Nothing par for the course about GBCSA Green Building courses!

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In response to industry demand, the GBCSA in partnership with local and international industry experts have expanded on two of their training courses that will be offered in Johannesburg and Cape Town in September and October.

Understanding the submissions and credit rating process of Green Star SA

The Green Star SA Simulations and Submissions Seminar is a specialised but essential training for professionals and project team leaders involved in any aspect of Green Star submissions that require simulations of the building design.

These simulations generated through the use of computer modelling software demonstrate a project’s strategy for achieving improved energy performance and indoor environment quality for assessment of a Green Star SA rating and ultimately a better building. 

With the Green Building movement fast gaining momentum in South Africa - as highlighted by the recent awarding of the first 5-Star Green Star SA rating for the Aurecon office building in Century City, Cape Town – it has become increasingly important for professionals within the built environment to understand what constitutes best practise in SA and how to go about achieving it. 

“The Aurecon building is a physical manifestation of an excellent Green Star submission and collaboration in the project team,” says Brian Wilkinson, CEO of the GBCSA.  “Anyone considering a Green Star submission, now or at any stage in the future, should attend this invaluable one day course that provides clear information on the support documentation expected for Green Star SA submissions, for those credits in which simulation can be used to demonstrate compliance.”

The course offers guidance and clarity on the individual credit topics – these being Energy Conditional Requirements and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Air Change Effectiveness, Thermal Comfort, Daylight and Daylight Glare Control.   Also covered is the requisite documentation required for both ''Design'' and ''As Built'' projects, with demonstrations and energy modelling reports being used as examples of what should be included in the documentation submitted to assessors. 

The GreenStar SA Simulations and Submissions Seminar will be taking place in Johannesburg on the 13th of September and in Cape Town on the 26th of October.

Existing buildings –the business case for making them green

The other exciting course that has been further developed by the GBCSA is the Greening Existing Buildings workshop that is an unquestionably important and crucial topic that needs to be addressed within the South African context.

“Going Green is not just about the environment.  The reality is that the benefits of building and operating green buildings include reduced operating costs (especially considering South Africa’s rising energy costs and water scarcity), lower risks, healthier and more productive people and ultimately, better investment returns and higher property valuations.   

 “Internationally, developers and owners are looking to ‘future proof’ their buildings against increasing energy prices and costly retrofits and even obsolescence. The business case for building green as well as greening our existing buildings is clear cut,” says Wilkinson. 

The Greening Existing Buildings course will provide professionals with a good understanding of the issues associated with long term sustainability of buildings and it proposes a methodology for the improvement of a buildings performance through low and no cost improvements, optimisation of energy and water efficiency, management policies and improvement of indoor environment quality. 

Taking place in Johannesburg on the 29th of September and in Cape Town on the 26th of October 2011, this course also includes a free copy of the publication entitled “Existing Buildings: Survival Strategies” that was drawn up by Arup on behalf of the GBCSA.

“The GBCSA is pleased and excited to be able to offer these essential courses to South African professionals.  We developed the training seminars in direct response to our members’ and industry demands and, together with selected expert external consultants, will now be able to lead South Africa that one step further towards a green built environment.”

“The council is committed to knowledge sharing and education on green building in South Africa and we urge people not to miss out on this opportunity to gain invaluable information and insight into the Green Star SA rating system as well as the greening of existing buildings,” concludes Wilkinson.

 


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