A study titled ‘Greening Buildings and Communities: Costs and Benefits’, shows that about 50 percent of all green buildings studied reported a payback of five years or less just from energy and water savings. However, that figure jumped to 90 percent when health and productivity benefits were included.
By EB Content Studio
Kenya has the opportunity to set a benchmark for Africa in implementing cost-saving green technologies, as it pursues its development goals as a committed signatory of the International Climate Agreement (ICA), according to the Kenya Green Building Council’s (KGBS), Madhur Ramrakha.
In an interview with a local publication, he adds that as the 49th ICA signatory, Kenya has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030, while achieving its housing, infrastructure, job and healthcare goals. But while the public sector will be the driver of sustainability policy and regulation, the built industry (real estate and infrastructure developers) will be the key to achieving the Government’s ambitious goals.“
“We have to be smart in Africa; we cannot follow historical development models and clean up later,” observes Ramrakha.
On his part, Vice Chairman of Kenyan Green Building Society, John Kabuye, points out savings that would accrue in a shift towards green buildings.
“In Kenya, green buildings can be constructed at the same or even lower cost as a conventional building as the materials used save energy by as much as 30 to 60 percent. Strathmore, for instance, was able to save 20 percent of its projected budget on its first green building structure – Strathmore Business School.”
According to a study titled ‘Greening Buildings and Communities: Costs and Benefits’, supported by renewable energy investor, Good Energies, about 50 percent of all green buildings studied reported a payback of five years or less just from energy and water savings. However, that figure jumped to 90 percent when health and productivity benefits were included.
API’s Managing Director, Kfir Rusin says that with technology improvements driving down capital costs, and green initiatives now improving efficiency and operating costs – alongside a proliferation of green financing instruments, and the increased impact of climate change on Africa’s countries – there is now a real opportunity for this cost-saving momentum.
“While a handful of countries have pulled out of the ICA, the US in particular, we believe this period of economic growth led by the non-resource-based economies of East Africa provides an ideal opportunity for sustainability to guide and shape the development process going forward.”
He adds that Kenya and the region will continue to enjoy strong economic growth, but if policies and procedures, and most importantly financing and certifications from the region’s Green councils are not made transparent and understandable for developers and investors.
“The region will lose an opportunity. Intrinsically linking commercial viability with sustainability, at a time of such intensive building and development, offers the possibility of elevating the region’s people into a prosperous new world,” Rusin asserts.
As climate change continues to ravage the continent, socially conscious clients are beginning to demand green design in their homes and businesses, especially as the building sector. The Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says that the real estate sector contributes up to 30 percent of all greenhouse emissions.
In East Africa, and Kenya in particular, ambitious warehousing projects, new retail centres and Kenya’s growing importance as a global trade hub are all driving green innovation to reduce costs that will be covered at this year’s EAPI Summit scheduled for 24-25 April 2022.
Toby Selman, CEO of Africa Logistics Properties (ALP), argues that such green building practices offer multiple business advantages, despite the initial upfront costs.
“In Nairobi, our flagship ALP North Logistics Centre will be the first EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certified project in the industrial sector in Kenya. We wholly believe that the social, economic and occupier benefits outweigh the higher upfront costs of implementing environmental features on our developments, such as rainwater harvesting, solar power and insulated building. These result in lower operating costs for our tenants and add long-term sustainable value to the quality of our buildings.”