The Capricorn Corner building, Capricorn Group’s state-of-the-art office facilities, received an EDGE advanced green building certification from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group.
The certification, presented by EDGE certification partner – Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), marks the first internationally recognised operational building to be EDGE-certified in Namibia.
This achievement also preludes this year’s World Earth Day, 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.
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.
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.
The director of mechanical, fire and green buildings at Windhoek Consulting Engineers Janus van der Merwe said: “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. This milestone is significant, because it marks Namibia’s first EDGE advanced certification”.
The green building lead for IFC in Africa, Lenore Cairncross, said Capricorn Group with their signature Capricorn Corner building, has set the bar for demonstrating how major business projects can be designed, built and certified as resource-efficient in Namibia.
“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,” Lenore added.
Capricorn Group in the Capricorn Corner helped secure 250 jobs for 16 months and injected N$110 million into the economy.
“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 Capricorn Group’s chief financial officer Johan Maass.
Capricorn Group head of sustainability Ruan Bestbier said sustainability is central to its purpose and the group’s strategic imperatives, and achieving the EDGE advanced certification supports the group’s 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.
As responsible corporate citizens, we are dedicated to promoting sustainable development in Namibia, ensuring that our projects incorporate eco-friendly features and deliver social and economic benefits to the communities where we invest and operate,” Bestbier noted.
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