Following the launch of Green Star SA (GS-SA) Office V1, the country’s first voluntary green building rating tool, the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) is seeking sponsorship for the devel-
opment of rating tools for other types of building developments, after receiving feedback from the indsutry that such rating tools are “urgently” needed.

The other types of building developments which seem to have the greatest demand for rating tools are retail buildings, multiunit 
residential property and hotels. There is also demand from those involved in the operation and maintenance of existing buildings earmarked for retrofitting.


While the GS-SA covers office buildings, with a building needing to have 80% office space to be eligible to apply for a rating under this tool, GBCSA CEO Nicola Douglas tells Engineering News that there are other devel-
opers that want to build green retail, residential, mixed-use and other building types as well as retrofit their current portfolios.

“These developers want tools to use as frameworks to set the relevant standards and benchmarks and achieve an objectively 
assessed and internationally recognised green building certification,” she says.

Douglas adds that the fact that these tools are being “urgently” sought is reflective of developers and professionals in the country wanting to embrace ‘green’.

“However, they need to know what this means in the South African context and what exactly they need to do to achieve it. Industry feedback also indicates that they require independent verification of their achievement by an internationally 
recognised rating tool,” she points out.

The GBCSA reports that there has also been a lesser degree of interest in rating tools for 
industrial buildings, low-cost housing and other building types. The council indicates that, because tool development and the customisation process are a significant task, it will prioritise those that are most in demand and which have the greatest potential environmental impact.

The tools will be sponsored by a combination of principal and associate sponsors and the development of any particular tool will begin once adequate funding has been secured.

Douglas tells Engineering News that it is 
important to invest in a tool development programme because, given the global emergence, and value of ‘green’, and sustainable building practices, it is important that local projects are able to strive for and achieve ratings under a system which has been customised for the South African context.

“There are also marketing and public relations benefits that emerge as a result of being associated with the support of tool development. A sponsor also has the option of being involved in the process through a representative on a technical working group that develops the tools, amongst other things,” she concludes.

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