Solid Green has been an integral part of South Africa’s green building journey for the past decade. We are immensely proud of every certification we have been involved with – from the smallest victories to the big ‘Firsts’; and we are committed to contributing towards the important advances that the sector is taking to align itself with best practice worldwide.

Developed by Attacq, The Ingress Waterfall’s 20,000sqm of premium-grade commercial space comprises five office buildings ideally located at the entrance to Waterfall City, with visible street access. The buildings, which are located close to a variety of amenities in a pedestrian-friendly, bikeable precinct, are suitable for single occupiers with their own identity or can be divided into multi-tenanted suites.

“Urban resilience and people’s health and wellbeing have been under the spotlight this year,” observes Miron Naidoo, Property Development Manager at the Attacq Group.

With this 4-Star Green Star SA Office Design rating for Phase 1, The Ingress Waterfall has successfully been recognised as Best Practice by implementing standards that speak to these critical considerations, as well as the need to optimise business efficiencies for our clients.

Madi van Wyk, Director at ARC Architects, explains that, in order to create a park within a precinct, the five buildings were placed along the perimeter of the site ensuring a strong street presence while allowing for a larger central courtyard. “The buildings were designed to allow maximum light into the central square and to create a comfortable human scale that does not feel overshadowed by tall building masses,” she says.

A lot of planting was added to further enhance the human scale of the courtyard, with stepped decks to accommodate different seating environments served by the central cafè comprising two repurposed containers.

Van Wyk adds that a façade design was developed for each type of environment faced, which ultimately ties all buildings together. For the North and East facing façades, glazing with spandrels and horizontal louvres was used to address the high sun exposure and glare. Feature elements called for fully glazed facades where dark tinted, double-glazed view panels were used. The Southern facades have similar glazing with spandrels, but with vertical louvres to mitigate the low Western sun that reaches these facades especially during winter months. The Western facades are more solid with punch-out windows or deep-set balconies.

Energy modelling was carried out in the design stages of the buildings and, compared to a notional building model, Greenhouse Gas Emissions have been reduced by 48%. Sub-metering and an effective mechanism for monitoring energy were provided to facilitate ongoing management of energy consumption.

All individual spaces or enclosed spaces are a maximum of 100sqm in size and are individually switched with motion sensors to offer greater flexibility and make it easy to light only occupied areas. The lighting power density for artificial light was also limited to a maximum of 1.50W/sqm per 100 lux to ensure minimal energy consumption. To ensure a high Indoor Environmental Quality, at least 95% of interior finishes specified are low VOC products.

Water meters and an automated monitoring mechanism were put in place to effectively monitor and manage water consumption. Water efficient sanitary fittings were specified and potable water consumption for landscape irrigation was reduced through the use of waterwise landscaping and efficient irrigation systems. This has also resulted in the building’s discharge to sewer being reduced by 50% against an average practice benchmark.

To create a unified brand identity for the precinct, the same material ingredients will be used in different configurations to give each of the five buildings a unique identity, with the lush use of greenery in numerous planters running between and around buildings to ultimately finish off the palette. The absolute quantity of Portland Cement was reduced by 30% across all concrete uses during construction, and reused or post-consumer recycled content steel was utilized in order to reduce the project’s embodied energy and minimise resource depletion.

The steps taken by the developer and professional team to implement sustainable construction and operations at The Ingress Waterfall take into consideration the important balance between environmental concerns, economic feasibility and occupant health and wellbeing.

Project Team

OWNER: Attacq Waterfall Investment Company
ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL: Solid Green Consulting
ARCHITECT: ARC Architects Pretoria
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: Claassen Auret Electrical & Electronic Consulting Engineers
FIRE ENGINEER: WSP
LIFE SPECIALIST: Schindler
MECHANICAL ENGINEER: Q Mech Consulting Engineers
QUANTITY SURVEYORS: RLB Pentad Quality Engineer
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS: EDS Africa Consulting Pty Ltd
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING CONSULTANT: Solid Green Consulting
WET SERVICES: Green Planet Engineer Services
MAIN CONTRACTOR: Archstone Construction
PROJECT MANAGER: Attacq Waterfall Investment Company
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT: Ecology International Pty Ltd
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Land Arch
BMS SYSTEMS PROFESSIONAL: Classen Auret Electrical & Electronic Consulting Engineers

The post Solid Green’s 100th green building certification! appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.

Greg Gordge, partner at Elphick Proome Architecture, explains that orientation, views and flexibility were design determinants in this multi-tenanted building, which needed to accommodate any type of tenancy within certain allowances. “While the building’s footprint was restricted by the site, its favourable orientation and position on the site allowed the southern aspect to be opened up, thus delivering views towards the sea,” says Gordge.

The north, east and west facades were more controlled, with strip windows on the north façade to control solar ingress; and double-glazed fenestration on the east and west facades to control heat gain while allowing natural daylight into the spaces.

The three-storey office offering, with an entertainment area at roof level, was designed around a central core housing the building’s ablutions, services and vertical circulation. This allows a corridor to run between two sectionalized, open-plan office spaces, designed around the notion of maximum flexibility. Gordge adds that, aesthetically, the effect of a floating box was created by encapsulating the upper two floors in a concrete surround, while the remaining floors are glazed with infill brickwork. The restrained colour palette in a series of greys was determined by the Umhlanga Ridge Management Guidelines.

Nomamfengu Mbele, Sustainable Building Consultant at Solid Green, explains that, prior to construction, a comprehensive Environmental Management Plan was developed and implemented throughout the development of the building to minimize the impacts of construction work on the local environment.

The building also targeted over 70% of demolition and construction waste to be reused or recycled – however, the contractors far exceeded this expectation during construction, realizing almost 100% reused or recycled waste. A conscious choice of the materials used within the structure ensured the use of concrete with a reduced Portland cement content, and reinforced steel made of 92% recycled content.

Energy modelling was carried out during the design phase to establish an annual benchmark for energy consumption of 160 kWh/m2/per annum – a 42% improvement over a SANS 204 notional building. Because accurate data is key to understanding and managing building systems, and to assessing opportunities for energy savings, sub-metering of major energy consuming systems was installed to guide the behaviour of occupants and users, which is critical to reducing resource consumption.

In terms of Indoor Environmental Quality, an air-cooled HVAC system supplies fresh air at a rate of 2.5l/s/person for 95% of the usable area. All selected gaseous and fire suppression systems and thermal insulants have an Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) of zero; while only low VOC adhesives, sealants and carpets were used.

Sub-metering of all major water uses was implemented, to monitor and manage consumption. The project has implemented a 5000-litre harvesting system, which supplies recycled water to all low flow sanitary fittings. In addition, the xeriscaped garden surrounding the development will not be irrigated after its initial 12-month establishing period.

All building systems were successfully commissioned to ensure efficient operations as designed. With this As-Built certification, the developers of 29 Richefond Circle are continuing to demonstrate leadership in the green building sector by driving positive change.

Project Team

OWNER: Growthpoint Properties
ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL: Solid Green Consulting
ARCHITECT: Elphick Proome Architecture (EPA)
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: DBA Consulting
FIRE ENGINEER: WSP
LIFE SPECIALIST: Woollatt & Clarke
MECHANICAL ENGINEER: Spoormaker & Partners
QUANTITY SURVEYORS: FWJK
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS: ARUP
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING CONSULTANT: Solid Green Consulting
WET SERVICES: Spoormaker & Partners
MAIN CONTRACTOR: Trencon
PROJECT MANAGER: Betts & Townsend Construction Project Management
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT: SHE Sage
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Land Art Studio

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In planning for a post-COVID-19 building strategy, health-related risks, and specifically the management of threats in densely built-up areas, will join the Resilience conversation – requiring new design and construction methodologies to align with the inevitable changes to regulations that we will see in future.

I believe this is a challenge to the built environment community to take a leading role in effecting meaningful change. This would fundamentally include working with the public sector in proactively defining policies that address all aspects of occupant health and wellbeing. Not only for individual buildings but, essentially, for rapidly-growing cities in terms of spatial equity, movement (of both people and goods), and the provision of clean air and clean water – among many other factors.

Photo credit Boogertman + Partners

Climate Change & Human Health

Reinink says that the link between climate change and human health has been proven beyond any doubt.

Recent research shows that those who are most vulnerable to health hazards, namely those living in under-served communities, are also those who are most at risk from climate change. This includes the health risk posed by air pollution, which is linked to higher rates of death in people with Covid-19.

For years, it has been widely acknowledged that the design and management of buildings and public spaces are critical to enhancing users’ health and wellbeing – both in terms of productivity, and mitigating disease and absenteeism. “In commercial building typologies, salaries are the biggest cost to companies, so an improvement in staff health and productivity will bring a direct return,” Reinink emphasises. “And, in times of almost unprecedented economic uncertainty, this is an area that should receive increased attention from business decision makers.”

Moving forward, two criteria that will need immediate attention in commercial and public buildings (healthcare and education) are Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and the specification of suitable materials. IEQ covers natural ventilation and daylighting, good airflow and air filtration; while appropriate material choices include materials with low VOC content, materials that are easily cleanable, and materials that can be easily replaced as needed.

Photo by Nic Lehoux for the Bullitt Center

Social Distancing & Remote Working

Reinink also believes that the current shift in global paradigms will significantly affect how work and schooling are carried out, particularly for organisations and institutions that have not yet fully embraced the concept of remote working and flexible hours. In a hybrid physical/digital world, organisations will need to be extremely agile and spaces will have to accommodate hyper-flexible user behaviour, vast improvements to user health and safety, as well as the flow of resources and people as part of disaster risk management strategies.

This more dynamic way of operating has been part of Solid Green’s way of working since the renovation of its Rosebank office, which was awarded a LEED Platinum certification for commercial interiors and South Africa’s first 6-Star Green Star SA Interiors v1 certification in 2016. The company’s decision to move to its own premises in Parkhurst in 2020 presented a further opportunity to integrate key Health & Wellbeing requirements to enhance people’s physical and mental health and fitness. These include:

• Air quality, which is being addressed through openable windows, natural ventilation, and sensors for air quality control (CO, CO2 and VOC).
• Drinking water promotion and filtration.
• Nourishment, through the availability of fruits and vegetables, food production in the garden, and mindful eating.
• Light quality, with sufficient daylight, views to nature and glare control.
• Movement, with the inclusion of ergonomic workstations, a good Walk Score for the area, and a multi-use space where yoga can be practiced.
• Thermal comfort and control, with comfort monitoring.
• Sound mapping and good acoustics, which requires an acoustic plan that identifies and addresses internal and external noise sources.
• Mind, through access to nature; spaces exclusively for contemplation, relaxation and restoration; and sleep support.

Designing an interior environment to accommodate flex-working was high on the agenda from project inception. Several different work settings have been included: 8 (unallocated) work stations that will be occupied on a first come, first served basis; a standing/high chair seating area for 4 people; one large table for 4 people, and a relaxed seating area with 2 seats.

The project, currently under construction, will pursue a CORE Green Building Certification through the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) and a Net Zero Carbon certification through the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA).

Boogertman + Partners’ head office, Johannesburg. Photo credit Boogertman + Partners

Public Private Collaboration

In the article ‘Climate, COVID-19 and the economics of decarbonizing buildings’, authors Casey Talon and Carsten Petersdorff state:

A collective effort is required to redefine specifications at the design and build stage of projects… we have an unprecedented opportunity to rethink the entire approach to designing, constructing and managing commercial buildings. If the collective of government, business, real estate and shareholders can agree on the importance and benefits of decarbonization priorities, the COVID-19 recovery era can be positive for climate change.

Reinink agrees and adds that, as the links between urbanisation, climate change and public health become more apparent, current building practices will fall under scrutiny – and stakeholders will need to work together in navigating the way forward.

The property sector is already taking a proactive stance on motivating for the sector to be deemed an essential service. We, as sustainability specialists, have been working to promote more responsible building practices for years. It is now up to us to advocate for the role of the built environment in recovering from this pandemic and preparing for future disasters – by being actively involved in decision- and policy-making.

Oxford Parks courtesy of Intaprop

In Conclusion: Building to enable Health

“It’s not a discussion about sustainability versus health. We must work together towards creating sustainable buildings that are enablers of health,” Reinink emphasises.

Human health, our actions and the natural environment are completely interdependent. Now, more than ever, we must prioritise the responsible use of the Earth’s natural resources and drastically reduce carbon emissions – both in the built environment professions and in our daily lives. The quality of our future depends on how we respond to the challenges with which we are now faced.

The post Professional Leadership towards a more Resilient Future appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.

At the time of the study, the building had been occupied for a period of 24 months, with beneficial occupation having taken place on 1 July 2016. Rampou indicates:

Post-occupancy evaluation (POE) is beneficial for the control of the internal environment of the building to guide improved user comfort, well-being and satisfaction of occupants. This research employed a quantitative research approach using the BUS (building use studies) methodology questionnaire to determine the satisfaction of users with the performance of this green building.

The objectives of the study were to determine the extent to which users are satisfied with the overall performance of the National English Literary Museum; the extent to which users are comfortable within the museum’s environment; and to what extent users tolerate the indoor environment. For the purpose of this research, the building comfort index parameters referred to thermal comfort, visual comfort, indoor air quality (IAQ), and noise levels.

“It is crucial for post-occupancy evaluations to take the human aspects of health and well-being (productivity, comfort and satisfaction) into consideration,” Rampou affirmed.

The data analysis of the study included a comparative analysis of 70 similar buildings from the BUS database, and benchmarking determined whether the study building was better, the same as, or worse than similar buildings.

Findings of the study indicated that the perceptions of occupants rated highest in terms of satisfaction, attributable to the integrative design process of the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) and elements of social design; whereas perceived health rated the lowest. In terms of the factors of comfort, the perceptions of occupants regarding the overall comfort of the building were positive, although noise was a concern. On average, the building performed better than benchmark buildings.

Rampou adds:

The occupants of the building demonstrated tolerance with the building’s environment which may be attributable to pro-environmental behaviours. This information is beneficial to the facilities managers to enable occupants to exercise more control over the thermal conditions of the building. Building owners and managers should consider introducing noise reduction strategies in traffic areas such as floor padding for noise attenuation; and benefits might also arise from a noise awareness campaign and the installation of a visible or audible decibel warning system as additional strategies.

Demonstrating excellence within the South African construction sector, the National English Literary Museum was constructed by the Department of Public Works for the Department of Arts and Culture, with Solid Green Consulting as green building consultants and Intsika Architects responsible for the design.

Annelide Sherratt of Solid Green says:

A Building Users’ Guide was compiled with the intention of informing users about the building’s systems. By educating relevant parties to use and maintain building systems correctly, the building can optimize efficiency and performance, and the lifecycle of the building can be extended.

As a national literary resource, the Museum is thus able to offer an additional important learning resource for building users and visitors on the benefits of green building design, construction and operation.

More NELM news:

• Project page
• National English Literary Museum acquires 5-Star Green Star SA PEB v1 As Built Rating
• NELM project featured in Earthworks magazine
• Two GBCSA Green Star Awards for Solid Green

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A new steel and glass structure hovers over the old single storey, providing an eye-catching new image for the building.

Vaughan Hattingh, director at MDA, played an active role in the project’s design and construction and commended the professional team.

The philosophy and design of MDA’s new office centres around a respect for the natural environment and a clear understanding of our business needs. The project has surpassed our expectations both in terms of its execution and Net Zero certification, and firmly positions us as a thought leader in our sector, in terms of sustainability.

The site is xeriscaped to reduce the need for irrigation.

Activate’s approach was to re-orientate the building to allow a view and frontage over the M1 highway, and to add a floor to the building to bring the gross floor area up to 912sqm. “The new addition is a steel structure hovering over the old single storey portion of the project,” explains Michael Magner, director at Activate. “This design allowed us to create a large open-plan space without adding loads to the structure below, while providing an eye-catching new image for the building. It also enabled a fairly time- and cost-efficient construction process.”

The original timber staircase was restored as a reminder of the building’s past life.

Vivien Yun, project architect, adds:

The office boasts various spaces to work privately and collaboratively, and to interact socially. The intention was to enhance the essence of the 100-year old house while adding a new, modern intervention to reflect MDA as a forward-thinking organization.

The addition is a separate steel structure that accommodates a large open-plan office space without adding loads to the structure below.

Chilufya Lombe, director at Solid Green, explains that, when designing a building for Net Zero, it is crucially important that passive design and energy efficiency features are incorporated before renewable energy systems are even considered. He says:

Due to this design approach, the MDA building is three times more efficient than a standard office building in South Africa. Johannesburg is a signatory to the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Declaration and, as such, is aiming for all new buildings to be Net Zero by 2030. The MDA building has demonstrated that, with foresight and commitment, it is indeed possible to achieve Net Zero.

The space planning allows for various spaces to work privately and collaboratively, and to interact socially.

Energy efficiency and generation were the underlying principles that will result in the building producing more energy than the base building consumes. “The office areas are designed to be naturally lit for a significant portion of the year thereby reducing reliance on electrical lighting, and high-performance double glazing has been used for all curtain walls,” Lombe says.

The passive design principles for this building were optimised so that, even though the building has an air conditioning system, it only has to be used on really hot days. Staff can make use of openable windows for fresh air and comfort.

Efficient LED lighting is provided throughout most of the building, and the lighting system also features occupancy lighting controls to minimise consumption. And, thanks to the client’s vision, an extensive photovoltaic (PV) system was installed on the roof above the new floor, completely offsetting the building’s electrical needs.

The office areas are designed to be naturally lit for a significant portion of the year, and high-performance double glazing has been used for all curtain walls.

To further reduce dependency on natural resources, the building was fitted with a rainwater harvesting system which will be used to offset potable water use in the tenancy. Water-efficient sanitary fittings were installed throughout the building, and the site is xeriscaped to reduce the need for irrigation.

From an operational perspective, submetering and monitoring systems for water and energy facilitate ongoing management of the use of these resources; while a waste recycling storage area was provided to encourage the recycling of resources used within the building in order to reduce waste to landfill.

A new steel and glass structure hovers over the old single storey, providing an eye-catching new image for the building.

In order to encourage users to adopt alternative means of transportation, the building contains cyclist facilities for both occupants and visitors. Chosen for its central location, the site is within 600m walking distance of bus and taxi services and close to several local amenities such as gyms, restaurants and shops.

MDA Attorneys’ new office demonstrates commitment to a more resource efficient way of being, which will ultimately enhance the workplace experience of the building’s occupants and stand the business’ bottom line in good stead during the operational portion of the building’s lifecycle.

Project Team:

• Owner, Quantity Surveyor and Project Manager: MDA Property Holdings (Pty) Ltd
• Sustainable Design Review: Solid Green Consulting
• Sustainable Building Consultant: Solid Green Consulting
• Architect: Activate Architecture
• Electrical and Mechanical Engineer: Izazi Consulting Engineers
• Structural Engineers: Struxit Projects
• Main Contractor: Radon Projects

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Over the last eight years, Solid Green has committed to creating a better living environment for all, not only through its extensive consultancy and certification services, but also through the research and development of online tools to better service its clients’ needs – Solid XA and Solid Insight. And, with all 12 team members qualified as Green Star SA Accredited Professionals (GSSAAP), and key team members also holding LEED AP (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), EDGE AP (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) and WELL AP accreditations, Solid Green is actively harnessing its expertise to serve this sector through advocacy and mentorship.

Mon Trésor Business Gateway is the first Green Star certified project in Mauritius.

Two important ‘first’ Green Star certifications in the last year include the Mon Trésor Business Gateway, the first Green Star certified project in Mauritius which achieved a 4-Star Green Star SA Office Design v1.1 certification in July 2018; and 78 Corlett Drive, which received a 6-Star Green Star SA Office Design Rating as well as a Net Zero Carbon Pilot Rating from the GBCSA at the end of November 2017.

78 Corlett Drive achieved a 6-Star Green Star SA Office Design Rating as well as a Net Zero Carbon Pilot Rating at the end of November 2017.

Moving beyond buildings into the public realm, Solid Green is currently consulting on four of the first thirteen projects that are piloting the GBCSA’s new Green Star Sustainable Precincts tool, including Sandton Gate and Oxford Parks. The company was also the EDGE Auditor on Belhar Gardens Rental Estate in the Western Cape, the first affordable housing project in South Africa to achieve an EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certification from the GBCSA.

Sandton Gate (above) and Oxford Parks (below) are two of the first thirteen projects that are piloting the GBCSA’s new Green Star Sustainable Precincts tool.

Oxford Parks

Belhar Gardens Rental Estate in the Western Cape was the first affordable housing project in South Africa to achieve an EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certification.

A strong believer in leading by example, Solid Green’s own office in Rosebank, Johannesburg, is the first project in Africa to make it onto the Biophilic Map. The map, which is hosted by the International Living Future Institute’s Biophilic Design Initiative, recognizes exemplary projects in articulating and applying Biophilic Design principles to the built environment.

Belhar Gardens Rental Estate in the Western Cape was the first affordable housing project in South Africa to achieve an EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certification.

The company’s office was awarded a prestigious LEED Platinum certification for Commercial interiors and the first 6-Star Green Star SA Interiors v1 certification in 2016; and won the Highest Rated Building category at the Green Star SA Leadership Awards in July of the same year.

Solid Green offices.

The company is also actively involved in policy development throughout Africa and, on 29 August 2017, Nigeria’s first Building Energy Efficiency Code (BEEC) was officially launched in Abuja by the Federal Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN). Solid Green was commissioned as technical consultant on the project, and Director, Chilufya Lombe, spoke at the launch event. Lombe says:

With the energy scarcity that is common in Africa, energy efficiency becomes very important in allowing and maintaining development. In Nigeria, we have found that it is easier to build a building to consume 30 to 40% less energy than to pay to add renewable technology onto an inefficient building. In other words, we are talking about buildings that perform well from a first principles point of view.

Advocacy is a crucial part of the company’s mandate. In 2016, Marloes Reinink, founding Director, signed up to become South Africa’s first ambassador for the Living Building Challenge. Possibly the most rigorous green building certification programme and sustainable design framework in the world, the Living Building Challenge is developed by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) with the mandate of leading transformation toward a civilization that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative. Solid Green is currently working with US-based architectural firm, A-I-R Inc, on two residential projects in Cape Town that are registered to be Full Living Buildings under the Challenge. Reinink says, “This work keeps me motivated and realistic that there is still a long way to go in terms of greening the built environment.”

The Living Building Challenge Standard is possibly the most rigorous green building design framework in the world.

In addition to advocacy, training and mentorship form part of the Solid Green mandate. Three staff members sit on the GBCSA faculty, providing training to enhance the understanding of Green Star tools and certifications in the building industry. A contingent of five also sits on the GBCSA assessment panel, carrying out submission assessments; while two more representatives serve on the GBCSA Assessment Committee, whose responsibility it is to ensure that the certification assessments and assessment processes remain of the highest quality.

In addition, Lombe is currently mentoring start-up organisation, Khora Group – headed up by Katlego Mothapo – which was accepted into the Innovation Hub’s Climate and Innovation Centre (CIC). This incubation programme provides advisory and support services, networking opportunities and access to finance for start-up companies in the green or sustainable sector.

And, in its quest to change mindsets and stay at the forefront of thought leadership, Solid Green is proud to be a partner in the newly-launched GreenED, an online resource offering best-in-class online and contextual learning on sustainable design in the built environment and green rating certifications.

The company has been acknowledged on numerous occasions for its dedication and hard work. Since 2011, directors, staff members and projects have received fourteen Green Star SA Leadership Awards in total, with the Established Green Star awarded to Marloes Reinink in 2013, and Chilufya Lombe in 2014. Last year, the company was Runner Up for the ‘10 Year Award for the Consulting Company with the Highest Number of Certifications’ in South Africa.

Says Reinink:

We are proud of our achievements and meaningful contributions to the green building sector. Our vision for the future is to maintain our current services in the South African industry and grow our activities and impact into Africa, where real change is needed in terms of how buildings are delivered in order to keep up with the current pace of development on the continent.

The post Solid Green scores its Half Century on Green Building Certifications! appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.

Green building initiatives implemented since the design certification include ice storage, rainwater harvesting, and innovation credits. Says Annelide Sherratt, sustainability consultant at Solid Green and the accredited professional (AP) on the project:

Working with a like-minded professional project team, developers and client such as those on Lakeview Phase II, who share common views on sustainability, made the project a pleasure to work on and allowed each professional to push for sustainable solutions within their area of expertise.

The 12,542m2 office building consists of 4 office levels and 3 basement levels. The project implemented several environmental initiatives to improve wellbeing of the occupants in the building that in return contributes to enhanced work performance. Sherratt explains that:

As humans spend over 90% of their lives indoors, exposure to air pollutants can be far greater indoors than outdoors. The HVAC system implemented here therefore provides a high proportion of good quality outside air to counteract the build-up of indoor pollutants. The building prohibits smoking inside the building to further ensure optimum air quality; and only interior finishes with low Volatile Organic Compounds have been specified within the fitout.

To achieve a high level of thermal comfort for the building occupants, the building was modelled in a simulation program. Various energy initiatives were also implemented to reduce the overall energy consumption of the building. As the behaviour of the building occupants is crucial to the building’s energy performance, energy submetering was installed for all substantive energy uses within the building, to facilitate ongoing monitoring and management of energy consumption; and a Building Management System (BMS) was incorporated to actively control and optimise the effectiveness of building services.

Occupancy sensors are installed throughout the building to provide flexibility related to light switching and to prevent wasting energy in unoccupied spaces. The project also incorporates artificial lighting with minimal energy consumption, that provides optimum illuminance levels without being over designed. Hot water is provided by small high performance electric under-counter geysers installed in the kitchenette areas.

Overall, the project design and building services achieved a 45% improvement in Carbon Emissions over a SANS 204 notional building through energy modelling. Chilufya Lombe, director at Solid Green Consulting, explains:

The building has reduced its peak electrical demand by providing an ice storage system for the chiller plant. Instead of having a large chiller, a combination of a chiller and an ice storage facility has been designed. This system allows the building to have a chiller that is 50% smaller than a conventional building. The ice works as a thermal storage device: at night, the chiller runs to create ice and, during the day, this ice is used for the cooling system to supplement the chiller.

Additional sustainability initiatives were implemented that focus on the reduction of potable water consumption, with the aims of easing demand on municipal water sources as well as contributing to more cost-efficient operations of the building. Water efficient sanitary fittings have been specified that help occupants to use water sparingly. Sub-metering for major water consuming systems is in place, to detect any leaks so that little to no water is wasted. Rainwater harvesting has been incorporated as an alternative water source for landscaping; and smart irrigation systems and indigenous landscaping have been incorporated to use water as efficiently as possible.

Innovative sustainable initiative, over and above what is required by Green Star, have also been implemented for the project. The developer committed to certifying the project with multiple ratings – both Green Star Office V1.1 Design and As-Built certifications. As transparency in terms of a Green Building Premium is extremely important to help drive sustainability in the building industry, Lakeview Phase II completed the financial transparency criteria that will assist the GBCSA with market research and inform the public regarding the cost of Green Buildings.

Making a difference in the Sustainability sector is to consistently lead by example and motivate for change,” Sherratt concludes. “Through the commitment and close collaboration of the developer, the client and the professional team, Lakeview Phase II successfully demonstrates how an office building can drive excellence in the South African construction industry.

For more information about this project, see the project page for Lakeside Phase II.

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Marloes has had a lifelong interest in sustainability and the environment. She tells Asset that her father has always been very environmentally-minded, and that he inspired her from a young age to want to make a contribution to protecting the environment. Fortuitously, she came to South Africa at a time when the green building movement was still in its infancy. The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) was formally established in 2008, with its Green Star SA rating system being based on the Australian Green Star model.

Read the full article below, download it here, or access Asset magazine online.

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