by the Salvadoran president and First Lady, Vanda Pignato; the Manager of the CABEI office in El Salvador, Carlos Enrique Cáceres; CABEI Director for El Salvador, Guillermo Funes Caragena; and CABEI Executive President Nick Rischbieth.
At the special event, CABEI Executive President Dr. Nick Rischbieth announced that the Bank’s Board of Directors had authorized the donation of two CABEI properties known as Isla Tasajera and Punta Cordoncillo to the government of El Salvador for the purpose of conserving and restoring the biodiversity of the country’s ecosystems.
Environmentally friendly headquarters
The new CABEI headquarters in El Salvador is equipped with a cold water air conditioning system, which is more environmentally-friendly than the former system based on gas expansion. In addition, the eco-friendly system controls the pumps of the tanks of greywater and rainwater to use for the sprinkler systems on the grounds during the dry season. The newly constructed building has a rainwater management system with a 120 cubic meter tank, which will reduce the quantity of water entering the municipal sewage system and thus the impact of flooding caused by overflowing drains in low lying-neighborhoods in San Salvador.
Security and cutting edge technology
In addition, the new headquarters includes features to address the important issue of security. It is equipped with a smart system that integrates the internal and external security cameras with personnel access control, as well as control of the air conditioning and fire alarm systems and the artificial lighting of outdoor areas, including warning alerts for earthquakes and tremors.
The building also features high-tech fully-automated conference and multipurpose rooms equipped with high definition video conference systems, which can be controlled from a smartphone.
CABEI’s Institutional Strategy focuses on improving the quality of life of Central Americans. It has channeled more than 5 billion dollars to the region, generating a high impact on its sustainable development by targeting such areas as social infrastructure, energy, agriculture and rural development, development finance, services and competitive enterprises and productive infrastructure.
