Despite almost doubling world economic growth averages, Africa has been slow to adopt green building technology but more companies are starting to embrace the principles of environmental sustainabilty, according to a report in BusinessGhana.

South Africa leads the way for green buildings on the continent, according to the Top Employers Institute, which certifies excellence in working conditions in Africa and around the world. Kenya and Nigeria are just starting to adopt environmentally friendly building practices.

Green buildings are energy and water efficient, emit less carbon dioxide and make good use of space and design. All these are good for employee health, productivity and morale, studies show, according to Top Employers Institute.

The U.N. Environment Program office in Gigiri, Kenya, has 6,000 square metres of solar panels on the roof of the building.

Nigeria’s first eco-friendly building, the $65-million dollar Heritage Place office complex, is under construction in Lagos. Developers claim it will reduce energy use by 30-to-45 percent compared to other buildings in Lagos. The complex will use lighting sensors, recycle water and maximize natural light and ventilation. It will be the first commercial building in Nigeria to achieve the LEED certification.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council as a rating system and guideline for buildings.

“As organisations begin to understand the benefits of green buildings and a growing body of research supports the connectivity between sustainability and the bottom line, we are seeing more and more corporations integrating green business practices into the way they run their businesses,” said Samantha Crous, regional director of Africa for the Top Employers Institute.

Unilever, a multinational consumer goods company that does business in more than 19 African countries, has been acknowledged for its sustainability efforts. It has various green initiatives including reducing office energy consumption, using office space more efficiently and cutting down on employee travel.

By using teleconferencing in 26 countries, Unilever eliminated 14,500 short-haul flights and more than 23,500 long-haul flights, saving of 113,500 tonnes in carbon dioxide emissions and an estimated savings of 596 million rand ($55 million US).

Ernst & Young has a green building as its headquarters in Johannesburg with innovative working spaces to promote productivity and inventive design to preserve energy and water and cut down on waste. The building integrates natural light from outside into the core of the building, according to Top Employers Institute, BusinessGhana reports.

“Sustainability practices can start with simple initiatives to save power and water, all of which save costs,” Crous said. “But a more substantial outlay of money towards a building that embraces green principles will pay off in your bottom line, in productivity, and help the environment long term. It’s an investment in the future.”