Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa September 2013 | Page 32
SMART MOVES
BY LEW GEFFEN
Without paying an arm and a leg
How To Build Your Green Home
H
omeowners affected by dramatic hikes in electricity costs over the past five years are increasingly drawn to homes built according to green building practices, says Lew Geffen, Chairman of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty. Eskom says that in real terms, electricity prices have risen by 78% between 2008 and 2011. In February this year South Africa’s energy regulator granted Eskom a further average 8% annual increase in electricity tariffs. As larger numbers of younger, eco-savvy and cost-conscious first-time buyers come onto the market, realtors are seeing a steady increase in interest in homes with energy-saving fixtures. This interest in “green” homes is also driven by increasing public awareness of green building practices. Since the new building standards regulations were put in place in 2011, developers and owners of all residential, public, commercial and retail buildings have been required to invest in energy-eff icient technology for the provision of hot water. According to the Green Building Council of South Africa, six green building
30 September 2013 SA Real Estate Investor
certifications were awarded to new commercial developments in June 2013, bringing the total number of Green Star-rated buildings in South Africa to 37. In order for business premises to be awarded green stars, the various categories of commercial buildings have to adhere to strict guidelines extending beyond the heating of water. In terms of residential property, multi-unit developments like apartment blocks built after 2011 are rated using a points system. This is based on the impact their development has on the ecology of the surrounding area and on their proximity to mass public transport, among other things, in addition to their efforts to reduce hot water consumption by using efficient fittings and to lessen the greenhouse gas emissions of the water heating system they use. The general SANS 10400-XA Energy Usage requirement that applies to all buildings is that a minimum of 50% of their hot water heating requirements should rely on a source other than electricity – such as solar hea [??[?X] [\ ?\ ??[X][ H ?IH???]H??X?x?&\??Y\?X?[X? ?X?] H \?Y?H??\? ?X][????]\???] [??H ??\?\??\?Y?^\?\?\??H? H[?? ? [\???? \?]?[???Y[?[??YX\?\?\? Z?[??H??\??? ?\?Y[?X[ ??\? K[??X?]\?H\???H??\??H ?X?]H? ??\?\??\?Y?^\?\??]8?&\?[ ??H ?\?H] ?X?]?H? [????Y[?[??H?YK?X???[?? ?\???KXX??Y]Y ??H ?X][?? ?X?X[\?ZZ?H?Z??\?Y?H?Yx?&\?[? H[X? ?X?] H ^[Y[?[[?[? ? ??? H ??\?\??\?Y?^\?\???[ ?]?HH?YH\?]X?\??? ? ??\??[ ?H[? ?Z?[??[??X???[?\???x?&\? ?X?]K ?X?\?[? H ?Y?[??? ?H?MH ?^\?\? ]?[? ?\ H? ?]\? ?H?[Z[ H? ??Y [ ?[? ???[ ?[?[???^\?\?? ^H?? [\?[ ?\?[? ?YH ???\? YX\??\? ?X? H ??\?\??\?Y?^\?\?\? ??X? H [?\??\??Y[?[??\?Y[? ?XZ?HH?YH[?H] ?X?]?H ? ?[?X[?^Y\??? [?[? ?\?H\?K??]?\??\? ?^\? ?Y ?[ YH ?H ??\? H ??Y? H ?Y X?[??[?\??H?[ ?[?Y? [?x?&\?H[? H]VK[??[[?? [H [?\??[?\? ?[\K?[??H][?\??HH H\K?H H X?H [?[??[]Y?YH??\? \ ? ?IH?] ?[?\??H ??Y? H?Z[[?? ?^\?[??[][? ?X?X[\?X[?YYK?X]\?? ?X?Y [? ?Y ?????˜?Z[XY????B??