The Green Building Council of Zimbabwe has called upon the construction industry to come on board to collaborate for integrated building designs that will see the promotion of Green Buildings.
Addressing stakeholders during the Green Star Rating Tool launch recently, GBCZ Founder and Secretary-General Memory Mugova said
“Today we gather to launch the Green star rating tool which evaluates and rewards fit-out and community design and construction that achieve best practise.
” The success of the rating tool depends on the support of stakeholders and I would like to challenge the construction industry to come on board, all in the quest to collaborate for integrated building designs under a multiple-disciplinary approach to design catering for the three Ps namely Planet, People and Productivity,” she said.
She added that as GBCZ they intend to run a campaign to educate industry players on the best materials to use and the best practices for sustainable buildings for an easier, faster and effective rollout of the concept.
“The highest rating of six denoted as World Leadership acknowledges optimum compliance with green building standards while the minimum rating of one appropriately refers to Minimum Practise.
“We would also want to see members advocating for tax credits and by-laws that promote sustainability in the built environment and forging partnerships with companies to work on green projects.
“The task which lies ahead is huge but not insurmountable. With the support of stakeholders we intend to run a campaign to educate industry players on the best materials to use and the best practices for sustainable buildings for an easier, faster and effective rollout of the concept” she added.
Speaking during the same event,GBCZ Board Chairman Mike Juru said the launch of the rating tool reflects the local construction industry’s readiness to embrace the concept which brings a number of benefits.
“While to some the concept of green building may be new, the phenomenon is well established in developed countries and is among the core principles in the design and construction of modern energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable structures.
“The launch today of a rating tool measuring compliance with the principles of green building is most gratifying as it reflects the local construction industry’s readiness to embrace the concept which brings a number of benefits.
“We can safely say Zimbabwe is thus ready to adopt best practices in construction, benchmarked on international standards,” he said.
