Business
How Sustainability Design Can Make a Difference
Small efforts in sustainability in your home create ripples that impact the entire world as climate change accelerates.
Construction site close up with workers making dry wall and implementing glass wool Earthwool-Acoustic.
Sustainable design generally doesn’t mean drastic changes that cost tens of thousands of dollars, but smaller steps in the right direction such as better insulation and sealing your windows. (Getty Images)
Sustainable home design is a goal that’s long been sought by builders and homeowners alike. Not only does sustainable design make a house less expensive to operate, it can also help reduce carbon emissions and other environmental impacts. It’s not trendy, and evolution can be slow, but sustainability is important to help homes continue to be useful and comfortable as climate change accelerates.
Although most people think of sustainable options as only available for new homes, older homes can also be retrofitted with some level of sustainability in mind. They may never reach the level of efficiency and waste reduction that ground-up builds can, but don’t count out older homes when it comes to sustainable design.
What Is Sustainable Design?
There are many different definitions of sustainable design, but they all share similar characteristics. When it comes to real estate, sustainable design means creating efficiencies that persist for the long term on a property.
“At the highest level, sustainable design touches every part of how we, as a species, inhabit our planet. While obviously true, this can be a daunting mental model,” says Tim Gorter, founder and principal architect of Tim Gorter Architect in Santa Barbara, California. “Architects and homeowners will benefit from thinking about sustainability in categorical terms that provide the greatest impact: site strategies, water conservation, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality and material resource preservation.”
This means considering how different systems and items around a home can be designed to reduce their negative environmental impact, but sustainability isn’t just about improvements of efficiency on paper.
“Sustainable design choices can also improve the aesthetics and functionality of living spaces,” says Boyd Rudy, associate broker at Dwellings Michigan in Plymouth, Michigan. “For example, choosing materials that are locally sourced and recycled can add beauty and character to a home. Practical considerations such as passive solar orientation can also lead to improved heating and cooling performance, reduced energy costs and increased comfort. In short, sustainable design is not only good for the environment – it’s also good for the people who live in these spaces.”
Sustainable Design in Small Steps
It can seem like a huge undertaking to create a home that’s optimally sustainable, but sometimes the goal is just doing less harm. That can be a good step in the right direction, and one that’s attainable for many homeowners. This generally doesn’t mean drastic changes that cost tens of thousands of dollars, but smaller steps in the right direction.
“Energy efficiency upgrades like better insulation and sealing your windows and doors are a good way to decrease the operating costs of your home,” says John Oppermann, real estate broker and sustainable home consultant with Avenue 8, based in New York City, New York. “If you can take a holistic approach to create an energy-efficient home by designing the entire home so that it seals in hot air in the winter and cold air in the summer and uses passive elements like the sun to warm the home, then you can go a long way to reduce your heating and cooling costs. Going with what is called a ‘high-performance design’ can sometimes reduce your energy usage for heating and cooling by up to 90 percent.”
Other options, like improving your hot water efficiency and covering your windows during the hottest or coldest part of the day can also make a big impact on a tight budget, especially in an older home.
“Low-flow water faucets and shower heads would be excellent examples of cost-effective methods of improving a home both in water consumption and energy efficiency,” says Greg Wolfson, chief technology officer at EcoSmart Solution in Belvedere Tiburon, California. “Reducing hot water flow means conserving the supply of the hot water tank – which guzzles more energy than most people think. Window treatments can range widely in terms of pricing and to various degrees of impact, but even low-cost window treatments are worthy of notice for any homeowner.”
Does Sustainability Improve Property Values?
Making sustainable choices for your home can run the gamut from very inexpensive, like when you’re using salvaged materials as part of a sustainable remodel, or exceptionally expensive, like fitting your whole home with a solar system. For many homeowners, the question often becomes “at what point is this upgrade not going to pay for itself?”
Although that answer will vary widely based on your local real estate market and the buyer pool your home appeals to most, experts agree that improving efficiency can improve your bottom line when it comes time to sell.
“Studies have shown that homes with energy-efficient features tend to sell for more than similar homes without these features,” says Rudy. “Solar panels can also add value to a home, as they can reduce or eliminate a homeowner’s electric bill. And while some sustainable choices, such as rain barrels, may not have a direct impact on property values, they can still make a home more attractive to potential buyers.”
But it’s also important to remain grounded and put yourself at the center of each sustainability decision you make. Changing out incandescent light bulbs for LEDs, for example, is an easy choice because it’s virtually painless and saves so much money. Switching a home over to be powered entirely with electricity if you live in an area that experiences a lot of difficult winters with a high chance of power outages might not be as obvious of a win for you or future buyers.
“Not everyone is willing to martyr themselves on the cross of sustainability,” says Gorter. “If a sustainable design decision makes the life of the homeowner more burdensome, many people will not value that choice. To positively impact property values, focus on sustainable design features that put money in the pocket of the homeowner every month and make their life simpler, easier, and more comfortable.”
Sustainability Is a Long-Term Trend
There are never likely to be hot trends in sustainability, because changing out light bulbs and insulating an attic aren’t sexy or fun, but they do create huge ripples that impact the entire world. Starting small with sustainable choices like recycled furniture, reclaimed remodeling materials and low-water gardens in place of lawns can be great ways to think about sustainability that grows from your own home.
“The effort to lower carbon emissions shouldn’t be left to corporations,” says Wolfson. “It can be done as a collective when individuals make single efforts to help by making sustainable choices to improve their homes and properties.”
Sedabuk Oil and Gas Industry Limited has been listed among the 100 Safe Companies to Do Business With in Africa for 2025 by Emerging Elites Magazine International, in recognition of the firm’s integrity-driven operations, strict compliance culture, and employee-focused policies.
The award was presented to the Managing Director of the company, Engr. Adunola Oseni, at a ceremony attended by members of Sedabuk’s management and staff, alongside the editorial board and team of Emerging Elites Magazine in Lagos.
Presenting the award, the Editor-in-Chief of Emerging Elites Magazine International, Princess Olivia Chukwuma, said Sedabuk emerged after a “thorough, transparent and merit-based selection process” designed to identify African businesses that exemplify excellence and ethical conduct.
According to her, the 100 Safe Companies to Do Business With in Africa Award is an international initiative created to recognise indigenous African companies with proven records of integrity, safety, and best business practices, noting that awardees are continuously monitored and recertified every three years if standards are sustained.
The MD of Sedabuk Oil and Gas Industry Limited, Engr. Adunola Oseni, poses with the Certificate of Award shortly after the company was recognised among Africa’s 100 safest companies to do business with.
Chukwuma said Sedabuk was selected for its employee-centric culture, stressing that the company has no record of unpaid salaries since inception, maintains fair wages, and prioritises staff welfare through initiatives such as its “One Nutritional Meal a Day” programme, which she described as “rare and commendable” in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
She also cited the firm’s zero-tolerance policy for fraud, recalling a June 2022 incident in which a pump attendant was sanctioned for under-dispensing fuel while affected customers were compensated, an action she said “clearly reflects Sedabuk’s philosophy of integrity in service delivery.”
Other factors that earned the company the award, she said, include its reputation for honouring contracts, absence of contract-related court cases, strict adherence to safety standards, and voluntary compliance with regulatory obligations, taxes, and statutory dues without coercion.
“With these attributes and more, Sedabuk Oil and Gas has become a beacon of hope—a new breed of Nigerian company that is trustworthy, valuable, and safe to do business with,” Chukwuma said, as she inducted the firm into the Hall of Fame of the 100 Businesses Safe to Do Business With in Africa 2025.
MD, Engr.Adunola Oseni and staff of Sedabuk Oil and Gas Industry Limited during the presentation of a Certificate of Award by The Emerging Elites Magazine International, honouring the company’s adherence to safety standards and best business practices.
Responding, the Managing Director, Engr. Adunola Oseni described the recognition as “a validation of our core values and a strong motivation to do more,” adding that the award belonged to the entire workforce of the company.
“We will continue to uphold integrity, safety, and transparency in all our operations, remain committed to staff welfare and regulatory compliance, and set standards that others in the industry can emulate,” the Sedabuk boss said.
Sedabuk Oil and Gas Industry on Tuesday reinforced its reputation as a people-centred organisation as it rewarded outstanding employees with cash prizes totalling over ₦10 million at its 2025 Employee Recognition and Awards ceremony held in Lagos.
The event, which attracted over 300 staff members alongside top management officials from across the company’s divisions and subsidiaries, was organised to celebrate excellence, dedication, and loyalty within the Sedabuk workforce.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director, Engr. Adunola Oseni, described the occasion as one of the proudest moments in the company’s journey, noting that Sedabuk’s steady growth has been deliberately anchored on staff welfare and well-being. She said the company, from inception, made a firm commitment to put its people first, stressing that no organisation can truly thrive if its workforce is neglected.
Oseni disclosed that Sedabuk has never owed or delayed salaries since it commenced operations, describing prompt payment as a mark of respect and responsibility. She added that the company reviewed and increased salaries twice in 2025, improved wages across the board, and sustained its seven-year-old One-Day-Meal Programme to ensure employees do not work hungry.
The managing director announced cash awards spanning retail operations, station-based roles, marts, laundromats, and group-wide excellence categories, explaining that the initiative was not just about financial rewards but about recognising hard work and reinforcing a culture of appreciation. According to her, a loyal and motivated workforce remains the company’s most valuable asset.
She assured staff that management is entering 2026 with stronger welfare policies, better incentives, and more opportunities, with the aim of positioning Sedabuk as one of the best organisations to work in Nigeria. Oseni further urged employees to raise the bar in the coming year by working harder, smarter, and together.
Several employees emerged winners across key categories, including Pump Attendant of the Year, Station Captain of the Year, Mart and Laundromat Excellence Awards, and Special Recognition honours.
The highlight of the ceremony was the Group Chairman’s Spirit of Excellence Award, where Adediran Segun Aderonke emerged Sedabuk Star of the Year with a ₦2 million prize, while Ibiloye Olayinka won the Most Outstanding Employee of the Year award with ₦1 million.
In his remarks, the Group Head, Human Resources and Administration, Mr. Adeleye Olusanjo, lauded the managing director for her consistent leadership and unwavering commitment to staff welfare, assuring employees that more incentives and improved support structures are already being planned for 2026.
The event was attended by senior executives, including the General Manager, Finance and Strategy, Mr. Aderoju Sola; the Group Head, Operations and Logistics, Mr. Rufus Enioshunwa; and the Group Head, Corporate Audit, Risks and Ethics, Mrs. Tolulope Omotola, among others.
Established in 2018, Sedabuk Oil & Gas Industry Ltd operates over 12 petrol stations across Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has raised a red flag over two cryptocurrency products — Zugacoin and Samzuga GPT — warning the Nigerian public to steer clear of them.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, the apex capital market regulator described the digital assets as unauthorised crypto schemes with no legal backing or regulatory approval in Nigeria.
According to the Commission, neither the promoters nor issuers of Zugacoin and Samzuga GPT are registered to operate in any capacity within the Nigerian capital market.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that Zugacoin and Samzuga GPT are meme coins,” the SEC said. “Meme coins generally have no use case, intrinsic value, or tangible projects backing them.”
The regulator added that the only perceived value of such coins often stems from aggressive promotion by their creators or community hype, making them prime candidates for “pump-and-dump” fraud — a deceptive scheme where promoters artificially inflate the price of a coin through misleading information before dumping it at peak value, leaving unsuspecting investors with massive losses.
“Once the promoters dump their coins and stop hyping the coin, the coin price typically falls and investors lose money,” the SEC warned.
The Commission urged members of the public to avoid engaging in the purchase or promotion of Zugacoin, Samzuga GPT, or any similar crypto assets, noting that anyone who chooses to invest in such schemes does so entirely at their own risk.
To further safeguard investors, the SEC advised the public to always verify the legitimacy of any virtual, crypto, or digital assets and their promoters through its official platforms:
https://home.sec.gov.ng/fintech-and-innovation-hub-finport/registered-fintech-operators/
www.sec.gov.ng/cmos
This warning is the latest in the SEC’s ongoing crackdown on fraudulent digital asset operations targeting unsuspecting Nigerians amid a rise in crypto-related scams.
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