South Africa's greenest buildings

Increasing numbers of local developments are showing their carbon credentials

As the ringmaster of the all-important United Nations climate summit to be held in Durban next month, South Africa - and the carbon credentials of its built environment - will no doubt be scrutinised.

But considering that a groundswell of major green commercial developments has swept the country in the past year, there's news to feel good about. In the past 12 months alone, 23 development projects throughout South Africa have registered with the Green Building Council of South Africa to have their environmental credentials as well as energy-efficiency standards assessed.

The council is the country's only independent certification programme for green buildings and, as such, represents a boon for any project that is recognised by its Green Star SA system. So far, the council has given nine projects the thumbs up by certifying each of these with either four or five stars - four representing "best practice" and five representing "South African excellence".

Here's our pick of the certified crop:

Aurecon Centre, Century City, Cape Town *****

Housing the Cape Town offices of global engineering firm Aurecon, this 7402m² building was certified last month and was the first building in the country to achieve five-star status. Its design accommodates a range of green innovations, such as parking for hybrid and car-pool vehicles; treated effluent that is used for irrigation and airconditioning; a rainwater-harvesting system and carbon-dioxide sensors. Crucially, the building has also adopted a "green lease", which forces both landlord and tenant to operate the building according to its original sustainable  design.

Nedbank head office, Sandton ****

South Africa's first and largest Green Star-rated building at 45401m², this building accommodates some 3000 employees, who enjoy a fresh-air intake that is 100% greater than required by legislation. Certified last September, it features, among other things, intelligent fittings, meters and a rainwater-harvesting system that significantly reduce the building's water consumption. All steel used in the project had an average recycled content of 85%, while nearly 79% of all waste generated in the building is recycled. The office's verdant gardens and interior greenery act as a carbon sink for the building and provide an immediate connection to nature in the heart of concrete Sandton.

The Shepstone and Wylie office development, Umhlanga ****

Certified last December, this 4840m² development only used reinforcing steel with a 95% recycled content. It was delivered as an "integrated fit-out", thus minimising waste. Eighty percent of the office area has a direct line of sight to the outdoors, and outflows to the sewerage system have been reduced by 50% through the installation of efficient fixtures.

• The Green Building Council of South Africa's fourth annual convention takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from Wednesday to Friday. Visit www.gbcsa-convention.org.za to register.

New building regulations

Stringent  new regulations designed to boost the national building industry's carbon credentials kick into place on November 10. And anyone in contravention of these could find themselves on the wrong side of the law.

"The new national legislation forces buildings to be constructed in an energy-efficient way," says Rudolf Opperman, technical advisor with the National Regulator for Compulsory Specification.

Thrashed out by the SA Bureau of Standards, "South African National Standard 10400 XA" outlines what building practitioners will need to do to satisfy the regulations, which were promulgated in the Government Gazette on September 9.

This standard will require, among other things, that buildings are constructed facing north and that north-facing windows are shaded in order to retain internal sunlight during winter and minimise it during summer. It also prescribes new energy-efficiency requirements in floors, walls and roofs. Fifty percent of hot water produced by a new building will have to be derived from renewable energy. The regulations have, however, made provision for exemptions that will be valid for up to six months after the legislation has been enacted.

Building practitioners may also deviate from the national standard on condition that they have motivated their alternatives are equally energy-efficient.

"The fact that we have now introduced this legislation says that we are serious about energy-efficient buildings," says Opperman.

• TELL US: Are the new regulations a help or hindrance? E-mail tiara.greenlife@gmail.com