The Access Tower, the banking headquarters of Access Bank Plc, located in Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos State, has been certified as a Green Building by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for excellence in design for greater efficiencies.
Access Bank’s dedication to sustainable building techniques and its initiatives to lower energy use, water usage, and embodied carbon in building materials were acknowledged by the EDGE Green Building certification program. With initial funding from Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the program is supported by the Japanese government in Nigeria and globally funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) of the United Kingdom Government.
Access Bank’s head office has reduced energy use by 20%, water use by 33%, and embodied carbon in materials by 100%, BrandSpur banking and finance news report.
Mr. Gregory Jobome, Executive Director, Risk Management at Access Bank, commented on this accomplishment: “At Access Bank, we have always understood that our purpose goes far beyond banking.
“We are architects of change, custodians of the future, and now, we stand proudly at the intersection of finance and environmental leadership. This building and this certification embody our vision to set a new standard for building, operating, and growing responsibly.
“Our collaboration with the EEN team was transformational, and together, we have shown that environmental performance and business performance are not rivals, but partners. We believe that in that partnership lies the future of banking, the future of corporate Africa, and ultimately, the future of our planet,” he added.
To speed up the construction of green buildings in developing nations, IFC works with bankers, governments, developers, and building owners worldwide. In total, more than 800,000 square meters of mixed-use developments, offices, residences, hospitals, retail establishments, hotels, and student housing throughout Nigeria have earned EDGE certification.
BrandSpur banking and finance news reports that the sustainability features of the head office building, which include an insulated roof, high-performance glass, a fresh air pre-conditioning system, smart energy meters, water-efficient kitchen and bathroom faucets, efficient water closets, and low embodied carbon materials, demonstrate Access Bank’s commitment to environmental responsibility.
Continuing, the building installed flow regulators in all of its showers, faucets, and water closets to meet the EDGE water requirement. These energy, water, and embodied carbon savings are expected to reduce the Head Office’s environmental impact and save a significant amount of money.
The EDGE certification is a commonly recognised standard for green buildings that seeks to improve a building’s resource efficiency. The certification procedure involves a comprehensive assessment of the structure’s design and construction, including independent third-party audits, to guarantee that a building meets the strictest sustainability standards.
IFC’s EDGE project aims to spread green building ideas globally by providing a controlled process for designing and certifying resource-efficient buildings. The effort, which has been implemented in nearly 200 countries and has certified over 100 million square meters of floor space, has assisted developers worldwide in designing buildings that use less water, energy, and embodied carbon.
IFC collaborates with bankers, governments, developers, and building owners globally to expedite the construction of green buildings in developing countries. Across Nigeria, EDGE certification has been obtained by more than 800,000 square meters of mixed-use developments, offices, homes, hospitals, retail stores, hotels, and student housing.
