+IMPACT Magazine Issue 25

IMPACT 25 

Official publication of Green 

Building Council South Africa 

REIMAGINING 

THE FUTURE 

one building at a time

Strive for Net Zero 

while saving money at the same time! 

Rooftop, solar carports, ground-mounted solar, and agrivoltaics represent the best-value energy 

available to the energy customer in South Africa. 

Blue Sky Energy is an expert in the design, procurement and construction of such plants. 

Battery energy storage installations provide access to solar energy daily during peak hours when the 

sun is not shining and enable users to bridge their primary energy needs through grid interruptions. 

While the levelised cost of hybrid solar and battery storage installations is significantly greater than 

solar PV only, appropriately sized solutions can be commercially feasible. 

Would you like to know if your property or business can achieve energy security at the same cost 

or less than what you are paying currently? 

Did you know that Section 

12B of the Tax Act allows for 

the accelerated depreciation 

of your power generation capex, 

resulting in a 27.5% saving on 

your project installation? 

Agrivoltaics and 

Solar Carports 

Blue Sky Energy works 

with leading light steel 

frame construction 

suppliers to offer a range 

of innovative solutions 

such as agrivoltaics and 

solar carports. 

Have you considered 

putting your spare space 

to work? Whether you 

have low-value land or 

large parking spaces, 

bring them to life through 

solar PV installations that 

create energy and highvalue 

spaces such as 

shade for parking or 

tunnels for agriculture. 

123RF 

123RF 

Website: www.blue-sky.energy Email: enquiries@blue-sky.energy 

CONTACT THE EXPERTS AT BLUE SKY ENERGY RIGHT NOW!

Complete coating system. 

Complete professional service. 

Reliability is at the heart of our industry, and our Professional range is 

no different. Product innovation coupled with our value added services 

gives you a distinct advantage. 

Our complete coating system, spanning preparation, trim, wall 

and textured coatings, is designed to ensure guaranteed product 

performance and value from start to finish. 

All Plascon Professional products with the Ecokind logo have VOC 

levels within the GBCSA standards for Green building ratings. 

Designed for professionals. 

6 

8 

9 

14 

18 

26 

34 

42 

48 

52 

OUR EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD 

EDITOR’S NOTE 

COLUMN 

Chair’s corner 

GBCSA CONVENTION NEWS 

An overview of the draft programme for this year’s 

Green Building Convention 

INTERIOR MOTIVES: THE WORKPLACE REVISED 

At ENS’s 5-Star Green Star Interiors V1-certified Cape Town office, the 

welfare of its people is as integral to sustainability as its considered design 

DEEP DIVE: RESPONSIBLE & HEALTHY 

The next two categories in the New Build v2 tool centre predominantly 

around the well-being of building occupants and system processes 

FROM THE GROUND UP 

As the first GBCSA-certified, Net-Positive Ecology Level 2 – Operational 

Ecology (Measured) project in South Africa, dsm-firmenich South Africa 

paves the way for sustainable landscaping in the green built environment 

LESSONS IN PRESERVATION 

Having been awarded a 5-Star Green Star certification for its new building 

complex design, Cape Town’s Bracken Nature Reserve is set to align with 

the City’s Net-Zero carbon goals 

A POWERFUL FORCE FOR GOOD 

Recently appointed CEO of the National Business Initiative, Shameela 

Soobramoney shares her vision for the role of business in supporting 

sustainable development objectives 

ON THE LEADING EDGE 

Illovo Country Estate’s affordable housing project has garnered an 

EDGE certification from the GBCSA – a first in the country 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: PLASCON ADVISORY SERVICE ON 0860 20 40 60 

@PlasconSA @PlasconSA @PlasconSA 

Project Guarantee Terms and Conditions apply. © Kansai Plascon (Pty) Ltd. 2022. All rights reserved. Plascon is the registered trademark of Kansai Plascon (Pty) Ltd. 

POSITIVE IMPACT ISSUE 25 

3

IMPACT 

The official publication of GBCSA 

RUNNER-UP 

PROPERTY 

PUBLICATION 

OF THE YEAR 

2022 

RUNNER-UP 

PROPERTY NEWS 

WEBSITE OF 

THE YEAR 

2022 

Editor 

Mariola Fouché 

editor@positive-impact.africa 

Director 

Danielle Solomons 

dani@positive-impact.africa 

Editorial Contributors 

Nicole Cameron 

Marlinée Fouché 

Katherine Graham 

Melinda Hardisty 

Anne Schauffer 

Shameela Soobramoney 

Editorial Assistant 

Melanie Taylor 

Professional Membership Partners 

GBCSA Editorial Advisory 

Georgina Smit 

Jenni Lombard 

Abi Godsell 

Dash Coville 

Anja Thompson 

Ann-Mari Malan 

Design and Layout 

Carla Lawrence, CDC Design 

Media Sales 

Tanya Duthie 

Glenda Kulp 

Vania Reyneke 

Cover Photograph 

ENS 

Joint Publishers 

Gordon Brown 

gordon@greeneconomy.media 

Danielle Solomons 

danielle@greeneconomy.media 

Co-Publisher: GEM 

Alexis Knipe 

Web Digital and Social Media 

Steven Mokopane 

MPeople Resourcing (Pty) Ltd 

t/a GreenEconomy.Media 

Reg no. 2005/003854/07 

ADVERTISE WITH US 

For advertising and sponsored content contact Danielle Solomons 081 7800 233 | dani@positive-impact.africa 

Advertising rates are discounted for GBCSA members and further discounts are available for booking multiple editions in 2024. 

Chief Executive Officer 

Lisa Reynolds 

Finance & Operations and 

Executive Director 

Levinia Palmer 

CALLING ALL THOUGHT LEADERS 

+Impact magazine, the official publication of the GBCSA, presents thought leadership from local and international green building commentators and 

practitioners, and showcases the excellent work of GBCSA members. Are you a thought leader in your relevant field? GBCSA members are invited to submit 

stories about projects, design concepts, materials, research and anything else that promotes a healthy sustainable built environment. Submit a 100-word 

description of your content idea to: editor@positive-impact.africa 

WHERE INNOVATION 

MEETS PRECISION 

Experience the Canon imagePROGRAF TZ-30000 – designed for 

architects, construction firms, and interior designers. 

With rapid 4ppm (A1) printing and a 5-color, 700/330 ml ink tank system, redefine 

CAD drawing and poster production. Handle 100 A0 CAD pages with the top 

delivery tray and minimise downtime with hot swap media rolls and inks. Smart 

software prevents misprints, while Canon’s water-resistant pigment ink ensures 

industry-leading quality. 

Elevate your printing with Canon imagePROGRAF TZ-30000 

– Where innovation meets precision. 

Scan QR Code for more information. 

TALK TO US Subcribe to newsletter | www.greeneconomy.media 

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any way or in any form without the prior written permission of the Publisher. The opinions expressed herein are not 

necessarily those of the GBCSA or the Publisher. All editorial and advertising contributions are accepted on the understanding that the contributor either owns or has obtained all necessary copyrights and 

permissions. GBCSA and the Publisher do not endorse any claims made in the publication by or on behalf of any organisations or products. Please address any concerns in this regard to the Publisher. 

4 POSITIVE IMPACT ISSUE 25

IMPACT 

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD 

BOB VAN BEBBER 

Bob van Bebber, a senior director at Boogertman + Partners spearheads the conceptualisation 

and delivery of many of the practices’ large complex projects. From Soccer City, the main 

stadium for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, to large mixed-use precincts as well as the largest 

single tenanted corporate head office in the southern hemisphere for Discovery Health. 

He was recently recognised by the South African Professional Awards as the winner of the 

Professional of the Year: Architecture Class Award as well as the Overall Professional of the 

Year for 2019. Van Bebber’s passion extends into urban design, interior design and education. 

www.boogertmanandpartners.com 

Leaders 

in Entrance 

& Security 

Design 

GRAHAME CRUICKSHANKS 

Grahame Cruickshanks has worked as a professional architect, sustainability consultant and 

management consultant with 20 years of experience in the design, construction and property 

industry. Focusing much of his career on green buildings and an expert in his field, he has worked 

on a variety of Green Star and BREEAM certified projects and other building projects in South 

Africa, Singapore and the UK. Prior to joining Growthpoint Properties as the head of sustainability 

and utilities, Cruickshank’s previous roles included managing executive for market engagement 

at the GBCSA and manager at EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services. 

www.growthpoint.co.za 

JUTTA BERNS 

Jutta Berns is an industry leader and one of South Africa’s first internationally accredited 

green building professionals, establishing her company Ecocentric in 2007. She has degrees 

from the Universities of Bonn (Germany) and Cambridge (UK), and a diverse blue-chip client 

base. Berns specialises in sustainable and net-zero solutions for large property portfolios. 

She has several LEED Platinum and 6-Star Green Star projects in her portfolio, is a GBCSA 

faculty member, a Green Star Assessor and GBCSA TAG member, and winner of the Gauteng 

Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 Award by the Women’s Property Network and 2019 winner of 

the Established Green Star Awards by the GBCSA. 

www.ecocentric.co.za 

MANFRED BRAUNE 

Braune currently holds the position of Director: Environmental Sustainability at the 

University of Cape Town (UCT), where he leads the strategy and implementation of 

environmental sustainability across all spheres of the university since early 2019. He has 

also served as a non-executive director of GBCSA in a voluntary role since August 2020. 

Braune’s background is as a professional engineer, having worked at WSP Group for over 

10 years as a consulting engineer, where he then started and led WSP’s green building 

business for three years and then worked for the GBCSA for 10 years. 

Keep the bad weather out, 

and the good weather in. 

https://www.uct.ac.za/main/explore-uct/sustainability 

MARLOES REININK 

Marloes Reinink is owner of Solid Green Consulting. With an academic background in 

innovation and architecture, she has been working as a sustainable building consultant for 

more than 15 years in South Africa and Africa. She founded Solid Green in 2010, which is one 

of the leading sustainability consultancies in Africa and achieved its 100th green building 

certification in October 2020. Reinink’s passion is advocating for a greener built environment 

and she recently started GreenED, an online education platform for sustainability in the 

sector. Reinink is an ambassador for the International Living Future Institute; a Living Future 

accredited professional; and a facilitator of the SA Collaborative Network for a Living Future. 

www.solidgreen.co.za 

6 POSITIVE IMPACT ISSUE 25 

Energy Efficient: Save energy, save costs. 

Reduce heating and cooling expenses by 

minimising air exchange. Improve Traffic 

Flow Management: Ensure smooth and 

uninterrupted pedestrian flow. Improve 

Security: With controlled access and easy 

integrate with your building's smart system. 

Improved Climate Control: Maintain a 

stable indoor climate, stay comfortable in 

any weather. Accessibility: Inclusive and 

convenient. Revolving doors cater to 

everyone, including those with disabilities 

or using mobility aids. Noise Reduction: 

Experience tranquility indoors. 

Scan to find out more about 

our entrance solutions 

Revolving doors minimise external 

noise for a quieter, peaceful 

environment. Create extra space: 

Making internal spaces comfortable 

thereby increasing use and rental 

opportunities. 

FROST 

INTERNATIONAL 

Entrance and Security Solutions

EDITOR’S NOTE 

COLUMN 

While writing this, I’ve had to scuttle outdoors every now and then 

to thaw out in the sun – poking its pale head out between bouts 

of the ubiquitous Cape rain. I think I may speak for most South 

Africans in saying I look forward to spring after a rather chilly and 

prolonged winter! 

While spring brings with it renewal, growth and expansion, for the global building 

and construction sector, these very things go hand in hand with a key responsibility: 

helping drive the transition towards a decarbonised, energy-efficient and sustainable 

future for all. 

Annually, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) brings us World Green 

Building Week – falling on 11–15 September 2023 this year. Led by a network 

of over 75 national Green Building Councils and their 46 000 members, the weeklong 

campaign will show how, through systems-change thinking and leveraging 

local solutions, we can transition to sustainable built environments. For the events 

line-up, and to find out how you can take part in World Green Building week, visit 

https://worldgbc.org/wgbw23/. 

Our spring issue is testament to our local successes in this journey, showcasing 

a broad variety of projects that go way beyond bricks to address sustainability. 

Law firm ENS’s office in Cape Town’s striking 35 Lower Long Street building is 

a case in point (page 18), having secured a 5-Star Green Star Interiors v1 certification. 

A sublime departure from the traditional office concept, the space’s innovative 

design is truly a union of functionality, design and sustainability, at the same time 

catering to the health and wellness of its staff. 

Apropos the well-being of building occupants, part four of our Transforming 

Tomorrow series on page 26 unpacks the Healthy and Responsible categories of the 

Green Star New Build V2 tool. These categories centre mostly around the comfort 

of buildings’ users and the efficient functioning of system processes, aiming to 

transform the market and increase work productivity, while saving on resources 

like water and energy. 

What better way to embrace greenness and growth than through considered 

landscaping? Dsm-firmenich South Africa set a benchmark for sustainable 

landscaping within the green building industry by becoming the first GBCSAcertified, 

Net Positive Ecology level 2 – Operational Ecology (Measured) project in 

the country. On page 34, +Impact looks at how the site’s original vegetation type 

was used as a way to regenerate and increase its diversity. 

From regeneration to preservation: the City of Cape Town’s Bracken Nature 

Reserve has recently been awarded a 5-Star Green Star certification for its upgraded 

building complex design (page 42). While water and energy efficiencies were the 

main targets on this project, indoor comfort was also an important focus, and when 

completed, it will offer the public an escape into nature, along with experiential 

education around sustainability and the environment. 

The role of business in supporting sustainable development objectives is key, 

according to CEO of the National Business Initiative (NBI), Shameela Soobramoney. 

Read more about how Shameela intends to focus on sustainability in her new role 

at the NBI on page 48. 

To round off this issue’s diverse offering, we highlight Illovo Country Estate in 

KwaZulu-Natal on page 52, which recently achieved EDGE® certification with the 

GBCSA – a first in South Africa in the affordable housing sector. 

As, increasingly, new and retrofitted projects employ mindful design and 

construction practices to reduce environmental impact, decrease costs and provide 

better places in which to work, it’s an honour and a pleasure to present them to you, 

our readers. We hope you enjoy this spring-time edition. 

Mariola Fouché 

Editor 

It is an honour and privilege to take up the reins as chair of such a prestigious 

organisation, one tasked with making a real and measurable impact on our 

environment. At the same time, I’m also humbled, given the legacy set by 

past chairs. I want to thank Brian Unsted for his tireless work and handing 

over the organisation to me in its commendable state. 

Although I am acutely aware of the board’s duties and the responsibilities it must 

discharge in the interests of good governance, I’m also reminded of the influence 

a board has on an organisation’s culture. In his book Flying Blind, Peter Robison 

charts the decline of Boeing after its merger with McDonnell Douglas, manifested 

by the crashes of the 737 MAX that ultimately led to Airbus displacing Boeing as 

the market leader in commercial aircraft. As chair, this account holds lessons for 

me and makes me mindful of the impact that we as board can have on the GBCSA. 

Furthermore, it strikes me how, in aviation, decisions about new aircraft designs 

are made every 10 years, but then the industry must “live with the consequences for 

50 years”. The parallels to the built environment are uncanny – build an inefficient 

and resource-consuming building, and the consequences on the environment 

remain long after the developers have moved on. 

The GBCSA has weathered multiple headwinds and we have come out stronger, 

agile, and more resilient than ever before. I plan to build on that culture and on 

strategies that drive further positive performance, creating value for our members 

and the environment. I am excited about the finalisation and imminent pilot 

phase of the Green Star New Buildings Rating Tool (New Build V2). As green 

building has matured in South Africa, so too has the need to improve and update 

our rating tools to move the built environment forward, and this will continue 

to form part of my agenda. 

Having said this, I also believe that there’s plenty of scope for more utilisation 

of the Existing Building Performance Rating Tool in its current form, and the 

IFC’s EDGE® Rating Tool, in the residential sector. I was privileged to attend 

IFSEC in London in May this year. IFSEC International is an annual trade fair and 

conference for the global security industry, held alongside the FIREX International 

Show, the Safety & Health Expo and the Facilities Show. 

One of the addresses was by the UK Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green 

Finance, Lord Martin Callanan, on how the UK government is planning to achieve 

net zero carbon. The UK has recognised that one of their biggest challenges is 

how much of their built environment is pre-WW II. While they have new standards 

for new builds, the amount of retrofitting required to meet current resource 

efficiencies requires the funding of incentives – what he referred to as improved 

cladding or insulation “taking precedence over shiny new kitchens”. I came away 

from that talk convinced that the GBCSA’s driving use of the Existing Building 

Performance Rating Tool will contribute immensely to the South African built 

environment, given just how much of our building stock pre-dates green building. 

In his book, Robison also details how the Boeing 737, while developed much 

earlier and on a limited budget, became Boeing’s bestseller decades later – the 

“stepchild” ultimately outperforming more modern aircraft such as the 747, 777 

and 787, in terms of revenue earned. For me, this presents another parallel for 

our Existing Building Performance Rating Tool: while not necessarily addressing 

new and “shiny” buildings, the tool will look to existing building stock and 

ultimately contribute to better resource usage and retrofitting, thus increasing 

capital allocation and the associated job creation. 

Brian Unsted’s last note reflected on the areas he wanted to give attention 

to, and I want to close by reassuring you that in addition to my agenda, I will 

continue to build on those areas as well. I am buoyed by the support, dedication, 

professionalism and passion of Lisa Reynolds and her able team at the GBCSA. 

Chair’s 

Corner 

André Theys 

GBCSA Chairman 



9

NEWS 

NEWS 

MAKING AN IMPACT 

SHAPING A NET-ZERO FUTURE 

Presented by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), the 2023 

Advancing Net Zero (ANZ) Status Report highlights the collective 

efforts of 35 Green Building Councils, the Net Zero Carbon Buildings 

Commitment signatories, partners and the wider GBC network to 

decarbonise the built environment. 

The ANZ Status Report showcases examples of current industry 

collaboration and actions towards accelerating this objective at local, 

regional and global levels. In July, the UN High Level Climate Champions 

announced that a critical tipping point had been reached as 20% of key 

actors from the building and construction sector had joined the Race to 

Zero. Read more about this achievement at https://snip.ink/ZQ8v5Y8i, and 

the fifth edition of the ANZ status report at https://snip.ink/s92TB25a. 

2023 CESA AON ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARDS 

and a sophisticated rainwater harvesting system, integrated 

into the unique, cantilevered balcony design. Integrated 

PV solar panels will generate double the electricity quota 

needed to power the common areas, and a central heated 

water system allows for economies of scale and avoids 

individual geysers. Expansive double-glazed windows and 

glass sliding doors will allow abundant natural light in, thus 

reducing the amount of energy spent on heating in winter. 

The exterior of The Fynbos will be draped in a 1 200m 2 

vertical garden of indigenous trees and shrubs, offering 

a natural layer of insulation. Added to this, a waterfall 

at the front reception of the building will provide white 

noise for the building’s inhabitants. This circular waterfall, 

set amid the lush, flowing foliage of The Fynbos, is the 

starting point of a unique water feature that will run from 

Buitengracht to Bree Street. 

Once complete, The Fynbos will feature residential 

apartments, a rooftop sunset terrace with a lap pool and 

co-working space, a rooftop fitness centre, and a groundfloor 

plant-based restaurant, tearoom and botanical bar. 

Visit www.thefynbos.com for more. 

The biophilic concept at The Fynbos 

integrates nature into its urban 

setting, benefiting both the external 

and internal environments. 

WHAT’S THE BUZZ? 

The CESA Aon Engineering 

Excellence Awards 2023 winners. 

High-quality and sustainable infrastructure development 

is crucial for driving socioeconomic development in South 

Africa. Now in its 51st year, the Consulting Engineers 

South Africa (CESA) Awards celebrate innovation, 

outstanding workmanship and professionalism in the 

consulting engineering industry. The winners were 

announced at a ceremony, hosted in partnership with 

sponsors Aon South Africa, on 16 August in Midrand. 

Among those taking top honours were: 

Projects with a Value Less Than R50 million category: 

Naidu Consulting, MSW Consulting JV; Tongaat Water 

Treatment Works Emergency Remediation Works for 

eThekwini Municipality 

Projects with a Value Between R50 million and 

R250 million category: 

Zutari; Square Kilometre Array Meerkat Extension for the 

South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) 

Projects with a Value Between R250 million and 

R1 billion category: 

KBK Engineers; N1 Musina Ring Road for the South 

African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) 

Business Excellence: BVi Consulting Engineers 

Small/Medium Company of the Year: Koleko Solutions 

Mentor of the Year: Herman Cronje, SMEC South Africa 

Young Engineer of the Year: Mareli Botha, Zutari 

www.cesa.co.za 

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture 

Organisation (FAO), a third of global food production 

depends on bees as pollinators – but they are 

increasingly threatened by human activity, habitat 

loss, pesticides, air pollution and climate change. 

Since 2020, South African real estate investment trust 

Emira has installed 16 beehives at eight of its properties in 

Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Emira CEO Ulana van Biljon 

says: “Our bee conservation project is a holistic approach 

to reducing the impact of environmental degradation, 

which goes beyond planting trees.” 

The first hives were installed in 2020 in the heart of the 

Bryanston business node and Hyde Park Lane in Sandton, 

in locations with an abundance of flowering plants. 

The beehives are managed in a safe, controlled 

environment, away from heavy foot traffic and clearly signposted, 

while beekeeping activities take place at night. 

www.emira.co.za 

GROUND-BREAKING DEVELOPMENT 

Night-time beekeeping. 

Merging sustainability with innovative design, Africa’s 

first biophilic building – in Cape Town’s Upper Bree 

Street – is set to undergo construction. The 24-storey 

mixed-use development, named The Fynbos, is currently 

undergoing Green Star accreditation. 

As part of an innovative urban project conceptualised by 

the project’s developers, Lurra Capital, before becoming 

reclaimed building materials, the existing derelict building 

on site was given a new lease on life, and turned into 

Cape Town’s first-ever curated pop-up urban street art 

gallery, showcasing over 1 000 artworks by 120 invited 

graffiti artists. 

According to development managers Gardner Property 

Solutions, who are working with Lurra Capital in the 

development of The Fynbos building, water conservation 

measures will include low-flow fittings, well-point filtration, 

The honey collected from Emira's 

various properties all taste unique. 

The beehives are 

clearly sign-posted. 

Ulana van Biljon, Chief Operating 

Officer of Emira Property Fund. 



11

NEWS 

Marcela Guerrero Casas, co-founder, 

Local South 

Dr Stanley Liphadzi, Group Executive 

Manager, Water Research Commission 

Gabriel Klaasen, Communications 

Co-ordinator, Project 90 by 2030 

Y/OUR SPACE 

Africa’s leading green building gathering, the Green Building Convention brings 

together industry leaders, experts and change-makers in the field of sustainable 

development, all focused on creating a better future for people and planet. 

Among this year’s line-up of esteemed plenary speakers, you can expect to see 

Marcela Guerrero Casas, Dr Stanley Liphadzi and Gabriel Klaasen. 

UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF PUBLIC SPACE 

By providing green areas, essential amenities, trading opportunities and safe spaces 

for social interaction, public spaces serve as a catalyst for sustainable development. 

Marcela Guerrero Casas is the co-founder of Local South, a dynamic social 

enterprise committed to building sustainable and liveable cities in the Global South. 

With her profound expertise and extensive experience, she has played a pivotal role 

in shaping the urban landscape in both her hometown of Bogotá, Colombia, and 

her current base in South Africa. 

As part of her talk, Marcela will explore the various strategies and innovative 

interventions that can be employed to maximise the potential of public space, with 

a particular focus on working collaboratively with communities at the neighbourhood 

level. Drawing from her extensive background in policy and advocacy, Marcela 

will share successful case studies that demonstrate the transformative power of 

neighbourhood-level engagement. From temporary road closures for economic 

activities to leveraging the value created through partnerships between local 

government and the private sector, her insights will empower attendees to take 

practical steps toward creating vibrant and inclusive urban environments. 

IMPROVING LIVING SPACES THROUGH INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS 

IN A WATER-SCARCE ENVIRONMENT 

Renowned expert in the field of water and sanitation, Dr Stanley Liphadzi brings 

a wealth of knowledge and experience as the Group Executive Manager of the Water 

Research Commission and Adjunct Professor at the University of Venda. With a focus 

on producing new knowledge and innovation for the water and sanitation sector, 

Dr Liphadzi has made significant contributions to improving living conditions in 

water-scarce environments. 

During his presentation, Dr Liphadzi will discuss the pressing concerns of water 

and energy insecurity faced by communities and businesses in South Africa and other 

developing countries. Driven by a commitment to authentic and transformational 

leadership, he will shed light on the ground-breaking research and development 

efforts led by the Water Research Commission to address these challenges. 

ENGAGING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PEOPLE AND PUBLIC SPACE 

A passionate Intersectional Justice activist and a driving force in the realm of 

sustainable development, Gabriel Klaasen is the Communications Coordinator 

for Project 90 by 2030 and a Programme Manager for the African Climate Alliance. 

Gabriel’s dedication to sustainable development is truly exceptional. Their 

recognition as one of Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans in 2021, specifically 

in the Environmental category, underscores their influential contributions to our world. 

In this session, Gabriel will unpack the intricate dynamics that define the 

relationship between people and public spaces in South Africa, delving into 

both historical context and present-day realities, and offering a comprehensive 

understanding of this ever-evolving relationship. Gabriel’s engaging talk will venture 

beyond analysis, exploring how collective efforts and collaborative thinking can 

reshape the design and purpose of public spaces. 

Join the GBCSA’s 16th Green Building Convention, 15-17 November 2023, 

at Cape Town’s Century City Conference Centre. 

Regular registration closes on 10 November 2023 – make sure to secure your space! 

www.gbcsaconvention.org.za 

WHERE SUSTAINABILITY 

AND INNOVATION CONVERGE 

Discover the Ultimate Green Building Experience 

at the 16th Green Building Convention. 

Africa’s premier event is back, and it’s 

bigger than ever! Join us at the forefront 

of sustainable design, where SPACE 

takes center stage in redefining our built 

environment for people and planet to thrive. 

120+ Visionary Speakers 

40+ Cutting-edge Exhibition 

800+ Built Environment Professionals 

Be part of the transformation. 

View the programme and register now. 

gbcsaconvention.org.za 


15 - 17 Nov 

CAPE TOWN

GREEN BUILDING CONVENTION 2023 DRAFT PROGRAMME 


GREEN BUILDING 

CONVENTION 2023 

Draft Programme 

WEDNESDAY – 15 NOVEMBER 

10H00 

Registration opens 

11H00 – 13H00 

Satellite session: Energy 

Zanele Mavuso Mbatha 

Marc Abdullah 

Ray Fernandez 

Seetsele Seetswane 

Brad Duncan 

13H00 – 14H00 

Networking lunch 

14H00 – 15H30 

Workshops 

S1. WORKSHOP 1: HKA Global 

S2. WORKSHOP 2: Ethekwini 

S3. WORKSHOP 3: IFC 

S4. WORKSHOP 4: TBA 

16H00 – 18H00 

Opening plenary 

Lisa Reynolds 

Brian Unsted 

Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis 

Robert Swan 

18H00 – 20H30 

Welcome cocktail 

Unlock the full potential of Y/OUR SPACE for a sustainable and vibrant 

future. Step into a world of innovation, collaboration and connections 

at the Green Building Convention, #GBCSA2023. 

15–17 November 2023 

Century City Conference Centre 

Cape Town 

Driven by our #yourspace theme, the draft* 

programme for the 16th Green Building 

Convention is live! Join the green-building 

movement’s thought leaders, influencers 

and innovators in accelerating the transformation 

of the built environment – for people and planet. 

*Subject to change 

THURSDAY – 16 NOVEMBER 

07H30 – 08H30 

Morning networking 

08H30 – 10H30 

Plenary 

Graham Hill - Virtual 

Speaker 1: Dr Sara Candiracci 

Speaker 3: Prof Stanley Liphadzi 

Speaker 4: Marcela Guerrero Casas 

10H30 – 11H30 

Refreshment break, exhibition & SMME Village 

11H30 – 13H00 

Parallel sessions 

Track 1: Session 1: BUILD: DESIGN 

Track 2: Session 1: INVESTMENT: PUTTING YOUR ESG STRATEGY TO WORK 

Track 3: Session 1: RESOURCE ECONOMY: SHAPING A DIALOGUE BETWEEN CONTEXT AND REBALANCING 

THE ROLE OF ARCHITECTURE 

Track 4: Session 1: CITIES: STRATEGIES OF RESILIENCE IN THE AGE OF FAILING INFRASTRUCTURE 

13H00 – 14H00 

Networking lunch, exhibition & SMME Village 

16 



15


FRIDAY – 17 NOVEMBER 

07H30 – 08H30 

Morning networking 

08H30 – 10H30 

Plenary 

10H30 – 11H30 


11H30 – 13H00 


Track 1: Session 3: BUILD: MATERIALS 

Track 2: Session 3: INVESTMENT: KEEPING THE SPACE ILLUMINATED – THE LOADSHEDDING OPPORTUNITY 

Track 3: Session 3: INVESTMENT: REALIGNMENT OF ESG STRATEGY BASED ON GLOBAL TRENDS 

Track 4: Session 3: CITIES: SPATIAL DESIGN IN THE REALITY OF INFORMALITY 

Track 5: Session 3: CITIES: AREA-BASED MANAGEMENT: CREATING SAFER SPACES TO LIVE, PLAY AND WORK 

13H00 – 13H10 Comfort break 

13H10 – 14H30 

Closing plenary 

Facilitator: Kura Chihota 

Nedbank: TBA 

Rand Water: Mbuyiswa Makhubela 

Pareto: Malose Kekana 

Property Point: Shaun Theunissen 

L2D: Amelia Beattie 

GBCSA: Lisa Reynolds 

André Theys 

Lisa Reynolds 

THURSDAY – 16 NOVEMBER 

14H00 – 15H30 


Track 1: Session 2: WATER 

Track 2: Session 2:INVESTMENT: THE NEW RISK ON THE BLOCK: CLIMATE RISK AND THE IMPACT 

TO PROPERTY 

Track 3: Session 2: RESOURCE ECONOMY: DESIGN FOR NATURE, BUILDING FOR GOOD, A SOCIAL 

AND ECOLOGICAL CHALLENGE 

Track 4: Session 2: CITIES: ASSET-BASED, COMMUNITY-BASED MODEL: COMMUNITIES SHAPING 

THEIR SPACES THROUGH COLLABORATIVE ACTION IN THE CITY OF JOHANNESBURG 

15H30 – 16H30 


16H30 – 18H00 

Innovation stage: Session 3 – Greenovate winners 

16H30 – 18H30 

Delegates at leisure 

18H30 – 00H00 

Gala awards dinner 

Secure Y/OUR SPACE 

at the Green Building 

Convention 2023. 

REGISTER NOW. 

Maintaining Kikuyu the Water Wise Way 

Lawn and other turf grasses are often seen as high water 

users, especially in the spring and summer seasons before 

the rainy season has started. But, can lawn be used in 

a water wise way? Water Wise explains the wise use of 

water with kikuyu. 

Kikuyu 

Pennisetum clandestinum, commonly known as kikuyu, is 

the most widely used lawn grass in South Africa. It is native 

to east Africa and has an aggressive growth form, which 

means it can become invasive and take over indigenous 

grasses. Kikuyu is drought tolerant, inexpensive, and easy 

to maintain because it can grow in areas where most 

grasses cannot. However, it is sometimes considered the 

highest user of water in comparison to other commonly 

used turf grasses. 

Kikuyu is mostly used as an instant lawn for sports fields, 

golf course construction, and rehabilitation. It has a mat 

root and a herbaceous growth habit. It doesn’t grow well 

in shaded areas. 

Dormancy in lawn 

Dormancy refers to a period where growth of the grass 

temporarily slows down, and grass goes into a resting 

state for one season. Kikuyu always goes dormant during 

winter, where the grass will turn brown. However, brown 

kikuyu grass does not mean it is dead; it has simply gone 

dormant. 

Dormant kikuyu does not need to be watered. Lawn in 

a state of dormancy is simply ‘resting’ and conserving 

energy for the new growing season. Dormancy is a natural 

way for lawn to conserve moisture and nutrients in cold 

and dry seasons. 

WATER WISE 

Water wise watering for kikuyu 

• Avoid watering kikuyu when it is dormant. 

• Wait for the rains to start before awakening your 

kikuyu from its dormant state. 

• Newly installed kikuyu will only require more water 

during its settling or establishment period. Gradually 

decrease the frequency of watering after this phase. 

• In summer, water in the early morning or late 

afternoon as this reduces water lost to evaporation. 

• Use a trigger nozzle if watering kikuyu with a hose. 

• Educate your clients on the water use changes. 

Advantages of kikuyu 

• Fast growing. 

• Grows in full sun and in most soils. 

• High-traffic resistant and persistent growth form. 

• Survives long dry periods and is drought tolerant. 

• Better frost tolerance than some warm season 

grasses. 

• Very effective for erosion control in ornamental 

landscapes. 

• Rapid summer growth rate with high yield potential. 

• Very competitive; suppresses weeds. 

Disadvantages of kikuyu 

• Requires regular mowing. 

• High evapotranspiration rate. 

• Can become invasive and difficult to control. 

There are many other simple ways you can save water. 

Visit the Water Wise website by going to the Rand Water 

website and clicking on the Water Wise 

logo for more information. 

Always be #WaterWise! 

14H30 – 15H30 Networking lunch, exhibition & SMME Village 

15H30 Exhibition closes 



www.randwater.co.za and click on the Water Wise logo 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON WATER WISE, PLEASE CONTACT US ON: 0860 10 10 60

COVER STORY 

COVER STORY 

INTERIOR 

MOTIVES: 

the workplace revised 

Law firm ENS has secured a 5-Star Green Star Interiors V1 

certification for its office in Cape Town’s dynamic 35 Lower Long 

Street building. People-centricity, as integral to sustainability, 

is the focus. 

WORDS Anne Schauffer 

IMAGES ENS 

PROJECT NUTSHELL 

Location: 35 Lower Long Street building, 

Foreshore, Cape Town 

Green Star rating: 5-Star Green Star Interiors V1 

certification 

Type of building: Office interior over seven floors 

Project dates: 2020 – 2022 

A union of functionality, design 

and sustainability underpins ENS’s 

reimagined office space in Cape Town's 

35 Lower Long Street building. 

Project size: 7 761m 2 19 



19

COVER STORY 

COVER STORY 

Positioned on Cape Town’s Foreshore at 35 

Lower Long Street is the signature glass-planed 

office building developed by Abland Property 

Developers. The base building, designed by dhk 

Architects, had been awarded a 4-Star Green Star Office 

V1.1 Design certification, which solidified law firm ENS’s 

commitment to achieving a high rating for its interior fitout. 

Closely aligned to the firm’s commitment to upholding 

environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, 

the office fit-out was designed and constructed to achieve 

a 5-Star Green Star Interiors V1 certification. It secured 

the required 60 points, many awarded for the group’s drive 

to innovate and focus on staff wellness. 

For ENS’s COO Lee Mendelsohn, “It is not enough to 

say you believe in those principles – you have to change 

how you do business to ensure ESG becomes a way of 

life. This is something that can happen only when each 

of us changes our approach to what we do, day to day, 

little by little, and across all aspects of our operations, 

which includes our Cape Town office interiors. It is the 

only way we will sustain our business – and in so doing, 

demonstrate how much we care for our clients, our people, 

and our planet.” 

Health and wellness is integral to ENS’s vision for its 

staff and workspaces, and providing them with a “green” 

workplace and the tools to optimise it was important, 

The stand-out, glamorous 

staircase links floors 22 and 23. 

continues Mendelsohn. “We developed a User’s Guide to 

ensure that our people and operations teams knew how 

to best use the building sustainably. Ongoing awareness 

campaigns – from simple things like switching off the 

lights to ensuring you focus only for 50 minutes and break 

for 10 – educates and encourages staff to play their part.” 

The sustainability consultant was Annelide Sherratt, 

Solid Green’s Head of Department: Green Building 

Certifications (New Build and Interiors). Sherratt explains 

that, although the criteria for the base building 4-Star 

certification is quite different from the focus on materials 

in the Interior certification, many of the design attributes 

contribute and follow through, and points are acquired 

in the interior rating tool. 

PARADIGM SHIFT 

ENS’s fit-out spans the building’s upper ground level, floors 

10 and 23, and five integrated office levels. Thinkspace was 

the interior design consultancy tasked with the project. 

Director Guido Tagge describes how, in constant close 

collaboration with his client, the design vision shifted away 

from a traditional office-bound concept to a reimagining 

of the space. Central to this were considerations such as 

post-Covid health and sustained wellness, confidentiality 

and security (imperative in a legal firm), the elevation of 

Client-staff meeting rooms were constructed with 

vertical aluminium fins to break up the volume of 

glass, increase privacy and create visual interest. 

The natural earthy imagery is pulled 

through the space in gentle ways. 

the staff’s experience and well-being, and underpinning 

it all, a union of functionality, design and sustainability. 

A reduction of the fit-out’s environmental impact was 

a given. All the paint, adhesives, sealants and carpets 

procured had low volatile organic compound (VOC) 

emissions; so too, usage of third-party eco-labels and 

certificates for furniture, assemblies and floor covering. 

The appliances and tenant equipment deployed are also 

energy efficient (rated under the Energy Star® system or 

the European Energy Labelling scheme). 

VISUAL DESIGN 

Spread over different floors – comprising just over 7 750m 2 – 

spatial planning and the flow between functions and floors 

is key. The street entrance on the ground floor is a general 

reception area for all tenants. An elevator provides direct 

access to level 10, which is populated with dedicated nonclient-facing 

collaborative spaces for ENS staff. This works 

well for those working remotely and only needing a space 

to work from, or to utilise firm resources on occasion. It’s 

also a sanctuary-like space for office staff to work away from 

the busyness and buzz of an office level, or those who need 

a change of venue. The 23rd floor houses a client-facing 

front-office – along with a restaurant for everyone. 

Five “staff-only” office floors are below that, each with 

an identical footprint comprising individual areas called 

“own spaces” and collaborative facilities. 

Although there are separate floors and functions, 

a discernible design language and uniquely personal 

handwriting is carried through all the spaces. The bold 

land art by Strijdom van der Merwe and his sculptural 

stonework was a concept departure point for Tagge. Working 

with ENS’s brand team, a visual design link was created 

between them and the custom zen-like planters filled 

with indigenous plants. This organic sensibility is a thread 

that flows throughout. From a sustainability perspective, 

the plants not only contribute to better air quality, but 

are aesthetically pleasing, contributing to staff wellness 

and, ultimately, productivity. A horticultural maintenance 

contract using green supplies ensures the health and 

Small clusters of private “own spaces” are 

positioned centrally on the staff floors. 

constant visual value of the greenery. The interior design 

team drew inspiration from these elements – the natural 

earthy imagery – and pulled it through the space in gentle 

ways, into the organic-shaped light fittings, wallpapers that 

speak to the zen garden, oversized photographs printed on 

panels, and graphics etched on glass. 

Tagge took it further: “You’ll see repetition in a stylised 

way in different media, but there’s also adaptation from 

the ENS brand identity – there’s a natural flow of form 

that has its footing in their logo. This language starts at 

the reception desks – almost sculptural – [and it’s] a gentle, 

welcoming movement that directs the space. The materials 

are distinctly different on the client-facing 23rd floor, but 

that organic flow remains.” 

“OWN SPACES” 

Office floors 18 to 21 are exclusively for staff, designed 

with certain principles in mind. Unlike the offices of 

yesteryear, ENS’s reimagining began by moving away from 

a hierarchical layout. Every staff member who works in 

office – irrespective of title or position – has an identical, 

dedicated “own space”, specially designed for concentration, 

focus work and collaboration on virtual platforms. The 

term “own space” relates not only to privacy, but also to the 

individual’s customisation potential. Each is individually 

controllable from a lighting and HVAC/air conditioning 

perspective – this means that lighting is controlled via wallmounted 

switches, enabling each occupant to control the 

lighting levels in their immediate environment. 

Similarly, an occupant can determine their own 

temperature and air flow, and the air they breathe is 



21

COVER STORY 

Western Cape • Gauteng • KwaZulu-Natal 

Services: 

• Air-conditioning Maintenance 

• Remote Monitoring on 

HVAC Plants 

• Chiller Plants 

• Building Management 

Systems (BMS) 

• Retrofit projects 

for HVAC systems 

• Water Treatment 

• Energy Optimisation 

• IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) 

monitoring 

Unit J6, Centurion Business Park, Bosmansdam Road, Montague Gardens, Western Cape, 7441 

t: 0860 555 734 | f: 0860 444 734 | e: info@sfigroup.co.za | www.sfigroup.co.za 

filtered, directly to each one’s own space. The fit-out 

optimised indoor air quality – around 66% higher than 

required by building regulations (SANS 10400-O). From 

a health and comfort perspective, these mini offices 

are entirely independent of those adjacent. ENS took 

cognisance of the importance of health and wellness as 

a future-proofing element. Evaporative cooling towers or 

other evaporative cooling systems are eliminated from the 

design of the building. 

“Importantly,” says Sherratt, “the fit-out focused on 

acoustics, and was awarded an innovation point for speech 

privacy. These quiet, sound-proofed spaces were fitted 

with specific sound-dampening features such as acoustic 

Class C ceilings, at least one acoustic wall panel, acoustic 

rated walls, and doors with acoustic frame and threshold 

seals, particularly to facilitate e-meetings.” 

POINTS OF VIEW 

Traditionally, offices are placed on the perimeter of an 

office level and a few have the privilege of having a view, 

symbolic of yesteryear’s hierarchical approach to space 

allocation. Not here. All ENS’s “own spaces” are in small 

clusters in the centre. Tagge explains: “We deliberately 

removed all offices away from the windows. We placed the 

Everybody is able to share the extensive 

views and the “wow” spaces. 

communal and functional spaces there, so everybody is 

able to connect to the extensive views and share the “wow” 

spaces. So, from stepping out of the lift, corridors radiate 

from that central point to each individual “own space”, and 

from there, continue onwards towards the windows. The 

idea is that you’re always walking towards the natural light.” 

There were also strong sustainability reasons for moving 

offices away from the impact of the perimeter. Climate 

is far more controllable when it’s unaffected by cold or 

heat from the glazed facade. Heat and cold transmission 

is more stable when that factor is removed. 

A HEALTHY MINDSET 

The fit-out design focused on health in innovative ways. 

At the arrival point on each floor – and in three or four 

other positions – are dedicated hand-wash basins. They’re 

well-designed, inviting features, with greenery and partial 

privacy screens around them, so health remains front of 

mind. “They invite a shift of mindset,” says Tagge. “It’s not 

Making Buildings Healthier... Together 

All offices were deliberately moved away from the 

windows to allow for communal and functional 

spaces, so everybody enjoys the extensive views. 

A focus on wellness includes 

feature hand-wash stations. 

Strijdom van Merwe’s striking land art stone 

sculptures are part of the earthy, organic 

theme carried throughout ENS’s offices. 

A larger private meeting room – strong art 

pieces are well showcased in ENS’s offices, 

particularly on the client-facing 23rd floor. 


23

COVER STORY 

Battery energy storage powered 

by renewable energy is the future, 

and it is feasible in South Africa right now! 

Sodium-sulphur batteries (NAS ® Batteries), produced by NGK Insulators Ltd., and 

distributed by BASF, with almost 5 GWh 

of installed capacity worldwide, is the perfect choice for large-capacity stationary 

energy storage. 

A key characteristic of NAS ® Batteries is the long discharge duration (+6 hours), which makes the 

technology ideal for daily cycling to convert intermittent power from renewable energy into stable 

on-demand electricity. 

NAS ® Battery is a containerised solution, with a design life of 7300 equivalent cycles or 20 years, 

backed with an operations and maintenance contract, factory warranties, and performance 

guarantees. 

The light-filled leisure, coffee and 

dining spaces offer panoramic views. 

simply a sticker suggesting you wash your hands, nor do 

you need to go to the ablutions, or use a harsh alcoholic 

cleaner. They’re right there, elevating the concept of health 

as a priority.” The building and interiors also limit occupant 

water usage by using water-efficient fittings. 

Movement “towards the light” – from “own spaces” to 

stand-up desks with views, or the different-sized meeting 

rooms – involves what Tagge describes as “interesting, not 

boring, straight corridors”. En route are the printer and 

photocopier stations, all of which meet the standards for 

low emission, so there are no additional indoor pollutants. 

The design vision shifted away from 

a traditional office-bound concept 

to a reimagined space. 

LEVEL BEST 

The intention of level 10 was twofold, and is solely for 

staff. It offers numerous formal and informal spaces – from 

meeting rooms and break-out areas, to dedicated quiet rooms 

and prayer rooms, a library and coffee stations. Importantly, 

it’s designed to facilitate interaction – debate and ideas – 

across different practices and disciplines within the firm. 

Staff need to intentionally move from their office level to 

this one – this is important for wellness as staff need to move 

from being sedentary at a computer screen to a different 

floor, different vistas and different interactions. 

Level 23 has both the main, welcoming reception and 

forms the client interface along with a shared area for the 

people of ENS to enjoy each other’s company and views 

over Cape Town. There are meeting rooms of varying sizes, 

some separate, others less formal, and the 22nd floor below 

can be accessed via a feature staircase. The ENS visual 

language is evident here, too, with different materials 

and artworks. And there’s an exceptional restaurant and 

coffee bar, showcased within the environment to create 

a draw card for interaction. Tagge calls it a “show kitchen”: 

highly contemporary, where diners look directly into the 

workings of the kitchen. 

However, if quiet is what they prefer, they can choose to 

sit in one of the various visually connected spaces that all 

form part of the shared experience of the restaurant. There’s 

a wide range of options in terms of functionality, and the 

space can cater for an internal staff function as readily as it 

can an international indaba. The rooms can be reconfigured 

to hold different numbers of people and different functions. 

Superior safety, function and performance are made possible by decades of data monitoring from 

multiple operational installations across the world. NAS ® Battery track record is unmatched by any 

other manufacturer. 

Provide for your energy needs from renewable energy coupled with a NAS ® Battery. 

Contact us right away for a complimentary pre-feasibility modelling exercise 

to find out how a NAS ® Battery solution can address your energy challenges! 

info@altum.energy | www.altum.energy 

Altum Energy: 

BASF NAS ® Battery Storage Business 

Development Partner – Southern Africa 

The flow between functions and 

floors is key. 

Abland Property Developers 

ENS’s office is housed in the 

signature glass-planed office 

building at 35 Lower Long Street. 

For staff in particular, the location of the building on 

Cape Town’s Foreshore has contributed to a significantly 

reduced reliance on private vehicles. The site is within 

walking distance of a range of amenities, and is close to the 

MyCiti bus stops and the Cape Town Station, connecting 

to various Metrorail stops. 

The 4-Star Green Star Office V1.1 Design Certification 

at 35 on Lower Long Street was the beginning of the 

building’s sustainability journey. ENS has cemented its 

commitment to upholding ESG principles by securing 

a 5-Star Green Star Interiors V1 certification for its 

innovative and people-centric office fit-out. 


INSIGHT 

The Green Star New Build V2 

tool per category, continued: 

INSIGHT 

RESPONSIBLE CATEGORY 

Credits with Minimum Requirements: A-1 Industry Development; A-2 Responsible Construction; 

A-3A Verification and Handover; A-3B Metering and Monitoring; A-4 Responsible Waste Management 

Other Credits: A-3C Post-Occupancy Tuning; A-6 Responsible Product Framework 

Featured Credits: A-2 Responsible Construction; A-3A Verification and Handover; A-3B Metering 

and Monitoring; A-3C Occupancy Tuning and Evaluation 

The RESPONSIBLE category, according to category director 

and founder of Ecolution Consulting André Harms, answers 

questions on how buildings are handed over, and how they 

can remain environmentally responsible, well-functioning 

and efficient. “It’s a little more nuanced than some of the 

poster children of a few of the difficulties we face in South 

Africa, such as water constraints and the very acute energy 

crisis,” he says. “However, the indoor environments that we 

find ourselves in for so many hours a day shape our physical 

and mental health. They influence our productivity, and 

many other aspects of human development and human life.” 

To prove high levels of compliance, a skilled commissioning 

agent is pivotal. 

VERIFICATION AND HANDOVER is process-driven, 

and aims at saving resources like energy and water, and 

creating an environment for happier, healthier and more 

productive staff. There are three aspects. 

3A: VERIFICATION AND HANDOVER requires teams to 

design, build and test systems within a building to meet the 

owners’ requirements and to ensure that it is functional in all its 

operating conditions. “It’s based on international best practice 

guidelines, deriving from the American Society of Heating, 

Ventilation, and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 

and from the UK equivalent, the Chartered Institution of 

Building Services Engineers (CIBSE),” says Harms. Instead 

of just “flipping a switch at the end”, the goal is to show 

the advancement of principles such as functionality, quality 

efficiency, maintainability, accessibility and commissionability 

throughout the project development cycle. 

Yogesh Gooljar, sustainability consultant, partner and 

director at PJC + Partners, and task-team member, says: 

“It’s about making sure the process is robust through its 

documentation so that information is not lost across the 

various stakeholders in a building’s cradle-to-grave life; 

someone responsible to ensure that the process is being 

PROUDLY TAKING 

FORWARD 

DEEP DIVE: 

Responsible & Healthy 

With the launch of the New Build V2 tool 

launch fast approaching, we examine the 

next two categories on the list. 

WORDS Marlinée Fouché 

Centring mostly around the well-being of 

building occupants and system processes, 

the Responsible and Healthy categories will 

not only transform the market and increase 

workforce productivity, but will also result in saving on 

resources like water and energy. 



27

INSIGHT 

INSIGHT 

followed, and that there’s communication of all the different 

aspects across the project team.” A basic guideline will be 

provided for minimum requirements, but for additional 

points, a professional must be involved to steer the process. 

According to Harms, implementing these credits (although 

it may initially add costs) has significant long-term benefits 

that are paid back multiple times over a short period of time. 

3B: METERING AND MONITORING speaks to the 

ongoing management of a building, using appropriate 

metering and monitoring systems – and the focus is not 

necessarily on quantity, but on functionality. “The priority 

is on the right number and location of the submeters for 

energy and water, perhaps even other sources like gas, or 

heating and cooling,” says Harms. Project teams must prove 

that the building can be managed effectively, and respond 

proactively to unforeseen, unintended consumption. “If 

the system automatically flags that you consume 50% more 

energy than last month,” Harms says, “an investigation 

should be triggered, rather than just having information 

that you don’t actually compare to anything.” 

This credit requires a minimum set of meters. Going 

beyond that minimum makes it possible to achieve one 

point in this category. 

3C: OCCUPANCY TUNING AND EVALUATION has 

no minimum requirements or different tiers, because, says 

Harms “it’s deemed as a stretch for industry”. It requires 

“Toolbox Talks” are expected at 

prescribed intervals, covering various 

environmental topics. 

that the project team stays involved for a certain period 

after the practical completion of the building, to “fine-tune 

the system to operate as effectively as possible, given the 

practical use of the building”. This could mean identifying 

too much ventilation, or insufficient water pressure – and 

intervening to ensure optimal performance and efficiency. 

A word of advice to project teams: According to Gooljar, 

teams shouldn’t feel intimidated by the amount of work that 

will go into this credit. “If there’s a good verification and 

handover process, they will save money in maintenance, 

resources and operations. Rather have a good commissioning 

process now than pay for it later.” 

The RESPONSIBLE CONSTRUCTION credit expects 

teams to strive towards construction practices that reduce 

the impact on the environment, and to promote opportunities 

for improved environmental and social outcomes. 

This credit comprises four initiatives, aimed at the 

Principal Contractor. 

As one of the minimum requirements, an Environmental 

Management System (EMS) must be in place, to manage 

the environmental impacts on site. Projects with an ISO 

14001-certified environmental management system are 

eligible for additional points. 

Moreover, for this credit, project teams are expected to 

proactively create awareness among the various stakeholders 

on matters of green building principles and sustainability 

during the entire project development, by implementing 

a Construction Environmental Management Plan 

(CEMP). This includes a once-off, high-level Green 

Building induction for each newly appointed contractor 

or subcontractor, to the requirements of the project-specific 

Green Star specification. Along with that, “Toolbox Talks” 

are expected at prescribed intervals, covering various 

environmental topics and, as a minimum, include: the 

sustainability attributes of the building and their benefits; 

the value of certification; and the role site work or site 

workers play in the delivery of a sustainable building. 

If a system automatically flags 

50% more energy consumption 

than the previous month, an 

investigation should be triggered. 

For additional recognition, the project team should 

develop a project-specific CEMP that is implemented 

from the start of site activities, and includes all work within 

the scope of the project. The plan should cover the scope 

of construction activities to assist the contractor and its 

service providers or subcontractors to manage environmental 

performance conditions and impacts arising from demolition, 

excavation and construction activities. The CEMP should 

be implemented on a monthly basis. 

Project teams will also be expected to develop 

a Construction Waste Management Plan (CWMP) and 

submit a final waste report summary. According to Harms, 

this an easy place to score, because it’s a practice that’s 

increasingly gaining traction in the South African context. 

Contracting teams aiming for this credit should have this in 

place from the time of Green Star registration, and a waste 

report summary must be produced at the end of construction. 

To achieve in this credit, more specifics on the plan and 

a specific diversion rate (which is still being researched) must 

be reached. “It has increasingly become standard practice, 

from recycling and reuse to avoidance, or by donating certain 

building materials,” says Harms. 

He believes it’s now easier than ever to achieve high 

outcomes. “We’ve had a project that was built roughly 10 years 

ago in Cape Town, and it achieved over 95% waste diversion. 

That was obviously quite hard at the time – the initiative 

was associated with considerable effort – but in the past 10 

years, we’ve increasingly seen projects that have managed to 

achieve diversion rates of more than 70% and 80%.” 

HEALTHY CATEGORY 

Credits with Minimum requirements: B-1 Clean Air; B-2 Light Quality; B-4 Exposure to Toxins 

Other credits: B-3 Acoustic Comfort; B-5 Amenity and Comfort; B-6 Connection to Nature,; 

B-7 Thermal Comfort 

Featured credits: B-2 Light Quality; B-1 Clean Air 

“The HEALTHY category is especially aimed at businesses 

with a focus on staff well-being, and to minimise 

presenteeism and absenteeism, by creating a healthy indoor 

environment that benefits all building users,” says category 

director Annelide Sherratt, Solid Green Consulting’s Head 

of Department: Green Building Certifications (New Build 

and Interiors). “The goal is to create trust that the building 

is safe, comfortable and conducive to occupants’ physical 

and mental well-being,” she says. 

Note: This category is still in the process of being 

finalised. More information will be confirmed once the 

tool is launched. 



29

INSIGHT 

Your first tap 

into Renewable 

energy 

WWK 304 ZA 

Secure your investment with aesthetical cutting edge water 

heating technology 

Compact series specially developed for outdoor installation 

Also suitable for indoor installation (recirculation air mode) 

High available mixed water volume, up to 550L, and hygienic 

DHW temperatures up to 65°C in heat pump mode 

Categorised in the highest possible energy efficiency class for 

water heaters 

Permanently high efficiency and safety across the entire service life 

of the appliance, due to spring-loaded roll-bond heat exchanger 

The LIGHTING QUALITY credit will challenge project 

teams to be more innovative in how lighting is selected. This 

is according to task team member, sustainability consultant 

and building physics modeller at WSP, Alex Varughese. 

The credit aims at optimising daylight, minimising the 

glare from natural and artificial lighting, and ensuring that 

artificial lighting is of high quality. By having performance 

glazing, enough daylight, and decreasing electricity usage 

with high-quality light fittings, Varughese believes energy 

usage can be reduced even further. 

The category consists of three parts: 

LIGHTING COMFORT will be informed by various lighting 

and colour-rendering indexes to set the minimum and higher 

standards. Project teams will also have to consider certain 

technical aspects of light and colour rendering. Glazing is 

an important element, and although Varughese says the 

know-how is there, the high cost for bigger projects remains 

a hurdle. However, he believes this credit might help to drive 

market change. “A few years back they asked for a certain 

certificate for paints without any volatile compounds. At 

the time it wasn’t available, but as the GBCSA rating system 

came through, it became readily available.” 

GLARE FROM LIGHT SOURCES challenges teams to 

limit the glare provided by light sources, and obscure direct 

light from the viewing angles of the occupants. “We need 

to make sure that light doesn’t reflect too much off desks or 

certain flooring types, by fitting bare light with louvres, or 

using translucent diffusers in the ceiling designs,” he says. 

Project teams aiming for this credit should ensure that 

building is providing DAYLIGHT access to building 

occupants. Certain levels of daylight have to be obtained 

throughout the different seasons of the year and these 

criteria are still being finalised. To measure and prove these 

The indoor environments that we’re 

in for so many hours a day shape 

our physical and mental health. 

levels, simulation software or other measuring systems 

would be required. 

A word of advice to project teams: “This credit isn’t more 

difficult to achieve than it was before. It’s very easy to apply 

to a project, but project teams just need to apply themselves 

a bit more,” says Varughese. He hopes these credits will 

deepen project teams’ understanding of the available 

technology, beyond the existing general understanding. 

“I would also like to see a lot more automatic controls 

for lights, such as motion sensors or timers, which would 

just decrease the usage of that space when it’s not fully 

occupied, or after office hours.” 

Avoid sick building syndrome with the CLEAN AIR credit. 

It’s all about air quality, because, says task-team member 

Alana Shuttleworth, “the single biggest expense for many 

building owners who employ a lot of people is on salaries, 

and if indoor air quality is poor, there’s a high chance that it 

will affect the productivity of the building occupants.” People 

want to know that the air they are breathing is healthy and 

not contaminated or stale. Getting this credit right can also 

bring down energy levels and save owners money, she says. 

The credit comprises three criteria, guided by local and 

international standards: a high level of fresh air is provided; 

pollutants entering the building are minimised; and levels 

of indoor pollutants are significantly reduced. 

The task team still needs to consider the impact of the 

revised SANS 10400 Part O regulations, recently released 

for public comment, on the benchmarks for this credit’s 

fresh air rates. 

Reduced operating costs via intelligent interface to increase 

consumption of on-site photovoltaic energy - Go off-grid 

Highly reliable and cost effective due to the impressed current 

anode integrated as standard 

Very quiet operation due to sound-insulated compressor and 

positioning away from the air flow 

Comfort through Technology 

www.stiebel-eltron.co.za 


31

INSIGHT 

Project teams will be expected to ensure that MINIMUM 

FRESH AIR RATES are achieved in occupied indoor spaces. 

In addition, MINIMUM SEPARATION DISTANCES 

BETWEEN THE POLLUTANT SOURCE AND OUTDOOR 

AIR INTAKES are specified, and outdoor air intakes shall 

be filtered to minimum filtration levels. “We’re going to 

reference tables with minimum distances, so your outdoor 

air intake must be a minimum distance of, for example, 5m 

away from an area where garbage is stored, or from air that’s 

exhausted from the building, says Shuttleworth. It must also 

be demonstrated that indoor pollutants are minimised in 

the regularly occupied areas. 

Another minimum requirement is DUCT CLEANLINESS, 

which requires teams to clean ventilation ducts before the 

building is occupied. Notching it up one level, teams will be 

rewarded for ease of access for maintenance and cleaning, “to 

ensure that filters can be changed easily and equipment can 

be cleaned easily.” To ensure this, Accredited Professionals 

would look for access panels near coils, so that they can 

be cleaned, and near filters, so that filters can be changed. 

MINIMUM FILTRATION RATES for specific types 

of spaces in all building typologies will be defined in the 

credit. This will extend to all building typologies. The latest 

SANS 10400 regulations will also be consulted to determine 

MINIMUM VENTILATION RATES for both natural and 

mechanical ventilation. 

With regard to the MINIMISATION OF INDOOR 

POLLUTANTS, project teams must demonstrate that all 

pollutant sources inside of the building – whether from 

printing or even cooking – are limited. This can be done 

by expelling the equipment’s pollutants outside. “Another 

option is ensuring that the relevant equipment complies 

with minimum emissions standards,” says Shuttleworth. 

The new Green Star tool will now apply to all building 

typologies, including residential. Says Shuttleworth, “The 

amount of fresh air supplied to the building would need 

to be a certain percentage improvement on the minimum 

fresh air rate. As an alternate route, teams can implement 

demand-controlled ventilation, using carbon dioxide (CO 2 

) 

monitoring. For this option, the ventilation system must be 

capable of providing enough outdoor air to maintain CO 2 

levels to a predetermined maximum level. The system must 

continuously measure the concentration of CO 2 within 

the breathing zone and adjust the amount of outdoor air 

to the space accordingly.” This is an energy-efficient way 

of achieving the required fresh air levels without overdesigning 

the fresh air supply, and it aids in saving energy. 

Projects are also able to achieve a point for producing 

and implementing an INDOOR AIR QUALITY PLAN. 

According to Shuttleworth, “The objective would be to 

facilitate a process that leads to design, specification and 

installation decisions, and actions that minimise indoor air 

pollution during the design, construction and occupation 

of the building.” 

To reach the highest tier, projects are required to provide 

fresh air rates at even greater percentage improvements 

than level 1. 

A word of advice to project teams: Take a few steps 

back and think pragmatically about how best to achieve 

clean air in your building. Don’t forget to consider how your 

building can best “breathe” on its own, when there is no 

power supply, such as during loadshedding. 

Photo courtesy of Corobrik 

LONG LIFE - LOW HASSLE 

Genuine clay brick does not rot, tarnish, fade, rust, scuff, peel, erode or burn. It’s 

a natural insulator against summer heat, winter cold, humidity and noise. With 

timeless appeal AND impressive strength, clay brick looks beautiful for a lifetime. 

CBASA represents clay brick & paver manufacturers across Southern Africa. 

We drive sustainable energy-efficient practices in the industry to support our local 

homeowners, producers, builders and architects. 

Download free technical & construction guides at www.claybrick.org 

CALLING ALL SUSTAINABILITY PIONEERS 

“We are looking for projects to pilot Green Star V2,” says the GBCSA’s Head of Technical, Georgina Smit. The GBCSA invites any 

stakeholders in the planning stage of a new build project (any typology) for Green-Star Certification, who want to be part of the 

V2 Pilot pioneers, to contact the GBCSA team as soon as possible. The Pilot pioneers will have the ability to use the existing 

Green-Star rating tools concurrently with the V2 credits being tested, so lose nothing in the certification process, but gain the 

ability to be at the forefront of refining and testing the potential of the V2 tool. “Please contact us to join this industry initiative,” 

says Smit, “and be part of writing the next chapter of green building history.” 


THE VOICE OF THE CLAY BRICK INDUSTRY 

SECURE SAVE SUSTAIN STYLE 

CLAYBRICK.ORG

PROJECT 

PROJECT 

From the 

GROUND UP 

Having recently become the first GBCSA-certified, Net Positive 

Ecology Level 2 – Operational Ecology (Measured) project in 

the country, dsm-firmenich South Africa sets a precedent for 

sustainable landscaping within the green building industry. 

WORDS Nicole Cameron 

IMAGES Marc Sherratt Sustainability Architects 


Client: 

dsm-firmenich South Africa 

Location: Corner 16th & Pharmaceutical roads, 

Midrand, Gauteng 

Green-Star rating: Net Positive Ecology Level 2 – Operational 

Ecology (Measured) 

Type of project: Urban ecologically landscaped site 

Date achieved: 3 May 2023 

Project size: 1 240m 2 (total gross floor area) 

Through its sustainable landscaping project, 

dsm-firmenich’s South African office in 

Midrand, Johannesburg, is paving the way 

for urban ecological regeneration. 



35

PROJECT 

PROJECT 

roots may go back well over a century, 

but we’re always looking forward. We 

know from experience that that’s how 

“Our 

we can grow our positive impact on 

people, climate, and nature – all in line with our purpose 

of bringing progress to life.” Such is the vision statement 

of dsm-firmenich, a leading global company that delivers 

sustainable solutions in the spheres of nutrition, health 

and beauty. 

With sites located in nearly 60 countries, the company’s 

South African office in Midrand, Johannesburg, has 

recently brought progress to life by becoming the 

first GBCSA-certified, Net Positive Ecology Level 2 – 

Operational Ecology (Measured) project in the country. 

Through the planting of over 4 000 individual plants and 

close to 140 different species, all locally indigenous to this 

endangered ecosystem, the project is paving the way for 

urban ecological regeneration. 

SOWING THE SEEDS 

“I was contacted by green building consultancy Solid Green, 

who had been appointed to perform three other Net Positive 

certifications for dsm-firmenich,” says managing director 

of Marc Sherratt Sustainability Architects, Marc Sherratt. 

“They asked me to support them in achieving Net Positive 

Ecology for the existing building and site. This project 

excited us, as our company mission is “reversing local 

extinction through sustainable architecture”. Landscaping 

is essential to achieving this goal, and so we’ve built 

a landscaping division into the company’s service scope.” 

According to Sherratt, the site’s original native 

landscape was discovered to be Egoli Granite Grassland, 

which originally covered most of the northern suburbs of 

Johannesburg. “This is the most endangered vegetation 

type in the city and so this project, with its lofty Net 

Positive goal, was a perfect candidate to test how many 

plants from this vegetation type we could ethically source,” 

he says. “This approach breaks with a widely held belief 

that there are not enough indigenous plants in commercial 

The landscape of a city is part of its 

identity as much as its architecture is. 

production for indigenous landscaping to be interesting.” 

The design process started by positioning the new 

landscaping correctly on the site, with the rating requiring 

about 15% of the site to be regenerated. In this case, it 

equalled an area of just over 1 500m 2 . Work then began on 

removing the existing exotic kikuyu lawn, and planting 

the carefully sourced plants from reputable indigenous 

nurseries. Adequate irrigation was installed to establish 

the landscape in its first year, after which it will be 

rain-fed. In total, the project took about 10 to 12 months 

from concept to completion. 

“Engaging with the landscape is done via an interactive 

sensory pathway where specific species have been 

highlighted using insect hotels with integrated signage 

noting their scent, taste and medical properties. This links 

with the site’s core business of flavours and fragrances,” 

says Sherratt. 

“South African grasslands have a unique look and feel. 

Many species die back in winter, so it was important that 

the client understood this visual change,” he continues. 

“The focus of the landscape design was on diversity above 

aesthetics. Perhaps surprisingly, these landscapes need 

intensive maintenance due to their small size. Specifically, it 

means making sure weeds don’t overgrow them, as they are 

usually surrounded by exotic species. This is an important 

aspect over which the client assumes ownership.” 

A BLOSSOMING SUCCESS 

Ashley Sams, Workplace Manager Sub-Saharan Africa 

Region at dsm-firmenich, says that they had thought that 

this accreditation might be the most complex of the four, 

but after working through everything, it presented fewer 

challenges than expected. “The additional birdlife that 

The “Journey of Taste and Smell” 

is an informative pathway that 

links to the site’s core business. 

The project showcases the variety of indigenous 

plants available and how landscaping can be used 

to reverse local extinction in urban areas. 

Using the important taxa of Egoli Granite Grassland, the team 

tried to match the vegetation composition ratio of the new 

landscaping to this threatened ecosystem in terms of the 

ratio of grasses to herbs, geophytes, trees and succulents. 

The Net Positive Ecology Level 2 – Operational Ecology (Measured) GBCSA 

rating requires about 15% of the site to be regenerated. In the case of 

dsm-firmenich’s South African office, it equalled an area of just over 1 500m2. 

We have a collective responsibility 

as the most dominant species on the 

planet to care for our local species 

in need of protection. 

has already been observed in the indigenous space is a real 

highlight,” he says. “There is an authentic beauty in an 

indigenous garden, bringing what should have been [there] 

back to life. We are also very pleased with the informative 

pathway, titled “Journey of Taste and Smell”, which links 

directly to the site’s core business.” 

Gaining this rating means that the site has achieved an 

independently verified, measurable improvement of its 

native ecological system. Sherratt says that at the time of 

the project he was also part of the technical team writing 

the Ecological Regeneration credit for Version 2 of the 

Green Star New Build rating tool. “This project was a 

good pilot to test if the thinking we developed for this 

credit was achievable, especially around how to practically 

measure and report an increase in landscape diversity.” 

The word “regeneration” is used in this context rather 

than “restoration”, as the latter means to bring back the site 

as it originally was, which is near impossible in many urban 

settings. Regeneration is about using the site’s original 

vegetation type as a reference, but with the freedom to 

adjust the design in order to achieve the highest possible 

biodiversity that the site can manage. It also means taking 

into consideration new local anthropogenic systems like 

afforestation or climate change. 

“The importance of regenerating endangered vegetation 

types in cities is a vital discussion. The landscape of a city 

is part of its identity as much as its architecture is. You can 

tell a lot about which nations and cultures have influenced 

a city by what has been planted historically. Looking back 

is one thing, but as designers we also need to question 

what the future city should look like. Cities should be seen 

as a part of the natural realm, having wildlife corridors 

through them, having safe spaces for migratory animals 

like birds, and increasing their locally indigenous planting 

to provide food and shelter for many species that have 

been pushed out of their natural home ranges. Much of 

the work we do focuses on how to practically do this in 

an African context,” explains Sherratt. 



37

PROJECT 

CONSTRUCTION 

FUTURE GROWTH 

“Having a client that strives for innovation was a breath 

of fresh air, when often going green is seen as a grudge 

purchase – especially regarding something like landscaping 

that doesn’t have a financial payback. Its positive impact 

on human health is also difficult to measure objectively,” 

he says. 

“My hope is that this project helps show clients the value of 

highly diverse, locally indigenous landscaping. Landscaping 

is usually given only leftover space, and a budget that allows 

only a few pretty, easy-to-maintain species. Increasing 

the client base of cities to include endangered wildlife 

is a powerful idea. Without romanticising the past, it 

does link to a time of deep connection between people and 

their natural environment, perhaps the original definition 

of sustainability. 

“These projects remind us of our collective responsibility 

as the most dominant species on the planet to care for our 

local species in need of protection. With the government 

stretched financially, it highlights the necessary role of 

the private sector in contributing to conservation, even 

in a small, simple way like urban landscaping. If we do 

this collectively, we can transform our cities to places 

of sanctuary and refuge for many species in need of our 

help,” says Sherratt. 

“Well done to dsm-firmenich for pioneering this type of 

project in Africa and for being the first GBCSA-certified, 

Net Positive Ecology Level 2 accreditation in the country.” 

AFRISAM: 

SUPPORTING GREEN AMBITIONS 

Even in an industry as competitive as construction, the pressure to improve environmental 

performance is growing. Developers are targeting “green buildings” and want their 

contractors to be fully on board. An important way to reduce the carbon footprint of 

projects is through carefully sourcing your construction materials, argues AfriSam. 

There is an authentic 

beauty in an indigenous garden, 

bringing what should have 

been there back to life. 

“The importance of regenerating endangered vegetation types in cities is a vital discussion. 

The landscape of a city is part of its identity as much as its architecture is – you can tell 

a lot about which nations and cultures have influenced a city by what has historically been 

planted,” says managing director of Marc Sherratt Sustainability Architects, Marc Sherratt. 

With the trend towards green buildings, 

contractors are expected to support their 

customers in reaching sustainability goals; 

AfriSam’s product range has been evolving 

with this front of mind. 

Decades of innovation in terms of environmental 

responsibility and carbon reduction have put AfriSam out 

front, according to Hannes Meyer, Cementitious Executive 

at AfriSam. The company was one of the first to develop 

its own sustainability road map, and this is now paying 

off for customers. 

“The sustainability drive in the construction sector is 

gathering momentum,” says Meyer. “The carbon footprint 

of construction materials is where contractors can make 

immediate gains when looking to align a project with 

more stringent environmental standards.” 

Meyer points out that the company has made continuous 

progress in fields such as energy efficiency, cement 

extenders, water conservation and biodiversity. This allows 

customers to procure products in the knowledge that the 

environmental and carbon impact is minimised. 

“We give our customers the opportunity to support 

a more sustainable future for the sector by choosing 

construction materials that embody this commitment,” 

Meyer explains. “We do not just set theoretical targets 

for environmental performance; we are practical about 

what we can achieve, because we have been innovating 

on this front for so long.” 

CREDIBLE EVIDENCE 

This is in clear contrast to a significant level of “greenwashing” 

in this sector, where many companies advertise 

a sustainable approach but without credible evidence of 

In 2009, AfriSam was the first in the industry to introduce a CO2 rating system on its 

cement products. 

AfriSam is the partner of choice for contractors 

who are serious about a more sustainable 

future for our planet and our children. 

how their targets are to be achieved. Since 1990, AfriSam 

has been able to reduce the volume of carbon dioxide 

emissions per ton of cementitious material by 33%. 

In a carbon-intensive industry like cement manufacturing, 

it is difficult to reduce the carbon impact without a depth 

of expertise and constant investment in innovation, 

says AfriSam Process Engineer Marieta Buckle. It is 

also important to consider the cost implications of any 

changes, given South Africa’s need for a just transition to 

a sustainable future. 

“In our position as a developing country, our future 

will demand the construction of millions of houses – 

structures that require considerable quantities of cement,” 

says Buckle. “The way we pursue our just transition must 

take into account the affordability of these homes for the 

vast majority of citizens.” 

AfriSam has therefore been cautious in how it sets 

and publicises its sustainability targets, while all along 

continuing to prioritise research and development into 

how to achieve lower carbon products. Having considered 

a wide variety of options available, it has implemented 

strategies that have the least cost impact on customers 

and the market. 



39

ENERGY STORAGE 

REDUCE YOUR 

STORAGE BATTERY 

CARBON FOOTPRINT BY 85% 

No one argues about the best chemistry for storage batteries because that debate 

has been long settled. Lithium iron phosphate is the safest and most efficient battery 

chemistry. There are two well-known acronyms that denote lithium iron phosphate 

batteries: these are 1st LiFePO₄ and 2nd LiFePO₄. Both acronyms pay homage to the 

chemistry, and while both point to the same makeup, there is an important and, quite 

frankly, earth-saving difference. 1st LiFePO₄ batteries are commonly referred to as 

first life batteries, or 1st LiFe. They only got this name to differentiate them from the 

innovative second life batteries, or 2nd LiFe. So, what’s the difference? 

1st LiFe batteries are either premium or, to be polite, 

not-so-premium – in other words, the ones that 

cost more money and the ones that cost less money. 

These batteries are built for one purpose – stationary 

energy storage. 2nd LiFe batteries are built from the best 

cells taken from electric vehicle (EV) batteries when they 

are replaced. There comes a time in an EV’s life when the 

battery needs to be replaced because the weight no longer 

justifies the output. These batteries are then cast aside or 

dumped in landfills and replaced with new ones. However, 

within these batteries are perfectly good individual cells, 

and by using a meticulous process, these cells can be 

repurposed. The process involves identifying the best 

cells and then building new batteries with new battery 

management systems. They have the same lifespan as 

1st LiFe batteries but with an important added benefit: 

they are made from automotive-grade cells, which are 

designed to withstand much tougher operating conditions. 

REVOVTM builds premium 2nd LiFe batteries. 

COMPARING LIKE FOR LIKE 

So, when comparing on a like-for-like basis, the REVOVTM 

2nd LiFe battery is comparable to not only 1st LiFe batteries 

but also to the so-called premium 1st LiFe battery on 

all the important metrics, from lifespan to performance, 

but different in two key areas. The first is that you get 

a premium battery at a cost more similar to the – politely 

speaking, again – not-so-premium 2nd LiFe batteries. In 

other words, they cost more or less the same as inferior 

products that are brought into the country to try to compete 

on cost. However, the second differentiator is no doubt 

the most important. 

A 2nd LiFe battery has a carbon footprint that’s 15% of 

that of a 1st LiFePO₄ battery. In other words, by choosing 

a 2nd LiFe battery, an installer is reducing the storage 

component of any system’s carbon footprint by 85%. Now, 

if we consider that a substantial portion of battery use is 

in renewable energy installations, this is a no-brainer. The 

planet matters, our futures depend on it, and why would 

anyone choose to increase their carbon footprint while 

doing the right thing – trying to decrease their carbon 

footprint by choosing solar? It makes no sense, and more 

people need to know this. 

LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY 

Now that we have spoken about the differences between 

lithium iron phosphate batteries, it is equally important 

to talk about what happens after you buy the battery. 

Any installation, whether it be a UPS system or solar 

system, is not built for short-term gain. These are longterm 

investments, and just like anything mechanical, there 

could be a whole host of things that could conceivably go 

wrong. Who provides the local support? In the case of noname 

cheap imports, the answer is, quite simply, nobody. 

Always seek out reputable local suppliers who have 

the capacity to provide local support so that your battery 

investment is just that, not a once-off impulsive buy that 

burdens you a year or two down the line. However, the 

most important consideration simply must be the planet. 

If you have the chance to use a product that is equal on all 

metrics except that it saves 85% on the carbon footprint of 

the so-called competitor product, why would you choose 

anything else? REVOVTM 2nd LiFe is about more than 

a storage battery– it is a philosophy that places the wellbeing 

of our planet front and centre. 


revov.co.za

PROJECT 

PROJECT 

Lessons in 

PRESERVATION 

The new building complex at the City of Cape Town’s Bracken 

Nature Reserve has just been awarded a 5-Star Green Star 

certification for its design, and will be taking shape on site 

over the next two years. 

WORDS Melinda Hardisty 

IMAGES GAPP Architects and Urban Designers 

The new buildings at Bracken Nature 

Reserve, Cape Town, slot into the 

natural landscape as if they have 

always belonged there. 


Client: 

City of Cape Town – Bracken Nature Reserve 

Location: 2 Reservoir Street, Brackenfell South, Cape Town 

Green Star rating: 5-Star Green Star Public & Education Building 

Design (V1) 

Type of building: Environmental Education Centre 

Project construction dates: October 2023 – July 2025 

Project size: 710m² (total gross floor area) 



43

PROJECT 

The complex of buildings at the Bracken Nature 

Reserve has been earmarked for an upgrade for 

some years now. In 2022, City of Cape Town 

announced that just over R34 million had been 

set aside for the project, and the design began in earnest. 

Being a nature reserve, it was important that any new 

development exemplified the best of sustainable design 

and building practices. The public will also benefit from 

the upgraded facilities, which offer an escape to nature 

as well as experiential education around sustainability 

and the environment. 

THE RESERVE 

Bracken Nature Reserve, in Cape Town’s northern suburb 

of Brackenfell, is a 36ha protected area of natural habitat. 

Previously a granite quarry, and subsequently a landfill 

site, the land has since been restored and established 

as a nature reserve. It is now home to number of plant 

species that are rare or critically endangered, mostly from 

the Swartland Granite Renosterveld, and the Cape Flats 

Sand Fynbos vegetation categories. In general, these are 

severely under-protected typologies. 

The reserve is open to the public for short hikes 

and to enjoy time outdoors. There are also facilities 

that provide information and education around topics 

such as biodiversity, invasive species, water, waste and 

sustainability, and how to preserve our natural heritage. 

These facilities have been in dire need of an upgrade for 

some time and are finally receiving an overhaul. 

THE SCOPE 

The entire area occupied by administration, public and 

service buildings was reimagined. Some small, historic 

buildings were retained and restored, and will be used 

as a manager’s cottage and student accommodation. 

New buildings will house a community education and 

multipurpose venue, an administration block, a workshop 

and a garage. 

The project’s sustainability consultants, Richard 

Duckitt and Justine Powrie of Goal Zero Consulting, add 

that the educational facilities, used for school groups, 

could previously only accommodate a maximum of 20 

children. The new facility will be able to hold up to 100 

children, in two classes. 

Creating usable outdoor “rooms” out of 

the interstitial spaces was a significant 

part of the design approach. 

SERVICES OFFERINGS 

RATIONAL FIRE ENGINEERING 

Sprinklers, Detection, Fire Suppression, Fire 

Protection, Pressurization systems, 

Evacuation plans & procedures, Event Safety 

& Disaster Risk Management 

HVAC Incl. Smoke ventilation 

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, 

Refrigeration, Specialised Ventilation 

Canopy extract & make-up 

WET SERVICES 

Plumbing, Drainage, Water Storage and 

Water Recovery, Hot Water Generation, 

Rain, Grey & Black water harvesting 

LIFT & ESCALATORS 

Vertical transportation people and products 

CONSULTING PRACTICE SPECIALIZING 

IN MECHANICAL BUILDING SERVICES 

. 

Started in 2010, Proven track record 13 

years and counting. 100% Black Owned. 

Level 1 BBBEE. R10 million Professional 

Indemnity Cover. 

15 Permanent staff, consisting of 

Engineers, Technologist, Technicians and 

Administration staff with combined industry 

experience exceeding 130 years. 

We pride ourselves on our design ability, 

attention to detail, and quality of work. 

Our Services offerings are tailored to suit our 

clients’ needs and financial constraints. We 

will add value to your business and project 

assignments, across all sectors of the market 

Commercial, Residential, Governmental, 

Medical, Hospitality, Retail and Industrial 

sectors. 

We will make it work. 

“Use design as a framework to bring order out of chaos” 

New buildings will house a community 

education and multipurpose venue, an 

administration block, a workshop and a garage. 

9 Plantanus Street, Kuilsriver, 7580 Tel: (021) 903 1407 / 1807 Email: info@consultmech.co.za 

work with you . Brevitas dolore, refero, torqueo 

valde ea vero antehabeo sit autem occuro, 

WWW. CONSULTMECH.CO.ZA 

adsum. Luptatum magna volutpat distineo. 

Through an evolving design process, the team explored the existing zones, the relationships 

between them, and how best to create useful and positive spaces and connections. 


45

PROJECT 

PROJECT 

Access roads, parking areas and footpaths will be 

upgraded and integrated into the natural landscape. 

Disturbed land will be replanted with the indigenous and 

endemic species that call the reserve home, with a focus 

on plants that require little water. Landscape architect 

Jacques Dohse of Planning Partners also consulted on the 

incorporation of retention ponds and storm water systems 

that will reduce storm water run-off, allowing water to 

soak into the ground in line with the natural system. 

A wetland area will also become self-sustainable 

over time and add to the biodiversity of the area. Near 

the buildings, the existing educational gardens will be 

retained and upgraded to allow visitors to wander around 

and learn about the plants themselves. 

THE ARCHITECTURE 

“One of the key moments in the project was when Bongani 

Mnisi [Manager: Environmental Planning & Sustainability, 

the client user and Project Lead] took us for a walk in 

the nature reserve and explained the local flora and 

fauna to us. Only then do you realise the significance of 

little things that may otherwise have gone unnoticed,” 

says Martin Pallmann of his experience on the project. 

Pallmann headed up the team from GAPP Architects. 

He goes on to explain that the buildings are arranged to 

form a “campus-like assembly with outdoor ‘classrooms’, 

where green building elements will be showcased for 

educational purposes”. Creating usable outdoor “rooms” 

out of the interstitial spaces was a significant part of the 

design approach. 

One of the existing buildings was upgraded 

and made into student accommodation. 

The “campus” provides usable and 

interesting public spaces inside, in 

between, and around the buildings. 

The old administration building and manager’s cottage 

were refurbished after a careful approval process with 

Heritage Western Cape, facilitated by GAPP’s senior 

architect and heritage practitioner, Kobus van Wyk. The 

new buildings are steel portal-framed structures with 

brickwork infill and a polished concrete surface bed, 

topped by double-pitched soft roofs with PV arrays on 

the north-facing sides. The new roofs, of modern metal 

sheeting, are designed to be differentiated from, yet 

respectful of, the corrugated roofing on the heritage 

buildings. External wall treatment is a combination of 

cement-washed semi-face (NFX) brick and plaster. The 

combined effect ties in respectfully with the heritage 

buildings on the site, and is reminiscent of rural farm 

barns, which is not out of place in the context. 

Pallmann adds that all exposed timber elements in the 

roof structure and pergola is saligna (bluegum/eucalyptus), 

which is locally sourced and supports invasive species 

removal programmes. All timber is FSC-certified. Terraced 

building platforms were created using gabion walls made 

with granite found on the site. 

WATER SAVINGS 

Powrie explains that water and energy efficiency were 

the main two targets they wanted to hit on this project. 

They were the categories that achieved the highest scores, 

although commendable scores were achieved across all the 

categories of the tool. Potable water use is closely monitored 

by a sophisticated, cloud-based monitoring network so that 

water usage can be understood and adjusted as necessary. 

The manager’s cottage was assessed for heritage value, 

and respectfully upgraded and given a new lease on life. 

The project team were shown around the reserve and 

taught about many small aspects of nature so that 

they could better understand the nuances of the site. 

Low water fittings were installed throughout. Municipal 

water is utilised only for potable requirements, such as 

kitchen sinks and hand-wash basins, while black water is 

treated on site, and used for irrigation and to flush toilets. 

“Designing a sewage effluent treatment plant that is 

simple to maintain and minimises potential breakdowns 

was one of the biggest challenges of the project”, says 

Powrie. Harvested rainwater supplements the water 

system. The building achieves a 98% reduction in potable 

water use as compared to a notional building benchmark. 

ENERGY INTERVENTIONS 

The building uses high-performance vision glazing, 

which reduces glare and promotes external views for the 

occupants of the building, but also reduces the need for 

electric lighting. All light fittings are low energy LEDs 

and are linked to occupancy and light-level sensors to 

prevent them being on when they are not needed. Enclosed 

offices and the multipurpose hall have fresh air ventilation 

facilitated by louvres and mechanical assistance. In 

winter, the multipurpose hall and selected areas of the 

administration building are heated by under-floor heating. 

This low-energy heating system comprises a closed water 

pipe system cast into the concrete surface bed. Heated 

water is pumped through the pipes and, facilitated by the 

thermal mass of the concrete floor, heats up the spaces. 

The building roofs support a 50kWp grid-tied photovoltaic 

solar system, as well as a 3kWp backup for a 200-litre solar 

geyser. These installations reduce the peak load on the 

coldest day of the year by 74%. As the building does not 

The buildings and their relationship 

to – and respect of – the surrounding 

landscape was a large design driver. 

Existing buildings were recognised 

for their heritage value and will 

undergo respectful upgrades. 

require mechanical cooling, only heating, the peak demand 

is always in winter. This was achieved through excellent 

passive design and energy modelling to verify the thermal 

comfort of the building in summer and winter. During 

off-peak demand times, the solar installation will provide 

a much higher proportion of the building’s needs. 

BRINGING IT TOGETHER 

As well as the main interventions around energy and water, 

indoor comfort was an important focus of the design. Most 

occupied spaces have access to external views of gardens 

outside, and the specialised glass maximises daylight while 

minimising glare. Carbon dioxide (CO 2) sensors monitor 

air quality indoors and these are linked to the fresh air 

system so that fresh air intake will automatically increase 

if the CO 2 levels get too high. Added acoustic treatments 

also help to create a comfortable indoor environment. 

A waste management plan was set up, including on-site 

recyclables sorting facilities. A building users’ guide was 

put together to help in educating and training the building 

occupants as to how the building should be operated to 

achieve the best operational sustainability. This guide 

includes education around the installations and how they 

work, the waste management strategy and encouragement 

to use public transport, shared transport, bicycles or 

hybrid-type vehicles. Locker and shower facilities are 

provided to encourage cycling or walking to work. 

IMPACT AND IMPORTANCE 

The City of Cape Town, as signatories of the C40 network 

of large cities, has included net-zero carbon building goals 

within the city’s Climate Action Plan in line with global 

best practice. The fast-approaching 2030 goal is that all 

new and existing municipal assets (excluding industrial 

plants) are to be net-zero carbon in terms of operation. 

The alignment of major retrofits of municipal assets, such 

as the Bracken project, with the net-zero carbon goals is 

a great example of the city showing leadership in this area. 

As this asset will be around for years, it is important that 

it is designed with greater efficiencies. 

The Bracken project “has achieved ‘net-zero carbonreadiness’ 

for its operational energy, with formal 

certification being pursued, and nearly net zero for water”, 

explains Pallmann. “The design collaboration of all the 

professionals was a great experience, demonstrating how 

easily good design can achieve 5-Star ratings without 

excessive budget requirements.” 



47

INSIGHT 

INSIGHT 

A powerful 

FORCE FOR GOOD 

The role of business in supporting sustainable development objectives has never 

been more important, says recently appointed CEO of the National Business Initiative, 

Shameela Soobramoney. 

pexels.com 

from estimates on how much financing is needed to 

achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 

agenda. Estimates vary as being between US$3 trillion 

and $5 trillion needed per year, beyond what is already 

being spent. This will have to come from private capital. 

For this reason, the role of business in supporting the 

achievement of the aims of sustainable development has 

never been more important. 

This is where I believe the NBI can play an even 

bigger role in helping drive collaborative action for the 

achievement of sustainable development, encompassing 

environmental and social sustainability while creating 

value. Many companies are undertaking their own 

commendable initiatives, no doubt. However there is 

much to be gained from the multiplier effect that collective 

action can have. Obvious immediate benefits can come 

from economies of scale and leveraging a solid base, rather 

than each entity doing a little and replicating structures 

in their own contexts. 

My focus will be on “the art of the possible” and by this, 

I mean that we need to look at the world and business 

models using a lens of what sustainable models can look 

like – and then make a set of no-regret decisions now, 

which can help get us on that pathway. I am under no 

illusion that “business as usual” is unlikely to change 

overnight, and there are many entrenched perverse 

incentives and short-termisms that will require an entire 

systems change to shift. 

DRIVING SYSTEMIC CHANGE 

However, if we have a view of where we can go, we have the 

opportunity to use that vision to drive current choices. If we 

know that the way of the future is circular and regenerative 

systems, then what are the things we can do now that are 

on the path to those models? How do we balance these 

against the current realities we face as a country with 

rampant unemployment, inequality and poverty? It is 

the answering of these questions that I intend to make 

my focus at the NBI. We can provide the knowledge base 

that can inform actions and recommendations for policy 

and other systems changes, and we provide the practical 

“on the ground” implementation projects that facilitate 

collaborative action to drive systemic change. 

The NBI is home to the ground-breaking Just Transition 

Pathways project that was derived from an intense multistakeholder 

consultation process, and which offers 

pathways to net zero for every major sector of the economy. 

It makes the case that we can have a transition that is net 

jobs-positive if we make the right choices now. There 

is the opportunity to seed new industries aligned with 

a low-carbon future that both create jobs and make the 

country more competitive globally. The aim is to find 

implementable projects that bring the recommendations 

to life, and some of these are underway. 

TOWARDS A RESILIENT, 

RELEVANT ECONOMY 

Closely tied to this is the work under the Economic 

Inclusion team of the NBI towards creating meaningful 

job opportunities for young people. The focus is both on 

immediate jobs to alleviate the very serious impacts of 

unemployment, as well a longer term view on green jobs. 

This work also focuses on SME development and has 

a cross-cutting impact across the other NBI work streams. 

The Technical Assistance Maintenance and Development 

team are working on recapacitating the state from a skills 

perspective, and works from municipal level all the way 

up to departmental level. This work has carefully built up 

workable models based on deep trust between the parties 

in what is usually a public-private partnership approach. 

I aim to work with my formidable team, and our 

stakeholder and member base, to build on the success of 

what is being done already. This will be rooted in a clear 

framework for assessing impact in a manner that answers 

to the challenges of the country – at the same time laying 

the foundation for a resilient, relevant economy that 

can help achieve the aims of restorative and distributive 

justice, as proposed in the Just Transition Framework of 

the Presidential Climate Commission. 

Given my roots in finance, I have seen great opportunity to 

bring the financial sector into key sustainability challenges, 

as the markets can be a powerful force for good. 

This is about investing in a future we want and need 

to co-create. Because if we don’t invest in the future we 

want, then the one we get will be worth infinitely less. 

For about 16 years, I’ve been privileged to be deeply 

engaged in sustainability and the role of business 

and capital markets in achieving sustainable 

development. In that time I have seen the interest 

in the topic grow steadily and then, in the past five years 

or so, very rapidly. This rapid up-tick in interest follows 

the increasingly obvious signs of destruction of the natural 

environment and deepening social divides, which point 

to the flaws in the economic and financial models that 

are largely still being applied. 

As a strategist by background, and with a strong leaning 

towards finance and capital markets, it became obvious 

to me early on that business needed to explicitly consider 

the pursuit of sustainable development as a key aspect of 

it strategic focus and alignment to the mitigation of risk 

and pursuit of opportunity. 

THE TIME IS NOW 

We have now come to accept that we operate within the 

confines of planetary boundaries and hence, if we are 

to ensure a stable planet and equitable society, growth 

objectives need to assessed against this reality. Growth – 

and the measurement of it – as we have pursued it until 

now, cannot continue into perpetuity without breaching 

critical tipping points of the ecological boundaries, as has 

been clearly shown by, among others, Earth scientist Johann 

Rockström at the World Economic Forum. 

The science tells us that we have a window of 

opportunity to arrest the rapid declines we are seeing 

in key sustainability issues such as climate change and 

biodiversity, as well as social cohesion and equality. The 

key is to act now, and as far and wide as possible. Business 

will have a key role to play, even if just considered 

Shameela Soobramoney is CEO of the National Business Initiative (NBI), an independent coalition of the local and 

multinational businesses focusing on taking action to achieve social and environmental sustainability, underpinned 

by good governance. 

Previously chief sustainability officer at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), 

Shameela has, inter alia, been a key contributor to the JSE’s work into climate change, 

the potential for a local market to trade in carbon credits and environment-related 

products, the development of a Green, Social and Sustainability bonds framework, 

impact investing, and the JSE’s sustainability, innovation and CSI strategies. 

She has served as chair of the World Federation of Exchange’s (global) Sustainability 

Working Group, a member of the Strategy Group of the Global Investors for Sustainable 

Development Alliance (GISD), and chair of the Sustainable Finance Working Group 

of the National Treasury of South Africa. She is a non-executive director of the WWF 

(South Africa), and of the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA). 

Shameela completed a Master’s degree in Sustainability Leadership (MSt) at the 

University of Cambridge and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from 

the University of Pretoria, Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS). 



49

CASE STUDY 110 OXFORD 

CASE STUDY 110 OXFORD 

Shaping a more 

RESILIENT AND 

SUSTAINABLE FUTURE 

In February this year, 110 Oxford in Johannesburg achieved a 4-Star Green Star Office 

Design v1.1 certification – a testament to the project team’s commitment to sustainable 

development that benefits both people and the environment. 

WORDS & IMAGES SOLID GREEN CONSULTING 

THE EFFICIENCIES 

Energy, water, and environmental initiatives implemented 

in the building include the following: 

• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions: The 

operational energy consumption associated with the 

building has been minimised to decrease its carbon 

footprint. An energy model was created during the 

design phase, allowing a comparison between the 

building’s energy performance and that of a notional 

building based on SANS 10400 standards. The design 

of the building demonstrated an improvement over 

the notional building model. 

• Individual space switching: To enhance flexibility 

and energy efficiency, each individual space or 

enclosed area is equipped with occupancy sensors 

that control the lighting, ensuring that only occupied 

areas are illuminated. 

• Energy-efficient office lighting: The lighting design 

for the office spaces prioritises minimal energy 

consumption. The power density for office lighting 

was set to be less than 1.5 W/m² per 100 Lux, ensuring 

efficient use of artificial lighting. 

• Water efficiency: To help conserve water resources, 

the building incorporates water-efficient fittings and 

all major water-consuming systems are equipped with 

sub-meters. This allows for the collection of detailed 

information on water consumption, facilitating better 

understanding and management of the building’s 

water systems. 

• S m a r t metering and water-wise plant selection: 

Potable water consumption for landscape irrigation 

has been reduced through the use of smart metering 

technology, soil moisture sensors, drip irrigation and 

the selection of water-wise plants. This combination 

enables efficient monitoring and management of 

water usage, as well as a significant reduction in 

water used for irrigation. 

• For the duration of the construction period, a project 

specific Environmental Management Plan was 

developed and implemented to establish guidelines 

in order to minimise the environmental impact 

associated with construction activities. A projectspecific 

Waste Management Plan was also developed 

and implemented to reduce the contribution of waste 

going to landfill. 

• The project has provided a total waste recycling 

storage area of 42m² to encourage building users to 

recycle all waste where possible, to further reduce 

the waste going to landfill sites. 

Reflecting on the experience of working on this project 

Sustainable Building Consultant at Solid Green Cebisa 

Mafukuzela says, “For the team at Solid Green, successes 

like the 110 Oxford certification reinforce our dedication 

to prioritising both environmental and human well-being, 

and inspire us to continue pushing the boundaries of 

sustainable design and construction.” 

Contact Solid Green Consulting for more information: 

011 447 2797 or www.solidgreen.co.za 

The 5 000m² gross leasable area (GLA), P-grade 

development by Barrow Properties, 110 Oxford, is 

located in the vibrant neighbourhood of Rosebank, 

Johannesburg. Its position affords high profile and 

visibility, and is within walking distance of the Rosebank 

Mall and Gautrain Station. 

Dayne van Rensburg, Project Manager at Barrow Properties, 

says, “By targeting and successfully obtaining a Green 

Star design certification, 110 Oxford has demonstrated 

its adherence to rigorous sustainability standards. This 

certification acknowledges our efforts to incorporate 

environmentally friendly practices into the design and 

construction of the project, ensuring that it aligns with 

principles of resource efficiency, reduced environmental 

impact, and improved occupant well-being. 

THE TEAM 

A notable achievement that contributed to the certification 

was the formation of the GSSAAP Team, consisting of five 

professional team members and four members from the main 

contractor. This team’s successful completion of the online 

Green Star New Buildings course showcases the project’s 

commitment to fostering knowledge and expertise in 

sustainable building practices, and allowed them to optimise 

the project’s sustainability features and performance. 

THE ACHIEVEMENTS 

Under the Green Star tool, the project targeted an Innovation 

point for Financial Transparency and has completed 

calculations, which indicate that the Green Building Cost 

Premiums are as little as 2.65%. 

To guarantee an indoor environment conducive to user 

well-being and productivity, a direct visual connection 

to the external environment was provided for 86% of the 

Office Useable Area. Furthermore, a high level of thermal 

comfort was ensured by addressing the internal operative 

temperatures through modelling and ensuring they are 

within the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and 

Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 55-2004 

Acceptability Limits for at least 98% of occupied hours. 



51

PROJECT 

PROJECT 

On the 

LEADING EDGE 

Illovo Country Estate in KwaZulu-Natal recently achieved an 

EDGE certification with the GBCSA. +Impact unpacks how these 

apartments are a shining example of sustainability. 

WORDS Katherine Graham 

IMAGES Alleyroads 


Location: 

38 Pearce Road, Illovo, 

Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal 

Green building certification: EDGE certification 

Type of building: 

Residential estate 

Project date: Certified February 2023 

Project size: 

19 072m 2 total gross floor area 

Illovo Country Estate is situated amid the lush 

vegetation of the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast 

and offers housing at affordable rentals. 



53

PROJECT 

PROJECT 

When property developer Alleyroads 

bought the Illovo Country Club in 2012 

on KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) South Coast, 

affordable housing was top of mind. 

“Our main aim was to close the infrastructure gap in 

South Africa, as demand for affordable housing far 

outstrips supply,” says Ivan Pretorius, founder and MD of 

Alleyroads. While upmarket property developments have 

mushroomed along the North Coast over the past decade, 

middle-income earners have been left behind. “There 

were also economic drivers that made us choose the South 

Coast,” explains Pretorius, including the development of 

the Durban port towards the old airport, as well as the 

expansion projects of Toyota and Illovo Sugar, which 

required additional personnel to be housed. 

The other objective Alleyroads wanted to achieve was 

sustainability. Last year the company secured funding for 

R325 million from the International Finance Corporation 

(IFC), a division of the World Bank. Alleyroads also became 

an EDGE Champion, one of only a handful of African 

companies that were chosen by the IFC to accelerate 

green building adoption. While the IFC is responsible 

for EDGE certification worldwide, the Green Building 

Council South Africa (GBCSA) is a Certification Provider 

is the country. 

Pretorius says the group chose to pursue EDGE 

certification because it’s kinder to the planet and on 

people’s pockets. “As a developer, by greening our housing 

projects, we put less strain on the national electricity grid 

and this ensures sustainability into the future,” he asserts. 

“The tenants living in our units also derive direct benefits 

from the reduction in their monthly utility expenditure.” 

There was also a market advantage to working with 

the GBCSA, Pretorius believes. “GBCSA’s certification 

systems, such as EDGE, are widely recognised and 

respected in the industry,” he explains. “By working 

with GBCSA, Alleyroads can aim for green building 

certifications for its projects, providing a market advantage 

by demonstrating commitment to sustainable design 

and construction.” 

The striking entrance to the estate. Solar bulbs are used for 

exterior lighting, which contributes to energy efficiency. 

FROM COUNTRY CLUB TO ESTATE 

Construction began in 2015, with the first phase of the 

development consisting of 80 units, then financed by 

the National Urban Reconstruction and Housing Agency 

(NURCHA). Later, Phases 2 and 3 were added, consisting 

of 160 sectional-title units. In total, the development now 

consists of 240 units. 

Each unit has a floorplan of 65m² and consists of two 

bedrooms and a bathroom. It comes fitted with builtin 

cupboards, granite kitchen countertop, and modern 

sanitary ware and tiling in the bathroom. The complex 

has ample parking, with plenty of visitors’ bays, as well 

as 24-hour security. In addition, it features amenities like 

tennis courts, a play area for children, a swimming pool 

and a club house, which was part of the original country 

club house. 

PREDICTED SAVINGS 

Hano Oberholzer, director of BDH Solutions, who advised 

Alleyroads on the green building design and helped the 

client understand the ins and outs of the certification 

system, is thrilled with the result. “I am immensely satisfied 

that all our hard work paid off,” he enthuses. He says he 

worked closely with the GBCSA to prepare the application 

and achieve the certification. 

The new development has achieved considerable energy 

savings to its residents through practical solutions, such as 

the fitting of 288 solar panels that provide 157 230kWh of 

renewable energy a year. In addition, just over 65 exterior 

solar security lights contribute to a further saving of 

28 470kWh a year. Alleyroads chose to use power-saving 

The group pursued EDGE certification 

because it’s kinder to the planet 

and on people’s pockets. 

An aerial view of the estate shows solar roof panels, 

which produce 157 230kWh of renewable energy a year. 

bulbs with a luminous efficiency of 96 for interior lighting. 

Reduced window-to-wall ratios and roof insulation ensure 

optimal energy efficiency. This energy reduction adds up 

to a predicted savings of 26% of all energy measures for 

the entire estate. 

On the water side, significant savings have also been 

achieved. These include restricting water usage in the 

kitchen and bathroom taps, as well as the shower, by using 

aerators that reduce water flow to three litres/minute. All 

the toilets in the estate have a dual-flush mechanism with 

The kitchen taps are fitted with aerators that 

slow the water flow to reduce consumption. 

The new development has achieved 

considerable energy savings to its 

residents through practical solutions. 

a six-litre, high-volume and a three-litre, low-volume 

flush. Overall, a 35% saving was achieved in the predicted 

water consumption. 

But the most impressive saving of all was using less 

embodied energy through the choice of construction 

materials. In this, the estate achieved a 56% reduction, 

resulting in a saving of 40 tonnes of CO 2 a year. Some 

of the smart measures that were incorporated into the 

building design were the choice of ceramic floor tiles with 

a thickness of 10mm, ensuring minimum heat loss with 

a U-value of 0.49W/m 2 .K. 

On the roof, micro-concrete tiles on timber rafters were 

used, which generated a U-value of 0.36W/m 2 .K. The 

exterior walls were built with a combination of face brick 

(92%) and dense concrete bricks (8%) that were plastered 

and painted. The interior walls, on the other hand, were 

exclusively built out of dense concrete bricks, which were 

plastered and painted. All window frames are made out of 

100% aluminium. The roof insulation consists of 100mm 

Aerolite to keep homes cool in summer and warm in winter. 

This glass wool ceiling insulation product has a thermal 

conductivity K-value of 0.040W/m 2 .K. Lastly, all ceilings 

consist of 7mm PVC and have a thermal resistance of 

0.112 W/m 2 .K. 



55

PROJECT 

TWO-PHASED CERTIFICATION 

To achieve EDGE certification for Illovo Country Estate, 

compliance had to be demonstrated at preliminary and 

post-construction stage. Each stage consists of two rounds 

of submissions, giving clients the opportunity to correct 

any errors they might have made. 

In the design stage, Alleyroads registered on the EDGE 

app and entered the project’s details. The EDGE app is 

intuitive, enabling clients to decide which green features they 

want for their development. The app then quickly assesses 

how feasible the proposed green measures are, given the 

constraints of the project. A design certificate is issued once 

the project has demonstrated a minimum improvement of 

20% in energy, water and embodied energy in construction 

materials, compared to current building regulations. 

In the post-construction phase, an EDGE auditor visits 

the site to verify the project’s sustainability features. 

By greening our housing projects, we 

put less strain on the national electricity 

grid, which ensures future sustainability. 

In the case of Illovo Country Estate, the EDGE auditor was 

Yvonne Pelser of Inside Out Consulting, well known for 

its consulting services targeted at the affordable housing 

market. After inspection, the auditor submits the relevant 

findings to the GBCSA. The GBCSA then assesses the 

application and makes a final decision on whether to issue 

an EDGE certificate to the project owner or not. 

FUTURE PLANS 

Pretorius says Alleyroads will continue to use EDGE 

certification for its future projects and is proud of its 

association with the IFC. “We benefit from our partnership 

with the IFC, enjoying funding opportunities, expertise 

sharing and networking advantages,” he says. 

“As an EDGE Champion, we will enrol 3 770 units or 

250 000m 2 for EDGE certification in the next 12 months,” 

says Pretorius. “By December 2027, we plan to roll out 10 000 

units or 620 000m2 of EDGE-certified affordable housing.” 

He believes that with the IFC capital of R2.2 billion as 

debt funding over the next five years, Alleyroads should be 

able to hit these targets easily. “We are the first residential 

developer in South Africa and with the GBCSA – in the 

affordable housing sector – to achieve design certification 

on EDGE Version 3,” Pretorius says. 

READY TO BUILD 

A GREEN FUTURE? 

Put your brand on show at the 

Green Building Convention. 

Network, innovate and connect 

at the most powerful green 

building gathering in Africa. 

Secure your space in our vibrant 

exhibition village and put your 

brand on show to over 900 built 

environment and sustainability 

professionals. 

Exhibition space from just 

ZAR 15 000 

Email gbcsa@idna.co.za or visit 


to book your exhibition space. 

The exterior walls consist of an innovative combination 

of face brick and dense concrete bricks. 

IN A NUTSHELL: EDGE CERTIFICATION 

An innovation of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) is 

a green-building certification system for emerging markets. EDGE certification enables residential developers to optimise 

the performance of their building design and be rewarded for resource efficiency. The Green Building Council of South Africa 

(GBCSA) is a licensed certification provider for EDGE throughout Africa. 

Achieving an EDGE certification requires savings of 20% in each of the following three categories: energy usage; water 

usage; and a reduction in the embodied energy of construction materials. The EDGE certification gives homeowners peace of 

mind that their homes have been designed and built to be resource-efficient, saving them money on utility bills and leaving 

a smaller carbon footprint. 

15 - 17 Nov 

CAPE TOWN 


1012337 

THAT’S SUSTAINABILITY, FIRST. 

Not only were we the first to measure kiln emissions in Southern 

Africa, we were the first to install bag-house filter technology to 

reduce kiln emissions, setting a benchmark for the industry by not 

only identifying a production problem but providing a productive 

solution. We were also the first to achieve a 90% reduction in 

particulate emissions and a 33% reduction in CO 2 

emissions because, 

as the leaders in sustainability, putting sustainability first has been, 

and always will be, second nature to us. 

www.afrisam.com 

Creating Concrete Possibilities

+IMPACT Magazine Issue 25

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?