Green building accolade for Capricorn Corner
The Capricorn Corner building – Capricorn Group's state-of-the-art office facilities in Klein Windhoek – earned EDGE Advanced green building certification at the end of March.The announcement of this achievement goes along with World Earth Day commemorated today, highlighting the group's progress in environmental stewardship.
An innovation of IFC, EDGE is an online platform, a green building standard and a certification system for more than 170 countries. EDGE was created in response to the need for a measurable solution to prove the financial case for building green and help jumpstart the mainstreaming of green buildings. EDGE empowers building professionals to quickly and easily determine the most cost-effective ways to build green based on occupant behaviour, building type and the local climate.
The Capricorn Corner office building was designed according to world-class standards to be future-proof, environmentally friendly and safe to meet the current needs of employees and the future workforce.
Windhoek Consulting Engineers were contracted to assist with the green building certification process. At the same time, Solid Green Consulting handled the auditing process. As a result, the Capricorn Corner's design choices achieved a post-construction EDGE Advanced Certification with 100% Energy savings, 36% water savings and 46% savings in embodied carbon in materials.
Janus van der Merwe, the Director of Mechanical, Fire & Green Buildings at Windhoek Consulting Engineers, stated: "This certification meets an exceptional level of environmental performance and solidifies the Capricorn Group's commitment to supporting Green Building developments, which will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the larger community.”
Carbon impact
"Capricorn Group has set the bar for demonstrating how major business projects can be designed, built, and certified as resource-efficient in Namibia," said Lenore Cairncross - Green Building Lead for IFC in Africa. "With this important project, Capricorn Group has the potential to increase local employment opportunities and bring value to customers while keeping operational carbon impacts to a minimum."
"Building green allows us to reduce our consumption of natural resources and reduces the environmental impact of our buildings. Commercially, ensuring a lower carbon footprint reduces Capricorn Corner's operational costs and leads to a better return for our shareholders. This ultimately makes the Capricorn Corner a sound business location for us and customers, leading to increased asset values and a defensible investment," said Johan Maass, Capricorn Group's Chief Financial Officer.
Commenting on the achievement, Ruan Bestbier, Capricorn Group Head of Sustainability, said: "Sustainability is central to our purpose and the Group's strategic imperatives, and achieving the EDGE Advanced certification supports our commitment to integrating sustainable practices and investing with responsibility.
“The Capricorn Corner building excels in energy efficiency and reducing our environmental footprint. It has also significantly enriched the surrounding communities since its inception by generating employment opportunities, driving sustainable growth, and nurturing a culture oriented towards sustainability."