Nyarutarama Plaza is Rwanda’s first environmentally sustainable-certified commercial building, awarded the BCA Green Mark Award (Singapore). This five-story building with two basement floors demonstrates a commitment to green building practices, contributing to Rwanda’s sustainable development goals.
The Nyarutarama Plaza is estimated to achieve annual savings of:
Energy Savings – 15% : 184,515 kWh/ year
Water Savings – 47% : 1,183 m3/ year
Carbon Reduction : 92.26 tCO2e/ year
Building Envelope and Energy
Utilizing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Simulation, as part of natural science and environmental engineering inflow design for optimizing natural ventilation, the Nyaraturama Plaza is kept cool and well ventilated. Taking into account the climate and steady wind speeds year-round, this passive design feature ensures lowered energy demand through natural and mechanical ventilation techniques.
The Nyarutarama Plaza uses LED lights to reduce energy consumption and operational costs, resulting in 61% energy savings and a significant reduction in heat gain, thereby promoting sustainability and reducing the need for air-conditioning.
Variable Voltage Variable Frequency (VVVF) Lift
All lifts utilize VVVF Drive technology, which regulates input voltage and frequency throughout the journey, reducing current consumption during acceleration and deceleration.
Water Efficiency Conservation
The building’s water efficiency plan includes installing highly efficient water fittings and reducing the use of potable water, leading to over 60% water savings for the building. In landscaping, drought-tolerant native plants such as Lantana, Sansevieria, White Ganges Bluebell, and Chinese Violet were chosen, further decreasing the need for irrigation with potable water, enhancing the building’s overall sustainability and reducing water consumption.
Low Carbon Material
Local materials such as bricks, granite, cement are used to lower the amount of carbon footprint impacted. The project, led by Real Contractors Limited (RCL), marked Rwanda’s first green-certified commercial building. This initiative also helped enhance the team’s skills, preparing them for future environmentally sustainable projects.
Indoor Air Quality
The Plaza prioritizes indoor air quality amid COVID-19. The building’s natural ventilation helps flush out internal spaces, improving air circulation. Additionally, water-based paints were used to minimize exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOC), which can cause respiratory issues and other health concerns.
Our Involvement
GreenA as the Green Energy Consultant, successfully integrated sustainability midway through construction. Through green value engineering, the project achieved certification from Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority with zero incremental green costs.
