Environmental sustainability is a key element for Century City, Cape Town’s smart city. One of the five Century City smart city segments is Smart Environmental Sustainability, which focuses on growing and developing responsibly. Therefore, green building principles form a significant part of achieving the goals set out by Century City. Through creating an environment where people can walk and cycle, carbon emissions are reduced. Energy efficiency, water efficiency and smart ways of managing waste are all part of the Century City daily way of life.
There are currently 19 buildings, two mixed-use developments, which contain multiple buildings, and one interior fit-out in Century City that have received Green Building Council Certifications. Eight of these buildings have achieved 5-star Green Star ratings, one being Canal Walk Shopping Centre for existing building performance, awarded in 2020. The Zutari building, developed by Rabie Property Group, was the first 5-star Green Star rated building in South Africa. In addition to its 4-star Green star rating, Estuaries Plaza is also a Net Zero rated building.
What is a green building?
The World Green Building Council defines green building as follows:
A green building is a building that, in its design, construction, or operation reduces or eliminates negative impact and can create positive impacts on our climate and natural environment. They preserve precious natural resources and improve our quality of life.
In simple terms:
Green buildings are purposefully designed to benefit both the environment and the people who inhabit them. These structures prioritise energy efficiency, resource conservation, and the use of eco-friendly and sustainable materials. They are also commonly referred to as high-performance buildings because their design pursues excellence in various aspects, such as the building’s economic viability, functionality, longevity, resilience, and occupant comfort. A green building can be at any scale, from a high-performance high-rise to a sustainable single-family home.
A green building is characterised by:
High energy efficiency
Green buildings are designed to minimise energy consumption by incorporating features like advanced insulation, and energy-efficient systems for lighting, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. This not only reduces energy bills but also lessens the carbon footprint. Some include renewable energy sources like solar panels, further lowering their impact on the environment.
Efficient resource utilisation
These buildings make efficient use of resources, both during construction and operation. They often use recycled or locally sourced materials, reducing the environmental impact of production and transportation. Additionally, they may feature rainwater harvesting systems to reduce water consumption.
Commitment to environmental responsibility
Green Buildings adhere to strict environmental standards aiming to reduce or eliminate harmful emissions, waste, and pollutants. They are mindful of their impact on natural systems and some even act as stewards of local habitats and species.
Integration of sustainable practices
A hallmark of green building is the seamless integration of sustainability practices throughout the building’s life cycle. This encompasses design, construction, and operation. Sustainable design elements include natural lighting, passive heating and cooling systems, and green spaces that promote biodiversity.
Health and well-being
Green buildings are not only eco-friendly but also beneficial to the people who occupy them. They provide a healthier indoor environment by ensuring proper ventilation, reducing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and enhancing thermal comfort. The resulting increase in well-being and productivity can have far-reaching positive effects.
Who is the Green Building Council of South Africa?
Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) is a dynamic non-profit organisation that has been at the forefront of advancing sustainable practices in the property and construction sectors since its establishment in 2007.
Their commitment to creating a greener, more sustainable built environment is unwavering, and they are proud to be part of a global network of like-minded organisations, including the World Green Building Council (WGBC), with whom they collaborate closely.
What does green star mean?
Green Star is a voluntary environmental rating system that evaluates the environmental design and construction of interior fit-outs, buildings, and precincts. It’s considered the South African gold standard when it comes to sustainable buildings and places.
What is Green Star South Africa?
Green Star has been developed by GBCSA to cover a wider variety of South African buildings, and South African ways of greening those buildings, and allows us to know with confidence what green means for each building certified with this collection of tools.
Green Star is South Africa’s trusted mark of quality for the design, construction and operation of sustainable buildings, fit-outs and communities.
What does Net Zero mean?
A framework designed to evaluate and certify buildings based on their net zero carbon emissions. It assesses various aspects of a building’s design, construction, and operation to ensure that it minimises carbon emissions throughout its lifecycle, ultimately aiming for a balance between the amount of carbon emitted and the amount removed from the atmosphere.
What does the number of stars mean?
The number of stars indicates the standard of certification that has been achieved, out of a total of six stars. For example 4-Star indicates “Best Practice”, 5-Star indicates “South African Excellence” and 6-Star indicates “World Leadership”.
A misconception is the presumed high cost of adopting green building practices. Georgina Smit, the Head of Technical and Executive Director at The Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) addressed this by referencing research that clarifies the actual expenses.
“Initially, green buildings were thought to be significantly more expensive,” she noted, “but recent studies show that the premium has decreased from 5% to an average of 3.5%.” On the more cost-effective end of the spectrum, “we observe green buildings achieving certification with a premium of less than half a percent,” highlighting the feasibility of sustainable construction practices at minimal additional cost. This reduction showcases the efficiency and affordability of green building initiatives.
Smit emphasised that this reduction “highlights the industry’s maturation and the availability of cost-effective solutions for sustainable building.” She encouraged stakeholders to challenge the notion that green building is prohibitively expensive and to consider the long-term benefits.
(Source: GBSA.org.za)
