Developer, Khaled El-Jabi of Fusion Properties says: “We acquired the land with the specific intention to develop a green project and are proud that it is the first of its kind in Port Elizabeth. The project has been registered for certification and we anticipate a four-star design rating. The development is expected to come on stream towards the end of 2012,” he says.
Marketing agent Juan van Loggerenberg of Jawitz Properties Port Elizabeth says that the development is situated in Jutland Crescent in the heart of Port Elizabeth. “It lies on the border of Setters Park – a 54-hectare greenbelt - and is described as a ‘green conscious’ project. There are six, three bedroom, free-standing units of approximately 250m² each, sloping gently towards the Baakens Valley.”
Architect Craig Billson, director of Studio D’Arc explains that the objective is to create a healthier living environment for the homeowner by staying true to the concept of a green building - one that is energy and resource efficient and environmentally responsible. “Careful planning has gone into the architecture and construction making sure that there is minimal environmental impact. This includes the elements of design, construction and operational practices that significantly reduce or eliminate any negative impact on the environment and its occupants,” he says.
Currently, from construction to operation, traditional buildings use 15% of available water, consume 40% of the available electricity, are responsible for 23% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions and produce 40% of all waste that ends up in landfills. However, green buildings are not a new concept. In the past, older houses were built ‘green’ simply by designing with nature rather than against it.
With the rising cost of property taxes and services, a more holistic approach is needed to achieve sustainable green buildings. Considerable thought, planning and innovative design goes into green buildings in order to reduce heat loads, in corporate natural light and the circulation of fresh air; the use of energy-efficient air-conditioning and lighting; environmentally friendly, non-toxic materials; the reduction of waste, and the use of recycled materials; water-efficient plumbing fittings and water harvesting; the use of renewable energy sources and, finally, sensitivity with regard to the impact of the development on the environment.
From the outset, the design team set out to address these key issues, taking into consideration not only the construction of the buildings, but the operation of the units over their proposed lifetime.
“There was also the notion that building ‘green’ commanded a price premium over a ‘normal’ build structure. In a way, this is true because a conventional building will require huge amounts of technology to operate. This is where the principles of ‘passive’ design come into play - where nature plays an important role in the operation of the building,” says Billson.
Features such as daylight harvesting, grey-water recycling and natural ventilation all work in conjunction with nature. Of course the biggest advantage is that these features come at no cost to the owner of the building, thus reinforcing the fact that green buildings have a much lower operating cost over a normal building.
“Furthermore, studies have proved that users of green buildings have reported improved productivity and a reduction in sickness related to sick building syndrome,” he says.
Design characteristics of the project include:
· Passive Design
· Daylight harvesting
· Green roof
· Smart Building Management System
· Water Management
· Electrical load reduction
· Renewable energy production
· Waste management during construction and operation
· Urban food production
· Reduction or elimination of Greenhouse Gases during construction and operation
· Eliminating materials and furniture that contain toxins
· Rehabilitation and protection of the surrounding land and ecology
· Source sustainable building materials as locally as possible while reusing materials from the existing building
· Reduce the distances travelled by automobiles in order to reduce the overall CO2 emissions
