With concerns growing over the fast rate at which the climate is changing, developers are being called upon to adopt sustainable practices that reduce the impact their activities have on the environment.
Due to its role in causing rapid climate change, the construction industry has been getting a lot of attention in regard to sustainability. This is because it is responsible for 40% of all carbon emissions in the world.
Indeed, mining and the fabrication of construction materials have been known to have a negative impact on the environment. This includes pollution of water sources, pollution of land, as well as increased carbon emissions.
During the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP27), held this month in Egypt, statistics revealed that the manufacturing of cement alone produces 2.8 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases every year. If urbanization continues at current rates, this amount could reach 4 billion tonnes.
Due to this, governments and investors support only projects that pass the sustainability scorecard, which requires architects and developers to adopt sustainable construction practices.
Chacha observes that though there is still more that can be done, as a country, Kenya is making some progress on the sustainability journey. A growing number of people are adopting green and sustainable buildings, especially in growing cities.
“Density and sustainability are not necessarily contradictory. In fact, they can be mutually dependent and synergistic. Garden City and Mivida are among the projects that have been certified and have proof.
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According to Chacha, Kenya is making progress on its sustainability journey, even though more needs to be done. According to him, more people are adopting sustainable and green buildings, particularly in cities with growing populations.
“Density and sustainability are not necessarily contradictory. In fact, they can be mutually dependent and synergistic.
Garden City and Mivida are among the projects that have been certified and have proof of sustainable development. The uptake of these projects is very positive,” notes the realtor.
Most buyers today are looking for eco-friendly, self-sufficient, natural resource-efficient homes so they can cut their electricity, water, and waste disposal costs.
“Developers are also promoting green projects, recognizing the cost-saving benefits they can provide. Additionally, they are encouraging buyers to pay more for appliances and fittings that are energy efficient and that improve their health and quality of life by undertaking these types of projects,” Chacha explains.
He says that though the sustainable building has been criticized for using expensive materials, green buildings can be considered more valuable than traditional ones. That is because, in the long term, occupants are able to save on utility bills.
Indeed, statistics indicate that the value of green buildings over traditional buildings can increase by up to 7 percent over time.