Commercial Buildings & Green Rating in South Africa

Commercial Buildings & Green Rating in South Africa

After just six years the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) has certified its 50th building. Green Star SA is based on the internationally-respected Australian Green Star rating system, and has been customised for the South African context

What is green building?

Sustainable design, or "green construction," is a method of wisely using resources to create high-quality, healthier and more energy-efficient homes and commercial buildings. A green building is more than the sum of its parts (think resource conservation)-its process and impacts matter, too.

The 7 Most Popular Green Building Practices in 2022

• Net-Zero Buildings
• Climate Resiliency
• Green Star Certification
• LEED Certification
• Distributed Energy Systems
• EDGE Certification
• Alternative Building Materials

Whether your building is commercial or industrial by nature, sustainability in the way it's operated and maintained is a top priority, especially when making future investment decisions. With clear indicators and legislation at play such as the SANS 10400-XA, the Existing Building Performance tools for commercial and industrial properties, and Net Zero carbon commitments all pointing to constructing in a more environmentally considerate way, greater planning and consideration of these aspects is required for a fruitful long-term asset

Redesigning buildings to be greener may seem complicated and costly, however there is  more focus on improving existing assets than investing in new construction. With the hundreds of thousands of commercial buildings already built, tools that focus on assessing existing properties have been hugely beneficial to clients, and will undoubtedly prompt an increase in job demand and creation to assist the industry to have the necessary EPCs obtained and displayed by the deadline of the 7th of December, 2022.

Green Star Certification

An internationally recognised and trusted mark of quality for the design, construction and operation of buildings, interior fitouts and precincts

The Green Building Council develops the Green Star SA rating tools to provide an objective measurement for green buildings in South Africa and Africa. These tools recognise and reward environmental leadership in the property industry.

Click here for GBC Information, Tools & Advice

Industrial properties differ substantially to commercial buildings, and although the Green Star tools help a great deal as they provide a solid framework, albeit not perfect, to give a starting point to building owners, industrial buildings have had challenges applying the Existing Building Tool as they are quite unique.

If you require assistance with your property portfolio and its green rating assessment, get in touch with our team, who will put you in touch with leading industry experts to assist you with the process.