Ground-source heat pump
Air-source heat pump
Accessories
What is a heat pump
Air stoves
Pellet boilers
Ducted air stoves
Hydro stoves
Accessories
Insert pellet stoves 
Wood stoves 
Wood boilers
Insert wood stoves
Charcoal oven 
Sustainability is no longer a trend in the construction sector: it is a necessity. With this in mind, the first edition of Galicia Construye Sostenible was held in Santiago de Compostela. The forum was organized by Ecoforest in collaboration with Fundación RIA, Arrokabe Arquitectos and FINSA to foster dialogue among architecture, industry, energy and spatial planning.
The event, held at Fundación RIA’s headquarters, brought together industry professionals to consider how to design buildings and places that are more efficient, resilient and prepared for the environmental and social challenges of the coming decades.
One of the main messages to emerge from the event was the need for everyone involved in the construction process to work together.
Architects, engineering firms, manufacturers, forest managers and public authorities, along with developers, share responsibility for advancing more sustainable approaches. This collaboration is not always easy, however. Participants agreed that it requires empathy, an ability to engage in dialogue and a willingness to put shared goals ahead of individual interests.
They also emphasized the importance of taking a long-term view: moving beyond the aim of reducing upfront costs and investing instead in more efficient and durable buildings, avoiding what some participants described as “building cheaply only to pay dearly to live there.”
Ecoforest: maximum comfort with minimum energy consumption
Iago Bastos, head of the heat pump division at Ecoforest, discussed the role of renewable energy in decarbonizing buildings.
During his presentation, he stressed the need to assess the energy, economic and environmental performance of buildings throughout their life cycle. From this perspective, higher upfront investments in efficient technologies can pay for themselves in just six or seven years through the resulting energy savings.
Bastos advocated the early integration of systems such as heat pumps into the architectural design process, allowing the technology to form part of a project from the outset rather than being added at the end of construction.
Arrokabe Arquitectos: building to last
The architectural perspective came from Iván Andrés Quintela, co-founder of Arrokabe Arquitectos, who championed architecture capable of meeting environmental, cultural and social criteria at the same time.
His presentation focused on renovation, timber architecture and the design of buildings that can remain fit for purpose for decades. Looking beyond energy efficiency, Quintela raised important questions for the sector: can we speak of sustainability without local solutions? How can the use of locally sourced materials be balanced with requirements for durability and performance?
FINSA: sustainable construction starts in the forest
Emma Romero, head of Construction Solutions at FINSA, turned the conversation to where materials come from.
Her presentation highlighted how sustainable forest management is essential to the development of more responsible construction practices. As she explained, building with wood not only reduces the environmental impact of buildings but also helps preserve the economic and environmental value of Galicia’s forests.
The company presented examples of the circular economy in both forest management and industrial processes, including initiatives to reuse materials and make the most of available resources.
She also emphasized the importance of bringing technical knowledge of wood into the earliest stages of architectural projects to optimize its use and performance.
Fundación RIA: understanding a place before intervening
Architect Lucía Escrigas of Fundación RIA offered a perspective centered on spatial planning and the analysis needed before any architectural intervention.
Using the model village of Muimenta as an example, she explained how understanding the social, cultural and spatial dimensions of a place makes it possible to design strategies that go beyond constructing buildings. The project includes initiatives involving public space, housing, community facilities and social engagement.
The experience shows that architecture can become a tool for strengthening communities and reinforcing the relationship between people and the landscape.
The challenges facing sustainable construction in Galicia
The discussion among the speakers brought several shared challenges for the sector’s future to light:
- Promoting greater coordination among everyone involved in construction.
- Designing for the long term and considering the entire life cycle of buildings.
- Integrating energy, materials and architecture into projects from the outset.
- Strengthening the role of public authorities in creating regulatory frameworks that support sustainability.
- Investing in solutions suited to the local context without sacrificing innovation or technical performance.
A dialogue that will continue in November
This first edition of Galicia Construye Sostenible has opened a space for reflection on the future of architecture and construction in Galicia.
Sustainability, the participants concluded, does not depend solely on new technologies or materials. It also depends on the ability to connect knowledge, planning and collaboration to create buildings and places that are more efficient, livable and prepared for future generations.
The series will continue next November, in 2026, with another event exploring the challenges and opportunities of sustainable construction in Galicia in greater depth.
