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New regulations
As South Africa prepares to host the UN climate conference in Durban in December, the government has passed new energy-efficient building regulations this month to help the construction industry to go green.
Underlining that capitalism can be environmentally conscious, Nedbank holds this year’s South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa) award in the green development category for its environmentally friendly Nedbank Phase II head-office building in Sandton.
Sapoa holds the awards annually to award property innovators, developers, owners and building environment professionals who have made a significant contribution to the enhancement of the property industry.
All new buildings will now be required to use solar water heaters and heat pumps.
To minimise heating in summer and cooling in summer ceilings, walls and windows will have to meet minimum insulation requirements.
Energy-efficient heating, air conditioning and mechanical ventilation systems will also be enforced.
The South African Bureau of Standards has defined the new regulations, which are enforceable under the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act.
Nedbank’s Phase II structure utilises brick, concrete and steel, which were sourced within 400km of the site to minimise carbon intensive transport requirements.
All steel reinforcement bars were made from a minimum 90% of recycled metal. The amount of cement used was reduced by 30% by substituting it with fly ash – which is better for the environment.
All the timber used in the construction of the building was Forest Stewardship Council certified – so it didn’t contribute to the destruction of valuable forests.
During construction, the contractor recycled 85% of all construction waste – saving plenty of precious landfill space.
Both water and airflow within the building are controlled by variable speed drives – a technical way of saying that they are pumped only to where they are needed, when they are needed. The building is clad in environmentally friendly limestone panels in an aluminium sub-frame that helps keep the building warm in winter and cool in summer without having to use air-conditioning.
Sixty percent of all its offices and workstations have direct line of sight to the outdoors or to a natural light atrium, thereby reducing electricity costs and making it more comfortable to work in. All the windows are double glazed (for thermal benefits again) and made with 100% recyclable glass.
A black water treatment system allows for the recycling of all waste water so that it can be re-used in toilets, cooling towers and to irrigate the gardens, which are indigenous and water wise. An intelligent lighting system monitors, dims and switches off lights in all unoccupied office areas, and energy efficient bulbs are used throughout the building.
The restaurant’s water heating system has been converted from geysers to an energy efficient heat pump and most cooking devices now run on gas.
To help reduce carbon footprints, there is a dedicated cycle park with lockers and shower facilities. The Sandton Gautrain stops 500 metres away.
Phase II was also awarded a four-star Green Star by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) and is the first Green Star-certified building in South Africa. It was designed by Grosskopff Lombart Huyberechts & Associates Architects.
A building is considered green when it is energy and resource efficient and environmentally responsible.
It achieves this when its design, construction and operational practices reduce or eliminate detrimental effects on the environment and people.
All new energy-consuming structures in which people live or work, such as hospitals, office buildings and government social housing, will have to meet the new requirements.
Besides being kind to the environment, the new regulations are expected to boost employment by creating jobs.
South Africa has witnessed a significant increase in the Green Star SA Rating of buildings, the official green certification measure for buildings, according to the GBCSA.
There are nine buildings so far that have received a Green Star rating, up from only one last year.
Source: thenewage.co.za - Mel Frykberg
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