Balwin Properties’ Johannesburg headquarters led the year’s highlights, securing both a 6-Star Green Star As-Built Office v1.1 rating and a Net Zero Carbon As-Built Certification – a dual achievement that positions the development at the forefront of South Africa’s green building movement .

Oxford Parks 10 Parks Boulevard / 55 Eastwood achieved a 6-star Green Star Design Office v1.1 rating in November 2025, receiving a 2025 GBCSA Leadership Award for the Highest Rated Green Star Building.

In Cape Town, the Riverlands Precinct received the 2025 GBCSA Leadership Award for Green Star Leader for New Developments. With its 5-Star Sustainable Precinct rating, two 6-Star Green Star Office ratings, and a 5-Star Mixed Use Custom rating, Riverlands stands as a compelling example of holistic placemaking and long-term community.

Corporate interiors also shone this year. BCG Johannesburg, located in the dynamic Oxford Parks precinct, earned a 5-Star Green Star Interiors v1 certification, blending global workplace standards with a strong sense of local character. Takeda Pharmaceuticals’ new Johannesburg office secured a 4-Star Interiors v1 rating, reflecting the company’s international sustainability commitments.

The year also marked a major public-sector milestone: the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure and Development, together with the Departments of Education and Health, achieved South Africa’s first Green Star Existing Building Performance (EBP) ratings for public schools and clinics.

At the V&A Waterfront, 14 Dock Road elevated its sustainability credentials with a 5-Star Green Star SA Office v1.1 As-Built certification, while in Harare, Ecobank’s new headquarters reached an important milestone with a preliminary EDGE Advanced certification.

Solid Green also celebrated a major achievement with Redefine Properties as the Alice Lane Precinct earned a Net Zero Carbon Level 2 (Measured) certification, reflecting a rigorous commitment to operational carbon reduction.

Marloes Reinink, Director at Solid Green, says:

Together, these achievements underscore Solid Green’s continued leadership in shaping buildings and precincts that deliver meaningful environmental performance, social value and long-term resilience.

Impact and Engagement Highlights

In 2025, Solid Green deepened its leadership in sustainability through industry advocacy, capacity building, community upliftment and people-centred initiatives across the continent.

Regionally, a major milestone was achieved with the publication of Zimbabwe’s Local Context Report, an important step in tailoring global green building standards to local conditions. Driving continental knowledge exchange, Solid Green partnered with the Kenya Green Building Society (KGBS) and Turner & Townsend to deliver the Design for Greater Efficiency (DfGE) course in Nairobi from 30 July to 1 August, reflecting our commitment to enabling skills development and accelerating Africa’s green building transition.

At the Oxford Parks Precinct, we hosted a Green Building tour that highlighted the synergy between sustainability and cost-effectiveness in contemporary urban development. The tour provided practitioners with practical insights into designing high-performance, people-focused precincts.

Social sustainability remained central to Solid Green’s mission. In Cape Town, the team marked Mandela Day by organising a Collection Drive in support of vulnerable community members, while in Johannesburg, staff joined the Imveliso Foundation for a hands-on gardening initiative at Kwena Molapo Secondary School in Diepsloot.

The partnership at Kwena Molapo further underscored the power of people-first sustainability, addressing hunger, education and gender equality through targeted interventions that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. These efforts demonstrated how built-environment professionals can support meaningful social impact beyond project boundaries.

Globally, we joined the industry in celebrating 10 years of the IFC’s EDGE programme – a decade of advancing resource efficiency and shaping a more resilient built environment.

Chilfya Lombe, Director at Solid Green, commented:

Together, these activities reflect Solid Green’s holistic approach to sustainability: advancing technical excellence, supporting industry transformation, and uplifting the communities at the heart of our work.

GBCSA Leadership Awards 2025

Solid Green continues to be recognised by the GBCSA for our leadership in sustainable building design and certification. Below is a summary of the awards we received in 2025:

Highest Rated Project (Existing Operations)

• Runner Up: Promenade Mall (Liberty Two Degrees)

Highest Rated Project (New Development)

• Winner: 105 Corlett Drive, Balwin Head Office (Balwin Properties)
• Runner Up: CPT 14 Zola AWS Central (Liesbeek Leisure Properties Trust)

Rising Green Star

• Winner: Thato Molapo, Solid Green Consulting
• Runner Up: Danika Taylor, Imbue Sustainability & Solid Green Consulting

Established Green Star

• Runner Up: Makhosazana Mthethwa, Solid Green Consulting

Net Zero Champion

• Winner: Redefine Properties. Recognising Net Zero Carbon: Level 2 – Building + Occupant Emissions (Measured) achievements of Alice Lane, Ballyoaks Office Park and CTICC Convention Tower.

Green Star Leader for New Developments

• Winner: Riverlands Precinct – Zenprop Property Holdings

Green Star Leader for (Existing Operations)

• Runner Up: Liberty Two Degrees – driving change at scale through Existing Building Performance (EBP) certifications on their retail centres across South Africa

Investing in Our Future

Throughout the year, we took bold steps to expand our national presence and deepen our expertise.

A key milestone this year was opening our new Cape Town office, marking an exciting chapter in our company’s growth. The expanded footprint strengthens our ability to support clients across the Western Cape and enhances our national reach in delivering high-performance, sustainable buildings and precincts.

Alongside geographic growth, we have broadened our expertise in Existing Buildings, responding to the rising demand for sustainable retrofits and operational performance enhancements. This strategic expansion equips the team to better support building owners and operators in reducing environmental impacts, improving efficiency and achieving long-term value.

As the organisation grows, so too does our focus on nurturing the people who drive sustainability forward. We recognise that resilience in our industry begins with supporting those who carry the mission. From capacity-building initiatives to mental health awareness and balanced workloads, this focus underscores Solid Green’s belief that thriving professionals are essential to delivering thriving cities.

Looking back over this year, we’re deeply grateful for the continued support of our clients and partners. Here’s to new opportunities, deeper partnerships, and bold progress in 2026!

The post Our Highlights in 2025 appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.

But enough about the snacks. Let’s dive into the real substance of the 2024 Green Building Convention.

John Vlismas, taken by Annelide Sherratt

Day 1: A Dynamic Start

The first day of the 17th Green Building Convention kicked off with energy and warmth. From the heartfelt welcome by the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) to the laughter-filled moments led by our MC, it set the tone for an unforgettable event.

Chilufya Lombe during his presentation, taken by GBCSA

One of the standout moments of the day was Chilufya Lombe’s engaging presentation on achieving Net Zero in existing buildings—a critical topic for advancing sustainability in our sector. Chilu emphasised the importance of addressing the “energy efficiency gap” in existing buildings, showcasing the need for extreme energy efficiency measures alongside renewable energy integration. By setting clear, process-driven targets and utilising data-driven optimisation strategies, the presentation highlighted how operational efficiency and innovative technologies can bridge the gap between design intent and real-world performance.

The day ended on a high note with a creative upcycling fashion show, where waste was transformed into wearable art. It wasn’t just an exercise in creativity but a reminder of the potential that lies in reimagining waste. My own entry, a chunky silver rose necklace crafted from cut-up egg cartons and a base of plastic bottle tops, was a fun and tangible way to showcase how everyday materials can find new life in unexpected forms.

The trashion show runway, taken by GBCSA

The sense of community was palpable, as friends and colleagues who share a commitment to sustainability came together once again to collaborate, innovate, and inspire.

Day 2: Collaboration is Key

Day 2 of the Green Building Convention continued to build momentum. Changing gears for a moment from MC to speaker, John Vlismas opened with a thought-provoking analogy (paraphrased):

To beat the house (aka climate change), we need to change the game—from player-vs-player to a collaborative, multiplayer strategy.

Dr. Sechaba Maape reminded us of the importance of indigenous knowledge, suggesting the use of AI to understand the environmental impact of our built environment. Meanwhile, Michael Jordaan delivered a powerful message, “Ideas are great, execution is better, but sustainability is key to longevity.”

Marloes speaking on the value of AP’s, taken by Jennifer Dean

Marloes Reinink, our director, emphasised the value of Accredited Professionals at the project team table. Whether for new builds or existing buildings, their role is crucial in steering projects toward sustainable outcomes.

Annelide Sherratt, our Head of Certifications, contributed to an insightful session with V2 category directors André Harms, Francois Retief and Dash Coville, sharing strategies to navigate the updated certification tool – fondly dubbed “Taming the V2 Beast.”

Annelide speaking on “Taming the V2 beast”, taken by Ranjita Pillai

The day concluded in spectacular fashion at the gala dinner, themed “Beautiful Creatures.” Our team turned heads with our “Birds of Paradise” ensemble. A highlight was Marloes accepting the Net Zero Waste award for the Liberty Two Degrees Retail Portfolio project, a collaborative achievement with Francois Retief from Sow and Reap. Truly a shining example of the collaborative strategy John Vlismas championed earlier in the day.

Solid Green in “Birds of Paradise” unison, taken by Mark Sherratt

Francois Retief (Sow & Reap), Chilu, Brian Unsted (Liberty Two Degrees), Georgina Smit (GBCSA) and Marloes, winners of the award, taken by GBCSA.

Day 3: Insights and Inspiration

The morning walk between our accommodation and the convention was filled with fresh air and a crisp wind which helped clear the cobwebs of the previous night’s gala dinner for the final day of the convention. The first session was a break away, and included my own presentation, titled “There’s Gold Here. Don’t Waste It!” Using the Balwin Properties Head Quarters building as a case study, the immense potential in responsibly managing construction waste was showcased.

Jennifer Dean speaking on Balwin Net Zero Waste, taken by Ranjita Pillai

Later, a captivating panel discussion, “Voices of Tomorrow: Young Leaders Shaping Our Sustainable Future,” hosted by John Vlismas, spotlighted inspiring youth leaders. Environmental activist Zoe Prinsloo, Sundial Movement co-founder Otsile Nkadimeng, and Eco-Soap Bank director Sharon Rapetswa shared their bold visions for a sustainable future.

Andre de Ruyter delivered a sobering yet motivating talk on decarbonisation and the Just Energy Transition (JET), highlighting the paradox of sunshine-rich regions with low renewable energy adoption. He challenged us to think beyond charity from developed nations and instead innovate for fairness and impact.

GBCSA CEO Lisa Reynolds brought the convention to a close with a rousing call to action, leaving us energised and ready to take on new sustainability challenges.

Looking Ahead

Just like the Cape South-Easter keeps things fresh, the 2024 Green Building Convention refreshed our minds and refocused our efforts. We learned from each other, shared our successes and lessons, and celebrated those who have excelled.

We also saluted the everyday heroes – the Zero Heroes – who show up daily with their sustainability caps on, driving change in the built environment.

Lisa Reynolds and next year’s theme, taken by Annelide Sherratt

We look forward to 2025, eager to discover “What’s next in sustainability?” Until then, let’s continue the work, keep up the collaborations, and remember to laugh. It makes the journey to zero just a little more positive.

The post From Laughter to Leadership: the 2024 Green Building Convention appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.

Our relationships with our clients, colleagues, suppliers and team have always been the foundation of our business. Over the last twelve months, we collaborated closely with our ecosystem to achieve sector-leading project certifications. These include achievements in South Africa as well as other African countries.

• The Greenbay Lifestyle Centre in Gordon’s Bay achieved both 6-Star and Net Zero certifications, highlighting the project’s commitment to environmental stewardship and community well-being.
• dsm-firmenich achieved a notable milestone as the first GBCSA certified, Net Positive Ecology Level 2 – Operational Ecology (Measured) project in South Africa. It also received a 6-Star Interiors rating in 2022, and is targeting Net Positive Carbon, Water and Waste certifications.
• The fit-out for ENS, Africa’s largest law firm, achieved a commendable 5-Star Green Star Interiors v1 certification, underscoring the clients commitment to collaboration, productivity and user wellbeing.
• Lapalala Wilderness School, a non-profit, public benefits organisation in the Waterberg District of Limpopo Province, inspired us with its Green Star Net Zero Carbon Level 2 certification.
• Redefine continued to demonstrate sector leadership when three of its properties in Gauteng were awarded Net Zero Carbon Level 2: Building & Occupant Emissions (Measured) certifications – namely 2 Pybus and 90 Rivonia in Sandton, and Rosebank Link in Rosebank.
• Oxford Parks’ 5 Parks, developed by Intaprop, set a new benchmark for sustainable and innovative workspaces by achieving a 6 Star, Green Star Office v1.1 certification and targeting a Net Zero Carbon Level 1 (Modelled) certification.
• Developed by Gateway Real Estate Africa (GREA) in partnership with GRIT Real Estate Income Group, The Precinct in Mauritius received the country’s first Ecodistrict certification.
• The First Capital Bank Head Office in Lusaka was awarded a 5-star Design rating, making it the first building in Zambia to achieve a Green Star rating.
• The Nedbank Head Office Campus in Windhoek was awarded a 6-star New Build Office As-built rating by the GBCSA, making it the first 6-star building in Namibia to receive this certification.
• The new headquarters of Fuchs Lubricants in Kempton Park, with a usable floor area of 2554m², received a Net Zero Carbon certification from the GBCSA.

Our milestones this year

We are extremely proud of our team who, once again, excelled in delivering top notch Green Star submissions. At the GBCSA’s Green Building Convention in November, the Nedbank Head Office Campus in Windhoek, with Elri Syfert as Accredited Professional (AP), was Winner of the Highest Rated African Green Star Submission as well as Runner-up for the Highest Rated Building (Asset Rating Design Project). Elri was also Runner-up for the Rising Green Star award. And Rewardsco Block A, with Makhosazana Mthethwa as AP, was Runner-Up Best Quality Submission.

Another huge achievement was the completion of our office renovation! The vision was born in 2019 with the purchase of an old house in Parkhurst. The journey took a little longer than expected, but we now have a beautiful space crafted to our exact needs. Together with a thriving garden and tranquil outdoor seating area, this supports our team and visitors to our office with a light, bright environment in which to work and enjoy each other’s company.

Solid Green offices

Our people have always been our greatest asset and, this year, we were delighted to welcome five new team members on board – Kayce Theunissen, Elri Syfert, Bosa Mochotlhi, Thato Mohale, and Hannah Watt (from intern to real employee).

Our shared commitment

As we continue to drive transformation and sustainability in the built environment, we are deeply grateful for the commitment that we share with you towards a more regenerative future for both people and planet. We look forward to continuing this journey in 2024, and wish you and your loved ones a relaxing and enjoyable holiday season!

The post 2023 – WHAT A JOURNEY! appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.

• the In2food Bonaero Park facility, one of the few industrial facilities in South Africa achieving both 4-Star Green Star Industrial Design v1 and Net Zero Carbon Level 1 certifications;
• 203 Oxford and 8 Parks Boulevard, which were developed by Intaprop in the Oxford Parks precinct, and which both achieved 5-Star Green Star Office v1.1. Design certifications;
• the new Balwin Headquarters, a refurbishment of the iconic Creative Council building on Corlett Drive in Johannesburg, was awarded a 6-star Green Star Office Design v1.1 rating and is targeting Net Zero Carbon and Net Zero Waste certifications;
• several lifestyle centres for Balwin Properties’ portfolio, including the Greenlee Greenbarn in Linbro Park, the Greenpark Lifestyle Centre in Boksburg, Ballito Hills Lifestyle Centre in KZN, and the De Zicht Lifestyle Centre in Milnerton, Cape Town – all of which received Net Zero Carbon and 6-Star Green Star Public & Education Building (PEB) Design certifications earlier this year.
• Motswere Prime Plaza II, an A-grade office space for Primetime Holdings in Gaborone, Botswana, achieved its 5-Star Green Star Office Design v1.1 rating in May 2021.

As always, our top achievement is the dedication of our team – our people are our greatest asset.

Marloes Reinink was one of the winners under the ‘Green Building’ category of the 17th edition of the Mail & Guardian’s Greening the Future flagship awards. The programme celebrates the dedication of environmental and sustainability trailblazers who are working towards ensuring that CO2 emissions decrease within prescribed bounds to limit the precarious rise in global temperatures.

This year’s Ghana Green Building Summit (GGBS), held from 23-24 September, centred around the theme ‘Rethinking Operations Management for High Performance Buildings’. On Day 2, Chilufya Lombe moderated the panel discussion “The Zero Game – Is the Race to Net Zero Buildings a Fad?”, which looked at the prominent place of net zero on the African agenda.

Earlier this year, under our new strategy for the coming years, we decided to establish a new department, Sustainable Cities & Research, headed up by sustainability expert, Adrie Fourie. This work focuses on providing support to our clients and delivery partners on projects that have an impact beyond the scale of individual buildings.

We were also thrilled to be able to welcome four new people to our team, especially in these uncertain times. Cebisa Mafukuzela, a sustainability consultant with a B. Architectural Studies from NMU, is passionate about finding architectural solutions with sustainability as the core driver in design decisions. Elri Syfert holds a B. Arch from NMU, and her passion is to actively make a positive impact on the environment as an Accredited Professional in green buildings by realising the client’s vision in a mindful way.

Ruth Ndlovu, who is performance driven and goal-oriented, has a diploma in Economics and Management Sciences through UNISA and is pursuing a B. Comm Accounting degree. Samantha Phiri, who believes in staying up to date with current technology and developments in the economy and environment, studied Accountancy at UJ and is the process of obtaining her CIMA qualification.

We are especially proud of the dedicated, powerful members of our team who brought home GBCSA Leadership Awards from the GBCSA’s Green Building Convention! These were Zendré Compion, the accredited professional on the Balwin Head Quarters, which placed 2^nd for the Highest Rated Building category; Dashiell Coville, who was named runner up for Established Green Star; and Alex Varughese, who was named runner up for Rising Green Star.

Our whole team of super-cool and committed people is continuing the journey of our sector-leading sustainability work from our new office in Parkhurst. A lot of work has gone into ensuring that these new offices reflect our values and ethos of regenerative design and development, and this includes creating a beautiful and functional garden for our team.

To our clients, team, collaborators and suppliers – as always, thank you for your ongoing presence. You make our work possible and our journey meaningful!

The post A Rewarding 2021! appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.

ONE represents action – aggressive, ambitious and innovative. ONE represents one people, united against the threat of climate change. It represents one individual after the other joining together to create ONE collective that has the power to change everything.

On Day 1, the team kicked off the convention with a pre-convention catchup at our new offices on 33 Sixth Street, Parkhurst. Aside from being a great time to meet up after almost two years of online meetings, we were also able to strategically plan which parallel GBCSA convention sessions we would be attending and which conversations we were most excited to explore.

On day 2 and 3 of the convention we were fully immersed in the parallel discussion sessions as we spread out into our various interest areas.

The emergence of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investment and its relationship with the green building industry

Liberty two˚degrees sponsored numerous sessions centred around the hot topic of ESG investing with discussions around the basis of ESG strategies for property development, and the role that integrated development plays in improving investor relations and development reputation. This included the emergence of property developers who look at moving beyond certifications to producing better products for their end-users that consider long-term impacts on communities, minimize environmental harm and implement good governance. This is potentially an interesting transition for the sustainable built environment to begin engaging with developers to push thinking towards community engagement, precinct scale sustainable initiatives, and development that fosters diversity and inclusivity.

The importance of water saving mechanisms in our construction industry

Rand Water was one of the main sponsors of the GBCSA Convention. Their statistics show us that in South Africa, a water-scarce country, water use is at 233L per capita per day compared to a world average of approximately 170L per capita per day. Rand Water then presented on the strategies they have implemented to promote water conservation and generate sustainable water which includes advocacy and research. Rand Water has also partnered in post-graduate scientific programmes that support water conservation and generation; and has launched a water wise calculator app which can assist the consumer in understanding their water usage behaviour and how it corresponds with their water bills.

Other discussions covered investment in energy efficiency, which creates three times more jobs than investment in fossil fuels; exciting developments such as legislation recently passed by South Africa that requires larger buildings to report and display energy performance according to SANS; and how some projects have used eco bricks as void fillers.

At the Day 3 Awards, South Africa’s top-rated Green Star projects were announced. Solid Green’s Zendré Compion was the accredited professional on the Balwin Head Quarters (owned by Balwin Properties). This 6-Star rated project placed 2^nd for the Highest Rated Building category, and it is targeting a Net Zero Carbon and Net Zero Waste v1 Rating, as well as an Office As-built rating.

We are especially proud of two of the dedicated, powerful members of our team who brought home GBCSA Leadership Runner-up Awards. Dashiell Coville was named runner up for Established Green Star – the GBCSA recognised his incredible work in bringing sustainable development to the rest of Africa which included making the Green Star rating system fit the slightly different social and environmental contexts in other countries. The work done by Dash resulted in the first Green Star rated building in Botswana, Prime Plaza, and the first Green Star rated office in Nigeria, Project Windsor. Both received 4-Star Green Star Office v1.1 Design ratings.

Alex Varughese, who won the runner up for Rising Green Star, has over years’ 5 experience in delivering Green Star rated buildings with Solid Green, with a focus on the energy performance of buildings. In the last two years, Alex has worked on over 35 Edge, Green Star, Net Zero and New Build certifications, advising project teams on how to rethink their energy use, glass performance and alternative modes of energy.

“It was a wonderful surprise to be nominated and a privilege to be the runner up in the Rising Green Star category, says Alex. “I am super excited about receiving this award. As a company and team, we put a lot of work into every green building project that we are involved in, and it is wonderful to be recognised for the work done. I want to especially mention and thank my colleagues in the modelling department at Solid Green for all the for hard work, assistance and collaboration that is required for all our projects. While winning the award is an amazing achievement, I understand that this is just the beginning and more will be required to achieve “greener” buildings in South Africa and beyond.”

We are very excited about the transition of the green building industry which was showcased through the convention, and we are extremely proud of the excellent contribution that our team is making towards furthering the sustainability agenda across the continent. We look forward to participating again at the Green Building Convention 2022!

The post Green Building Convention & Awards 2021 appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.

Vleihuis Development in Linden

“Net Zero represents the beginning of the first true response to climate change from the building industry,” Chilufya Lombe, Sustainability Consultant and Director at Solid Green observes.

While it is evident that we cannot stop the development of new buildings as cities grow, it is possible to ensure that impact on the environment as a result of development is negated. A Triple Net Zero certification represents the pinnacle in environmental design with a structure that has zero impact on resources.

We are delighted to report that our footprint is growing into countries like Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Botswana, Mauritius and Namibia. This includes our collaboration with Enerxis Solutions on Mauritius’ first Green Star certificated project, the Mon Trésor Business Gateway.

Mon Trésor Business Gateway 2

We are particularly proud of our people, who have excelled this year in proactively contributing towards transformation in the property sector. Annelide Sherratt and Jesse Hamman were acknowledged for their dedication at the 2018 Green Building Council Leadership Awards when they were awarded Runner Up: Established Green Star and Winner: Rising Green Star respectively.

And, on 23 October 2018, at the national 4th South African Women in Property Awards (SAWIPA), Marloes Reinink was named Business Woman of the Year: Entrepreneur! The SAWIPA Awards recognise women who continue to influence and change the landscape of the property industry – which Marloes has achieved as founder of the largest dedicated green building consulting firm in South Africa, the only ambassador in the country for the Living Building Challenge, and tireless advocate for all things that contribute towards a healthier and more regenerative world.

4th SAWIPA National Awards: Marloes Reinink named Business Woman of the Year: Entrepreneur.

“It is crucial that cities grow in a sustainable manner,” Reinink says.

Cities today are nodes of opportunity to move green design beyond the building scale into the public realm. It is a great privilege to be acknowledged as SAWIPA’s Business Woman of the Year: Entrepreneur amongst such high-calibre professionals. Particularly because the SAWIPA Awards offers a platform for celebrating not only gender equity in our property industry, but also the important advances that the sector is taking to align itself with best practice worldwide.

At Solid Green, we believe in walking the talk and have committed to providing a healthy work environment for our team, together with lifestyle guidance and ongoing mentorship. Our office, which was awarded a prestigious LEED Platinum certification for Commercial Interiors and the first 6-Star Green Star SA Interiors v1 certification in 2016, was the first project in Africa to be featured on the Biophilic Map earlier this year.

Biophilic map.

A number of our staff members are activists for the circular economy, and challenge themselves daily to lead lives that are more in sync with available natural resources and cycles. We advocate for waste reduction, and Gavin Westbrook went so far as to set himself a plastic-free month challenge, with interesting results! We also educate our network around dietary choices and put programmes in place to enable our staff members to transition towards sustainable modes of transportation.

From its inception, Solid Green has taken the practice of mentoring young people very seriously; and we are constantly rewarded by their personal and professional growth and enthusiasm. Nomamfengu Mbele and Mapula Matlakala took time out to share their experiences of working with our team. Our mentoring work this year also included Chilufya Lombe’s work with start-up organisation, Khora Group – headed up by Katlego Mothapo – which was accepted into the Innovation Hub’s Climate and Innovation Centre (CIC).

Annelide Sherratt, Nomamfengu Mbele, Mapula Matlakala , Marloes Reinink at the 2018 GBCSA Convention Gala Dinner

All our achievements are only possible thanks to the loyal support of our clients, staff, colleagues, supporters and suppliers. We are encouraged on a daily basis by your commitment to furthering a fully sustainable built environment for current and future generations. We look forward to sharing the next stage of our journey with you, and wish you and your families a very blessed and enjoyable holiday season as we head towards 2019!

The Solid Green team.

The post Your Support in 2018 appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.

We are also delighted to report growth into different sectors, as well as sustained momentum in our own innovation programmes. On 13 January 2016, the first Streetlight School opened in Johannesburg – Jeppe Park Primary – the first school in South Africa to apply for a Green Star SA rating. And earlier this year, the Allandale Public Transport Facility, developed in response to the growing need in the Waterfall area for a taxi holding facility, received a 5-Star Green Star SA PEB v1 (Public and Education Buildings) certification.

Most recently, Solid Green is again leading the way as co-developers – together with TAP Properties and Urban Reflection – of the Local Context Report (LCR) for the new Green Star SA Communities Tool, for which we are also the consultant on four of the thirteen pilot projects that will feedback to the tool – Dunkeld, Sandton Gate, Melrose Arch and Menlyn Maine.

4 Stan Road in the sun

Overall we achieved our 31st Green Star SA certification this year. Among the innovative projects that we were privileged to work on were: Google’s award-winning Head Office in Johannesburg (5-Star Green Star SA Interiors); 4 Stan Road (4-Star Green Star SA Design and As-Built certifications); and, most recently, Menlyn Maine Pegasus (4-Star Green Star SA Office v1 Design and As-Built certifications).

Edge

In terms of innovation, we are proud of our participation as technical consultants on regionalising the EDGE tool (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) and testing it for the South African market. The tool is geared towards achieving a significant improvement across water, embodied energy and energy consumption in the residential market.

We are also very proud of the eight members of our staff who have been certified as EDGE Accredited Professionals – Bronwyn Byrne, Zendre Compion, Dash Coville, Derisha Govender, Warren Gray, Jesse Hamman, Annelide Sherratt and Gavin Westbrook.

Awards

As always, our directors and staff continue to surpass our expectations. At the Green Star SA Leadership Awards at the GBCSA Convention in July, Dash Coville won the Rising Green Star award and was acknowledged for his work on 4 Stan Road, which won the Best Quality Submission; while Gavin Westbrook was acknowledged for his work on Alice Lane Phase II, which was the Best Quality Submission runner-up.

The Solid Green Offices

In November, the work of two of our directors Warren Gray and Chilufya Lombe was recognised when they won second place in the Green City Startup 2016 for their work on Solid Insight. A fully developed (software and hardware) business-metering, resource-management and Internet-of-Things (IoT) application, Solid Insight was piloted at the GBCSA’s offices in Cape Town and at Solid Green’s own offices in Johannesburg. In 2016, the platform was rolled out to the residential market as well.

Into 2017

As we expand our offerings into Africa, we look forward to contributing meaningfully towards thought leadership and successful green-building implementation in 2017, and we hope that you will continue to enjoy this journey with us!

The post Our Year in 2016 appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.