The launch of this much-anticipated rating tool follows the successful development of Green Star SA tools for Office buildings, Retail Centres and Multi-Unit Residential buildings, as well as the latest pilot Energy & Water Benchmarking Tool.

Greening public spaces: 
Funded by the Construction Industry Development Board (cidb), an agency of the National Department of Public works (DPW), this latest tool enables the GBCSA to rate public spaces, such as community centres, libraries, museums, places of worship, indoor sports centres, entertainment, exhibition and convention centres and public transport terminal buildings. The rating tool extends to Education buildings such as schools and tertiary education facilities.

As with the other Green Star SA rating tools, the Green Star SA – Public & Education Building rating tool assesses the environmental attributes of new or significantly refurbished building developments. The tool assigns a Green Star SA rating to the building as a whole on the basis of its design and rewarding sustainable building design attributes.

“What is exciting about the Public & Education Building rating tool in particular, is that we are now seeing a move into a much broader range of buildings, where government will play a significant role,” says Brian Wilkinson, CEO of the GBCSA

Extensive testing of pilot: 
Since the launch of the PILOT version of this latest tool in October 2011, the GBCSA has put the Public & Education Building rating tool through its paces on a few projects across the country to improve and streamline it for the South African market. These projects emanate from both the public and private sector. One such pilot project is the National Department of Public Works’ National English Literary Museum in Grahamstown, which is set to be a leading example of environmental design in museum buildings.

Green Star tools instrumental in the take-up of green building practices
“The ongoing strategic expansion of available rating tools by the GBCSA is being driven by the demand for increased coverage of the property sector and the acknowledgement of unique environmental issues attributed to specific building types.”

“Green Star SA establishes a common language for the industry and importantly, recognises and rewards excellence in environmental leadership. Rating tools have been instrumental in marking the mainstream take-up of green building practices in a number of markets worldwide, and South Africa is following this trend,” concludes Wilkinson.

Enhance your green knowledge: 
Find out more at the launch of this new tool by attending the 5th annual GBCSA Convention and Exhibition from the 23rd – 25th October 2012. A highlight on the property and environmental sustainability calendar – this premier event consistently delivers global best practice, world-class education, knowledge sharing and high-level networking.
For more information or to book for the convention: www.gbcsa-convention.org.za. Visit www.gbcsa.org.za for more information on Green Star SA rating tools.