NMMU building first in SA to receive new Public and Education Green Star rating

19th November 2013

By: Creamer Media Reporter

  

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The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s (NMMU’s) new R116-million Business School is the first in South Africa to receive official green design rating accreditation for a public and education building from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA).

The four-star green design rating for the three-storey building at the university’s Second Avenue campus is also the first for any building in Port Elizabeth and the Eastern Cape.

The rating followed months of rigorous planning and implementation in the areas of energy efficiency, materials, water use, indoor air quality, transport, ecology and lighting to ensure the stringent standards were achieved.

“We’re very proud of this achievement. It sends a clear message that NMMU is intent on living its value of respect for the natural environment,” says NMMU’s Graham Gouws, who championed the university’s first green building project.

Although going green can add up to 20% on initial building costs, the university expects to reap savings of at least R45 000 a year from efficient lighting, the use of occupancy sensors and solar energy, as well as a further R68 778 in water savings.

“In Australia and some countries in Europe, this green approach is compulsory if building owners want government departments to occupy their buildings. We want to do the right thing but also to prepare for the changes that will come,” said Gouws, whose colleagues began research into international green building standards some four years ago.

In fact, the university had submitted its initial green building plans before the SA rating model was formally introduced by the GBCSA about 18 months ago as part of the pilot phase of a new tool to measure a building’s impact on the environment.

“The Green Star SA rating tool plays a key role in ensuring an integrated design approach with better environmental outcomes, which are clearly evident on this project, where the project team worked closely together to achieve an excellent design outcome for this facility,’’ noted GBCSA technical manager Manfred Braune.

From an energy and water savings perspective, it has been estimated that new buildings will use about 60% less energy than a similar building, and 75% less water, owing to low flow fittings, the use of air-cooled chillers, water wise irrigation and rainwater harvesting to feed water needs for flushing.

According to Andy Feldman, who formed part of an extensive team of design consultants as a sustainable building engineer, the building, with an internal open-air courtyard, is concrete-framed, with a face brick outer façade for improved thermal performance. The protected courtyard also allows for increased day lighting into the four-wing building. 

“NMMU’s certified rating is representative of best practice in green building design. Green Star recognises and rewards developers who incorporate green building design features that reduce the environmental impact of a building. NMMU is to be congratulated as the first public and education building to be rated under the pilot scheme for its design rating,” said Feldman.

The new 5 500 m2 building, which would open for business in March next year, used green construction materials, such as “smart” glass, which assists in reducing unnecessary heat gain, as well as timber that was approved by the Forestry Stewardship Council. 

In order to ensure that the NMMU adhered to the stringent demands of the rating, the university worked hand in hand with a team of green consultants from Arup in Cape Town.

“It was a huge learning process for all of us, but we are now better versed for future building projects,” said Gouws, adding that the university has a number of massive developments ahead, including a new science block, another engineering building and a new teacher education centre.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

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