By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Dec 6, GNA- The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) has reiterated its commitment to championing the green building agenda.
Green building is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction.
Mr Anthony K.K. Sam, the Metropolitan Chief Executive, STMA, said the city’s caveat to redevelopment for ‘sustainable Sekondi’ and ‘transformative Takoradi’ was that all building replacements and renovation must at least meet requirements as stipulated in the Ghana Building Code.
He said it would help them to live comfortably in proximity to their workplace.
“It will not only save government the cost of unending infrastructure in new areas, but reduce the carbon footprint in the city since the largest portion of greenhouse-gas emissions comes from energy use in residential and commercial buildings, as well as transportation."
Mr Sam said this in his remarks during a stakeholder engagement on green building, dubbed: “Build and Brand Green with Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE): A Bruch with Your Peers”.
It was hosted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group; and supported by SGS Ghana (a leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company).
EDGE, an innovation of IFC, is a green building certification system focused on making new residential buildings more resource-efficient.
It comprises of a web-based software application, a universal standard and a certification system.
EDGE aims to help developers reduce their buildings’ energy and water consumption by 20 per cent, while lowering greenhouse-gas emissions.
Mr Sam noted that with public finances under stress worldwide, one thing certain; was allocating funds to expand energy, water and roads separately was ineffective and unaffordable.
He said the contribution of the design, construction and use of buildings in the city could do more than help reduce government expenditure, and could help cities become simultaneously healthier and more livable while limiting carbon emissions.
Mr Sam recounted that, the twin city on the 13th November, this year, instituted a new city policy of a 30 per cent reduction in building permit fees for all developments that were certified with EDGE.
He noted that unfortunately, the Takoradi mall which met all the requirements of a green building and certified by EDGE did not benefit from this recent policy.
“However, as a practical example, it’s tailored in our marketing plan which will soon be pursued to help encourage the resource-efficient development of the property sector in the city”, he added.
He said effectively, the Assembly sanctioned that almost all new municipal projects be it schools, clinics, markets, offices or public toilets must conform to the EDGE standard.
Mr Richard Dade, President of the Ghana Institute of Architects, also noted that buildings had a life cycle; from planning, design, construction, maintenance, renovation, and demolition.
He emphasised that at all stages for this life cycle of building, there was a need to ensure they were maintaining the efficiency of resources, and that they responded at all times to the environment.
Mr Dade noted that, this was where EDGE comes to play, describing it as a tool that enables “you to objectively establish how ‘responsive’ you are in the environment; it allows you to change your building materials to attain the required standard”.
Mr Foster Osae Akonnor, Lead Founder, Ghana Green Building Council, said in 2015 countries signed up to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and it was interesting to note that buildings could be used to achieve over 70 per cent of these goals.
He said there was therefore, the need for Ghana to do more in terms of providing quality educational infrastructure.
GNA
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