GREEN BUILDING
Investec Building, V & A Waterfront: 5 Star Green Star Office rating.
5.95 % to 2.40 % between 2009 and 2024. Some projects achieved certification at a cost of less than 0.5 %.
Together, these findings confirm the financial benefits of green-certified buildings – higher returns, more resilient cash flows, and a lower cost of entry.
GBCSA CEO, Lisa Reynolds, says:“ The business case is crystal clear: certified green buildings reduce risk, attract tenants, and protect long-term value. Our Green Star New Build V2 tool gives the market a practical tool to deliver those outcomes with credibility.”
Residential developer Balwin Properties sponsored the development of Green Star New Build V2 and is piloting the tool in its latest developments. Balwin CEO Steve Brookes says,“ We believe this tool is helping shape the South African sustainability market. Being involved in the pilot provides us with firsthand experience of a framework that raises local standards to global benchmarks.
“ Certification isn’ t just about a certificate on the wall; it’ s a mindset shift. Green Star New Build V2 is more aligned with where the industry is heading, and it’ s raising the bar in all the right ways.”
Cape Town’ s V & A Waterfront is also testing the Green Star New Build V2 tool with new projects that are part of its multibillion-rand Granger Bay Development. Waterfront
The Watershed, V & A Waterfront. 6-Star Existing Building V1.
CEO David Green says,“ We’ ve found that pursuing Green Star certification is not just about ticking a sustainability box – it’ s a catalyst for creating better, more resilient, and future-ready developments.
“ Green Star may involve upfront effort and expense, but the long-term value – operational savings, increased tenant demand, and enhanced asset performance – outweighs the initial outlay. Certification helps futureproof your asset in a rapidly changing regulatory and climate landscape.”
Equipping property professionals with the knowledge to implement Green Star New Build V2 is essential, and GBCSA encourages developers, investors, and owners to learn about and utilise the tool, not only to secure green finance and meet rising ESG and regulatory standards but also to protect and enhance the long-term value of their assets.
CPD-accredited courses
Green Star New Build V2 training is CPDaccredited and offers a Foundation course for Professional Team Members( such as developers, project support teams, and consultants), followed by advanced professional training for sustainability consultants. This aims to prepare participants to become Green Star New Build V2 Accredited Professionals.
See www. gbcsa. org. za / academy
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