As a major emitter of greenhouse gases, the construction industry has a huge role to play in the global effort to combat climate change. This has meant stakeholders wide coordination to rethink building design, construction, and operations to optimize energy and water efficiencies and reduce the industry’s negative impact on the environment.

The good news is that the construction industry has made significant progress over the past three decades in charting an alternate and sustainable path.

Rapid advances in green building technologies, advanced resource efficiency methods and a mix of transparent and quantitative certification programs present a viable and measurable path toward a zero-carbon construction industry.

On the technology front, the use of improved energy efficient measures is enabling property developers to deliver future-ready buildings with energy and water efficiencies of up to 40% and near zero negative impact on the natural environment. Furthermore, the additional cost of building green is on a steady decline to comparable standards. Efficiency measures include solar thermal systems, heat pumps, low flow water fittings, solar PV systems, and heat pump for hot water, amongst others.

These technology efficiencies and the resulting cost reductions have led to a spike in global demand for sustainable buildings and a proliferation of green building certification programs. The certification programs use clearly defined metrics to prove a buildings compliance with specified energy efficiency standards – reduction in energy and water usage, and embodied energy while projecting the impact on the natural environment. Certification helps property owners achieve brand differentiation, enhance marketability and their ability to raise funding from institutional investors that are increasingly making sustainability a key criterion.

One of the leading international green certification systems is EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies), an innovation of the IFC, a member of the World Bank Group. The free EDGE App focuses on empowering developers of residential and commercial buildings to deliver resource-efficient buildings in a fast, easy, and affordable way. EDGE is a key part of IFC’s efforts to lead a sustainable future by encouraging construction developers worldwide to build a safer climate and currently in use in over 140 countries and EDGE – Leading a Green Transformation of Nigeria’s Construction Industry.

In Nigeria, EDGE is a green certification system that is quickly gaining grounds and has certified projects in Lagos, Abuja, Maiduguri and Benin City. Over the past four years EDGE has supported several forward-looking pioneers of green buildings to lead a profitable transformation of the country’s real estate sector. Some of the early adopters include Alphamead Development Company, Echostone, Alliance Capital, Greenage, Modern Shelter, MISA, American University, Karmod Nigeria, Sachela Limited and Student Accommod8. These EDGE Green Pioneers are delivering greener and energy efficient buildings in different niches that range from residential accommodation, student housing, high performance office buildings, and mass housing and witnessing impressive results. From helping them achieve corporate social responsibility as climate conscious entities to utility cost savings to occupants, these early green pioneers are at the forefront of the transformation that is set to take hold on the Nigerian real estate scene. Their experiences should encourage more developers to build green.

Like the early adopters, prospective Nigerian property developers planning to make a smooth, informed and value-based transition to green buildings have a reliable and competent partner in EDGE. They can leverage the global industry depth, strengths, and benefits of EDGE certification to chart a sustainable path for their business.

There are many reasons why Nigerian developers should build green using EDGE. First, securing EDGE certification for their building projects at the design stage would help them to position their companies at the forefront of change and attract better financing. This includes access to new sources of financing, such as green bonds, green mortgages, and better loan rates from institutional lenders and financial institutions committed to a sustainable future.

What is clear is that the global building and construction sector, which Nigeria is a key part of, is undergoing a historic sustainability transition. Property developers that would dominate the emerging sector, tap the immense opportunities, and reap financial gains are those that are quick to join the green building movement. It is time for more players in Nigeria’s construction industry to ditch traditional building methods and embrace sustainable ones. It is good for the climate and good for their bottom lines.

In the end, permit me to end this article with this quote “At its core, the issue of a clean environment is a matter of public health.”