Portfolio Results Overview:

• 11 Buildings Assessed: 8 standard recertifications and 3 new certifications including 1 first-ever certification.
• Key Achievements: 4 buildings reached 5-Star status, 10 increased their score, 1 held steady, and none regressed – yielding a combined portfolio gain of +59 points.

Figure 1: Portfolio results

A Three-Year Report Card

As EBP requires recertification every three years, it creates a comparable performance trendline over time. For the eight standard recertifications with established core policies and management systems, the EBP process focused mainly on updated performance data and current indoor environmental quality audits.

Figure 2: Every project’s previous certified rating moving to its newly achieved rating, plotted against the 4-Star and 5-Star thresholds

Read left to right, the pattern is striking. Every single project in the portfolio either improved or held its ground. None went backwards. And four didn’t just improve – they crossed an entire rating band.

The 4 Buildings that reached 5-Star

Four projects successfully crossed the threshold into 5-Star territory (“South African Excellence”):

• 1 Holwood Park (single-tenant call centre and office): Jumped from 46 to 62 points (+16 pts), achieving the portfolio’s largest single increase through improved energy and water performance.
• Pharos House: Climbed from 45 to 60 points (+15 pts). Assessed as a new certification due to its lapsed EBP status, it achieved 5-Star status driven by a leap in water efficiency and stronger energy management.
• Mayfair on the Lake (multi-tenanted office): Rose from 54 to 62 points (+8 pts), bringing its ongoing operational performance into alignment with its original 5-Star New Build design rating.
• Ridgeview Umhlanga (multi-tenanted office): Moved from 58 to 61 points (+3 pts), crossing the threshold after sitting near the top of the 4-Star band.

Figure 3: Four buildings crossed into 5-Star territory

What Drove the Improvement

Portfolio gains were driven by operational monitoring across five core categories:

• Indoor Environmental Quality (+27.5 pts total gain): Delivered the largest total point increase across the portfolio, driven by improvements in air quality, thermal comfort, acoustic comfort, and occupant satisfaction surveys.
•  Energy (+18 pts total gain): The single biggest contributor to individual building score increases, achieved through continuous monitoring and management rather than major capital expenditures.
• Water (+5 pts total gain): Better monitoring of potable water use reduced demand on municipal infrastructure, notably at 1 Holwood Park, Mayfair on the Lake, Pharos House, and Peter Place Office Park.
• Emissions (+7 pts total gain) & Transport (+4 pts total gain): Driven by commuter surveys, refined refrigerant management, and stormwater best practices.

Figure 4: What drove the improvement

The Practical Importance of Timely Recertification

Recertifying within the required three-year window allows properties to use a streamlined recertification path. The main focus is on updated measurements and audits (energy, water, indoor air quality) when existing management frameworks like the Green Cleaning Policy, Building Operations Manual, and Green Travel Plan are maintained.

Missing the window forces a full, ground-up assessment as a new certification. The takeaway for managers? Recertifying on time confirms existing systems; recertifying late requires rebuilding them from scratch.

Portfolio Scoreboard

Why this matters beyond the Plaque

A Green Star EBP rating acts as an operational diagnostic providing independently verified proof of environmental and comfort improvements for tenants, financiers, and consultants. Achieving these results required close collaboration between facilities management teams, sustainability specialists and building owners, together with independent assessment by the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA).

The post What it takes to elevate an Existing Building Portfolio appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.

Custom energy and water benchmarking

The standard prescribed industrial benchmarks from the GBCSA Industrial Pilot Tool could not be applied due to Corruseal’s highly specialised and energy-intensive industrial packaging processes that run 24/7. Instead, the project team pivoted to Compliance Path 2 for Comparable Buildings. Solid Green sourced and evaluated recent utility data from two similar heavy-manufacturing operations within the same climate zone. This allowed us to establish a realistic, data-driven baseline tailored specifically to the facility’s unique operational realities.

Driving impact through genuine innovation

While meeting standard EBP criteria is an achievement in itself, Corruseal Boksburg pushed boundaries and secured two additional Innovation Points by focusing on ecological rehabilitation and advanced workspace ergonomics.

Innovation 1: Ecological Restoration of a Neighbouring Wetland

Rather than limiting environmental stewardship to their own property boundary, Corruseal took direct responsibility for a heavily degraded natural wetland pan adjacent to their facility. For decades, this site suffered from environmental abuse. Historical illegal dumping left it buried under debris and smouldering refuse heaps, while the surrounding water channels were choked with plastic and paint fragments.

Corruseal launched an active restoration programme to clear out the accumulated litter from stormwater channels, remove invasive alien vegetation, and systematically restore the pan’s ecological value. This ongoing rehabilitation has started to turn the wetland back into a thriving sanctuary for wildlife. Recent bird counts indicate a massive return of biodiversity, including multiple species on the vulnerable and near-threatened lists, such as Maccoa, Knob-billed, and White-backed Duck, Greater and Lesser Flamingo, African Marsh Harrier, African Darter, Great Crested Grebe, and Black-crowned Night Heron.

Innovation 2. Occupant Ergonomics

True sustainability requires taking care of the people inside the building. Corruseal looked beyond standard Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) requirements to conduct an in-depth investigation into workspace ergonomics. As an industrial manufacturing site, staff are frequently exposed to repetitive motions, heavy lifting, and awkward postures. This initiative focused directly on reducing overexposure to ergonomic risk factors, enhancing staff wellbeing, operational efficiency, and overall workplace effectiveness, which addresses a valid concern outside of the current scope of the Green Star SA tool.

By stepping up to revive a vital community ecosystem, prioritising day-to-day occupant wellbeing, and committing to Green Star principles, Corruseal Boksburg has demonstrated that heavy manufacturing buildings can actively participate in the green building movement.

Image: The Corruseal Boksburg facility, featuring a 1.2 MW rooftop solar PV installation, significantly lowering operational emissions.

The post Corruseal Boksburg: the 5-Star journey appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.

Leading this initiative are Sinenhlanhla Primary School and Julius Sebolai Primary School, which now serve as exemplars in the education sector. These schools showcase how green practices can improve indoor environments, benefiting students and staff alike. In healthcare, De Wagensdrift Clinic and Kekana Gardens Clinic are paving the way to become the first clinics in Africa to earn this certification, emphasising the importance of healthy indoor environments for patient recovery and staff wellbeing.

GPDID’s commitment to sustainability is evident in these projects, which illustrate the social, environmental and economic benefits of green buildings. Achieving the Green Star rating highlights the potential for operational efficiency, environmental leadership, and the positive impact on future generations – especially since young students are the primary occupants, providing an early opportunity to instil sustainability awareness. For both schools and the clinics, this also means more resilient healthcare spaces and healthier learning environments where there are improvements in natural lighting, improved air quality, comfortable indoor temperatures and well-performing buildings.

Ms Ngcebo Nsimbini, Project Manager for Green Star Certification at GPDID, said:

Certifying and upgrading our public facilities to Green Star standards is a transformative step. It’s not just about compliance; it’s about creating spaces that support health, education, and sustainability in totality. For the DID, this demonstrates our commitment to improving existing buildings towards future ready public assets that serve communities responsibly.

Adapting the Green Star EBP framework for schools and clinics involved tailored strategies. Unlike traditional commercial buildings, these facilities consist of multiple structures with diverse functions – classrooms, offices, wards, and support spaces – that operate collectively. The certification process focused on spaces where occupants spend extended periods, such as classrooms, laboratories, wards, and waiting areas.

Key adaptations included:

• Certifying entire properties as single entities.
• Defining regularly occupied spaces, including work areas, large event spaces, and learning or treatment environments.
• Customising criteria for lighting, indoor air quality, and energy use across all buildings.
• Conducting occupant surveys with staff and patients to assess indoor environmental quality and comfort.
• Implementing sustainable policies, periodic audits, and energy monitoring systems to track efficiency.

Danika Taylor, Lead Accredited Professional (AP) at Solid Green, reflected:

One of the most rewarding aspects was seeing children’s excitement during the onsite measurements. It’s a reminder of how impactful green building practices can be, especially when engaging young minds. Adapting our approach for these typologies was both a challenge and an opportunity to develop new methodologies that could inspire more schools and clinics to pursue green ratings.

This collaboration underscores a shared vision: to lead by example in sustainable building practices. Whether in education or healthcare, these projects prove that green certifications are attainable and vital for fostering healthier, more sustainable communities. They set a powerful precedent for the future of public infrastructure across Africa.

The post First EBP Ratings Achieved for Schools and Clinics appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.

Growthpoint’s light manufacturing building, leased by Serra® Services, has been awarded Gauteng’s first 5-star Green Star Existing Building Performance (EBP) rating for an industrial building.

Paul Thomaz, Group Marketing Director of Serra®, says that, as a leading hygiene service provider and washroom dispenser manufacturer, Serra is duty bound to highlight health and sustainable environmental practices as they become more relevant for everyone.

From the outset, our discussions with Growthpoint hinged on our mutual determination to regard sustainability as a joint core value. This is in keeping with Serra’s all-encompassing philosophy and long-term vision of ‘no harm’, and our commitment to applying best international practice in reducing our overall carbon footprint.

As the first Industrial sector site to receive this recognition in Gauteng, Serra® has achieved another milestone in a history of numerous ‘firsts’ both in our industry and in the broader South African context. We are especially proud of this achievement as we are celebrating our 35th anniversary this year.

Sustainability was identified by both Growthpoint and Serra® Services as a joint core value.

Errol Taylor, Head of Asset Management: Industrial at Growthpoint Properties, remarks:

It is interesting to note that this small but prominent corner of Meadowbrook has become a shining example of green building in South Africa. Serra’s premises are directly adjacent to Growthpoint’s award-winning 5-Star Office Design v1 certified Grundfos development.

The EBP certification for the building occupied by Serra is part of a pilot programme to develop an industrial EBP rating tool for the GBCSA, which can be used by everyone in the industrial property sector. Growthpoint works in close collaboration with our clients and professional teams to achieve optimal environments for occupants while ensuring that our buildings operate efficiently, sustainably and with minimal impact on the environment. We believe it is important to certify our green buildings because a recognised building rating provides an important independent verification of environmental performance.

Dashiell Coville, Sustainable Building Consultant at Solid Green, explains that the GBCSA’s
Existing Building Performance (EBP) tool focuses on the operational phase of an existing building’s lifecycle, to enable facilities management to set in place policies, plans and processes to optimise the operations and performance of the building.

The certification process for industrial buildings requires a lot more tenant engagement than for office buildings, as industrial tenants are typically in charge of all aspects of property management and cannot simply gain credit from the landlord’s green policies.

Serra has demonstrated a marked reduction in consumption, and both energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives have been implemented.

Key features of the Meadowbrook building’s performance include energy and water efficiency. “Serra consumes in the region of 16kWh/sqm/year, which is an 85% improvement on a typical light industrial building of this scale (106kWh/sqm/year),” says Coville.

This is the ongoing targeted consumption level. Thanks to reduced consumption, as well as energy efficiency and the renewable energy initiatives implemented, the consumption in 2019 was lower than in 2018.

A large solar photovoltaic system on the roof provides renewable energy to the facility. 130 panels, with a capacity of 25kWp, were installed as phase 1; and Thomaz advises that the aim is to install a further 110 panels for phase 2 – with capacity for 550 panels in total. He adds:

Three lithium-ion battery banks provide the office component with 24 hours of uninterrupted power. In winter – June through to end August – these are bled during peak load periods (06h00-09h00 and 16h00 to 18h00) to reduce our electricity consumption and carbon footprint.

Thanks to the water saving initiatives implemented as well as the efficient habits of the Serra staff, the facility has demonstrated an 88% improvement in water consumption on a typical light manufacturing industrial building of this scale, and this is the ongoing targeted consumption level.

The Serra building uses cutting-edge energy and water monitoring systems to accurately report on consumption. Data is monitored via online dashboards and used to analyse trends and highlight problem areas; and the utility metering process is outsourced to a specialist
contractor who manages meter reading and processing.

Periodic audits and occupant surveys are carried out to ensure that sufficient fresh air is provided (to meet or exceed national design standards), that lighting levels are optimal, and that temperatures are comfortable. This all translates into a healthier, more productive space.

Taylor says that the current global COVID-19 pandemic has clarified the importance of work settings that have a positive impact on the health of people and the environment.

As people slowly return to their desks and workbenches after the hardest levels of the COVID-19 lockdown, the design and operation of workspaces to safeguard occupant health and wellbeing will undoubtedly become the priority for all responsible businesses. Factors such as good ventilation and air quality are going to be the defining features of healthy workspaces.

Certified green buildings are certainly among those best positioned to provide superior healthy working environments. In addition, energy and water savings translate to valuable cost savings, which will be more important than ever to businesses as they focus on recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.

Serra is constantly reviewing its approach to recycling within the building in order to improve its waste management practices. The goal is to integrate recycling both at a manufacturing and operations level. Recycling bins for paper, glass, plastics and aluminium cans will be situated within the office space as well as the warehouse waste storage area and collected weekly by the waste management contractor. Thomaz explains that the 3R principle has been implemented. For example, all bonded paper is reused or repurposed where possible in printers, and then recycled after shredding as product bulk packaging. And all stainless steel offcuts are either repurposed or recycled (if not fit for purpose) – resulting in a wastage factor of less than 2%.

An extensive Building User’s Guide was developed for the facility’s ongoing operations, which includes recommendations around several factors to provide the most efficient, healthy and enjoyable working environment. These include indoor emissions; choice of materials and finishes; and design considerations such as thermal comfort, ventilation, daylight, internal noise levels, and the provision of quiet spaces.

Marloes Reinink, director at Solid Green Consulting, notes that it has long been widely acknowledged that the management of buildings is critical to enhancing users’ health and wellbeing – both in terms of productivity, and mitigating disease and absenteeism. She emphasises:

As the links between sustainable practices and public health become more apparent, building professionals and their clients will need to be proactive in navigating the way forward. We must work together towards creating sustainable buildings that are enablers of health.

With its recent EBP certification, Serra® has set a new benchmark for owners and users of Africa’s existing industrial building stock – proving that a more efficient and responsible way of operating is both possible and necessary.

Professional Team:

• Tenant and Facilities Management: SERRA® Services
• Owner and Landlord: Growthpoint Properties
• Sustainability Consultants: Solid Green Consulting

The post Growthpoint & Serra® achieve Gauteng’s first EBP Industrial rating appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.

The project originally achieved a 4-Star Green Star Existing Building Performance Pilot rating in 2015. However, EBP certifications lapse after 3 years, and projects are required to re-certify in order to properly monitor their ongoing performance during operations and maintenance. Accordingly, the GLC submitted its updated performance data and aligned its Green Star strategy to the Green Star Existing Building Performance (EBP) v1 rating requirements from those in the Pilot stage – and was awarded an improved 5-Stars. It will now need to maintain its rating by re-certifying within 3 years of achieving this rating.

To move from a 4-Star to a 5-Star certification, the GLC Facilities Management (FM) team implemented additional measures under Innovation, Energy and Water.

Under Innovation, the building is the first of its kind to implement the ISO50001 Energy Management System (EnMS) in Africa. This standard specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and improving an energy management system, the purpose of which is to enable an organisation to follow a systematic approach in achieving continual improvement of energy performance including energy efficiency, energy security, energy use and consumption. The standard aims to help organisations continually reduce their energy use and therefore their energy costs and their greenhouse gas emissions.

This process has also resulted in upskilling Standard Bank employees with the intention of developing energy leaders who are able to apply their learnings and experiences gained through implementing the ISO energy management system at the GLC to other facilities within Standard Bank’s 1.1 million square meter portfolio.

Under Energy, a new photovoltaic (PV) installation on the roof helped to drastically reduce municipal energy consumption; and a lighting replacement programme for the overhaul of the entire facility from incandescent to LED lights was carried out.

A significant reduction in water consumption was achieved by reducing the showerhead flow rate and toilet flush rate with water efficient sanitary fittings; and through an awareness campaign undertaken by the FM team to improve water efficiencies.

Other sustainability measures included the installation of a live display of water and energy consumption data in a prominent position so that users are able to view the building’s utility usage in an informative way; indoor air quality testing in all occupied spaces; building audits to assess the efficacy of green cleaning products; the implementation of an extensive recycling and waste management programme; and a building occupancy survey, which indicated that more than 80% of the building’s occupants are highly satisfied with their working environment.

Dashiell Coville, sustainable building consultant at Solid Green, complimented the GLC Facilities Management team,:

The team is very involved and proactive in the daily running of the GLC facilities, and played a significant part in ensuring the 2018 5-Star EBP certification. This demonstrates commitment on the part of both the tenant and its personnel, which is essential in the ongoing efficient running of an existing building during its operational phase.

See the Standard Bank Global Leadership Centre project page for more information.

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