By Juliet Etefe ([email protected])))
Access Bank Ghana PLC has received the Excellency of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Design for Greater Efficiency (Edge) Green Building Certification for the banking center in OSU-ACCRA.
This recognition underlines the bank's commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
The EDGE certification program, which is supported by the Ministry of Energy Safety and Net Zero (DESNZ) of the United Kingdom with initial financing from Switzerland, secretariat for economic matters (SECO) is a globally recognized standard for green buildings.
It ensures that certified buildings correspond to the high efficiency standards for energy consumption, water savings and the reduced carbon in materials.
Therefore, it recognizes the commitment of Access Bank for sustainable building practices and its efforts to reduce energy consumption, water consumption and the embodied carbon in building materials.
Effects
Access Bank Ghana headquarters is expected to reduce energy consumption by 29 percent, a reduction in water consumption by 25 percent and a reduction in the embodied carbon by 99 percent.
The building contains sustainability measures such as isolated outer walls, high -performance glass, efficient cooling system, water warehouse with a low flow and the use of low -embodied carbon materials. In addition, retrofits, including ventilation on taps, were implemented in order to meet the standards of edge water efficiency.
At the certification hand supply ceremony in Accra, Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana, Olumide Olatunji, confirmed the commitment of the bank for sustainability.
“At Access Bank, sustainability is the core of our business, and the achievement of the IFC -DGE certification for our central building is proof of our unshakable commitment to sustainable banking. This milestone reflects our conscious efforts to integrate resource efficiency, environmental responsibility and innovation into our business, ”he said.
Mr. Olatunji further emphasized the strategic importance of sustainability and found that the efficiency in resource use not only benefits the environment, but also increases financial performance.
“There are two ways to make money: either you increase your sales or you reduce your costs. By efficiently manage our costs through sustainability, we make sure that we pay dividends, make our shareholders happy and offer our customers long -term funds, ”he added.
The role of IFC in the development of environmentally friendly buildings
IFC Regional Director for Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa, Dalia Khalifa, praised the management of the access bench in sustainability.
“We look forward to awarding the access bench with the Edge Green Building certification. The engagement of the access bank for sustainability and resource efficiency is a strong example for other financial institutions. This certification underlines how important it is to integrate environmentally friendly building practices in order to achieve a positive impact on the environment and society, ”she said.
She also emphasized the financial advantages of sustainability and said: “Sustainable buildings not only contribute to protecting the environment, but also lower operating costs. When companies reduce their energy and water consumption, they bring their customers and shareholders more value and at the same time expand more services for their customer base. “
The EDGE certification program promotes environmentally friendly building practices worldwide and certified over 100 million square meters of floors in almost 200 countries.
In Ghana there are around 54 ongoing projects and around 800,000 square meters offices, houses, hospitals, retail stores and warehouses have received an EDGE certification. IFC continues to support green projects in the country, including the 16.84 megawatt-solar roof project by LMI Holdings.