Efforts are underway to establish a body that will encourage the construction of green buildings in Namibia. To this end a working group that is now planning the establishment of a Green Building Council of Namibia (GBCNA) was recently set up.

At the Third Development Dialogue Series held in Windhoek recently, the group’s chairperson, Nina Maritz, explained that a green building is energy-efficient, resource-efficient and environmentally responsible.
“A green building incorporates design, construction and operational practices that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of development on the environment and its occupants,” she said.
Maritz said the role of the GBCNA will be to promote and facilitate green building practices, technologies and operations, develop and operate a green building rating system and help build capacity in energy efficiency in the building industry. Maritz further explained that Green Councils have been established in more than 80 countries. The Green Building Council of South Africa was established in 2007.
The Namibian council will affiliate to the World Green Building Council, a coalition of national Green Building Councils and is the largest international organisation influencing green architecture.
The GBCNA will be an independent legal entity, governed by a constitution and will operate as a non-profit-making body. The group spearheading the creation of the GBCNA consists of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Ministry of Regional, Local Government and Rural Development, United Nations Development Programme, Arandis Town Council, Nedbank, EMCON Consulting Group, Nina Maritz Architects, Urban Green cc and environmental consultant, George Kozonguizi.