By Kamundia Muriithi
The University of Embu has partnered with GAPL Kenya and Kenya Climate Innovation Centre to construct a certified zero carbon building, called The Green Innovation Centre.
The building to be located inside the university will house and incubate entreprenuers and businesses addressing climate change, sustainable agriculture and food security initiatives challenges.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof Daniel Mugendi, Director of GAPL Kenya and Green Building Consultant Mugure Njendu and Kenya Climate Education Centre CEO Dr Edward Mungai signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding committing to partner towards a greener future through the development of the centre.
According to Prof Mugendi, the GIC is a landmark project that responds in three ways to the challenges of climate change, unemployment and agricultural challenges.
The university and GAPL, an architectural and urban planning firm signed an MoU in November 2020 towards working together to deliver the GIC. GAPL Kenya
“We are proud to bring on board a key ally and progressive institution in climate action and strong anchor in the support of green entrepreneurship, the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre,” said Mugendi.
Mugure who is an Architect, explained that the lead consultants developed the concept for the university on the realization that it is focused on addressing climate change challenges, and with a strong history in the agricultural sector.
“The GIC as conceptualized is a zero carbon building that will house an innovation centre that incubates, supports innovations and research and grows businesses for the local community, the nation, and larger East African region around sustainable solutions that will impact climate challenges,” she said.
Mugure added that the country will not manage to solve the climate crisis if does not tackle the building sector.
She noted that the constructrion sector has become one of the mnost significant sectors that cause real environmental impacts by emitting large amounts of emissions into the atmosphere.
Mugure cited studies that show that buildings are responsible for 39 percent of carbon dioxide emissions and 36 percent global energy consumption.
She added that the building sector has the largest potential for significantly reducing greenhouse emissions compared to other major emitting sectors.
Dr Mungai said they will mitigate climate change, support enterprises and agricultural based technologies through the partnership.
“KCIC will support by providing business incubation and acceleration services by providing advice on related intellectual property rights and strategies, commercial licensing options for the technologies and developing partnerships with commercial and industry partners for the purpose of deploying the technologies and innovations acquired,” said Mungai my
A zero-carbon building is a highly energy-efficient building that produces onsi, carbon-free renewable energy or high-quality carbon offsets to counterbalance the annual carbon emissions from building materials and operations.
All buildings must be net zero carbon by 2050 to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, and from 2030 all new buildings should be zero carbon. However, fewer than 1% of buildings are certified zero carbon buildings today.
