Main image: A view of the PV panels on the roof of the Ikusasa building, which will produce renewable power assisting the aim to achieve a Green Star SA Net Zero Carbon Level 1 rating.

Concor’s commitment to zero-harm and sustainability ideally enabled them to complete the Ikusasa office block in Rosebank’s Oxford Parks precinct to six-star SA Office V1.1 green standards.

According to Concor’s contract manager, Martin Muller, the company has constructed several buildings to five-star Green Star SA level in terms of the Green Buildings Council of South Africa (GBCSA) certification.

Achieving Green Star success

Ikusasa will be the first one of its projects to achieve a six-star Green Star SA Office V1.1 design certification. Green Star certification is an internationally recognised mark of quality for the design, construction and operation of buildings, interior fitouts and precincts.

“Concor’s strict performance strategies to manage water use, energy consumption, process waste and pollution all contribute to upholding critical environmental standards,” says Muller.

“In addition to carefully applying our client’s sustainable designs, our high-quality systems all contribute to the points requirement in the GBCSA rating. We also conducted a hazardous materials survey on the project site before demolishing existing buildings, in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and other legislation.”

Understanding and application of the principles

Annelidé Sherratt, head of the department for green building certifications at Solid Green Consulting, notes that four key members of Concor’s site team completed the Green Star online course – which helps the team to understand and apply sustainable ratings on the project. Green Star certification focuses on nine categories of sustainability achievement – from management and materials to the reduction of energy use, water and emissions.

“In terms of the materials category, the Green Star rating rewards developers and contractors for reducing the number of natural resources used, and for reusing materials wherever possible. At the Ikusasa project, Concor reduced the portion of ordinary Portland cement used in their concrete mixes by 30% as an average across all concrete mixes used in the project and achieved a level of 60% recycled content in the steel requirement.”

Local materials sourcing and water wise planting

Local sourcing of materials also played a role in this category, where Concor sourced 20% of the contract value from suppliers within a 400km radius of the site and 10% within 50km. Ikusasa aims to achieve a Green Star SA Net Zero Carbon Level 1 by generating as much energy on site as the base building would require.

The data generated by the metering system is captured and analysed by a digital monitoring system for building management; and shared with the building’s tenants and visitors on a public display screen to raise awareness and drive energy-efficient behaviour.

Conserving water is another important element and optimised using options such as low-flow tap fittings and dual-flush toilets, as well as water sub-metering for uses such as irrigation and bathrooms. Plant irrigation was reduced by 50% using water-wise irrigation methods and smart sensors. Also, the heating, ventilation and cooling system is cooled by air rather than by water.

 Points for innovation

Ikusasa is a market leader. Sherratt says: “From the start of the project the developers took advantage of the value that independent verification of sustainability credentials (via certification) offers at the various project stages of a building/space. The seven parks boulevard achieved three innovation points, as it is registered for certification under four different project stages/components, namely a six-star Green Star Office v1 design rating, a six-star Green Star Office v1.1 as built rating, a six-star Green Star Interiors v1 certification as well as Net Zero Carbon Level 1 certification.”

Full acknowledgement and thanks go to https://www.solidgreen.co.za/ and https://www.concor.co.za for the information in this editorial.

For more information, contact Solid Green Consulting:
Tel: +27 11 447 2797
Email: hello@solidgreen.co.za
Website: https://www.solidgreen.co.za/

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