SSI is a Corporate member of the Green Building Council of South Africa Our Corporate Project Responsibility policy assures our professionals al-ways consider three cornerstones of sustainability on all the projects it undertakes:

People: considering what is best for people

Planet: environmentally responsible and sensitive

Profit: investigates the best value for money and return on invest-ment.

SSI has a culture of innovation and implement these ideas into proto-types, services and projects. Research and development is encouraged. SSI Green Building differentiates themselves through an integrated design approach that is multi-disciplinary and integrates all professionals and experts in building design and environmental issues. The approach is not too scientific or superficial but in practical terms deliver solutions and measure results. Responsible towards the planet sustaining life for future generations. Applying sound management of buildings’ users patterns on the basis of good design principles. Innovative passive and active meas-ures only included if it results in bringing to our clients: value for money and an acceptable return on their investments. It should be done on criti-cal issues and identified and assessed as early possible.

Collaboration: The integrated SSI Green Building team has col-laborated on several projects within a single office. The team has also integrated to present a conference to Universities and to HEFMA (Higher Education Facilities Management Association); where competence and expertise was shown in all fields of Sus-tainable Design. We have GBCSA Green Star accredited professionals in the fol-lowing disciplines: Architectural, Mechanical Engineering, Civil/ Structural Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Quantity Surveying and Environmental. SSI Architect and Mechanical Engineers were also involved on the GBCSA Technical Workgroup for developing a new Public Building rating tool.

THE GRAIN BUILDING The Maize Trust commissioned to build a new corporate building near the Bronberg and off Lynnwood Road in a newly established township. The Building of 4 500m² GLA comprise of Corporate and Tenant occu-pied Offices, Laboratories for SA Grain Laboratories, Auditorium and Cafeteria facilities and 2000m2 Basement parking. Parking is provided at a ratio of 5 cars per 100m². SSI was appointed as architects, project managers, laboratories special-ists and mechanical engineers; forming part of the wider design team. Planning started in August 2008. Construction started on 26th February 2009 and was completed by end March 2010.

The Corporate Image of the building is emphasized in a triple volume foyer which gives access to all facilities.

SSI’s experience in clean room design assisted greatly in design-ing the complicated detail of laboratories, which are accredited to test export seeds for maize and wheat exports.

Facilities are also provided for agricultural conferences and train-ing and a 60 seater Auditorium with Audio Visual electronic fa-cilities is linked to the spacious foyer and overflow.

Office space is provided for individual tenants comprising of the SA Grain Laboratories, SA Grain Information Services and related consultants

Energy and environmental design measures were implemented in terms of:

A green belt servitude was provided as open space for nature conservation

A conservation area specifically for a red data species ‘Juliana Golden Mole’ was provided

Solar screen and light shelves were introduced to screen north sun angles and reflect natural light

The building envelope was insulated with cavity filled polysty-rene and double glazing on some facades.

Energy mass-storage is accommodated for the winter sun angles with deep cavities filled with fly-ash.

Solar roof lights were introduced to provide natural light to in-ternal spaces.

Building Management System and occupation light-switching provides for load-shedding and energy efficient measures in terms of HVAC and lighting.

NEWCASTLE CIVIC CENTER Sustainability Consultant reporting to consortium: Advising the team on energy efficient design measures with regards to:

Solar water heating

Occupancy sensors to internal rooms

Solar screening analysis of GKD solar mesh

Solar SHGC analysis of solar low-e double glazing

Energy sub-metering

Assisting with Atrium day lighting design optimisation, Energy Model-ling; Water amenity water: Occupancy infra-red control. And implemen-tation of Waste management and Environmental Management Plans .

Worst case scenarios were created by analysis of heating and cooling

loads for building specific location , seasonal weather files and geome-

try. The proposed building was also analysed in terms of all the Green

Star categories for assessing possible scoring of each and could be as-

sessed again when the GBCSA Green Star Public Building Pilot Tool is

available.

FISHWATER FLATS WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT The Waste Water Treatment Works, currently treating 80% of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro City sewerage and waste water is to be refurbished, extended to and upgraded substantially. The project will be sustainable in the following ways:

Biogas Co-generation Plant to provide energy for the plant and for the wider industries.

Dual stream water: water recycled from the plant after being proc-essed will be available for Industrial and irrigation use.

Water-harmonics dam system is placed as indigenous wetland and encouraging bird life with reed-filtering in dams with various heights of water-flow.

The new WWTW will be a world-class facility with a multi-purpose En-

trance Building including Offices, Training facilities, Laboratories and Staff Can-teens and cloakrooms. New inlet works in enclosed building and passive solar facades with clearstory windows providing lot of natural light.

Buildings to become obsolete from previous WWT plant to be demolished will have demolished concrete crushed and the crushed rubble will be used as aggregate for the new concrete structures and fill under new roads for sub-base material.

The WWTW will provide usable recycled water for industrial use and irriga-tion and this ‘dual-stream’ intervention will alleviate the current water shortages due to droughts and low-water levels of dams in the Nelson Mandela Bay/ Port Elizabeth area.

ENERGY AUDITS PRELIMINARY AUDIT A walk-through audit with short site visits of facility, minimal inter-views, brief review of facility, brief review of utility bills and other operating data and familiarization with the facility. This focuses on obvious areas of en-ergy wastage/efficiency. Map out energy types and areas to investigate in detail. DETAILED AUDIT An expansion on the Preliminary Audit including :

Collection of more detailed information on facility

Detailed measurement of energy consumption levels

Establishing energy consumption benchmarks

Detailed evaluation of the intervention measures

Evaluation of facility energy demand

Analysis of 12 - 36 months energy use profiles if available

Detailed financial analysis, including but not limited to the cost of investments and payback periods

INVESTMENT GRADE AUDIT (COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT) Energy related portfolio analysis Detailed financial criteria (RDI) HVAC flow rates, temperatures and pressures, Electrical data logs of currents and voltages, Energy saving calculations, Screen and identify deviations in val-ues and trends. Inefficient practices be identified:

simultaneous heating and cooling,

obstructions viz., dirty filters/grilles,

switching schedules (on and off), and

comfort conditions. ADDRESS:

Building envelope,

Electrical systems,

HVAC systems,

Compressed Air system,

Energy Management

Control

Mauritz Kruger Pr Arch 012 3675800 mauritzk@ssi.co.za Hubert van Zandvoort Pr Eng T 011 7986000 hubertvz@ssi.co.za Casper Vos Pr Eng 012 3675800 casperv@ssi.co.za Shaun Ramdhari Pr Eng T 012367 5800 shaunr@ssi.co.za Janet Loubser Environmentalist 012 3675800 janetl@ssi.co.za