Menlyn Maine not only works with the GBCSA to ensure all buildings in the precinct carry a four-star rating but also use the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighbourhood Development (LEED ND) tool to ensure that the surrounding spaces are also sustainable. Over and above this Menlyn Maine is one of seventeen green cities worldwide in partnership with the Clinton Foundation's Climate Initiative.
Menlyn Maine places a great deal of emphasis on the up-front management protocol to ensure that green principles and practices are at the heart of everything they do operationally. This approach will ensure that it offers a world-class 'green precinct' that will create a responsible environment that not only focuses on energy efficiency but rather the reconciliation of the natural, social and economic environments according to sustainability principles.
Scheduled for completion in early 2012, Nedbank is the first of all of Menlyn Maine's future buildings that will form part of the broader precinct comprising of 140 000m2 commercial office space, 35 000m2 retail and dining space and 85 000m2 up-market residential space to be officially accredited with Green Star SA.
"We are extremely pleased that our new regional head office will be the third building to achieve a four star rating in green design with the GBCSA in the past three years, now joining our Nedbank Head Office in Sandton, Johannesburg and the Nedbank Ridgeside Office Development in Umhlanga, Durban. We take immense pride in being a part of Menlyn Maine, a development that is pioneering carbon negative city living in Africa and undergoing the principles of building green and sustainability," says Charl de Kock, Head of Group Property Services at Nedbank.
As defined by the GBCSA, a green building is energy efficient, resource efficient and environmentally responsible. It incorporates design, construction and operational practices that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of development on both the environment and occupants.
The technology implemented for both energy and water management at Menlyn Maine minimise negative environmental impact but also significantly reduces the use of municipal water and energy consumption off the national electricity grid, therefore also resulting in cost-savings. For example, storm water tanks have been built into the structure of the building with a carrying capacity of 90 000L and a further 20 000L capacity is stored on the roof. This water is treated and circulated for re-use inside as well as outside the building. These water tanks will provide the building with a non-drinking water supply for almost a full year.
While there is a focus on water and energy, recycling is also an essential part of Menlyn Maine's approach to sustainability. A waste report revealed that a total of 21 968kg of crushed concrete, 17 000kg of steel and 2 740kg of wood has been recycled on-site. The recycled material will be put back into the building or used in the next phase of Menlyn Maine's bulk earthworks.
