According to Engineering News, The Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) recently recognised Dr Werner van Antwerpen, Head of Sustainability at Growthpoint Properties, as a true planet shaper, a great friend to green building in South Africa, and this year’s recipient of the GBCSA Chairman’s Award.
Besides being Head of Sustainability for Growthpoint, Van Antwerpen chairs the SAPOA Sustainability Committee, and is a director and founder of ChildActive, a sports coaching academy in George. Seana Nkhahle, Chairperson of the GBCSA said: “The vigour with which Werner has driven Growthpoint’s achievements as a green building leader are legend. He has also been pivotal in guiding our operation of the GBCSA Green Star SA Existing Building Performance rating system as well as a driver of the uptake of the Energy and Water Performance tool.”
He and the team at Growthpoint partnered with the GBCSA in taking the Greenovate Programme from inception to implementation. The Growthpoint Greenovate Awards programme challenged students from UCT, Wits and UP to come up with ideas and a project to promote a more sustainable built environment. Nkhahle reports that Growthpoint has just submitted 28 projects for Green Star Existing Building Performance rating.
“Consider that we are just short of 200 certifications since our inception, and the significance of a single submission of 28 projects is clear! Should all submissions receive certifications, Growthpoint will own or co-own a portfolio of 50 Green Star SA rated buildings. It already owns or co-owners the largest portfolio of Green Star SA certified building of any company in South Africa.
Norbert Sasse, CEO of Growthpoint, congratulated Van Antwerpen on the award, saying: “Our team of talented, dedicated people have already achieved a lot and come a long way. We are even more excited about the future as we continue to innovate and create value while building a better, more sustainable, world.”
