Green building in South Africa
The Green Building Council of South Africa[1] (launched 2007) has developed a Green Star SA rating tools, based on the Green Building Council of Australia[2] tools, to provide the property industry with an objective measurement for green buildings and to recognize and reward environmental leadership in the property industry. Each Green Star SA rating tool reflects a different market sector (eg. office, retail, multi-unit residential, etc.).
The first tool developed was Green Star SA - Office which was published in pilot form for public comment in July 2008, with final version 1 release at the Green Building Council of South Africa Convention & Exhibition ’08 on 2–4 November 2008.
South Africa is in the process of incorporating an energy standard SANS 204[3] which aims to provide energy-saving practices as a basic standard in the South African context.
Green Building Media (launched in 2007) has also played an instrumental role in green building in South Africa, through their informational portal,[4] as well as their monthly Green Building e-Journal of South Africa, which is sent to professionals within the built environment. They currently hold two annual events which focusing on sustainability; the Green Building Conference and a Retrofitting Seminar.