Located in Gordon’s Bay in Cape Town, the Greenbay development comprises secure, ultra-modern 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments as well as a Green Barn Lifestyle Centre surrounded by a landscaped outdoor area. Facilities include a laundromat, children’s playground, multi-purpose sports field, green café, training science gym, boardroom and swimming pool. With 24-hour security and biometric access, the development has proximity to superb shopping centres, schools and medical facilities.

The Lifestyle Centre, with a gross floor area of 1069m², was designed in accordance with the standards for 6-Star Green Star PEB (Public & Education Building) v1 Design and Net Zero accreditations. Due to the project’s extensive and varied land use, it is regarded as a community facility.

Jennifer Dean, Sustainable Building Consultant at Solid Green, says, “The Lifestyle Centre’s location within the Greenbay estate allowed us to really lean into the concept of pedestrianisation. Various features of interest were employed along the pathways to encourage movement and physical activity by all who are lucky enough to visit the building and its sporting facilities.”

Delivering Energy Efficiency

Efforts have been made to minimise Greenhouse Gas Emissions stemming from operational energy usage. An energy model of the building was created during the building’s design phase, and it was compared to a notional building model. The building design demonstrated a remarkable improvement of 100% (achieving net-zero operating emissions for the base building) in contrast to a SANS 10400 notional building.

Provisions have been made to guarantee that all individual spaces or enclosed areas have individual switching capabilities. This configuration enhances flexibility in terms of lighting control, illuminating only occupied sections. Furthermore, a direct visual connection to the external environment was provided for 80% of the Occupied Area, and a high level of thermal comfort was ensured by addressing the internal operative temperatures through modelling.

The building’s peak electrical demand is actively mitigated through the utilisation of a photovoltaic system. The building is outfitted with solar panels boasting a capacity of 48.6 kilowatts peak (kWp). These panels yield an annual energy production of 82 megawatt-hours (MWh). This photovoltaic system effectively offsets the entire carbon emissions produced by the building as a result of heating, cooling, fans, lighting and hot water systems.

Mitigating Environmental Impact

All gaseous systems and thermal insulants carefully chosen for this project, possess an Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) rating of zero. This strategic selection ensures the complete elimination of any contributions to the long-term deterioration of the Earth’s stratospheric ozone layer.

A project-tailored Environmental Management Plan was meticulously formulated and executed throughout construction. This plan served as a comprehensive set of directives aimed at curtailing the environmental footprint resulting from construction activities. In tandem, a project-specific Waste Management Plan was devised and put into action to significantly reduce the volume of waste destined for landfill disposal.

The building attains water savings through the integration of water-efficient fixtures, rainwater harvesting, and the implementation of a blackwater harvesting system, which is designed to supply water for flushing toilets and irrigation. The project has also allocated resources to accommodate the incorporation of low-water-demand plant species within its landscaping area.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

The establishment features sub-metering mechanisms for its principal water- and energy-consuming systems. The primary objective is to acquire data crucial for comprehending and effectively managing building systems, as well as to evaluate potential resource conservation opportunities. This information – pertaining to energy and water usage, and indoor air quality levels – is displayed strategically throughout the development.

Balwin Properties decided to implement several innovation measures that not only allow for a world leadership building but also encourage the upskilling of their professional team. Six design team members and three contractor representatives did the Green Star New Building course, while one contractor representative completed the Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for Buildings in South Africa course.

The achievement of the 6-Star Green Star PEB (Public & Education Building) v1 Design and Net Zero accreditations underscore the Greenbay Lifestyle Centre’s dedication to environmental stewardship and community well-being, setting a commendable example for sustainable urban development.

Project Team

Owner Balwin Properties
Accredited Professional Solid Green Consulting
Architect & Landscape Architect Boogertman + Partners
Electrical Engineer Lyners Consulting Engineers
Mechanical Engineer Man-Huber
Quantity Surveyors Balwin Properties
Structural Engineers KCE
Sustainable Design Review Solid Green Consulting
Sustainable Building Consultant Solid Green Consulting
Main Contractor Balwin Properties
Facilities Management Company Landsdowne
AMS Consultant ISwitch
Ecologist Doug Jeffery Environmental Consultants