Green Star SA Certification is a formal process which involves a project using a Green Star SA rating tool to guide the design or construction process, during which a documentation-based submission will need to be collated as proof of this achievement.

Most rating tools offer two different certifications: “Design” and “As Built”. A “Design” certification can be submitted for and awarded at the end of the design phase of the project. The intent is that the building can then be marketed as a Green Star SA certified building, having demonstrated the green building strategies to be included in the building. At the end of construction, a project can submit for and be awarded “As Built” certification, certifying that all green building strategies were in fact incorporated into the final building. The two types of certification are completely separate, and a Design certification is not a prerequisite for an As Built certification.

Design submissions must be submitted after tender documents are complete and before practical completion of the building. As Built submissions must be submitted after practical completion and within 24 months of practical completion.

Fees effective for projects registering from 1 Feb 2012 onwards
(2nd increase to occur on 1 July 2012).

50% of the Certification Fee is due upon project registration, with the remaining 50% due upon submission for certification. Fees below are exclusive of VAT.

Project area GFA (m2)	Member fees	Non-member fees
<2 500 m2	R 34 500	R 43 000
2 500 – 4 999 m2	R 50 000	R 65 000
5 000 – 9 999 m2	R 63 000	R 78 750
10 000 – 19 999 m2	R 79 000	R 98 625
20 000 – 39 999 m2	R 103 000	R 129 000
40 000 – 69 999 m2	R 127 000	R 158 500
> 70 000 m2	R 149 500	R 187 000

Please note:

1. An analysis of GBCSA costs in certifying projects has unfortunately demonstrated that we incur a fairly significant shortfall loss in the common project size categories. Up until now, this loss has been absorbed, given our "start up" position and also the relatively low number of certifications to date. We expect that the number of registrations will grow significantly in the near future and as such it is no longer appropriate to cross-subsidise. We have therefore accordingly needed to increase the project registration fees by an above inflation rate amount. In order to smooth the effect of this, the increase will be implemented in two tranches, one from 1 February 2012, and the second from 1 July 2012.
   
   We are clearly sensitive to all costs increases and wish to avoid any additional barriers to Green Building, even if only perceptual. Our analysis of a hypothetical total project cost suggests that, at the new project certification fees, certification costs will still generally be less than 0,1% of project cost. Please would you view the increase in this context, rather than as a simple percentage.
   
   
2. Projects in Ghana can now register for Green Star SA-Ghana Office v1 - the project fees will be equal to the fees above + 40% (the additional 40% is paid to the GhanaGBC to cover their operational expenses related to project certification). Please contact the GhGBC if you wish to register your project for Green Star SA-Ghana certification in Ghana, or if you wish to receive a copy of the local context report prepared for projects wishing to be certified in Ghana.

Spire House, Tannery Park, 23 Belmont Road, Rondebosch 7700
P O Box 155, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town