LEADING BY EXAMPLE

The GBCSA’s annual Established Green Star Award celebrates the people who consistently contribute to the advancement of the green building movement. The Rising Green Star Award recognises emerging Green Star Accredited Professionals (APs) who are making a tangible difference in the sustainable building sector, and are evaluated for their work on leading projects and industry firsts. +Impact caught up with the four 2023 individual winners and runners-up of the GBCSA Leadership Awards.

Established Green Star Awards

WINNER: Simon Penso, Founder and Director of Imbue Sustainability

Q: What prompted you to pursue a career in the sustainable built environment?
SP: I’ve always had a passion for the environment and grew up spending most of my time in the mountains or sea. My added fascination for how things worked and were built led to my studying mechanical engineering. I was working in the commercial property sector diagnosing technical issues with buildings and running implementation projects before the green building movement gained momentum. So I took on a technical role with a company that supported my working with a greater focus on the sustainable built environment. Bruce Kerswill, founder of the Green Building Council South Africa, was instrumental in my freedom to explore this avenue. It led to “greening” listed funds, developing strategies and implementing projects, along with Green Star tool development work with the GBCSA. Through a collaborative, dynamic and close-knit sustainability consulting network, I established Imbue Sustainability, which has been an amazing journey.

Q: What do you believe are the key foundations of a green building? Which of your projects embody these standards?
SP: The foundations of a green building are ever-evolving, and I strongly support the philosophy that sustainability is a journey. The world as a whole is on this journey, and it cannot slow down but rather needs to speed up – this means that the starting point for every client’s journey needs to evolve along with the global community. This is evident in the simple example of VOCs [Volatile Organic Compounds] from paints: in the early days of Green Star certification, achieving zero VOC content for paints was a challenge – by contrast, today, most of these paints can be bought at major building supply outlets. This philosophy is a key foundation of green buildings, along with the equally important one that adding alternative supplies to an inefficient structure does not necessarily make it efficient. A classic instance is adding solar PV to a high energy-consuming building: this will improve its carbon footprint but it will still be inefficient.
We strive to realise projects that have a positive sustainable impact while still achieving financial benefits – I believe this is key to unlocking a rapid transition to a sustainable future. In terms of project examples, a few of our client’s journeys that we’ve assisted in moulding and guiding come to mind. One of these is the truly holistic approach that we’ve been able to take with Stellenbosch University, in strategy and implementation projects, ranging from benchmarking and reporting, awareness initiatives, efficiencies and renewable energy rollout masterplans, to renewable energy implementation, green building certifications, and development of ongoing sustainable building practices.

Q: Any instances of sustainability-related challenges – or pushback from stakeholders – that you’ve had to overcome?
SP: This is and always will be an ongoing challenge – it’s a reality we need to constantly work with. Often within the same organisation, there are opposing stakeholders, but most of the time, such resistance can be overcome with two important aspects: awareness/education and financially viable solutions.

Q: How do you convey the value of adopting green building practices to stakeholders from different backgrounds?
SP: That’s a challenge I’m constantly gaining more insight into and learning from as we engage with more stakeholders. I feel it is about understanding a stakeholder’s point of reference on the topic. A project that opened my eyes greatly to this was when we were lead consultants in a consortium, including Sow & Reap, that developed a residential sustainability rating tool for the GBCSA, backed by government and international funders. We held workshops across the country, from the streets of Alexandra township (Johannesburg) to the Cape Town suburb of Constantia, to engage with the general public in understanding what sustainability meant to each of them.

Q: And your vision for South Africa’s green building movement – any significant changes you’d like to see?
SP: As I mentioned in the philosophy of sustainability being a journey, change will happen, but the rate of change, and whether it will be enough, is always a concern. I feel we have enough passionate people to accelerate change and, being a relatively small country, the “business as usual” status quo can move more swiftly compared to much larger consumer-based nations. South Africa, while facing constant challenges, innovates to face and change them, so it’s important to bear all aspects of sustainability in mind throughout this process.

RUNNER-UP: Sally Misplon, Founder of Misplon Green Building Consulting

Q: What prompted you to pursue a career in the sustainable built environment?
SM: My interest in sustainability in the built environment dates back to my university thesis, which centred around the drivers for green building practices in South Africa. Early in my career, I was involved in property management, overseeing a diverse portfolio of commercial, retail and industrial buildings. The turning point came when the GBCSA introduced the Existing Building Performance Tool. Recognising the potential to merge property management with eco-friendly practices, I seized the opportunity to pioneer “green property management”. This convergence aligns with my academic interest and reflects a proactive approach to harmonising property operations with sustainable, environmentally conscious principles.

Q: What do you believe are the key foundations of a green building?
SM: The key foundations of a green building revolve around energy efficiency, resource conservation and environmental responsibility. Implementing sustainable materials, energy-efficient systems and mindful water usage are integral components. In addition, prioritising indoor air quality and promoting a healthy, occupant-friendly environment are crucial.

Q: Any instances of sustainability-related challenges – or pushback from stakeholders – that you’ve had to overcome?
SM: Navigating sustainability in the business world comes with its fair share of challenges and pushback from stakeholders. One instance that stands out is when we proposed implementing a comprehensive waste recycling system in a commercial project. While we were committed to reducing environmental impact, some stakeholders were concerned about initial costs and potential disruptions during the implementation. To address this, we conducted a detailed cost-benefit analysis, highlighting the long-term savings and positive environmental impact. We also engaged in transparent communication sessions, addressing concerns and showcasing the societal and reputational benefits of adopting sustainable practices. Ultimately, by presenting a compelling case for the environmental and economic advantages, we were able to secure buy-in and successfully implement the recycling system.

Q: How do you convey the value of adopting green building practices to stakeholders from different backgrounds?
SM: In essence, it’s about tailoring the message to resonate with each stakeholder’s priorities, whether it’s financial savings, social impact or regulatory alignment. The goal is to make it clear that embracing green building practices isn’t just good for the planet; it’s a strategic and responsible decision that brings value to their specific concerns and goals.

Q: And your vision for South Africa’s green building movement – any significant changes you’d like to see?
SM: My vision involves mainstream integration of sustainable practices. I aim to see widespread adoption, innovative technologies and increased community awareness, making green building a standard rather than an exception. The goal is to foster a national commitment to environmentally conscious construction, shaping a resilient and sustainable future.

Rising Green Star Awards

WINNER: Kagiso Sebetso, Green Star Accredited Professional; Green Building Consultant, Time A&PM

Q: What prompted you to pursue a career in the sustainable built environment?
KS: I was previously in construction project management, which is a valuable discipline, but I struggled to find a positive impact or outcome that deeply resonated with me. I then stumbled upon the sustainable built environment path because I happened to be in the right place at the right time. Since then, I have been motivated to learn more, and work harder at it because it just makes sense to me. And because it makes sense to me, I believe in it. It is very rewarding to pursue a career in something that you believe in.

Q: What do you believe are the key foundations of a green building? Which of your projects embody these standards?
KS: For me, occupant mindset/behaviour, passive design and efficient services technology are key foundations. The projects I’ve been involved in embody these in varying degrees. We’ve been lucky to have clients who genuinely believe that green buildings are the right way to go. Along with the clients, we’ve had project design teams who are pro-sustainable design. This combination gives way to an intentional passive design strategy that positively impacts the project’s ability to afford efficient services technology (effective passive design = lower installed capacity of systems, which reduces cost). It’s also been rewarding to see the enlightening effect that this has had on contractors, sub-contractors and suppliers.

Q: Any instances of sustainability-related challenges – or pushback from stakeholders – that you’ve had to overcome?
KS: There are still large pockets of the market where the idea of a sustainable built environment is not embraced. It’s been very challenging to present to the leadership of such organisations and realise that the battle is bigger than just bringing sustainable initiatives that work well for their contexts. There’s still a lot of convincing and advocacy that needs to be done. The task of convincing people to do things differently is a big one and requires an understanding of where they are coming from.

Q: How do you convey the value of adopting green building practices to stakeholders from different backgrounds?
KS: This is still a learning journey for me but, so far, I am realising that it is more important to listen than to rush into advocating my views about green building practices. The more I listen to their objections and concerns, the more I understand them and the more innovative I become when addressing them.

Q: And your vision for Southern Africa’s green building movement – any significant changes you’d like to see?
KS: I’d like to see more regional – for example, SADC [the Southern African Development Community] – rather than only country-specific rating tools. I say this because I have been privileged to work cross-culturally with South African clients in Botswana, act as a service provider in Zambia, and work with foreign clients in the Zambian context. There are so many interdependencies within the region – on both the supply and demand side – on which the green building movement can leverage.

RUNNER-UP: Elri Syfert, Green Star Accredited Professional; Sustainable Building Consultant, Solid Green Consulting

Q: What prompted you to pursue a career in the sustainable built environment?
ES: The decision to pursue this career was driven by a passion for creating a positive impact. Recognising the urgent need for sustainable practices in the construction industry and the potential to address pressing issues such as climate change, resource depletion and environmental degradation through sustainable design and construction inspired me to embark on this path. By working in the sustainable built environment, I aim to be part of the solution and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future for generations to come.

Q: What do you believe are the key foundations of a green building? Which of your projects embody these standards?
ES: The key foundations of a green building centre around several crucial aspects. Firstly, it is essential to comprehend the shared objective of the client, whether it be reducing operational costs, promoting the health and well-being of occupants, or enhancing marketability. Secondly, it is imperative for the entire project team, including developers, architects, engineers, facilities managers and occupants, to align with this common goal and collaborate towards this achievement. Lastly, it is highly recommended to involve the sustainability consultant at the earliest stages of the design process. This early inclusion facilitates an integrated design approach, ensuring a project outcome that is both high-performing and cost-effective.
One of the projects that really embodied these principles is the Nedbank Namibia project. The sustainability consulting was a collaboration effort between WCE Consulting Engineers and Solid Green Consulting. WCE (myself) was the Green Star Accredited Professional on the project and Solid Green was responsible for the modelling and the relevant credits. The client’s objective was clear from the start. The project team drafted “Basis of Design” documents, outlining how they planned to meet these objectives. A progress report was also drafted after each stage and issued to the client. The sustainability consultant was included from the concept design phase, allowing modelling outputs to be implemented early enough to allow for design integration while avoiding additional cost.

Q: Any instances of sustainability-related challenges – or pushback from stakeholders – that you’ve had to overcome?
ES: Resistance is not uncommon – it typically arises when a client’s interest in a green project is driven by marketability rather than long-term commitment to the building’s operation and occupants. Consequently, the client may show little enthusiasm for technologies or interventions that require higher upfront costs but offer long-term savings. In addition, when a client expresses interest in an environmentally friendly building or embarks on a sustainable journey, the project team responsible for the operations and management is excluded from the discussions and therefore the intentions are often not effectively communicated and shared with them.
We often also experience resistance when the sustainability consultant is not part of the project team from the schematic design phase, resulting in changes required at a later stage. An integrated design process allows for a high-performance, cost-effective and equitable project outcome.

Q: How do you convey the value of adopting green building practices to stakeholders from different backgrounds?
ES: It is crucial to tailor the message to their specific interest and priorities. It’s also essential to consider and compare the long-term advantages and short-term expenses, both in terms of financial and environmental aspects.

Q: And your vision for South Africa’s green building movement – any significant changes you’d like to see?
ES: Firstly, increased awareness and education about the importance of sustainable building practices can foster a culture of environmental consciousness within the construction industry. This can also allow the market to move away from a tick-box exercise and rather adopt a holistic sustainable approach. Secondly, the implementation of stricter regulations and incentives can encourage the adoption of green building practices. Lastly, promoting research and development in green building technologies and materials can drive innovation and affordability. Overall, focusing on awareness, regulations, innovation and collaboration will allow South Africa’s green building movement to evolve and hopefully spill over to our neighbouring countries.