»
Dec 04, 2012:
JSE-listed Vunani Property Investment Fund Limited has proved that it pays to go green, as its 14 Loop Street premises in Cape Town scooped the first Energy Efficiency Forum awards 2012 for commercial buildings.
The 1904 building in the CBD is currently tenanted by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF). Vunani CEO Rob Kane says the property was leased to the department in 2009 and both landlord and tenant initiated energy savings projects as part of the renovation of the property.
The forum said in announcing the awards that applications would be judged on: “The implementation of significant energy efficiency interventions, both technological and behaviour change, which have resulted in substantial reductions in energy consumption in your building/s.”
“The purchase price of the 1904 building was R20m. The total refurbishment amounted to R8m, R2m of which went towards greening the premises,” says Kane. “Savings that we are achieving in the building by virtue of the green initiatives equal R15m². Savings achieved in one year based on the R15m² amount to R418 000. The payback period of the green investment is R2m divided by R418 000 which gives you 4.8 years.”
A visit by Moneyweb to the building showed floor space developed to optimise the use of natural light and open-plan offices to allow the free flow of air throughout the offices, thereby cutting down the need for air conditioning or heating.
Vunani installed ‘wirly birds’ in the penthouse and fitted ‘ducted VRV’ per floor for the air conditioning. Photovoltaic (solar) cells were also installed on the 220m² roof area.
Kane explained that the wirly birds are usually perched on the top of buildings and are made of iron, with blades that start rotating when hot air from inside the building pushes through them. This sucks the hot air out of the ceiling.
A ducted VRV is a pricey but effective air conditioning system that uses far less electricity to run than its ‘normal’ counterpart.
Besides others, dual-flush toilets, waterless urinals, double glazed and tinted windows were installed and fluorescent lights strategically placed. Kane explained: “Waterless urinals have a chemical in the bowl which is lighter than urine. So any urine in the bowl lies under the chemical and is deposited via the piping in place. This means no cleaning is required and there is no smell.”
Renewable resources like bamboo and recyclable materials like aluminium were also used in the refurbishment of the building.
Kane stresses the project involved both Vunani and buy-in from the DWAF. It fits in with a growing trend in the Western Cape and other parts of SA, toward ‘green building’ and energy efficiency.
Early this month, and at the end of October Western Cape Premier Helen Zille re-emphasised the province’s efforts to ‘go green,’ calling on residents to commit “to play their part in striving for sustainability that can make the region a Green Economy Hub,” particularly through low carbon, resource efficiency and integrated sustainability practices.