by Shane Henson — December 25, 2013—In recognition that building green can extend beyond architecture and construction, the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) recently announced the launch of a new pilot Socio-Economic Category (SEC) for Green Star South Africa (SA) rating tools, which will recognize the socio-economic achievements of green building projects.
Sponsored by Old Mutual Property, the new pilot SEC is reportedly a world-first, with the GBCSA taking the lead to develop this first set of socio-economic criteria for building rating tools focused on a developing country context, as well as an international framework for adaptation in other developing countries.
According to the GBCSA, moving beyond traditional “green” criteria for buildings, this SEC addresses broader sustainability issues through providing credits for employment creation, economic opportunity, skills development and training, community benefit, empowerment, safety and health, and mixed-income housing.
Two certifications are awarded through this category: Green Star SA—Socio-Economic Category PILOT Design at the end of the design phase; and Green Star SA—Socio-Economic Category PILOT As Built following construction completion.
Old Mutual Property managing director Peter Levett sees the introduction of the pilot SEC as a critical move towards building a more sustainable property development environment in the developing world.
“We applaud the Green Building Council of South Africa for leading the way in the quest for a more positive socio-economic impact from the property industry,” Levett said.
Registered green buildings are invited to test the SEC in the pilot phase, which will last until December 2014. Projects that achieve a rating for the SEC PILOT will get additional recognition for this, alongside their Green Star SA rating, says the GBCSA.
