Johannesburg, 16 March 2023 – Redefine Properties (JSE: RDF) continues to build resilience against climate risks across its portfolio of buildings, with three properties in Gauteng recently receiving Net Zero Carbon Level 2: Building & Occupant Emissions (Measured) certifications from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). The GBCSA sets very high standards and is seen as a leading accreditation in the property sector.
The properties – 2 Pybus Road (Sandton), Rosebank Link (Rosebank), and 90 Rivonia (Sandton) – were recognised for improved energy efficiencies equal to or above industry averages. This is a major accolade and makes Redefine the first SA REIT to achieve this target at an operational level. It was achieved through a combination of energy efficiency enhancing projects and limited carbon offsets traded through a well-established voluntary carbon offsetting programme.
“Being certified as net zero provides an objective confirmation to our key stakeholders that our certified buildings have been benchmarked against global best practice efficiency standards,” says Anelisa Keke, Chief sustainability officer at Redefine.
“These certifications are a display of our commitment to our net zero journey and are based on ongoing operational performance,” she says.
Going forward, the buildings will need to be recertified every three years.
Redefine has been working hard to entrench a broad climate resilience framework into its business model, while introducing more sustainability interventions across its operating environment.
“A sound climate change resilience strategy ensures that our capital investments are safeguarded against manageable climate risk exposure and creates long-term value for our key stakeholders. Green building practices form part of this strategy, as they are a key milestone in the journey to net zero,” says Keke.
Redefine’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategic framework sets long-term goals for incorporating ESG into the company’s investment processes, day-to-day operations, and stakeholder relationships.
“We will take the successes achieved from these three buildings to enhance energy efficiencies across our portfolio, which benefits Redefine and its tenants in line with our purpose to create and manage spaces in a way that changes lives,” concludes Keke.
