The City of Cape Town’s Human Settlements Contact Office in Manenberg, which opened last year and was the first municipal building in South Africa to receive a Green Star SA rating, recently hosted a Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) event.
“The fact that GBCSA has chosen our Manenberg Human Settlements Contact Office as a showcase of the standard to which green buildings should adhere is a positive indicator of our commitment to making our organisation as environmentally sustainable as possible,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Tandeka Gqada.
The council used the event to provide updates on its work to its members, sign pledges of compliance, and conduct a tour of the facility.
GBCSA members were on a roadshow across the country, showcasing the latest in rating tool development and local case studies, and showing how to make a commitment to energy efficiency. The roadshow is being held in partnership with leading South African efficiency movement 49M.
The Manenberg Human Settlements Contact Centre houses just over 20 staff members, who provide administrative support to residents and manage the City’s rental stock and dwellings purchased through the City.
The design and construction of the building embraced the principles of being green and sustainable. Some of the walls are made of sandbags and were constructed by specially-trained local community members. Other materials were chosen for their ecologically efficient properties and the amount of concrete used in the building was reduced. Between 30 and 40% of the building’s energy is supplied by solar panels, while water collected on the roof is used to flush the toilets. Fresh water is only used for drinking, and all other water is treated and reused, irrigating the garden.
Local schools were involved in the creation of artwork for the building, which also has a landscaped public space for the enjoyment of the community, featuring a lawn with indigenous trees and plants. As a result, it was the first fully-constructed local municipal building in the country to achieve the GBCSA’s 4-Star rating.
According to Cllr. Gqada, this building is one of a number initiatives aimed at environmental sustainability.
“Last year, the City of Cape Town received the South African National Energy Association’s Energy Project Award. The City was described as demonstrating leadership, innovation and visionary qualities through its various campaigns and projects designed to ensure the responsible use of energy.”
