ADvERTORIAL
THE gOSpEl OF gREEn
A
s the infant green-building sector in Namibia gains momentum, Emcon Consulting Group is in the forefront. Emcon achieved six Green stars – the maximum possible rating – for its first submission to assess the environmental performance of one of its buildings. What is more, it was Namibia’s first 6-star Green Star certification for existing building performance (v1), and it had been built by an entirely Namibian-based team of Green-Star-accredited professionals. Recognising and rewarding environmental leadership in the property industry is part of a movement that is set to change the way we impact the environment through our buildings. In South Africa, green building shows exponential growth with certifications doubling every year. While the recently established Green Building Council of Namibia (GBCNA), a member of the 100-nation-strong World Green Building Council, is gaining traction and the green building industry is off to a slow but
steady start, there are a few hurdles to overcome. One of the obstacles is reluctance. Despite overwhelming scientific evidence, climate-change sceptics still abound. Another obstacle is misunderstanding. Committees of sceptics generally own buildings, and ‘Capital’ only understands numbers. Fortunately, evidence shows that green makes good business sense, and does not cost nearly as much as the uninformed believe. Global research proves increased building value, higher rental income, improved tenant retention, lower operating costs and enhanced productivity and health benefits by building green. This not only inspires warm fuzzy feelings, it also impacts the bottom line. In the long run, sustainable businesses will be those that adopt a more benign way of operating, and building owners who embrace sustainability will become market leaders.
78 EMCON Tel: 061 224 725 www.emcongroup.com
Now that Emcon happily works in a healthy, green environment and has first-hand experience of the cost and benefits of going green, the next challenge is to spread the ‘gospel of green’. We envision the prospect of all buildings making even a portion of the 79% energy and 48% water savings that we make. Perseverance is required to overcome rebuff by those who reject sustainability, opting instead for short-term, low-cost measures to the detriment of long-term financial and environmental benefits. There is power in knowledge, persistence and numbers, though, which is why Emcon invests in a large team for its sustainability drive. We have six Green Star Accredited Professionals with more on the way. Our staff has been trained as green tour guides, who eagerly show off our green office building’s features to visitors, sharing the benefits of sustainability with a larger audience and bringing the green message home.