Bellville green building The City’s new Electricity Services head office in Bellville has this year been recognised by the Green Building Council of South Africa with a four-star rating as the first municipal building to adhere to design, construction and management best practice in terms of resource efficiency. With its eco-friendly and innovative design, it breaks the mould not only aesthetically, but also in terms of the impact it has on the environment. Notable features of the building include an air conditioning system that achieves a 150% improvement on the requirements set out in the South African national standards for energy efficiency, without compromising the comfort levels of staff. Additionally, the building has been designed to promote the use of natural light, and maximise views to the outside with curved facades. Sun louvres protect the curtain wall glazing from heat gain, and blinds have been installed throughout the facility so that comfortable lighting levels can be maintained. In addition, smart lighting controls, motion sensors and timers linked to the building management system have been installed. This system is calibrated to automatically turn lights off when need be or when no motion is detected, while also adjusting the level of lighting according to the amount of daylight coming into the building. Artificial lighting is almost superfluous as the building is configured around a central glazed atrium that introduces natural light to the offices. Moreover, 400 solar panels have been installed to help reduce the energy consumption of the building. On average, these panels generate approximately 156 800 kWh per year. Further reducing the building’s carbon footprint is the rooftop garden, as well as outdoor seating and recreational areas. Importantly, it was landscaped using indigenous, water-wise plants that grow naturally in the area. The plumbing system has been split into black and grey water discharges to enable the waste streams to be split for different treatment processes. A grey water recycling system has also been incorporated into the building design to reduce potable water use for flushing of toilets and urinals. The filtration process is fully automated and uses a chemical-free treatment method. In terms of the materials used, the furniture, fittings, finishes and building fabric were carefully selected to minimise emissions. In addition, all timber products used are sourced from reused and Forest Stewardship Council-certified timber.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 11:08:52 +0000
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