Property owners and inspection bodies have been given much needed breathing room thanks to an extension of the deadline for energy performance certificates (EPCs) for buildings. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) announced the three-year extension to 7 December 2025 on 25 November last year.
The mandatory requirement for EPCs applies to public buildings over 1 000 m2 and private buildings over 2 000 m2. The difference between Green Star or energy performance ratings from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) and EPC is that the former is voluntary while the latter is mandatory, explains Martin Smith, Design Director, Expertise Leader – Building Services at leading consulting engineering and infrastructure advisory firm Zutari.
Zutari assists clients to compile the necessary documentation upfront. “More importantly, for a client to achieve a higher rating, we can analyse the building and services and suggest an appropriate upgrade schedule, for example. We can also monitor and keep track of the building’s performance, which means we embark on a long-term journey with the client.”
The current trend towards net zero rated buildings specifically looks at performance in terms of carbon, water, waste and ecology. “There is a fight for tenants at the moment, so if you can show that your building is more sustainable and you have the reporting in place to back this up, it adds that much more value to your asset in the marketplace,” points out Smith.
Zutari has long been a market leader in this niche sector and has already certified over a hundred Green Star projects. It assisted Growthpoint Properties to have its flagship Exxaro head office in Centurion achieve a 6 Star Green Star rating and to become the first building in South Africa to achieve a WELL certification by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI).
In addition, Zutari has partnered with 4Sight, a market leader in digital transformation, to implement a sustainable data strategy that allows near real-time tracking of all initiatives and building performance and to allow business to make data-driven business decisions.
The combination of 4Sight’s domain expertise in digital transformation and Zutari’s scientific and engineering knowledge creates a unique value proposition to help customers maximise the value of their assets, particularly in terms of optimising energy and water use and ultimately reduce their carbon footprints.
