Aurecon's office awarded five-star green rating

Miller Matola, CEO of Brand South Africa, said that the award illustrates South Africa's creative initiatives in dealing with the demands concerning climate change, sustainability and corporate responsibility. "This is the first building in Cape Town, and only the fifth building in our country, to receive a Green Star accreditation and it shows how committed we are to finding new ways that promote development, but also encourage environmental responsibility."

Within a normal commercial budget

The building was developed by the Rabie Property Group and Rabie director Colin Anderson, said that they are ecstatic with the achievement. "It was doubly amazing that we had to complete the building within a normal commercial budget."

The four-storey building has been constructed on a podium covering a naturally ventilated semi-basement of covered parking, the orientation of which is built to ensure maximum indirect and reduced east and west sunlight.

Albert Geldenhuys, Aurecon's GM, South Africa, believes it has become important to demonstrate that Aurecon's buildings and facilities have been built in a sustainable manner. "The group is committed to ensuring that we design and develop sustainable and environmentally responsible infrastructure projects and we have ensured that our teams include suitably trained and registered professionals, including environmentalists and Green Star SA-accredited professionals."

The Green Star SA accreditation criteria focuses on management, indoor environmental quality, energy, water, transport, materials, emissions, land use and ecology and innovation. The Five-Star Green Star SA rating recognises "South African Excellence".

Healthy, efficient and productive environments

The Green Building Council of South Africa is leading the transformation of the South African property industry to ensure that all buildings are designed, built and operated in an environmentally sustainable way that will allow South Africans to work and live in healthy, efficient and productive environments.

This initiative addresses what are becoming the major issues of our time - excess energy consumption and the related CO2 emissions from burning carbon fuels, pollution of air, water and land, the depletion of natural resources, and the disposal of waste. It is estimated that buildings consume 40 to 50 percent of the world's energy through their construction and ongoing operation.