PPP Managed the Certification Compliance Process
In a significant milestone for Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) sustainable development, a prominent building in the capital has undergone an eco-friendly retrofit, effectively lowering its carbon footprint. The property, known as @345, previously Burns Haus, is now the first real estate project in the South Pacific to be accredited under the world-renowned green building certification program EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies).
Steamships, a diversified PNG conglomerate involved in logistics, property, and hospitality, in collaboration with IFC (International Finance Corporation), a member of the World Bank Group, recently announced the successful certification of the three-story @345 building in downtown Port Moresby.
Rupert Bray, Managing Director of Steamships, expressed the significance of achieving EDGE certification for @345, highlighting that it’s the first time any commercial, retail, or residential building in PNG has received such accreditation. He emphasized Steamships’ commitment to setting environmental standards, stating, “As a company with deeply held values, Steamships takes its commitment to helping set environmental standards in PNG very seriously.”
The @345 building, housing the Steamships corporate head office, Pacific Palms Property (PPP), and Coral Sea Hotels, underwent extensive renovations in 2022, setting a benchmark for modern, efficient, green buildings in PNG. This initiative by PPP, a subsidiary of Steamships, not only contributes to climate change action but also aims to promote the adoption of green design practices in PNG and beyond.
Judith Green, IFC Country Manager for Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands, stressed the global importance of greening buildings, citing that building materials contribute significantly to solid waste generation worldwide. The EDGE certification for @345 required a minimum of 20 percent savings in energy, water, and embodied energy in building materials.
Russel Sy, General Manager of PPP, highlighted their conscious effort to provide customers with functional and sustainable spaces. The incorporation of high-performance glass, insulated roofing, and energy-efficient cooling and lighting systems is expected to result in a 39 percent reduction in energy consumption. Water-efficient fixtures will contribute to a 35 percent decrease in water consumption. The overall greening efforts, including embodied energy savings of 69 percent, are equivalent to preventing the release of 60.4 tons of CO2 annually.
Pacific Palms Property is now collaborating with the national utility, PNG Power, to further diminish the building’s environmental footprint through inclusion in a solar energy pilot scheme.
While PNG faces challenges in balancing prosperity with the impact of climate change, Steamships’ leadership in this initiative has been commended. Markus Scheuermaier, IFC Resident Representative for Papua New Guinea, expressed optimism that practical solutions like this could inspire further efforts to reduce carbon footprints.