Construction World June 2015

ENVIRONMENT

TRIPLE GREEN buildings in 24 months Leading private property company Amdec has set its

that utilised evaporative cooling so its build- ings use less air conditioning than usual, it uses gas and has integrated recycling. Its mixed-uses and pedestrianisation reduces the need for cars, it also benefits from good access to public transport. In short, Melrose Arch is an enabling platform for sustainable buildings. It is this revelation that is inspiring Amdec to create even more environments that facilitate more green buildings Quraishi says that as companies trans- form the way they think about business, from being purely profit driven, to a paradigm that considers people, planet and profit, so property developers need to respond. Inefficient buildings stand to become obsolete faster, being less sustainable and Quraishi highlights that green buildings make for happy tenants too. “They boost productivity and profitability by creating healthy workspaces that also mean lower absenteeism. So they are commercially desirable.” Developing macro plans for green precincts can help deliver more green build- ings, and bigger positive impacts. “In fact, we are considering taking our next R4-billion mega development of a 128 000 ha mixed-use suburb in Port Eliza- beth, entirely off the grid,” says Quraishi. With soaring energy costs, clients across Amdec’s portfolio of assets, including its Evergreen Lifestyle Villages, enjoy the bene- fits of Amdec’s energy-efficient, water-ef- ficient and cost-efficient focus. Amdec’s approach to green building goes beyond active green building technologies, also incorporating more subtle elements of green building in design and orientation. Of course, the commercial sustainability of a building is essential, and is typically at the forefront of every developers mind. It is fundamental to pushing the green button for a project. For existing buildings, Quraishi explains that Amdec has prioritised getting ratings for single-tenants buildings. “Then we’ll move on to our multi-tenanted buildings, which can be more challenging,” he conludes.

look at the broader context of investing in communities. A thriving community is good for business, the more attractive a community is, the more desirable our build- ings become.” Green building is growing apace in South Africa and Amdec, an active partner to the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA), is helping it move into the future. In fact, Quraishi, was closely involved with developing the GBCSA’s Socio Economic Category Pilot, which has been embraced by the World Green Building Council. As the owners in what can undoubtedly be considered South Africa’s first sustain- able green precinct, Melrose Arch, which was developed ahead of its time and before the formal green building wave began in South Africa, Amdec knows first-hand the benefits an environmentally sound foundation adds to green building. That’s because the green inner-workings of Melrose Arch support more than a single building, they underpin a whole precinct. Impressive ratings It is here that Amdec has earned its two Green Star SA ratings: 40 on Oak was South Africa’s first multi-unit residential project certified under the Green Star SA system, with a 4-Star Green Star SA Pilot certifica- tion and The WorleyParsons head office was awarded a 4-Star Green Star SA Office v1 Design rating. As part of its multiunit residential rating at 40 on Oak, Amdec cut energy consump- tion for each apartment by 50% and water consumption by 40% making the Melrose Arch apartments even more desirable. For the green rated office, it lowered energy consumption by 40% and water consump- tion by 50%. Melrose Arch will also play a leading role in its future targeted green star ratings, two of which have already been registered at GBCSA. Melrose Arch is packed with ingenious designs and small, smart green touches that also create an enjoyable environment. It includes a central district cooling plant

> James Wilson, Amdec CEO, comments: “We take a multifac- eted approach to sustainability and energy-efficiency. So, while we intend to pursue more Green Star SA ratings for all our new developments, and some of our existing ones, we are also adding more resource-efficient features to all our assets, whether there is a rating tool available for them or not. This helps take strain off our power grid, and our building users’ pockets, as well as being good for the environment and helping communities prosper.” The bigger picture By considering the bigger picture, Amdec’s green building ethos has a far-reaching positive impact. Its holistic approach to green buildings is helping to change the way people think and live. “An important part of green building is educating and transforming communi- ties, updating legislation and government processes, and changing how we experience development,” explains Josef Quraishi, head of sustainability and green building for the Amdec group. “Our macro view considers a building’s inherent relationship with its surrounds, ensuring it contributes to the sustaina- bility of its community and natural setting,” explains Quraishi. “When we develop, we portfolio over the next two years. Having already earned Green Star SA ratings for two of its buildings in the last two years, Amdec plans to boost its pace of investing in green buildings by taking this number to six in the coming 24 months. sights on tripling the number of green buildings in its property

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James Wilson, CEO of Amdec Group.

The WorleyParsons head office building in Melrose Arch, which was awarded a 4-Star Green Star SA Office v1 Design rating by the Green Building Council of South Africa.

CONSTRUCTION WORLD JUNE 2015