"More that a financial help will be needed to incite green building.”
Sustainable construction and the creation of high environmental quality buildings have a better profitability according to Emma Ozsen. She explains the advantages of green building
• With your experience in the sustainable development industry and green constructions abroad, what is your analysis of the Mauritian situation?
Mauritius is going in the appropriate direction with the ‘Maurice île durable’ concept. Preconceived ideas regarding green construction and sustainable development have to be changed. Sustainable construction and the creation of high environmental quality buildings are much developed in European countries, mainly in northern ones. Construction professionals are much qualified to carry out those works which require strict measures to prevent, for example, heat loss in winter and the loss of fresh air in summer.
• What is a green building?
It is a building which respects its concept whether it is in its conception, in its management, its sustainable development elements. Primarily, the energy and water quantity used in each of the building’s phases must be less than the quantity use by a usual building. Energy and water are key elements in sustainable development and must be considered first and foremost. The green building must make an optimum use of passive techniques such as natural ventilation and passive cooling down, recycling and the possible re-use of construction material. A green building must take into account the good physical and psychological health of its users but this factor is often ignored. Scientific studies proved the decreased absence rate of an office after it has been rebuilt to introduce natural light. A supermarket used skylights to introduce natural light and witnessed an increase in its customers in its naturally lit areas.
• To which extent can the existing buildings and houses go green?
Existing buildings’ renovation is possible but the advantages, mainly financial, are often less obvious that for new buildings. Some of the building’s parameters are fixed, like the orientation, the rooms’ settings, the choice of materials, etc. Those can considerably diminish the energy requirements of the building if they are taken into account as from the conception. Some measures may be taken to make the existing buildings ‘greener’. The facades may be modified to reduce the solar gains by exterior protection elements. The building’s mechanic demand may be reduced by maximizing natural lighting, natural ventilation, and free-cooling at night and the comfort by local ventilation rather than a large room’s air conditioning. The stocking and the waste collection may be introduced if they are non-existent in the actual building. The water conservation may be bettered by replacing the more economic systems. The paint and other material used inside the building may be replaced by those having a lower rate in volatile organic compound. The implementation of renewable energy systems may be considered to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels.
• What shall be an enterprise’s or an individual’s benefits when constructing a green building rather than a traditional one?
It is rewarding for a promoter to construct a green building. This provides him with the opportunity to take part into the environment’s protection and to work towards sustainable development. Constructing a green building brings financial advantages. Researches proved that ‘green’ certified buildings have a better profitability on a long term basis and attract clients who are ready to invest in ecological but modern buildings. Also, studies suggest that green commercial buildings will contribute to savings entailed by a decreasing absence rate.
• If public authorities could take measures to encourage green buildings, which one, according to you, should they undertake?
Some measures have already been taken in the ‘Maurice île durable’ framework to undertake existing building’s audit. This will be of great help for future constructions as this database will serve as guideline to diminish the energy demand in different buildings types. It will also be useful to have an evaluation system of the environmental performance, adapted to the Mauritian context such as the Building Research Establishment or the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. They take into account the whole building’s efficiency and the evaluation criteria such as energy, water, pollution, transport, health and the buildings’ users’ comfort. Those tools ensure the coordination between the different construction professionals to ensure that the buildings are of high environmental quality. Furthermore, to incite encourage promoters into green building; there must be an available financial aid. Mauritius took the appropriate path by proposing Green Loans and discounts on solar water-heaters and economic light bulbs.
• Are foreign projects feasible in Mauritius?
Why not? Mauritius is small but full of resources. By implementing improvement strategies and integrating the actual efforts such as the advancement of green projects and the application of the appropriate evaluation methods, Mauritius may undertake what is being done in other countries. We are lucky to benefit from sunlight all year long, and the opportunities to use solar energy in the context of sustainable development are wide. Once the first green buildings are operational and that we will display the green building possibilities as well as their profitability, I think that there will be an important increase in the forthcoming years.
Interview by Valérie OLLA
Source: L’express dated Thursday 17/12/09
