GENERAL NEWS
From the MD ’ s desk
We are only in February as I write this foreword to the newsletter and any thought of the builders ’ break holiday is long behind us . It feels as if we have been back in the office for six months already !
By Brett Marlin
After almost 12 years , our offices in the CBD can no longer cater for our needs and we are going to move offices . We have scoured the 11 buildings that we have developed in the CBD but there is nothing for us to move into . I guess that ’ s a bit of a feather in our cap that there are no vacant units in the buildings that we have developed .
We extended our search throughout Gaborone and the most appropriate building we could find to use is the industrial / showroom unit in Setlhoa on the Sebele Lifestyle site . We have decided to convert the showroom into our new head office .
This gives us some exciting challenges to take on in the redevelopment process , namely achieving a net zero carbon rating and a 5-star existing building rating . We are not trying to get these ratings just for the sake of getting them , but rather there is a twofold reason . Firstly , our responsibility to the environment in reducing our carbon footprint and doing the right thing , we are lucky that we can do something for the environment while many companies are unable to achieve this . Secondly , if we are able to get a rating for an existing building , it means that we are providing a better place for our staff to work and a more healthy working environment . There is a substantial amount of work to be done but hopefully we will be moving during July .
We are pleased to say that we have now had the fourth building that we are involved in having solar panels put on the roof . The first building was Mashatu Terrace in the CBD - you can ’ t really see them but they are there . The second building was Sebele Centre that you see from A1 . A few weeks ago Teemane was fitted with a 657kwp installation but we are hoping to upgrade this to a 1000kwp in the near future . The final installation was completed two weeks ago in the CBD on the first building in PP2 , Motswere . There are still a number of buildings that we are looking at for solar plants , Lobatse Junction , Pilane SC , Mongala Mall and Boiteko Junction in Serowe . It certainly is a viable electricity producing option in the searing sun of Botswana .
I did mention in our last newsletter that Jo Jones was leaving and moving to the UK and I would like to take this last opportunity to say good luck and goodbye , we certainly are going to miss her and Elijah .
ABOUT TIME , the quarterly newsletter of Time Projects Editor : Brett Marlin
Managing editor : Faye-Marie Cloete Email : faye @ novacomms . net Cell : + 267 7137 6232
Contributors : Kagiso Sebetso , John Kelly , Michael Hughes , Mmika Selei , Heinrich Malan , Roy Mapharing , Rory Watson and Tapiwa Modise
Tel : + 267 395 6080 | Fax : + 267 390 0160 | Email : time @ time . co . bw | Website : www . time . co . bw
ABOUT TIME is published on behalf of Time Projects by Nova Communications ( Pty ) Ltd . The opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors and people interviewed and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor , publisher or Time Projects . While all precautions have been taken to ensure accuracy of information , the editors and publisher cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies which may inadvertently have occurred .
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ISSUE 57 - MARCH 2024