A green building rating tool sets standards and benchmarks for green building, and enables an objective assessment as to how "green" a building is. The rating system sets out a "menu" of all the green measures that can be incorporated into a building to make it green. Points are awarded to a building according to which measures have been incorporated, and, after appropriate weighting, a total score is arrived at, which determines the rating.

To achieve certification, building owners will submit documentation to the Green Building Council of South Africa who will employ independent assessors to assess the submission and score the building.  Certification will be awarded for 4-Star, 5-Star or 6-Star Green Star SA ratings.

There are several rating systems in existence worldwide, including LEED from the US, BREEAM from the UK and Green Star from Australia. After a process of industry and expert consultation, the Green Building Council of South Africa Board decided to base our South African rating tool on the Australian Green Star system, and to customise this tool for South African use.

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