Experts claim that Rwanda decided to become green for a variety of reasons, including the necessity to protect the environment and lower building operation expenses (particularly those related to water and electricity).

Using environmentally conscious and resource-efficient building practices throughout a building’s life-cycle is known as “green building,” a resource-efficient construction strategy that results in healthier structures with less of an impact on the environment and lower maintenance costs. Green buildings are typically thought to be both financially successful and environmentally friendly.

The CEO of the Clean Production and Climate Innovation Center (CPCIC), Sylvie Mubagekazi, outlined how the costs of wind and solar power, in particular, have been steadily falling over time in the global supply chain, making these sources more competitive when compared to conventional fossil fuels.

The CPCIC was founded under the auspices of the Nation Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA) to guarantee that all technology, procedures, and services provided by the public and private sectors adhere to the best practices for resistance to climate change and more efficient or cleaner production.

Mubagekazi pointed out that adding cleaner production technologies to green buildings can come with a hefty upfront cost. It’s crucial to consider these investments as long-term plans that pay out in a variety of ways over time. According to her, many cleaner industrial technologies offer long-term savings through lower energy usage, fewer operating costs, and possibly even a gain in property value, even though the initial costs may be greater.

“Investing in cleaner production technologies contributes to environmental sustainability beyond financial considerations,” the speaker stated. Sustainability is becoming a top priority for many businesses and people, and green buildings are consistent with these ideals.”

According to her explanation, the cost of cleaner production technologies tends to go down as technology progresses. More cost-effective possibilities for putting sustainable solutions into practice might come from ongoing innovation and process improvements in manufacturing.

As previously mentioned, the savings from integrating cleaner production technologies in buildings vary based on the building’s size, the technologies that are used, and their efficiency.

For instance, a 10°C increase in room temperature can result in a 6–10% increase in the amount of fuel used for heating.

“Installing automatic lighting controls (timers, daylight or occupancy sensors) saves 10 to 25 percent of energy. Switching off the one-tonne window air conditioner for one hour daily during lunch hour avoids the consumption of 445 kilowatt-hours.”

The main factor influencing green construction expenses, according to Yves Sangwa, the CEO of Rwanda Green Construction Organization, an NGO dedicated to growing the country’s green building sector, is the kind of green building certification the customer chooses to employ.

Nonetheless, he pointed out that, in his experience, if sustainability specialists are brought in early on in the project, a building can obtain certification for the same cost as a non-green construction. Sometimes the incremental cost is between 10% and 12%, but because building operations costs like energy and water are reduced, the investment is quickly recouped.

Sangwa noted that green construction materials can’t all be local because “we can’t find finishing materials factories like glass factories, and tires as most clients prefer to purchase them in China, Turkey or Dubai which is relatively cheaper compared to the locally manufactured tires, water fittings and electrical [equipment], among others.”

He mentioned that roofs, paints, cement, and bricks are easily obtained in the area.

According to Mubagekazi, a variety of factors, including the particular technology or material, its quality, upkeep procedures, and the environment in which it is employed, might affect how long-lasting cleaner manufacturing methods and construction materials are.

However, depending on how well it is maintained and used, a green building may survive even longer than 20 years. 

Generally speaking, it is seen that green buildings save money on utility bills by using less energy and water. They also require less maintenance, which lowers operating expenses.

She mentioned that CPCIC provides in-house assessments, audits, and training on resource efficiency, cleaner production, and climate technologies to enhance industrial production processes and promote climate-friendly technologies to private operators in industrial buildings. She also mentioned that there are awareness campaigns and technical training services available.

To increase the availability of sustainable materials on the market, the service will be expanded to include building materials, such as stone, clays, sand, and natural soil material, particularly in local value chains.

“We enable access to finance for climate technology developers, businesses, and industries. This is done through expert advice, proof of concept grants or loans, prototype demonstration funding, connections to potential investors, and financial institutions providing green finance,” she added.