APHIC | NATION MEDIA GROUP By IMMACULATE WAIRIMU More by this Author As fossil fuel prices rise and concerns about pollution and climate instability cast a shadow over the future, a new world energy economy is emerging. The old world was fuelled by oil, coal, and natural gas, but it is being elbowed out by one running on wind, solar, and geo-thermal energy. With over 40 per cent of energy being used in the building industry, the focus now is on structures that are environmentally friendly. That is why news that Nairobi Business Park Phase II and Garden City Retail have won the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed) Gold pre-certification is such a major milestone for Kenya’s property sector. The accolades, which took a year to acquire, have made these two the first commercial developments in East Africa to be registered as “green” buildings under the international standards of the world’s leading green code, the Leed Core and Shell rating system, says James Hoddell, the Mentor Management Chief Executive Officer. Leed is a certification programme developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). It is aimed at encouraging environmental responsibility and the efficient use of resources in buildings. The pre-certification is awarded to buildings which, prior to construction or when undergoing major renovations, have submitted documentation that indicate realistic project goals and intentions to incorporate green features. Leed-certified buildings are designed to improve building efficiency by minimising water and energy consumption, reducing indoor pollution and deploying waste treatment, all in an effort to slow down global warming and reduce wastage costs, says Mr Hoddell. “It has been a harsh reality of the Kenyan construction market, until now, that buildings are leased out with tenants forever locked into inefficient lighting, heating and power that not only generate charges that stretch for decades ahead, but also contribute to the degradation of our environment. “As project managers, this has necessitated innovation on our part to develop environmentally conscious commercial buildings.” Statistics from UN-Habitat indicate that energy used in commercial and residential buildings accounts for a significant percentage of the total national energy consumption. It is estimated that 40 per cent of the total electricity generated in the region is used in buildings alone. This means they consume more energy than the transport and industry sectors. The building sector encompasses a diverse set of end-use activities that have different energy use implications. The amount of energy used for cooling, heating and lighting is directly related to the building design and materials, the occupants’ needs and behaviour, and the surrounding micro-climate. Majority of modern buildings in sub-Saharan Africa — with its mainly tropical climate — are replicas of buildings designed for the Western world and do not take into consideration the differences in climate. As a result, buildings are heavily reliant on artificial means for indoor comforts like cooling, heating and lighting, studies have shown. The problem is that inefficient design and construction using inadequate materials, combined with poor understanding of thermal comfort, passive building principles and energy- conscious behaviour, have led to tremendous energy wastage and, furthermore, high electricity bills. The East African Community is characterised by five different climates, according to the Köppen classification, that range from tropical rainforests to deserts. Sustainable architecture must take into account this climatic diversity, as traditional architecture once did. The Nairobi Business Park Phase II is a 15,000-square- metre, low-rise, A-Grade office block along Nairobi’s Ngon’g Road. It also has the highest parking ratios in Nairobi, leisure facilities, cafes, restaurants, banking halls, convenience shopping units and a fitness centre. Garden City Retail, on the other hand, is a 32-acre mixed-use development along Thika Road. It includes a 50,000-square- metre-mall, modern commercial premises and a three-acre central park with an outdoor arena. “Garden City’s “green design” approach is also incorporating sustainability measures that will include water recycling and rainwater harvesting, the installation of solar collectors and the extensive planting of indigenous trees and landscaping that will form the central park,” says Mr Hoddell. Mentor Management has also partnered with Web Limited, a sustainable construction consultancy, to design the commercial buildings to meet international green building standards. “The ingenuity in design of the commercial green buildings will save tenants up to 30 per cent in electricity costs and 40 per cent in water use, as well as leading to long-term savings of over 20 per cent in maintenance and service charges,” says Elizabeth Chege, a Leed accredited professional for building design and construction, and Chief Executive Officer of Web Limited. The near absence of green buildings in Kenya is affecting the cost of doing business, says Mr Hoddell. “Inefficient technology and design account for an estimated 20 per cent of energy waste, resulting in high energy costs and consequently higher production costs. This, in turn, lowers Kenya’s profile as an investment destination, as well as driving up the cost of goods and services.” These twin awards come at a time when Web Limited is planning to launch the Kenya Green Building Society (KGBS) later in the year, aimed at creating the country’s own environmental standards system for property. KGBS, registered under the World Green Building Council, is set to adopt and customise the Green Star rating system to fit the Kenyan context. To acquire a Leed pre- certification, a project must meet minimum programme requirements prior to registration and submission of documents to the Green Building Council. The certification gives credit points according to the use of integrative processes that incorporate diverse team members during the pre- design period, projects within relatively dense areas, near diverse uses, with access to a variety of transportation options, on sites with development constraints, or those that use sustainable building materials and reduce waste. The certification also considers indoor environmental qualities that promote better indoor air quality and access to the daylight and views, promote smarter use of water inside and out to reduce potable water consumption, and those that also promote better building energy performance through innovative strategies. Leed also encourages strategies that address sustainable building expertise as well as design measures not covered under their five credit categories. Developed countries have moved to primarily green buildings, with nations like the US and the UK offering grants, tax breaks and expedited permits for buildings rated as green. “In the US and Europe, we are seeing a significant premium being paid by institutional investors for certified buildings,” says Mr Hoddell. “It is not unusual to see a 0.25 to 0.5 per cent reduction in exit yield for green buildings, which leads to millions of dollars of additional value being created for the developer.” Dear Subie lovers, in the real world, the Evo outruns the … 4 comments School heads warn against order on KCSE certificates 19 comments Let MCAs travel and broaden their minds 1 comment Court allows transgenders to register lobby group 3 comments AROUND THE WEB ALSO ON DAILY NATION Comments Community
Posted on: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 12:03:45 +0000
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