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New Green Star Ratings for V&A Waterfront

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Five new developments at the V&A Waterfront have been awarded Green Star ratings. The Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) awards these ratings to buildings and developments that engage in global best practice standards for sustainability, management, energy conservation and innovation. These five new ratings now bring the V&A Waterfront’s total of Green Star rated buildings to 12, making it a benchmark for environmentally-friendly developments in South Africa. The ratings highlight the seaside precinct’s commitment to sustainable development for the future.The first ever six-star rating in South Africa was awarded to No. 1 Silo (Allan Gray’s offices) in June 2014. Since then, No. 5 Silo and The Watershed have been awarded six-star ratings as well. A five-star rating was awarded to No. 6 Silo (which is home to the new Radisson Red Hotel), and the West Quay Offices and Granger Bay Court were both awarded four-star Green Star ratings.

Green Star rating ceremony

A plaque unveiling ceremony took place at The Watershed in March to commemorate the new ratings. “GBCSA congratulates the V&A Waterfront and the professionals involved with these buildings on this fantastic achievement, and making the V&A Waterfront one of the greenest precincts on the continent,” said executive director and chief technical officer of GBCSA, Manfred Braune.“The V&A precinct attests to the power of long-term planning and how everyone can be brought along through gradual changes - it is a beacon of future possibilities,” he said.V&A Waterfront CEO David Green also spoke at the ceremony. “Sustainability underpins our entire development strategy and lies at the heart of everything we do,” he said. “As a business, we are pragmatic and commercial, but it is our responsibility to ensure that the legacy we build today does not negatively impact on the future,” Green added.“Our buildings are an important asset to the V&A Waterfront and we take pride in preserving our natural environment. With this in mind, we had produced an energy model for our new developments, which includes No. 5 and No. 6 Silos, that uses the district seawater cooling plant to heat and cool the building with a renewable energy source, allowing us to save energy by 65% when compared to other buildings,” explained Green. “The Watershed has emerged as our flagship enterprise development space with more than 55% of the space dedicated to small business, 234 small business employing over 1000 people in a building that uses low energy and has a higher occupant satisfaction with regard to thermal and lighting comfort,” said Green.

Leading the way for responsible development

The five new building ratings at the V&A Waterfront form part of the precinct’s push for green business practices. This environmental programme has reduced the V&A Waterfront’s electricity usage by 35% and cut down on water by 25%. Half of the waste from the precinct is also recycled.The V&A Waterfront has also managed to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and raise awareness of environmental management among its staff members, tenants and visitors.All developments that are considered for Green Star ratings are thoroughly scrutinised and tested before being awarded. The Green Star certification is a stamp of approval and an indicator of leadership in environmental sustainability.Image: © Joshua Oates___Averda is a leading waste management provider with over 50 years of experience across three continents. Through growth, transformation and engagement, we strive to find new ways of managing waste while protecting the community and environment. ___By pairing international expertise with local insights, we have secured our position as one of South Africa’s most respected providers of waste management and industrial cleaning services. We also operate in the recycling, infrastructure inspection, hydro-demolition, high-pressure water jetting and catalyst handling industries. ___low us Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for the best tips on recycling and the latest industry news. See our Instagram and YouTube channels for more insights into environmental affairs and our work with local communities.