Green buildings and the cost of running a building
Green Star and energy ratings, what they actually save, and how load-shedding and rising tariffs changed the calculation.
Reviewed by Joe Sokolic · Updated
"Green" commercial buildings started as a marketing point. Rising electricity tariffs and years of load-shedding turned energy performance into a straightforward cost question.
The ratings
Green Star (Green Building Council SA) rates design and build quality; an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), now required for many larger buildings, states measured energy use per m². A better-rated building generally uses less energy for lighting, air-conditioning and lifts.
What it saves
Lower electricity consumption flows to whoever pays the utility bill — usually the tenant. On a large floor the difference between an efficient building and a poor one can be a meaningful monthly number. Water-efficient fittings and rainwater harvesting reduce the water account too.
Backup power and solar
After years of load-shedding, ask what backup exists (generator, battery, and increasingly rooftop solar), what it covers (the whole building or just common areas and lifts), and how the running cost is passed through. A building where your floor stays fully powered during an outage has real operational value.
The rental trade
Newer, better-rated buildings ask higher rentals. Weigh the premium against the lower running cost and the reduced disruption — over a five-year lease the efficient building is often cheaper all-in.