Does green cost more?

1 June 2019 News & Events, Commercial (Industry)

The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA), the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS), and the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, recently launched the 2019 edition of Green Building in South Africa: Guide to Costs & Trends.

This is the second publication following the first edition that was issued in 2016. The document provides interesting trends and valuable insights about the influence of green design and construction on both capital and operational costs.

“The guide is available in electronic format and it will be of great benefit to the built environment. The thorough, peer-reviewed research and presentation of the results make it a one-of-a-kind publication on an international level,” says Karl Trusler, Edutech director at the ASAQS.

Challenging the ‘green cost premium’

With increased awareness and education in the built environment regarding the green building movement, a perception that green building attracts a significant cost premium when compared to conventional construction emerged. To address this concern, The Cost of Green Building Study Committee was established in 2014. The 2019 edition includes the Committee’s convincing results regarding the business case for green building.

The report also confirmed the 2016 finding of a strong negative correlation between green cost premium and construction size. The larger projects managed to achieve a Green Star certification at a much lower average green cost premium when compared to smaller projects.

The data however also confirmed that the cost premium for buildings smaller than 5000 m² has reduced significantly from 9,3% (2009/14 data) to 4,6% (2015/18 data).

“Office buildings that were developed for single corporate tenants had initially attracted much higher green cost premiums compared to buildings developed for a multi-tenant mix. Since 2015, this gap has been closed,” says Hoffman.

He adds that the business case for a comprehensive investment decision should include both the cost premium of constructing the building and the financial performance of the building in operation.

See more about the publication at www.asaqs.co.za/resource/resmgr/downloads/greenbuildingbooklet_2019.pdf





Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

Hytera supports communication upgrade for Joburg
News & Events Infrastructure Government and Parastatal (Industry)
By equipping Johannesburg’s metro police and emergency services with multimode radios which integrate TETRA and LTE networks, Hytera is bridging coverage gaps and improving response times across the city.

Read more...
The global generative AI market surpassed $130 billion in 2024
News & Events AI & Data Analytics
According to a new research report from the IoT analyst firm, Berg Insight, the Generative AI (GenAI) market grew substantially in 2024, experiencing triple-digit growth rates in all three major segments: GenAI hardware, foundation models, and development platforms.

Read more...
Your Wi-Fi router is about to start watching you
News & Events Surveillance Security Services & Risk Management
Advanced algorithms are able to analyse your Wi-Fi signals and create a representation of your movements, turning your home's Wi-Fi into a motion detection and personal identification system.

Read more...
ProtecLink 2025: Ithegi Electronics supports a safer, smarter security ecosystem
News & Events
If you are a security buyer, operations lead, or technology partner, do not miss ProtecLink 2025, to be held in Polokwane on 16 September 2025, at the Polokwane Royal Hotel.

Read more...
Fire safety in commercial kitchens
Technews Publishing Kestrel Distribution Products & Solutions Fire & Safety Commercial (Industry)
Fire safety in commercial kitchens is becoming increasingly critical. Defender is Europe’s first EN 17446:2021-approved kitchen hood fire suppression system and offers the indispensable safety measures required.

Read more...
IZI Group acquires G4S Cash Solutions South Africa
News & Events
IZI Africa, a sister company within the IZI Group, has acquired G4S Cash Solutions (SA) following the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. This transaction marks a significant consolidation in the South African cash handling industry.

Read more...
Secutel maintains ISO certifications
News & Events Fire & Safety
Secutel Technologies has successfully recertified all four of its ISO standards, a reflection of its continued commitment to excellence, client trust, and operational integrity.

Read more...
SABRIC appoints Andre Wentzel as interim CEO
News & Events Financial (Industry) Associations
The South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) has announced the appointment of Andre Wentzel as interim chief executive officer, effective immediately.

Read more...
Choicejacking bypasses smartphone charging security
News & Events Information Security
Choicejacking is a new cyberthreat that bypasses smartphone charging security defences to confirm, without the victim’s input or consent, that the victim wishes to connect in data-transfer mode.

Read more...
Paxton cuts emissions by over a third
Paxton News & Events
Paxton has announced a significant reduction in its carbon footprint, cutting emissions by 961 tonnes of CO2e in its 2023 second reporting year.

Read more...










While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd. | All Rights Reserved.