New benchmark as UN opens green building in Nairobi

By James Ratemo

The first solar energy powered United Nations office has been opened at the Gigiri complex in Nairobi.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and President Kibaki opened the new offices of the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) and the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in Nairobi Thursday.

Ban said the offices had set a new benchmark for sustainable buildings in sub-Saharan Africa and similar ‘green’ initiatives were to be adopted in all UN offices worldwide, with UN New York headquarters also planning a major overhaul by going green after 60 years.

"This building is greenest and cleanest in the world...it is beautiful, comfortable and efficient. But more than any of that, this building is a living model of our sustainable future," said Ban.

The new offices are "energy neutral", which means the building generates as much solar power as it consumes.

The energy generated by the building comes from the 6,000m2 of solar panels that line the roof. The complex also has environment-friendly paint on the walls, rainwater harvesting and wastewater recycling systems.

Kibaki thanked UN for initiating the project in Kenya, terming it a show of support for Kenya and a boost for eco-friendly building designs.

"I salute you in this innovative construction approach that has no dependence on fossil fuels," Kibaki said.

According to Ban, the venture is a showcase of how sustainable buildings can help tackle climate change as well as the transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient green economy.

"If our growing population is going to survive on this planet, we need smart designs that maximise resources, minimise waste and serve people and communities. This facility embodies the new, green economy that can usher in a cleaner future, create jobs and spur economic growth," said Ban.

A central atrium running through the three-storey building makes maximum use of natural light. Each office area features a translucent roof panel made of toughened glass, enabling natural light to penetrate right down to the ground floor.

The new building also uses low-energy bulbs and light detection controllers, which can yield savings of up to 70 per cent on lighting costs. The photovoltaic panels convert the sun’s rays into power that runs the computers, lights, cafeterias and other features of the building.

Excess power produced can be used by other buildings on the UN compound. The United Nations office at Nairobi estimates that the money invested in the solar panels will be repaid through lower energy bills in around seven to ten years.

The building sector is the single largest contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, with one third of energy use taking place in offices and homes.

Statistics show that building-related carbon emissions are set to rise from 8.6 billion tonnes in 2004 to 11.1 billion tonnes in 2020.