Ekogunea
ekoGU
What are we?
The aim of Kutxa Ekogunea is to offer tools to guide the general public towards a sustainable culture and practices.
In our view, sustainability is more than just a word; it is a means for achieving an eco-friendly, fair future, and we are prepared to provide resources to bring that about. These are more than mere words, we have progressed towards action. We have projects on sustainability already up and running. We support the least polluting energy models, and we provide resources for improving consumer habits. We also encourage people to respect and love the environment.
The spirit of Ekogunea will be embodied by a park within a few years from now. The park will be located on the Zabalegi rural estate in Donostia-San Sebastian (for further information see the “Where we are” section): Ekogunea will be an open park, a location for leisure and learning. Visitors will have the chance to see practices and technologies relating to the environment. Everyone, the youngest kids, parents and senior citizens, will have something to see and learn at Ekogunea.
Visitors to Ekogunea will be provided with objective, professional information as well as an advisory service. We will also be offering grants for green investments.
Location
Ekogunea is in Donostia-San Sebastian close to the boundary with Hernani (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country), between the Miramon Technology Park and the Galarreta pelota court. That is where our offices are located; in the place that once housed the Zabalegi agricultural college. In the future, the piece of land destined to be the Ekogunea park will comprise three properties:
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Benta Txiki (47,004 m2)
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Oriamendi (89,398 m2)
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Zabalegi (139,410 m2)
Ekogunea
Kutxa Ekogunea is an attitude, an initiative born with the will to progress from awareness to action. A few years from now a park will embody this project. In the meantime, we will carry on working. Our main strategic lines are as follows:
Renewable energies
Ekogunea’s philosophy is not to waste energy. The buildings there will be ones that have the lowest possible energy needs, because energy efficiency is going to be taken into account in the restoration process. The energy consumed will be based on renewable sources. We will be incorporating innovative installations: photovoltaics, thermal, biomass, geothermal, wind energy, etc. Ekogunea will be producing as much energy as it needs; it will be a zero-energy zone.
Ekogunea will also be offering advice and funding to enable people to have renewable energy installations fitted in their own homes.
Energy efficiency
Restricting the energy needs of buildings leads to significant advantages: apart from looking after the environment, it is possible to make considerable savings. Domestic appliances, lighting, boilers and air conditioning are more and more efficient and energy needs are thereby reduced. There are also innovative materials in restoration work and in new building works. Ekogunea will help you to identify which these technologies and materials are and will also offer advice and green funding to carry out restoration work. Kutxa green funding for restoring houses is as follows:
If you want to buy a new building that does not waste energy, you will be able to obtain significant advantageous terms through the Kutxa Green Mortgage. If you purchase or build a house rated as energy efficient, we will give you a discount of up to 1,000 euros on the cost of your mortgage, no matter what kind of mortgage you choose.
Sustainable transport
Mobility is very important in our everyday lives, but some habits are unsustainable.
Ekogunea will be running an exhibition of electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as one on electric bicycles and motorbikes. Visitors will have the chance to try out the vehicles, and the channels for funding will be opened up to anyone wishing to purchase one. If you buy a vehicle that causes little pollution, you will be able benefit from advantageous terms through Kutxa’s Green Line.
Caring for and loving nature
Ekogunea landscapes are beautiful. Woods, kitchen gardens, animals, etc. We will be offering you the chance to be at one with nature and enjoy it.
Kutxa goes on filling the lungs of Gipuzkoa (Basque Country). We will be planting a tree for each child that is born.
Compost
Organic waste can be turned into fertilizer by making compost. Courses will be given at Ekogunea to get to know compost making technology and its practical uses. There will be shredding machines and a warehouse for storing dry organic matter.
Natural water purification
Ekogunea will also be providing a chance to get to know the water purification process at close hand. The park will have its own water purification system.
Organic agriculture
Having the products consumed produced locally, and producing them organically is very important. That is why Ekogunea encourages organic vegetable growing, fruit growing, floriculture and stockbreeding. There will be allotments there for members of the public who want to use them.
Sustainable consumption
Customers responsibly making use of their right to choose is becoming increasingly important. The customer certainly has the chance to consume local, top quality products; but how do you set about obtaining them? Information on this will be provided at Ekogunea. There will also be a chance to sample and buy eco-friendly products.
Ecology of languages
Ecology of languages puts languages into their physical and cultural habitat, into a balanced ecosystem that has to be permanent. Ekogunea will be working to promote awareness about language diversity and language survival worldwide and in the Basque Country, in particular. It will be offering education in this field and will be proposing specific attitudes and practices to be incorporated on a social level or individually.