Retail group, Melcom Ghana, has received International Finance Corporation (IFC) Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) green building certification for its innovative approach of infusing retail and sustainable designs.
The two retail centres are the boundary Road and Spintex Melcom Mall in Accra.
Spintex, and the Shopping Centre on Boundary Road are designed to reduce their environmental impact. Melcom Mall targets a 97 per cent reduction in energy, 39 per cent in water, and 47 per cent in embodied carbon, while Boundary Road aims for 70 per cent, 38 per cent and 29 per cent, respectively.
Both centres include energy-efficient designs, renewable energy, water-saving fixtures, and low-carbon materials, demonstrating Melcom’s commitment to sustainability.
EDGE Certification recognises businesses that demonstrate a commitment to sustainable practices and show leadership in green initiatives within their industry.
Speaking at the event in Accra, the Group Managing Director of Melcom Limited, Ramesh Sadhwani, highlighted that the EDGE Certification was more than a badge, saying “it’s a powerful statement about who we are as a company and what we believe in. It signifies that we are meeting international standards for standards for energy efficiency, water conservation and the use of sustainable building materials.”
Mr Radhwani noted that that the company believed in building sustainably would contribute to the global movement to combat climate change, protecting the natural resources and also create a healthier space for people to live, work and thrive.
“We also believe that sustainable development makes good business sense. It drives innovation, reduces operational costs, and enhances the value of our properties. In short, sustainability is not just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do,” he added.
He, however, indicated that acquiring the EDGE Certification was not easy but required commitment and investment.
“We invested in new technologies, leveraged cutting-edge design, and prioritised materials and methods that reduce environmental impact without compromising on quality, safety or comfort. Till date we have invested approximately US$2 million in solar with a capacity of approx. 2.5MW of electricity over 12 locations,” he indicated.
On his part, the country Manager for the IFC, Mr Kyle Kelhofer, stressed that IFC and Melcom collaboration was a step forward to foster green investments, enhance energy efficiency, and reduce the environmental impact of the retail sector in Ghana, ultimately contribute to a greener, more sustainable future for the country.
He added that Melcom’s sustainable initiatives were a prime example of the growing movement in Ghana towards integrating environmental responsibility with business success.
“The certification process took into consideration 20 per cent efficiency standards on energy, water, and embodied materials to meet the certification requirement for the EDGE Standard,” he added.
The Certification audit took account of the building’s embodied technical solutions, as registered in the area of energy and water conservation technologies, such as its reduced window–to-wall ratio; the use of high-performance glass; fresh air pre-conditioned systems; efficient lighting for interior areas; efficient lighting for exterior areas and power factor correction.
The certification programme also acknowledges LMI’s innovative technology and designs, which are projected to achieve a 26 per cent reduction in energy use, a 20 per cent reduction in water use, and a 73 per cent reduction in embodied carbon in materials.
BY EMMANUELLA
MBAMA AKIMBI
