38 PROJECT
The Rivers Projects and Plumbing Services, Grundfos, and Nedbank teams who were involved with the solar panel installation, on the building’ s roof.
Nedbank’ s green future
The Nedbank Sunninghill Campus is one of the first corporate buildings in South Africa to install a solar-powered borehole system.
By
Dineo Phoshoko
For Nedbank, commitment to water and energy stewardship is a central, non-negotiable component of their ongoing environmental sustainability efforts. Nedbank believes that the only way for South Africa to effectively deal with the country’ s water and energy challenges, and limit the impacts they create, is through a shared commitment to good resource management. In this regard, Nedbank is committed to managing their impact by example.
A prime illustration of Nedbank’ s efforts to reduce their impacts is the Nedbank Sunninghill Campus building. This building is one of the first corporate buildings in South Africa to install a solar-powered borehole system. The system is designed in such a way that water is pumped from the borehole to the building at no cost. In addition, the system also supplies irrigation water— also at no cost. This cost-effective way of using borehole water fits perfectly with the bank’ s purpose to use their financial expertise for the good of society.
BENEFITS OF THE SYSTEM Water supply to the building is now completely off the grid, meaning that it is not reliant on municipal infrastructure or supply. This not only reduces dependence on electricity generated by fossil fuels, but also reduces the strain that the building’ s water consumption puts on the local domestic supply network. The system has come at a time where water saving has become critical in South Africa.
An added benefit with the system is the reduced dependence on electricity, especially since the cost of electricity has increased by over 400 % in the past 10 years. The transition to the use of sustainable power sources, such as solar, is a positive way in which Nedbank can reduce costs on electricity consumption.
November 2017 Volume 23 I Number 9 www. plumbingafrica. co. za