In the last 12 months, we have also begun to make a meaningful impression through our Net Zero work. 78 Corlett Drive won the Highest Rated Building category in the 2018 Green Building Council Leadership Awards for its Net Zero Carbon (Pilot) Level 1 submission; while the Vleihuis Development in Linden, Johannesburg, achieved a Triple Net Zero certification for Carbon, Water and Ecology, and was awarded Runner Up: Net Zero Innovative Project Award in the same Awards programme.

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.