What it takes to be a green bank

[Standard Bank Team]

“Green” issues are not usually seen as concerns of financial services companies. So why does a highly respected publisher like Bloomberg Markets bother ranking green banks? Put simply, because it is the knowledge and skills of bankers that help “dirty” sectors clean up their act by putting together deals that allow them in turn to be more environmentally friendly.

In April this year, Standard Bank Group was named the 12th “greenest” bank in the world and the cleanest in Africa by Bloomberg Markets. This was on the back of us underwriting US$1.1-billion projects that will allow for, amongst other, the development of solar parks in South Africa.

In addition to our lending to clean-energy projects, our own environmental impact also has to be taken into consideration. This means the power we consume and the carbon footprints left in going about doing our business.

Here, Standard Bank Group’s rating was boosted by various initiatives, particularly our new building in Rosebank, Johannesburg, which has been rated five-star by the Green Building Council of South Africa.

We use solar and heat pumps wherever possible in our buildings to cater for hot water needs and ensure that only energy-efficient lighting is used. The picture above shows a solar installation at one of our regional offices.

The Bloomberg ranking (see http://standardbank.com/Article.aspx?id=-261&src=) represents Standard Bank Group’s commitment to sustainability in every aspect of our business operations in Africa and is physically manifested in the structures we build…and the “green” successes of our clients.

For more on our sustainable business principles, visit www.standardbank.com/sustainability.

Some “green” statistics of our Rosebank, Johannesburg, can be found here: http://www.blog.standardbank.com/blog/2013/02/standard-bank-s-new-office-complex-rosebank.