Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa May/June 2015 | Page 11

GBCSA CELEBRATES MILESTONE 100
GREEN STAR SA CERTIFICATIONS
Greening in the SA commercial property sector has reached a significant milestone
with 100 Green Star SA certifications by the Green Building Council SA (GBCSA).
The pace of green building certifications has been rising rapidly in South Africa. In
2009, the country’s first green certification was awarded by the GBCSA. In April 2014, the
country celebrated 50 Green Star SA ratings and, only a year later, this had doubled to
one hundred, with 25 certifications awarded in the first quarter of 2015 alone.
Established in 2007, GBCSA has pioneered transformation of the South African
property sector by promoting and facilitating environmentally sustainable building
practises, from the design phase to construction and operation.
Brian Wilkinson, CEO of the GBCSA, comments: “Achieving 100 certifications indicates
the commercial property sector’s commitment to sustainability and resource efficiency in
response to growing cities and related challenges to energy infrastructure.”
This clear signal of the move towards green building is particularly significant as
buildings are responsible for around 40% of the world’s end-use energy consumption
through their on-going operation, buildings are amongst the main contributors to
climate change.
“There are multiple incentives involved in green building initiatives”, says Wilkinson,
“Ultimately the upward trend in the number of buildings being certified and those applying
for certification illustrates that awareness and perceptions around environmental issues
have changed and evolved. Energy efficiency and the financial rewards notwithstanding,
green building is the right thing to do.”
Wilkinson explains that with green building accelerating in SA, as its extensive
benefits are being increasingly recognised, it has become essential for a rigorous,
standardised system that rates just how green projects are with tangible results to
back up these claims. This is what the GBCSA’s Green Star SA rating tools do. GBCSA
developed the Green Star SA rating system and is the official certification body for green
building projects.
A Green Star SA rating guarantees that businesses live up to their green building
claims. Independent assessors are employed to evaluate submissions and allocate points
based on the green measures that have been implemented. Certification is awarded for
4-Star, 5-Star or 6-Star Green Star SA ratings.
Of the first 100 Green Star SA certifications in South Africa, nine were awarded 6 stars
which represents world leadership in green building. www.gbcsa.org.za
Below: Brian Wilkinson, CEO of the GBCSA, right, with Werner van Antwerpen, who
heads up Growthpoint Properties’ specialised sustainability division, at the Kirstenhof
Office Park in Johannesburg, which has become the 100th building to achieve a
Green Star SA certification from the GBCSA. Kirstenhof, owned by Growthpoint,
secured a 5-Star Green Star SA: Existing Building Performance Pilot (EBP) rating.

News Watch

OBITUARY

Laurie Wale

14 June 1916 – 31 May 2015

Laurie Wale was the founder of
Architect and Builder Magazine
(1951) and of the Cape Town Building
Centre (1953).
His architectural studies at UCT were
cut short by WW2, during which time
he served in the 6th SA Armoured
Division in Italy and Egypt, where
his interest in writing and publishing
blossomed through the publication,
The Sable, ‘Official Organ of the S.A.
Armd. Div.’ which he edited.
He was made an Honorary Life
member of the Cape Institute for
Architecture, on the strength of
his contribution to architects and
architecture, through his life’s work.
The Cape Town Building Centre
has served as a point of reference
for architects and their clients for
62 years.
Many will be familiar with the wellattended annual gatherings for
architects and Building Centre
exhibitors, in Cartwrights Corner,
Adderley Street.
A man of many talents, he performed
the role of honorary consul for
Mexico, until diplomatic relations
with South Africa ceased.
He fished, shot and sailed for South
Africa and, at the age of 72, became a
veteran athlete, picking up his earlier
record-breaking UCT skills at javelin,
shotput and discus, competing in the
World Veteran Games in Italy, at the
age of 91.
Together with Stephanie, he lived
a long and full life at their beautiful
home in Bishopscourt, beginning
each day at his piano, Chopin
concertos being his favourite pieces.
They knew and hosted many renowned architects, Le Corbusier, the
French/Swiss architect, among them.
Poetically, Stephanie and Laurie,
always the gracious and devoted
couple, died peacefully on the
same day in their home, surrounded
by loving children, grand and
great grandchildren.

11