{"id":9698,"date":"2020-07-02T11:17:23","date_gmt":"2020-07-02T11:17:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sareitprod.wpengine.com\/?p=583"},"modified":"2026-03-26T11:51:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T09:51:46","slug":"growthpoint-and-serra-achieve-gautengs-first-green-star-ebp-industrial-rating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/muddev.co.za\/sareit\/growthpoint-and-serra-achieve-gautengs-first-green-star-ebp-industrial-rating\/","title":{"rendered":"Growthpoint and Serra\u00ae achieve Gauteng\u2019s first Green Star EBP Industrial rating"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”” css_params=””]In April 2020, Growthpoint and Serra\u00ae Services achieved the first Green Star Existing Building Performance (EBP) rating for an industrial building in Gauteng, with a 5-Star certification for a 7400sqm facility in Meadowbrook, Germiston.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Situated in a mixed industrial and residential area in the east of Johannesburg, the light manufacturing building, comprising a workshop and offices on two floors, is owned by Growthpoint Properties and was leased by Serra\u00ae in 2016. An extensive process was undertaken by both landlord and tenant, in consultation with Solid Green Consulting, to achieve this Green Star EBP \u2018first\u2019.<\/p>\n

Paul Thomaz, Group Marketing Director of Serra\u00ae, says that, as a leading hygiene service provider and washroom dispenser manufacturer, Serra is duty bound to highlight health and sustainable environmental practices as they become more relevant for everyone. \u201cFrom the outset, our discussions with Growthpoint hinged on our mutual determination to regard sustainability as a joint core value. This is in keeping with Serra\u2019s all-encompassing philosophy and long-term vision of \u2018no harm\u2019, and our commitment to applying best international practice in reducing our overall carbon footprint.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the first Industrial sector site to receive this recognition in Gauteng, Serra\u00ae has achieved another milestone in a history of numerous \u2018firsts\u2019 both in our industry and in the broader South African context. We are especially proud of this achievement as we are celebrating our 35th anniversary this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Errol Taylor, Head of Asset Management: Industrial at Growthpoint Properties, remarks, \u201cIt is interesting to note that this small but prominent corner of Meadowbrook has become a shining example of green building in South Africa. Serra\u2019s premises are directly adjacent to Growthpoint\u2019s award-winning 5-Star Office Design v1 certified Grundfos development.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe EBP certification for the building occupied by Serra is part of a pilot programme to develop an industrial EBP rating tool for the GBCSA, which can be used by everyone in the industrial property sector. Growthpoint works in close collaboration with our clients and professional teams to achieve optimal environments for occupants while ensuring that our buildings operate efficiently, sustainably and with minimal impact on the environment. We believe it is important to certify our green buildings because a recognised building rating provides an important independent verification of environmental performance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dashiell Coville, Sustainable Building Consultant at Solid Green, explains that the GBCSA\u2019s Existing Building Performance (EBP) tool focuses on the operational phase of an existing building\u2019s lifecycle, to enable facilities management to set in place policies, plans and processes to optimise the operations and performance of the building. \u201cThe certification process for industrial buildings requires a lot more tenant engagement than for office buildings, as industrial tenants are typically in charge of all aspects of property management and cannot simply gain credit from the landlord’s green policies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Key features of the Meadowbrook building\u2019s performance include energy and water efficiency. \u201cSerra consumes in the region of 16kWh\/sqm\/year, which is an 85% improvement on a typical light industrial building of this scale (106kWh\/sqm\/year),\u201d says Coville. \u201cThis is the ongoing targeted consumption level. Thanks to reduced consumption, as well as energy efficiency and the renewable energy initiatives implemented, the consumption in 2019 was lower than in 2018.\u201d<\/p>\n

A large solar photovoltaic system on the roof provides renewable energy to the facility. 130 panels, with a capacity of 25kWp, were installed as phase 1; and Thomaz advises that the aim is to install a further 110 panels for phase 2 \u2013 with capacity for 550 panels in total. He adds, \u201cThree lithium-ion battery banks provide the office component with 24 hours of uninterrupted power. In winter \u2013 June through to end August \u2013 these are bled during peak load periods (06h00-09h00 and 16h00 to 18h00) to reduce our electricity consumption and carbon footprint.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thanks to the water saving initiatives implemented as well as the efficient habits of the Serra staff, the facility has demonstrated an 88% improvement in water consumption on a typical light manufacturing industrial building of this scale, and this is the ongoing targeted consumption level.<\/p>\n

The Serra building uses cutting-edge energy and water monitoring systems to accurately report on consumption. Data is monitored via online dashboards and used to analyse trends and highlight problem areas; and the utility metering process is outsourced to a specialistcontractor who manages meter reading and processing.<\/p>\n

Periodic audits and occupant surveys are carried out to ensure that sufficient fresh air is provided (to meet or exceed national design standards), that lighting levels are optimal, and that temperatures are comfortable. This all translates into a healthier, more productive space.<\/p>\n

Taylor says that the current global COVID-19 pandemic has clarified the importance of work settings that have a positive impact on the health of people and the environment. \u201cAs people slowly return to their desks and workbenches after the hardest levels of the COVID-19 lockdown, the design and operation of workspaces to safeguard occupant health and wellbeing will undoubtedly become the priority for all responsible businesses. Factors such as good ventilation and air quality are going to be the defining features of healthy workspaces.<\/p>\n

\u201cCertified green buildings are certainly among those best positioned to provide superior healthy working environments. In addition, energy and water savings translate to valuable cost savings, which will be more important than ever to businesses as they focus on recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Serra is constantly reviewing its approach to recycling within the building in order to improve its waste management practices. The goal is to integrate recycling both at a manufacturing and operations level. Recycling bins for paper, glass, plastics and aluminium cans will be situated within the office space as well as the warehouse waste storage area and collected weekly by the waste management contractor. Thomaz explains that the 3R principle has been implemented. For example, all bonded paper is reused or repurposed where possible in printers, and then recycled after shredding as product bulk packaging. And all stainless-steel offcuts are either repurposed or recycled (if not fit for purpose) \u2013 resulting in a wastage factor of less than 2%.<\/p>\n

An extensive Building User\u2019s Guide was developed for the facility\u2019s ongoing operations, which includes recommendations around several factors to provide the most efficient, healthy and enjoyable working environment. These include indoor emissions; choice of materials and finishes; and design considerations such as thermal comfort, ventilation, daylight, internal noise levels, and the provision of quiet spaces.<\/p>\n

Marloes Reinink, director at Solid Green Consulting, notes that it has long been widely acknowledged that the management of buildings is critical to enhancing users\u2019 health and wellbeing \u2013 both in terms of productivity, and mitigating disease and absenteeism. She emphasises, \u201cAs the links between sustainable practices and public health become more apparent, building professionals and their clients will need to be proactive in navigating the way forward. We must work together towards creating sustainable buildings that are enablers of health.\u201d<\/p>\n

With its recent EBP certification, Serra\u00ae has set a new benchmark for owners and users of Africa\u2019s existing industrial building stock \u2013 proving that a more efficient and responsible way of operating is both possible and necessary.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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