BALWIN Properties continues to set the benchmark in sustainable property development. The company has received 13 324 International Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiency (EDGE) certificates. A total of 5 666 of these are EDGE Advanced certificates. EDGE Advanced certified developments reduce energy and water consumption by at least 40%. At the same time, the certification process also establishes higher standards in the use of construction materials, consuming significantly less energy to produce, transport to site, install, maintain and dispose of. This is opposed to EDGE certified buildings which consume 20% less energy and water. They have also been built using materials that have lower embodied energy and, therefore, a smaller carbon footprint.
Eight of the company’s lifestyle centres were also recently awarded Six-Star Green Rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa. Balwin Properties is currently the only property developer in Africa to have nine Six-Star Green Star Rating buildings. Notably, seven of the company’s lifestyle centres received a net-zero rating from the council. Over a 12-month period, the total energy consumed by the lifestyle centres was equivalent to the amount of energy created by the buildings.
Mathew Whalley, Balwin Properties’ head of green innovation, says that the company’s intense focus on sustainable development is in line with South Africa’s commitment to significantly reduce carbon emissions and, eventually, transitioning into a net-zero economy. Moreover, South Africa is a water-stressed country that needs to use this resource responsibly. “While our investment into sustainable development has also helped to relieve pressure on a severely strained national electricity grid and municipal water systems, these benefits are an aside. Balwin Properties is primarily guided by the fact that sustainable development is the right thing to do. It has also been to the benefit of our clients. We are showing that South Africans want to live ‘green’ lifestyles which also provides many other benefits, not least of which is a significant reduction in utility bills,” Whalley tells Cape Business News.
To help drive investment in sustainable infrastructure and solutions in the country, Balwin Properties also launched “green” home loans. Offered in partnership with leading banks, they provide the company’s customers with a reduction in their home loan interest rate. Some of these banks provide a 25 basis point reduction in home loan interest rates to Balwin Properties’ clients. However, the company sees potential to provide greater savings to customers who invest in sustainable developments and this possibility is being explored.
Balwin Properties “green” innovation starts by focusing on designing apartments that are as energy efficient as possible. Among the many factors that that the company first takes into consideration in these smart designs include the optimal use of natural light and ventilation, as well as effectively insulating the roof. The apartments are also fitted out with energy efficient appliances and lighting.
It then harnesses grid-tied solar systems to provide further savings in energy. The energy generated from photovoltaic panels is fed through a mains-synchronised inverter directly into the distribution boards to offset the power that would conventionally be consumed from the national grid. The company opted for a centralised system because it benefits all residents equally. It currently has more than 2MW of installed solar capacity across its developments. Designed capacity currently stands at 10MW
Whalley says that the rapidly declining cost of solar bodes well for the company and its sustainable development drive. “The actual costs of solar have halved over the past five years,” he says.
In terms of the sustainable use of water, the company first focuses on reducing demand. This is achieved by installing water efficient plumbing systems and fixtures. Technologies deployed in apartments that have provided significant water savings include low flow taps and aerators. Balwin Properties is now exploring the possibility of recycling greywater and rainwater at its lifestyle centres.
It is clear that Balwin Properties is a pace setter in the field and will continue to lead the way in sustainable development.
