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Growthpoint sets bold green building targets

Johannesburg - Growthpoint Properties has targeted boosting its solar energy generation capacity to over 6MWp by mid-2016 to become one of the largest generators of rooftop solar power in South Africa.

It has also targeted growing its portfolio of Green Star SA certified buildings to 50, reinforcing its position as the holder of the biggest portfolio of certified green buildings in the country.

Growthpoint is South Africa’s largest REIT and a JSE ALSI Top 40 Index company and a Platinum Founding Member of the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA).

Norbert Sasse, CEO of Growthpoint Properties, comments: “We are constantly seeking new and innovative ways to put our environmental commitment into action and reducing the operating costs for our tenants with meaningful, quantifiable results. Our green buildings, energy efficiency initiatives and sustainable energy generation contribute positively to the environment. They also create places where businesses and communities can enjoy the benefits of quality, healthy, energy-efficient environments in which to work, shop and relax.”

Growthpoint’s environmental strategy also benefits from the latest in green leadership globally. Rudolf Pienaar, Growthpoint’s office divisional director, was recently appointed to the World Green Building Council’s (World GBC’s) Board of Directors. Pienaar is also deputy chairman of the GBCSA.

“With the shared insight that comes from the World GBC, through the GBCSA, we can integrate the latest global perspectives on sustainability strategies into our local property industry,” said Pienaar. “That is exactly what we are doing in Growthpoint’s own portfolio.”

Werner van Antwerpen, who heads Growthpoint’s specialised sustainability division, said: “Growthpoint currently owns or co-owns the largest portfolio of Green Star SA certified buildings of any company in South Africa, with 23 buildings rated so far. Our goal is to have over 50 Growthpoint buildings certified using the GBCSA Green Star SA rating tools by the end of our 2016 financial year, on 30 June 2016.”

Growthpoint already has 28 of its standing office buildings in the process of being certified. Van Antwerpen says this process will take approximately eight months from start to finish.  

In addition to building a portfolio of eco-friendly buildings, Growthpoint is also taking pressure off South Africa’s electricity grid with alternative energy by generating solar power at more and more of its buildings across the country. Growthpoint has conducted several investigations to identify which of its buildings are suitable for solar power electricity generation. Extensive design and analysis has been done on various buildings.

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