Nedbank’s Vision to Reimagine Banking

The green fitouts of the two branches form part of Nedbank’s Project Imagine initiative. The vision of Project Imagine is to reimagine the future of banking for both Nedbank and its customers. It aims to bring a unified experience to the banking environment that is distinctive, effective, efficient, and sustainable.

Project Imagine is about more than a new image for the bank and extends to a branch environment that aligns with green building principles and smart sustainable practices. The Green Star Interiors tool rewards high-performance tenant spaces that are healthy, productive places to work, are less costly to operate and maintain, and have a reduced environmental footprint – the perfect tool to align with Nedbank’s vision.

Elri Syfert, Accredited Professional on the project from Solid Green, says:

We’re extremely proud of these projects which prove that small details, like adding plants to indoor spaces, can make big differences. It’s wonderful to see corporates committing to the wellbeing of occupants with a focus on indoor air quality. This goes a long way to encouraging healthy green spaces where people can thrive.

Energy Strategies

Nedbank’s two new branches have adopted energy-efficient strategies designed to reduce consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Key initiatives include:

• Sub-Metering: Major energy-consuming systems are equipped with sub-metering capabilities for precise monitoring.
• Energy Modelling: Comparing the energy model of the new design with a conventional building showed improvements in energy efficiency.
• Flexible & Efficient Lighting: Offices use natural light where possible, with energy-efficient LED fittings and occupancy sensors.
• Energy-Efficient Appliances & Equipment: Installed appliances come with recognised energy efficiency ratings.
• Practical Energy Saving Strategies: Employees are encouraged to adopt behaviours like turning off unused lights and dressing appropriately for the outdoor weather to reduce heating and cooling requirements.

Indoor Air Quality and Comfort as a Priority

To enhance the wellbeing of occupants, Nedbank has prioritised the quality of the indoor environment which includes air quality. Measures include:

• Highly Energy-Efficient HVAC System: The VRF system provides fresh air and adjustable temperature controls.
• Thermal Comfort: Internal operative temperatures stay within ASHRAE Standard 55-2004 limits for at least 98% of occupied hours.
• Comfort Lighting: Adequate general illuminance with glare control and high-frequency ballasts to avoid flicker.
• Ozone-Friendly Systems: Selected gaseous and fire suppression systems, as well as thermal insulants, have zero Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP).
• Indoor Air Quality: Minimisation of indoor Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) to reduce indoor pollutants. High-efficiency air filters trap ozone, dust and other particles from being brought in from outside the building.
• Eco Labels: All furniture, assemblies, and floor coverings have third party eco labels and certificates, reducing their environmental impact.

Bringing the Outside In

Carefully chosen indoor plants help to filter the indoor air and maintain good quality air.

• Research conducted by Sydney University of Technology shows that plants help to reduce VOCs between 50-75% in a 24-hour period.
• Plant-filled rooms contain 50-60% fewer airborne moulds and bacteria, and health complaints are reduced by 30%.
• Further research shows that in work environments that have indoor plants, absenteeism is reduced by 15-30% and productivity in increased by 12-20%.
• The wellbeing of staff, just by having plants around them, is increased by a massive 84%.

A Horticultural Maintenance Plan provides guidelines on watering, checking of soil, cleaning, fertilising, and disease prevention. A technician comes to site every two weeks to check on the plants to ensure they are happy and healthy.

Water Efficiency Strategies

Strategies to prioritise water efficiency include:

• Point-of-Use Fittings: Water-efficient fittings on taps limit water usage.
• Reduced Water Heating: No hot water is provided in the ablutions. Hot water to kitchenettes is supplied by undercounter geysers, heated to a maximum temperature of 60°C.
• Waterwise Landscaping: Plants are carefully chosen to reduce the need for irrigation.

Transport Facilities

Consideration of sustainable transport options was an important aspect of the projects.

Both branches are located within a 1-kilometre walking distance of taxi stops and Gautrain bus stops, which have a frequency of 10-15 minutes or less during peak times. The branches  encourage reduction of private car usage by having no parking for staff. High-tech video conferencing solutions minimise the need to travel locally and internationally.

Small Steps, Big Impact

At Solid Green, we are dedicated to helping our clients build a greener, healthier future. If you’re committed to creating healthy green spaces for your employees to thrive in, we’d love to speak to you.