The Capricorn Corner building in Klein Windhoek has earned the 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 Building Certification Inc. (GBCI), marks the first internationally recognized operational building to be EDGE-certified in Namibia.
The Capricorn Corner office building, 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, achieved a post-construction EDGE Advanced Certification with 100% energy savings, 36% water savings, and 46% savings in embodied carbon in materials.
“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,” said Janus van der Merwe, the Director of Mechanical, Fire & Green Buildings at Windhoek Consulting Engineers, which was contracted to assist with the green building certification process.
Lenore Cairncross, Green Building Lead for IFC in Africa, said the Capricorn Group, through the Capricorn Corner building, has set the bar by 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,” she said.
Capricorn Group’s Chief Financial Officer, Johan Maass, said building green allows the company to reduce its 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,” he said.
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. 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.”
EDGE is an online platform, a green building standard, and a certification system for more than 170 countries and 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, while empowering building professionals to quickly and easily determine the most cost-effective ways to build green based on occupant behavior, building type, and the local climate.
The Capricorn Group’s investment in the Capricorn Corner helped secure 250 jobs for 16 months and injected N$110 million into the economy.
