Architect and Builder Jul/Aug 2024 | Page 54

units and 66m 2 to 96m 2 two bedroom units . All one and two-bedroom apartments have walk out balconies and all studios have juliette balconies .
PLAN LEVEL 5
PLAN LEVEL 3
PLAN LEVEL 1
Edge Certification Rabie has recently been awarded its first EDGE ( Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies ) certification for Nine Palms .
This development is the first in the Rabie portfolio to have been designed and constructed with the goal of receiving an EDGE certification .
“ To receive this certification was no small feat , and we are incredibly proud of all involved in the entire life cycle of the project for this achievement ,” said Mariska . “ It is worth mentioning that Nine Palms surpassed its original certification submission for EDGE standard certification and achieved EDGE Advanced Final certification . This means that our energy measures exceed 40 % improved compared to the base .”
The Green Building Council of South Africa ( GBCSA ) offers the EDGE certification , a green building design tool , a certification system , and a global standard developed by the International Finance Corporation ( IFC ), a World Bank Group member . EDGE-certified projects reduce carbon emissions , reduce energy usage , save water , and lower living costs for occupants .
To achieve an EDGE rating , a minimum saving of 20 % in energy , water and embodied carbon in materials must be proven through initiatives implemented in the design phase and confirmed during construction .
EDGE Certification is ideal for various building typologies . Whether it ’ s residential , commercial , hospitality , or retail , EDGE helps optimise your building ’ s resource efficiency .
Areas of Required Compliance :
• Energy and material efficient glazing .
• Energy efficient lighting both internal & external .
• Energy efficient hot water generation system .
• Water-wise faucets , showerheads , water closets and irrigation systems .
• Cored bricks to reduce the material usage .
• Material-efficient concrete slabs .
• Material-efficient roof insulation .
• Many more measures implemented .
The entire process was new to the project team of Nine Palms , as it is the first Rabie project to aim for and achieve EDGE certification . Furthermore , the EDGE certification system is designed by the IFC on an international standard , which made it challenging for the team to implement certain measures in a local context .
“ Smart cities incorporate a host of cuttingedge technologies . Century City boasts many state-of-the-art in-practice smart initiatives , of which its smart safety and security measures ,
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