Massive increase in Green Star rated buildings in SA
23 September, 2011, SA Commercial Prop News
The green movement in the built environment is spreading like wildfire and in the month of September alone the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) certified three new green buildings in SA under the Green Star SA rating system.
This brings the total number of Green Star SA ratings in SA to nine, with two of these having achieved both Office Design and Office As Built ratings. The month of August also saw the awarding of the first ever 5-Star rating in South Africa – a significant and exciting achievement.
The case for green retrofitting is clear, says CIDB’s Milford
22 September, 2011, Creamer Media's Engineering News
‘Green’ retrofitting has great potential for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions at a comparatively low cost, Construction Industry Development Board programme manager Dr Rodney Milford said on Tuesday, urging the building industry to embark on the endeavour.
The case for green retrofitting and refurbishment of existing buildings to meet sustainability criteria was “clear”, he said, as it provided opportunities to invest in job creation and cut carbon emissions. “Getting more from existing buildings will benefit users, the community, the environment, business and the bottom line,” Milford said at the Master Builders of South Africa yearly congress in Cape Town.
He did, however, warn that retrofitting a building should be approached carefully. “If you are going to retrofit a building then do it properly. The costs involved in retrofitting existing stock are huge. You won’t get another chance, so don’t do it wrong.”
Green Building Council to launch pilot public and education rating tool
22 September, 2011, Creamer Media's Engineering news
The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) issued a call for buildings that could be rated under its new Public and Education Building (PEB) pilot rating tool, which would be formally launched in October.
The PEB pilot tool was developed by the GBCSA technical teams, and sponsored by the Construction Industry Development Board.
The GBCSA will select six building projects to achieve formal Green Star South Africa (SA) certification, under the new rating tool, which has been designed to assess new buildings, building renovations, building extensions and multiple building projects.
Eligible buildings included community centres, libraries, museums, education buildings, places of worship, indoor sports centres, entertainment, exhibition and convention centres, public transport terminal buildings and others.
Premier breaks ground for Cape Town's new skyscraper
25 August, 2011, SA Property News
Artist’s impression of Portside – Old Mutual and FirstRand Bank’s new building. which will soon be rising on Cape Town’s Foreshore.
Last week Old Mutual and FirstRand Bank held a ground breaking ceremony to launch their joint Portside development initiative, which will further revitalise Cape Town’s central business district.
The 32-storey building will be the tallest building in Cape Town, a title held for more than 40 years by 1 Thibault, which was formerly the BP Centre.
The Portside project is a joint initiative between Old Mutual and FirstRand Bank, and will become the provincial headquarters for FirstRand’s three divisions – FNB, RMB and Wesbank. Old Mutual will offer an additional 25 000m² of prime space for leasing to corporate and retail tenants.
Western Cape Premier Helen Zille took part in the ground breaking ceremony signalling the start of the project. In her speech, she congratulated the two companies for their vision and investment in the future of South Africa, as well as their commitment to the growth of the Western Cape.
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Green building will take centre stage at the GBCSA convention in October
25 August, 2011, SA Property News
Green prophets and profits will unite at the Green Building Council of South Africa’s (GBCSA) fourth annual Convention and Exhibition in Cape Town in October.
The GBCSA’s fourth annual convention and exhibition, sponsored by Nedbank Corporate Property Finance, is attracting the attention of everyone from economists to architects and entrepreneurs and those who previously only thought of green as a place where they put – and putt – their golf balls.
Aurecon Building Achieves first 5 Star Green Star SA Rating
20 July, 2011, GBCSA
Aurecon’s office building in Century City, Cape Town, which is nearing completion, is the first building in South Africa to be awarded a 5 Star Green Star SA – Office Design v1 rating by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA).
Green building - it's just what your doctor, your banker & your family ordered!
19 July, 2011, GBCSA
Your home or workplace can make a major difference to your health.
Results from various studies are indicating that people in green buildings have fewer incidents of cold, flu and asthma as a result of access to fresh air, better ventilation systems and environmentally-preferable paint and furniture. A green building is a building which is energy efficient, resource efficient and incorporates design, construction and operational practices that significantly reduce or eliminate its negative impact on the environment and those who live and work in them.
Local guide being developed for ''green leasing''
12 July, 2011, Creamer Media - Engineering News
Research by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) and the South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa) has shown that South African tenants and landlords are starting to request ''green leases''.
To this end, a working group of members from the GBCSA and Sapoa has been established to jointly develop a guide to green leasing.
A green lease, explains GBCSA executive chairperson Bruce Kerswill, lays out certain contractual lease obligations between a landlord and a tenant of a building, that require or encourage the adoption of environmentally friendly practices.
Vodacom aims for top green building rating with R24m green innovation centre
24 June, 2011, Creamer Media - Engineering News
Construction has started on the R24-million green innovation centre at Vodacom’s head office in Midrand, which would be the first building in South Africa to aim for a six-star rating under the Green Star South Africa certification scheme.
UK-based parent company Vodafone chose to locate the green innovation centre in South Africa, from where staff would work on reducing carbon emissions across the group’s global operations.
Completion was scheduled for the third quarter of 2011, and the construction team on site was Bantry Construction.
“The innovation centre will be one of the most environmental-friendly buildings in the entire Vodafone group, powered with renewable energy using cooling and heating technologies. We are working with the Green Building Council of South Africa to ensure the building is accredited according to the Green Star rating system,” said Vodacom CEO Pieter Uys at the sod-turning ceremony.
Collaboration in Green Building is key
15 June, 2011, 25 Degrees in Africa
In December 2010, the Nedbank Ridgeside building in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) achieved a four-star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA), thereby becoming the second office development in South Africa to be fully certified, and the first in KZN.
The 6 500 m², four-storey office block and a three-level super basement has been hailed as the building which “sets the standard for all future development of the Ridgeside precinct”.
Collaboration key to success
Engineering, management and specialist technical services group, Aurecon, says that collaboration between the professional teams was key to the success of the project. The professional teams for the project included WSP Green by Design as the sustainability consultant and Aurecon as the structural, civil services and wet services engineer.
Index puts green property on radar
09 June, 2011, The Fifth Estate
1 July 2011 – More than 250 influential property investors and advisors turned out to Tuesday morning’s breakfast presentation at The Establishment in Sydney to hear the PCA/IPD Australian Property Index focus in detail on why and how green buildings were outperforming their peers. Oh, and a bit about how the regular property market was faring as well.
Managing director of IPD in Australia and New Zealand Anthony De Francesco first outlined the performance of the overall market.Overall market growth was 10.4 per cent for the year ending March 2011 – made up of 7.5 per cent income returns and 2.7 per cent capital growth, an improvement of 0.7 per cent on the previous year but there were signs of a slow down ahead, Dr De Francesco said.
“While sectors all show improvement in returns they also show a slow down in pace of recovery,” he said.
SA property going green
06 June, 2011, iafrica.com
More and more people the world over are acting on the awareness that the planet’s resources need to be preserved and protected more so than ever before, a philosophy which has spilled over into the property arena.
Adrian Goslett, CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, says that the US is one of the leaders when it comes to designing and building green homes.
"In fact, up to 70 percent of the buyers in the Generation X group in the US indicated that they would be willing to pay more for houses that incorporate green technology in the design," he says.
New building gets 4-Star rating in Durban
19 May, 2011, eProp - GBCSA
24 Richefond Circle, a new office building in Ridgeside Office Park, Umhlanga, has been awarded a 4-Star Green Star SA Office v1 Design rating by the Green Building Council of SA
Richefond is a 4952m2 , 4-storey office building, developed for Shepstone and Wylie.
According to Manfred Braune, GBCSA’s Technical Executive, as a rated green building, 24 Richefond has a host of unique features, arguably most important of which is that it will consume 49% less energy than an equivalent ‘normal’ building, and 98% less irrigation water.
Green Star SA rates buildings on eight environmental categories, including energy, water, materials and emissions. The tool sets out specific environmental initiatives or targets (credits) in each category, and buildings are awarded points for each credit they comply with. The total points will determine the building’s Green Star SA rating – either a four, five or six star.
“Energy is a major focus, and as such, points earned in this category carry significant weight in the Green Star SA certification. Projects are rewarded for reducing their energy consumption, with maximum points being rewarded for a 100% reduction in energy use,” notes Braune. “But there are a wide number of other initiatives that go into a rating. Some of those at Richefond include the recycling of waste during construction, increased fresh air and natural light, significantly reduced water consumption and the use of recycled materials.”
He notes that during construction, a recycling and reuse initiative was put in place to recycle in excess of 70% of the waste generated.
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Property developments lauded at prestigious awards ceremony
17 May, 2011, eProp - SAPOA
This year five of the nine award-winning property developments are located in Sandton, proving it to be the centre of innovative property development and design in South Afric
All situated in Sandton, Pick n Pay Nicol took the retail development category, Legacy Corner won the mixed-used development category, The Park Inn Sandton scooped the ‘other developments: hotels” category and Nedbank Phase II won the overall green development category.
The stylishly distinctive abstract ‘chequered’ 15 Alice Lane Towers in Sandton Central has scooped top honours at the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) Innovative Excellence in Property Development Awards 2011, sponsored by Nedbank Corporate Property Finance.
“The awards acknowledge quality, excellence in design and innovation – all essential to the ever-evolving art of property development,” says Neil Gopal, CEO of SAPOA. “They epitomise the ability of South Africa’s property developers to find exciting solutions for client’s requirements and stay on the forefront of global trends.”
Overall winner and best in the office development category, 15 Alice Lane Towers is set atop a six-storey basement, with two towers that rise 17 floors into the Sandton sky. Co-developers Zenprop Property Holdings and Tiber Projects commissioned the exceptional addition to the Sandton skyline, designed by Paragon Architects. The 24,000sqm development is the new address for well-known legal firm Deneys Reitz.
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Council developing new rating tool
01 April, 2011, Engineering News
The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) is developing an energy and water benchmarking rating tool for existing buildings.
The council reports that this tool, which still has to be launched, will eventually plug into the Green Star SA rating tool for existing buildings, which will serve both the private and public sectors.
“The energy and water benchmarking tool is still in the early stages of scoping and development, while the GBCSA is in the process of selecting a technical consultant to undertake the intensive research and development work on the project,” says GBCSA technical executive Manfred Braune.
World GBC Update
01 April, 2011, World GBC
I’m pleased to provide you with an update of the WorldGBC’s activities and progress
in 2010.
As the global green building movement continues to gather pace, so too our
WorldGBC network continues to grow. We now have member councils in more than
80 different countries dispersed over five regional networks in the Asia Pacific,
Europe, Americas, Africa, and most recently the Middle East and North Africa.
In 2010, six GBCs graduated to ‘Established’ status: Colombia; Netherlands; Poland;
Romania; Singapore and Spain. A further six GBCs gained ‘Emerging’ status:
France; Hungary; Indonesia; Jordan; Peru and Sweden.
Consultancy puts success of Nedbank's green KZN building down to collaboration between professionals
25 March, 2011, Engineering News
Engineering consultancy and silver founding member of the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) Aurecon says that collaboration between project professionals was a key success factor in the development of the Nedbank Ridgeside office building, in KwaZulu-Natal.
The 6 500 m2, four-storey Ridgeside building is the second office building in South Africa to be certified by the GBCSA, and it received a four-star rating under the Green Star South Africa rating system.
Sustainability & Energy Efficiency
24 March, 2011, Official Empire State Building Website
The Empire State Building symbolizes America's limitless potential.
Today the building is undergoing a major sustainability retrofit to become a leading example of economic and environmental revitalization.
Consulting, design, and construction partners Clinton Climate Initiative, Johnson Controls Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle, NYSERDA, and Rocky Mountain Institute recently completed an eight-month modeling and analysis project which will save 38 percent of the building's energy and $4.4 million annually.
Builder says new R156m Cape Makro to embrace green-building practices
18 February, 2011, Engineering News
The new R107-million Ridgeside office development on Umhlanga Ridge has been handed over to the client, the Umhlanga Rocks Property Trust, by Grinaker-LTA, a subsidiary of the JSE-listed Aveng group.
Ridgeside is an upmarket four-storey office block with a three- level parkade. The total construction area was 30 183 m2.
The Ridgeside office development is the second building in the country to receive a Four Star rating for its design from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA).
Having been designed and built in accordance with the specifications set out by the GBCSA, the Ridgeside office development also attained the highest design score ever achieved in the Green Star ranking – a total of 55 points.
Environmental considerations are also high on the agenda for Grinaker-LTA for a new project in Montague Park, Cape Town.
SA construction firms starting to focus on green practices
25 January, 2011, Engineering News
As increasing environmental pressures take hold in South Africa, the country’s major construction companies showed that they were starting to focus on pursuing green practices and projects, particularly in renewable energy projects where opportunities were emerging.
For Group Five in particular, a view has developed that climate change opportunities exceed risks, and the company sought to develop capabilities around greener practices and technologies on a wide scale across its business units.
Green Star SA - Multi Unit Residential PILOT
10 December, 2010, GBCSA
The Green Star SA – Multi Unit Residential PILOT rating tool assesses the environmental attributes of new multi unit residential developments as well as major refurbishments of existing multi unit residential developments or conversions across South Africa.
The GBCSA will be offering formal certification under either version (Design or As Built) of the Green Star SA – Multi Unit Residential PILOT rating tool to a maximum of 4 multi unit residential developments.
This opportunity offers developers the chance to achieve the first residential certification using a green building rating tool in South Africa!
The Green Building movement can cut through where the rest have failed
27 September, 2010, Tina Perinotto, The Fifth Estate
World Green Building Council International Congress, Singapore - 14 September 2010 - Chair of the World Green Building Council Tony Arnel used his opening speech at the WGBC International Congress in Singapore on Monday to call for the property industry and governments around the world to join forces and pick up where the international community had failed on climate change.......
New website to track climate aid, key to UN talks
05 September, 2010, Creamer Media- Engineering News
A website launched on Friday will help track whether rich countries are keeping a pledge to come up with $30 billion in climate aid for the poor, seen by the UN as a "golden key" to progress in talks on global warming.........
Growing awareness supports green building in SA
20 July, 2010, Christy Van Der Merwe, Engineering News
Global research consultancy Frost & Sullivan (F&S) noted that while green building practices continued to gain momentum in South Africa, the sector still faced challenges, including a misconception of the costs involved in green design and construction, and a lack of appropriate policy and legislation......
Revised energy-efficiency strategy to go before Cabinet by year-end
13 July, 2010, Creamer Media's Engineering News
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido) has initiated a "comprehensive" review of South Africa's National Energy Efficiency Strategy, which sets a target for energy-efficiency improvement of 12% by 2015........
Energy efficiency regulations for new buildings published
15 June, 2010, Engineering News- Creamer Media
Trade and Industy Minister Rob Davies has published amendments to energy efficiency regulations, which would make it compulsory for all new buildings to be designed to a standard that minimised the energy use. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Monday invited interested parties to submit comments and input on the energy efficiency regulations for new buildings, which were published in the regulations section of Government Gazette No. 33265..........
PVC Expert Reference Panel for GBCSA - Expression of Interest
21 May, 2010, GBCSA
The GBCSA is seeking experts from the GBCSA membership and the broader industry, as well as the South African PVC Industry, to serve on a PVC Expert Reference Panel (ERP)....
SA could be a global leader in greening the built environment – Doidge
30 April, 2010, By: Christy van der Merwe, Engineering News
Public Works Minister Geoff Doidge on Thursday reiterated a "call for action" to move towards a ‘greener' built environment - which would need leadership from government, as well as expertise and innovation from industry.
GBCSA seeks Technical Manager
28 April, 2010, GBCSA
The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) is seeking a Technical Manager to oversee the management of the Green Star SA rating system.
The Technical Manager position is a high level position, requiring a dynamic, skilled individual to work with staff, sub-committees and consultants to manage the existing Green Star SA rating tools and project certification, oversee new rating tool development and coordinate educational programs, including the Green Star SA Accredited Professional program.
Green Building Council Launches 2nd Green Star Rating Tool for Retail Centres
28 April, 2010, GBCSA
Following the successful launch of the Green Star SA environmental rating system for office buildings in 2008, the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) has released the much anticipated Retail Centre rating tool, the second in the suite of Green Star SA rating tools now available.
City to start selling Darling Wind Farm’s ‘green electricity’
24 March, 2010, City of Cape Town
The City of Cape Town today announced its imminent plans to sell Green Electricity Certificates, which will give Capetonians the opportunity to buy green electricity generated at the Darling Wind Farm on the West Coast, from the City...........
Online IFMA survey on green rating systems and green building certification.
19 March, 2010, IFMA survey
A survey is currently being carried out by IFMA on green rating systems and green building certification. Take part now- results of the survey will be published on the Resource Center of Global FM website in future...............
UN Habitat to Host Conference Promoting Green Building Rating Systems in Africa
23 February, 2010, UN Habitat
For building industry professionals and national and local government officials who want to promote green building practices in Africa.
Invitation to screening of "The Age of Stupid"
19 February, 2010, UCPS
The University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership, in association with the British High Commission and KPMG invites you to a complimentary screening of "The Age of Stupid". The screening will be introduced by the Deputy High Commissioner and followed by a short discussion.........
Copenhagen generates more heat than light for business and policymakers
08 February, 2010, Creamer Media
Those who were expecting clarity and resolution on how the world would tackle climate change beyond 2012 to emerge from the Copenhagen conference in December will have to wait. The fair, ambitious and legally binding agreement that many were hoping would come out of the fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP15) did not emerge................
Green Star SA - Retail Centre-Pilot Feedback period closing 19 February
22 January, 2010, GBCSA
The public feedback period for the new Retail Centre rating tool closes 19 February. Any person or organisation involved in the South African property industry is encouraged to provide feedback on the credits, and all feedback will be considered before the tool is finalised and released in April. For more information and to download the tool and feedback form, please go to http://www.gbcsa.org.za/greenstar/retail.php.
World Green Building Council and International Union of Architects sign MOU
22 January, 2010, WGBC
The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and the International Union of Architects (UIA) took a step toward strengthening their working relationship when they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Sydney today
Copenhagen was more than the accord.......
05 January, 2010, COP15
Looking across the world’s leading media, enthusiasm for the Copenhagen Accord is scarce. Yet, some analysts choose to focus beyond the new deal itself........news and more from COP15 web.......
UN CLIMATE CRISIS PETITION : Copenhagen
02 December, 2009, UN
United Nations driven Climate crisis petition campaign to Seal the Deal in Copenhagen has been introduced, where each of us can sign a petition online for governments to commit to making changes in the way they treat the planet with big business and the way we live our lives.
Take a few minutes of your time to save the planet – sign up and be counted............
Notice of Webinar to explain 'integrated design' for green buildings
24 November, 2009, GBCSA
By Dylan Rivera, The Oregonian November 23, 2009, Architects and other building professionals can learn about how to create more Earth-friendly buildings by attending a free webinar next week on integrated design. The Dec. 1 online seminar will explain integrated design process and integrated project delivery, both of which are intended to encourage collaborative efforts among architects, engineers and other professionals in designing high-efficiency buildings.........
Building Sector Must Change to Meet Global Energy Targets, New Study Finds
02 November, 2009, World Green Building Council
New modeling by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) shows how energy use in buildings can be cut by 60 percent by 2050 – essential to meeting global climate change targets – but this will require immediate action to transform the building sector. This is the central message of the report from the WBCSD’s four-year, $15 million Energy Efficiency in Buildings (EEB) research project, the most rigorous study ever conducted on the subject...........
Nedbank HQ certified as SA’s first Green Star building
02 November, 2009, Creamer Media's Engineering News
The second phase of Nedbank’s head office in Sandton had been certified as South Africa’s first Green Star building under the Green Building Council of South Africa’s (GBSA’s) Office v1 rating tool, the company said on Wednesday.
GBCSA launches Existing Buildings Survival Strategies publication
30 October, 2009, GBCSA
A South African guide for re-energising tired assets and reducing operating costs of existing buildings - including a six step plan for building owners and a list of 200 initiatives to help you get started. This practical, easy-to-use guide covers many simple changes across categories including water, energy, management and waste.
GBCSA Hosts Free Simulations Software Demonstration Workshop
07 October, 2009, GBCSA
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear directly from software suppliers how their products can be used for Green Star SA simulations!
Following from the Green Star SA Simulations Seminars held previously, this afternoon session intends to provide attendees with an overview of software packages that can be used for Green Star SA submissions...
CAPE TOWN GREEN WEEK
25 September, 2009, UNEP FI
for one week in late October, Cape Town will become one of the greenest business cities on Earth as the City of Cape Town joins hands with the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and a range of partner
organizations for an action-packed Green Week...
WORLD GREEN BUILDING DAY 23 September 2009
22 September, 2009,
The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) will be participating in the first annual World Green Building Day on 23 September 2009 which will see green building councils worldwide hosting events to highlight the importance of green building. To mark the event, the GBCSA is joining other green building councils internationally in lobbying the negotiating teams for the forthcoming United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP15 negotiations in Copenhagen in December, where the world’s leaders will meet to negotiate an international climate change deal to supersede the targets agreed to at Kyoto.
Common Language for Carbon in Sight: Leading Rating Tool Providers to Sign MOU
20 July, 2009, World Green Building Council
London, 3 March 2009 - A landmark Memorandum of Understanding between BREEAM, LEED and Green Star and the UK Green Building Council will be signed on Tuesday at EcoBuild’09 in Earls Court, London
Innovation Fund to invest in renewable energy technologies
17 July, 2009, Creamer Media's Engineering News
The Department of Science and Technology’s Innovation Fund has called on South African scientists, engineers and inventors to submit investment proposals for development of new and inventive technologies in the areas of renewable energy, metals, materials and manufacturing technologies. ...
Notice of revised Green Star SA – Office Energy Calculator & Modelling Protocol Guide
30 June, 2009, GBCSA
The revised Green Star SA – Office Energy Calculator & Modelling Protocol Guide is now posted on the Office v1 page. This sheet provides corrections to the previous guide, a final version and mark up indicating where the changes have occured is available.........
It’s all about going green for energy-saving architect
22 June, 2009, The Times
Architect Shaun Killa thinks so big, his ideas often sound like the stuff of science fiction. The innovative South African, who is the brain behind the world’s first wind-powered building, was lauded along with several international engineering minds in New York recently
Notice of Posting of Errata Sheet for Green Star SA – Office v1 Technical Manual
19 June, 2009, GBCSA
The Errata Sheet for Green Star SA – Office v1 Technical Manual is now posted on the Office v1 page. This sheet provides corrections to the Technical Manual.........
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Vacancy
04 June, 2009,
Swiss Cooperation Office Southern Africa is looking for a
Climate Change – National Programme Manager
Climate Positive Development Program to set example for cities to follow as they grow
22 May, 2009, AA Network
May 19, 2009 - SEOUL - The Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), a project of the William J. Clinton Foundation, today announced a global program developed in collaboration with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), called the Climate Positive Development Program. The program will support the development of large-scale urban projects that demonstrate cities can grow in ways that are "climate positive." Climate Positive real estate developments will strive to reduce the amount of on-site CO2 emissions to below zero.
Office developers clamber for green-building accreditation
22 May, 2009, Creamer Media's Engineering News
Although there is no Green Star SA-rated and -certified property development in South Africa as yet, all the signs point to a built-environment industry that is beginning to take up the challenge of environmentally sound development, and one that is increasingly willing to transform.
“We have a new generation of buildings coming up, where sustainability is thought of from the start,” explains .......
Menlyn Maine strives to cut on-site carbon emissions to below zero
20 May, 2009, Engineering News
By: Creamer Media Reporter
19th May 2009
Technical Working Goup: Roles & Responsibilities
28 April, 2009, GBCSA
More information about the tool development process and responsibilities of Technical Working Group members
Earth Hour 2009
23 April, 2009, Boston Globe
Started in Sydney, Australia in 2007, Earth Hour quickly grew into a global observance. More than 1,000 cities in over 80 countries observed Earth Hour 2009 on Saturday March 28th, as homes, office towers and landmarks turned off their lights for an hour starting at 8.30 pm local time to raise awareness about climate change and the threat from rising greenhouse gas emissions. Collected here are a series of before-and-after photographs......
GREEN CITIES ’09 CONFERENCE – Brisbane, Australia
22 January, 2009, Green Building Council of Australia
The annual Green Cities Conference will take place from Sunday 1 March – Wednesday 4 March, 2009 in Brisbane, Australia.
Jointly hosted by the Green Building Council of Australia and Property Council of Australia, Green Cities is Australia’s pre-eminent annual green building conference and expo.
Green Cities 09 seeks to bring the latest thinking on green buildings in Australia and overseas to a market hungry for new and original ideas.
The conference aims to inform, challenge and inspire….
CALL FOR TOOL SPONSORS!
09 January, 2009, GBCSA
Having launched the first in the suite of Green Star SA environmental rating tools for buildings (Office v1), the GBCSA now turns it's tool development program to other building types. General feedback to the Council seems to indicate that the following tools are most urgently sought by the industry: Existing Building Tool (Operations & Maintenance), Multi-Unit Residential, Retail & Hotel. The order in which future tools are developed will depend on market demand, which is gauged and demonstrated via the availability of tool sponsorship funding.
IS GOING TO WORK MAKING YOU SICK?
26 November, 2008, Alexis Huggins - Greenerbuildings.com
American adults spend an average of 90 percent of their time indoors, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which lists poor indoor air quality as the fourth largest environmental threat to health in the country...
GREEN BENCHMARK - SA's Green Building Rating Tool Unveiled
14 November, 2008, Creamer Media's Engineering News at www.engineeringnews.co.za
South Africa's first voluntary green building rating tool, Green Star SA - Office version 1, was officially launched by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) in Cape Town, last week.
Addressing delegates at the first annual GBCSA Convention and Exhibition in Cape Town, GBCSA Executive Chairperson Bruce Kerswill explained that the new Green Star SA rating tool aimed to assess the environmental attributes of new commercial office buildings as well as major base building refurbishments of existing office facilities across South Africa...
GREEN THE NEW GOLD - Why being environmentally friendly will put more - not less - money in investors' pockets (Finweek)
13 November, 2008, Finweek
Suggestions that going the green building route will erode the profit margins of commercial property developers and owners have been dismissed by international real estate players. Speakers who attended the inaugural annual convention of the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) in Cape Town last week made a strong case for SA's property sector to adopt more environmentally friendly design and construction principles...
GBCSA Convention & Exhibition Sets a High Standard
05 November, 2008, GBCSA
The inaugural Green Building Council Convention & Exhibition, with its Principal Sponsor Nedbank Corporate, exceeded all expectations and was a resounding success. Held from 2-4 November 2008 at the CTICC in Cape Town, over 600 delegates and 70 exhibitors gathered to hear about the latest worldwide developments in green building and view a wide array of green products and services.
International and local speakers and delegates alike were overwhelming in their praise for quality of the event – from the plenary presentations to the exhibition, the opening cocktail party to the gala dinner...
Green Star SA Launched
05 November, 2008, GBCSA
At the first annual GBCSA Convention & Exhibition in November, the GBCSA was proud to officially launch our first green building rating tool for full usage. Green Star SA - Office v1 is now available in complete form and can be downloaded from the GBCSA website. The accompanying Technical Manual (providing extensive background as well as technical and documentation requirements) is available for purchase through the GBCSA website, or alternatively is included as part of the Green Star SA Accredited Professional course...
Green Star SA Accredited Professional Courses - New Dates!
05 November, 2008, GBCSA
The first Green Star South Africa (GSSA) courses were held in Cape Town in November, following the successful launch of the GSSA Office v1 Rating tool at the inaugural GBCSA Convention & Exhibition. Over 200 delegates attended the four courses, taking the first step towards becoming Green Star SA Accredited Professionals.
Due to the high demand, a second round of two courses was run in Johannesburg in early December for an additional 100 delegates. add your organisation to this prestigious, select group.
The Green Building Council is now pleased to announce the dates for the next round of courses...
Green Star SA – Office v1 rating tool update
09 September, 2008, GBCSA
The Green Star SA – Office v1 rating tool is set for full release at the GBCSA’s Convention & Exhibition on 2-4 November. The feedback period for public comment on the Pilot tool closed on 1 September, and feedback comments are currently being reviewed.
Membership of GBCSA Growing!!!
09 September, 2008, GBCSA
The Green Building Council, having opened for membership at the SAPOA Convention in May, has been extremely well supported by the industry. We are experiencing overwhelming interest and organisations are showing their commitment to the green building movement by signing up as members. We currently have 100 members registered and this number continues to grow!
Green Building, the Way of the Future~ SAPOA IPD Conference Presentation Update
09 September, 2008, GBCSA
“Green buildings are the way of the future, and buildings that are not green will ultimately become obsolete”. That was the message delivered at the recent SAPOA/IPD Investment Conference by Bruce Kerswill, Executive Chair of the Green Building Council of SA, and reinforced by Christopher Hedley of IPD London.....
Property Industry to gather in Cape Town in November to Hear International Green Building Experts!
09 September, 2008, GBCSA
If you’re part of South Africa’s property industry – you simply cannot afford to miss the GBCSA Convention & Exhibition '08! From the United States to Australia, the UK to Brazil, we’ve assembled an impressive and diverse line-up of speakers which would rival any number of international green building conferences. With 10 top-level international speakers confirmed so far, all leading authorities and pioneers of the green building movement, this 2-day event will be both informative and inspirational. ...
Jaime Lerner to speak at GBCSA convention ‘08
09 August, 2008, GBCSA
Jaime Lerner, the renowned ex-mayor of Curitiba, Brazil and a former President of the International Union of Architects has been confirmed as a keynote speaker at the GBCSA Convention & Exhibition in November. Lerner will present his “Sing a Song of Sustainable Cities” presentation and share his wealth of knowledge on the subject......
Official launch of Green Star SA – Office PILOT.
30 July, 2008, GBCSA
Green Star SA - Office PILOT tool is now available for download on the GBCSA website at under Green Star SA Rating Tools.
The PILOT phase will run until 1 September, 2008, and the final version of the tool will respond to the feedback received. The industry is urged to contribute comments through the online form available on the Green Star Office Pilot rating tool .
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Green Building Council Sponsorship
26 June, 2008, GBCSA
Opportunities exist for your organisation to associate itself with the set up of the Green Building Council by becoming a “Founding Member” sponsor – which will fund the organisation until “annuity” streams from membership fees, events, etc. are in place......
SB08~ Melbourne 21 - 25 September 2008
25 June, 2008, SB08 Conference Secretariat
The World Sustainable Building (SB) Conference series, which has been held every three years, is the peak gathering of the world’s leading technical experts and researchers on sustainable built environments. Key events at this year's Melbourne conference include the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s release of its Energy Efficiency in Buildings project, which will map out the transition to a 2050 world in which buildings use zero net energy as well as the International Green Building Market Report .............
New 'green' rating system to launch
19 June, 2008, Property 24.com
The Green Building Council of SA is about to launch its new Green Star rating tool for buildings in July 2008. ....
Green Star Development Update
11 June, 2008, GBCSA
The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA), technical consultant ARUP and the volunteer Technical Working Group have all been busily working on the Pilot rating tool for Green Star SA – Office…….
The Green Building Council of SA Opens for Membership!
10 June, 2008, GBCSA
The Green Building Council of SA is pleased to announce that we are now officially open for membership! The Membership Launch took place at the SAPOA Convention at the CTICC from 28 - 30 May, which served as the perfect platform from which to launch this important industry body......
Review of Workplace 6 Breakfast Presentation
10 June, 2008, GBCSA
The GBCSA hosted a very successful breakfast presentation on 20 May 2008 at the Granger Bay Hotel School in Cape Town. Anika Spears, the Environmental Manager of Buildcorp Australia - the developers of Workplace 6 - shared her experience as a project team member of the first 6 Star Green Star building in Sydney......
SA's own green building code ready to be launched
30 May, 2008, Cape Times
The Green Building Council of South Africa is well advanced with the development of a green building rating system for South Africa..............
Power constraints drive a green agenda in property sector
21 May, 2008, Creamer Media's Engineering News
Seeking the silver lining in the power crisis, the commercial and industrial property sector, unified by the South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa)...
SA accelerates green-building techniques amidst national electricity crisis
11 May, 2008, Creamer Media's Engineering News
Awareness of the need to save energy and safeguard natural resources has grown markedly over the last decade as scientific evidence of climate change and its potential consequences has permeated the popular imagination...
SA to draw lessons from Australian green-building rating system
25 January, 2008, Creamer Media's Engineering News
The South African property market is preparing to enter the global 'green-building' boom, and the newly established Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) has set to work on developing a ratings tool for the assessment of so-called green buildings...
Newsletter November 2007
30 November, 2007, Newsletter
The Green Building Council has made great progress this year, moving from idea to reality with a full plan of action for 2008. We would like to bring you up to date with what has happened and where we are going...
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