ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY
“ With this many rental units , it made sense that we adopt the green energy route to ensure that all our developments are equipped with the solar edge system with daily statistics available on my smart phone ,” says Ivan Pretorius , MD of the Alleyroads Group .
This ensures that at least 50 % of the development ’ s total energy requirements is supplied by green energy savings and these savings , which equate to between 30 % to 50 % just on electricity , ultimately benefits the end user in monthly utility costs .
In addition , the following are benefits to the Group :
• There is a saving of 1 -2 megawatts of electricity daily across all our developments resulting in a total of 500mw / hrs and thereby placing less reliance on Eskom .
• There is a reduction in our carbon footprint which equates to approximately 200 tons of CO ² emissions ; and
• Ensures alignment to green building requirements .
Maranta Villas and Place , Karen Park , Pretoria .
“ Using solar energy and monitoring utilising the solar edge technology at our Head Office alone , we are 50 % of the grid ” says Mr Pretorius .
The Alleyroads Group is one of four residential developers but the only private developer working with Edge Green Building programme . The programme is initiated by the International Finance Corporation ( IFC ) which essentially assesses the utilisation of building materials and utility usage and how it relates to the performance of a development .
The edge tool is a global standard reaching some 130 countries worldwide . The Green Building Council of South Africa ( GBCSA ) is IFC ’ s certifying partner which certifies developments on their behalf . The rating criteria involves following the standard stipulated in SA National Standards ( SANS 10400 building regulations ). These regulations stipulate that the following be included in the developments : low flow showers , LED lighting , natural ventilation , insulation , solar energy , and the usage of specific building materials .
The Sandy Lane development which is a new build consisting of 140 units in Princess area in Roodepoort was assessed in terms of EDGE Green Building Certification and was found to have adequately met the green building standards .
“ With all developments built with the same or similar building specification , it stands to reason that all the Alleyroads developments meet the requirements of the EDGE green Building certification which further addresses the SANS 10400 XA which requires that 50 % of energy be provided by alternate source ,” commented Ivan Pretorius .
“ In addition , we plan on planting over 5 200 trees across all our developments which makes it aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly and we further would like to double these savings over the next 24 months across all our developments ,” said Pretorius .
La Hoff Development , Klerksdorp , North West .
“ With this many rental units , it made sense that we adopt the green energy route to ensure that all our developments are equipped with the solar edge system .”
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22 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 SAAffordHousing saaffordablehousingmag SA Affordable Housing www . saaffordablehousing . co . za