Following in their Australian counterpart’s footsteps, the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) is creating a market based Environmental Multi Unit Residential (MUR) Rating Tool for residential developments. 

 

To date the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) has adapted the Australian office and retail rating tools to suit the South African context.  This includes localising the tool to suite the climates and environmental issues and conditions and benchmarking above existing South African and International codes and regulations. The success of this has prompted the demand for further SA tools and specifically for the MUR Tool. (to be launched mid 2011)

 

Development of the MUR tool is a collaborative process between the GBCSA Technical Working Group (TWG), GBCSA staff and a consulting firm who provide technical support. Profica, represented by Donia Kamstra, is one of the members of the 25 strong TWG team - specifically selected industry representatives and environmental specialists, along with GBCSA directors and staff. 

 

The working group began the tool assessment process in July 2010.Over the next few months this will take the form of main technical working group sessions, research and smaller sub and specialist group meetings. Whilst insuring that the tools exceed standard local and international legislation, the intention is to keep the format of the tools similar to the Australian one but ensure that the content is relevant and current for the SA ‘climate’. Understanding the local definition of multi unit residential is already posing a challenge to the group.Â

 www.gbcsa.org.za 

 

PROFICA’s Project Managers take Green Building, sustainability and life cycle costing issues seriously and ensure continuous learning and skills enhancement.  

 

Profica selected to act as an Independent Chair for Green Star project submissions