“The GBCSA has experienced enormous support from the property industry, both on the corporate side and from individuals, with over 400 people having contacted us directly since we announced the intention to form the Council.  With these numbers we have had to get our act together to cope with the admin involved before we could formally take members on - but we now have staff and systems in place to enable us to go forward.”
 
The GBCSA is a non-profit organisation formed to drive the adoption of green building in the SA property industry, and is an emerging member of the World GBC.
 
The Council’s aims include developing a green building rating system, providing educational courses, and developing a resource centre with case studies and information on green building.  “We are well down the line in adapting the Australian Green Star rating system for SA, which will be released in pilot form in July.  We are currently running a breakfast session where a developer from Australia will present a case study of a 6-Star green building in Sydney (unfortunately only in Cape Town), and we will be holding our inaugural conference and exhibition in November, where we have some of the leading international figures in green building lined up as speakers.  The convention will be followed by full-day ‘Green Star Accredited Professional’ courses.”
 
Membership is corporate and across the spectrum of the property industry.  Members will enjoy a range of benefits including talks, social networking events, newsletter, access to case studies and information, etc.
 
But also, more importantly, they will be supporting an organisation that will play a major role in combating global warming and climate change.
 
“The publishing of the rating tool in July will be a major event in green building in South Africa, and will accelerate the trend here as it has in other countries,” says Kerswill.  “Green building is a very exciting field and has a very strong business case, as well as being one of the key areas in combating climate change.  And of course with South Africa’s emphasis on energy, it is particularly relevant here at the moment.”
 
The Council has the benefit of interaction with other GBC’s and green building experts worldwide, and has a close relationship with the GBC of Australia.
 
“Our website will be up and running on 21 May, and people can get a feel for our range of activities from there, as well as further details on the GBCSA and Green Star rating system.”
 
“We will be formally launching our drive for membership at the SAPOA convention to be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 28 May.  SAPOA has been a keen supporter and facilitator of the GBCSA, and the intention to form the Council was first announced at last year’s SAPOA Convention, a year ago.  The GBCSA will have an exhibition stand, brochures and membership forms at this year’s Convention,” concludes Kerswill.