• This is the fifth green rating on the building since Balwin’s acquisition, including a Net Zero Waste rating
  • The Net Zero waste is a unique rating which has not been achieved for a retrofit of this scale before
  • This rating is achieved by diverting all waste from the construction process away from landfill.
  • Balwin’s retrofit resulted in savings for tenants and a reduced carbon footprint
  • Large PV array offsets ~40-50% of electricity consumption
  • Super capacitor minimises the requirement to use backup generator
  • Rainwater/stormwater management minimises the use of potable water for irrigation
  • Low flow water fittings throughout the building minimise the use of municipal water
  • Strong demand from tenants seeking an environmentally friendlier working environment
  • 105 Corlett Drive fully let
  • Strong demand from additional tenants

Johannesburg. – JSE listed Balwin Properties (“Balwin” or “the Group”), a developer that cares about environmentally responsible building practices and the delivery of high-quality apartments to its valued clients, today announced that its corporate head office, 105 Corlett Drive in Johannesburg, recently achieved an ‘As Built’ Six-Star Green Star rating, the highest rating of its kind for any office building in South Africa.  

Balwin Chief Executive, Steve Brookes explained:

“Developed by the GBCSA, the ‘As Built’ Green Star rating measures the actual performance and attributes of the building against the original design objectives. This differs from the traditional Green Star rating, that measures design objectives only.”

To achieve an ‘As Built’ Six Star Green rating, every element of the building needs to be considered, including its design and layout, the materials used, energy and water consumption, energy generation, impact on the surrounding environment and the plants used in and around the building.

Added Brookes: “The ‘As Built’ Green Star tool works on a points-based system, where points are awarded under several categories. In order to receive a rating a certain number of points need to be achieved. In the case of a Six-Star Green Star rating – which is the highest – a minimum 75 points are required.

“We are very proud of 105 Corlett Drive achieving 82 points, which not only exceeded the ‘As Built’ Six Star Green Star rating but is also the highest score received for an ‘As Built’ office rating ever.”

The landmark asset on the corner of Corlett and the M1 highway opposite Melrose Arch was acquired by Balwin in 2022. The developer extensively refurbished the building, increasing its gross lettable area to approximately 7 609 m2 and retrofitting extensive green features.

The Six-Star Green Star ‘As Built’ rating marks the fifth sustainability rating since the refurbishment and retrofitting of the development, which include a Six-Star Green Star rating for design, Net Zero Carbon Level 1 modelled and Level 1 measured ratings, a Design rating, Construction rating and a Net Zero Waste Level 1 rating.

“The Net Zero waste is a unique rating which has not been achieved for a retrofit of this scale before. This rating is achieved by diverting all waste from the construction process away from landfill,” said Matthew Whalley, Managing Director of Balwin Energy.

In addition to a carbon neutral footprint for the based building, the retrofit resulted in significant cost savings for Balwin and other tenants in the building, in line with the ‘As-Built’ rating.

A large roof and carport mounted solar panel array offsets approximately 40-50% of the building’s energy consumption in addition to ensuring consistent supply. In addition, a super capacitor minimises the reliance on generator back-up.

Rainwater is harvested, minimising the use of potable water for irrigation, whilst low-flow water fitting throughout the building lessens the reliance on municipal water.

The location of 105 Corlett Drive and proven sustainability features resulted in strong demand from tenants seeking a more environmentally friendly working environment, with the asset fully occupied. 

Retrofitting a building of this scale to the highest green rated standards is not without its challenges, however.

Whalley explains that the large open floor plan in particular posed a challenge from a lighting point of view. “We had to ensure that we zone these areas correctly for compliance and to ensure that we aren’t using lights in a space unnecessarily. In addition, we had to ensure that the parking areas provide sufficient space and facilities for electric vehicles.”

Brookes said that the corporate head office’s ‘As Built’ Six Star Green Star rating aligns with his commitment environmentally friendly developments.

The Group is the largest developer of IFC Edge and Edge Advanced apartments in the world, with [number] of apartments IFC Edge Advanced certified. In addition, Balwin recently launched its 12th carbon neutral lifestyle centre.

Leveraging the Group’s green building methods to the benefit of their homebuyers, Brookes pioneered Balwin’s Green Bonds, negotiating discounts of between 0.25% and 0.75% on homebuyers bonds from the larger financiers, based on the environmentally friendly design and lower carbon footprint of the developments.

This initiative has saved homebuyers a combined R80 million over a 20-year bond in the past financial year alone.

-Ends-

www.balwin.co.za

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF BALWIN BY: ARTICULATE PARTNERS
DENISE MHLANGA
denise@articulatepartners.com
MORNE REINDERS
morne@articulatepartners.com

About Balwin Properties Limited

JSE-listed Balwin Properties is a specialist, niche, national large-scale, residential property developer focused on the turnkey development and sale of sectional-title apartments as well as surrounding infrastructure, in the mid to upper market segment. Estates typically consist of between 1 000 and  5 000 sectional title residential apartments and are located in high-density, high-growth nodes across key metropolitan areas in Johannesburg, Tshwane, the Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.

Sustainable building is at the heart of the company’s development process. All Balwin’s apartments are built to IFC EDGE Advanced certification and the Lifestyle Centre’s, and the group’s head office are constructed to Six-Star Green rating and Net Zero Carbon Omission as certified by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA).

This commitment to environmentally sustainable building allows for significant savings for Balwin customers through reduced utility costs together with potential savings in their bonds through the Green Bonds offered by most major financial institutions. The Group has a secure development pipeline of 42 316 apartments across Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.