The Nakuru County Government has entered into a partnership with the Kenya Green Building Society (KGBS) as it seeks to transform its building industry into an environmentally friendly and sustainable sector.
The Building Efficiency Accelerator Partnership Agreement (BEAPA) is aimed at promoting and improving awareness on green building’s designs, practices, programs, technologies and operations.
The partnership is also aimed at establishing internationally acclaimed standards of construction that are recognized globally as well as publish a code of conduct for construction industry players.
The Water, Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Executive (CEC), Eng. Festus Ng’eno, said the project will support and encourage teaching programs aimed at raising the knowledge and awareness of green buildings.
The CEC noted that Nakuru County had made major strides in achieving a greener environment and hence any support towards achieving environmental responsiveness was a welcome move.
Eng. Ngeno was speaking in his office on Thursday, when he hosted a delegation from the KGBS led by the Chairperson, Ms. Elizabeth Chege.
Ng’eno told the delegation that the administration of Governor Lee Kinyanjui was committed towards raising professional and ethical standards of the construction industry as it gears towards achieving city status.
He said that it was, therefore, quite encouraging to see other partners coming on board to help realize the objectives of the county government so as to ensure proper planning and environmental assessment of upcoming constructions.
The Kenya Green Building Society (KGBS) is an independent membership based society formed to advocate for green building, rate the built environment and train industry on green building.
It is registered with the World Green Building Council and is one of the 100 members alongside South Africa, Australia, UK and USA.
KGBS seeks to lead the transformation in the construction industry towards environmentally sustainable buildings and promoting healthy and efficient environments.
“As a County we have done a lot of work in terms of greening as Nakuru prepares for city status and the MoU with the Kenya Green Building Society will supplement our efforts,’’ added the CEC.
In her remarks. Ms Chege said that her organization would share information with the County government about skilled professional partners with expertise in sustainable construction design strategies.
She further said that the organization would assist in training personnel on the green buildings initiative with a view to equipping them with relevant skills’
KGBS was awarded certification by the South African based Green Building Council (GBCSA) which allows it to drive the green building industry in Kenya through internationally recognized best practice green building tools and education courses.
This allows KGBS to radically transform the way buildings are designed and constructed in a bid to ensure they do not harm the environment.
The Green Star rating which KGBS is now using to rate buildings has been extensively adapted for the local African climatic and economic setting, which makes it the rating tool of choice for property owners in the African context.
By Jane Ngugi
