Greensure

The GBCSA’s annual convention and exhibition is now scheduled to take place at CTICC on the 2nd to 4th of November 2008. Visit their website at www.gbcsa-convention.org.za for more information on the convention and exhibition, booking info, the programme, speakers etc.

Also according to their website, the first Green Star Rating Tool – Green Star SA – Office is still scheduled to be released in pilot form this month. This will be the first of a range of tools to be rolled out for different building types e.g. retail, conference centres and industrial buildings.

News from the GBCSA is that they aim to launch their first green building rating tool in pilot form in July. They will also host their first annual convention and exhibition – Green Cities SA – from 7 to 9 September at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

One of the main topics of discussion will be the Green Star Rating Tool which should by then be available in pilot form. The original Green Star Rating Tool was developed by the Green Building Council Australia (GBCA) and will form the basis for the South African Green Star Rating Tool. We can therefore expect that potential South African green buildings will be rated according to these categories:

• Management
• Indoor Environment Quality
• Energy
• Transport
• Water
• Materials
• Land Use & Ecology
• Emissions
• Innovation

Points are awarded in each category according to different credits, which then contribute to an overall percentage score for the building, indicating the Green Star certified rating. The Australian Green Star Rating Tools are freely available for download on the GBCA website.

In December 2007 I received a newsletter from the GBCSA containing an update of what transpired in 2007 and what they are planning for 2008. I attach it here for your convenience. GBCSA December Newsletter

Also, in November last year Bruce Kerswill (CEO of the GBCSA) presented at the Green Building Conference setting out the objectives and structure of the GBCSA, its motivation, areas of operation and what is planned with regards to the green building rating system. Follow this link to the Green Building website for a copy of the presentation.

Feel free to leave a comment if you have any more up to date news regarding the progress of the GBCSA.

Since I wrote about the formation of the Green Building Council of South Africa I have been asked some questions regarding the GBCSA. Although I am not involved with the GBCSA, in this post I look at frequently asked questions that I know the answers to.

Is the GBCSA up and running?

In May this year (2007) the establishment of the GBCSA has been announced. The council is expected to open for membership by early 2008.

How do we ensure that our buildings meet with the GBCSA standards? What are the requirements and criteria?

The South African rating system has not been developed yet but looking at international examples the requirements will most probably focus on the these main sections:

1. Innovation and design process
2. Site selection and development
3. Water efficiency
4. Energy and resource consumption
5. Materials and resources
6. Indoor environmental quality

Please supply the GBCSA’s contact details.

The GBCSA’s CEO, Nicola Douglas can be contacted on nicola.douglas@gbcsa.org.za

How can we become actively involved in the GBCSA?

The GBCSA will open for membership by early 2008. In the meantime they can be contacted directly for more information.

Does the GBCSA have a website?

The council’s website is currently under development and should go live early 2008.

The establishment and development of the South African Green Building Council is now under way. The South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) is spearheading the initiative and will work closely with the World Green Building Council.

One can expect the development of definitions for green buildings, assessment tools and rating systems to be on the GBCSA’s agenda. What I would like to see is a definition and/or rating system that not only include the ecological measures (e.g. such as in LEED) but also the change in actuarial risk associated with it.

A quantitative link between ecological measures and the associated actuarial risk has not been established anywhere. The investigation of such a link will not only be very interesting but may also assist in getting the South African insurance industry interested in looking towards green. Once they are interested, their clients will become interested and then we will have a real driver for green buildings.

Follow these links for more news on the establishment of the SA Green Building Council:

EPROP
Engineering News
Morgan Lovell