With a new wave of environmental projects underway the V&A Waterfront Property Company looks to use the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean to cool its buildings.  

Colin Devenish, Executive Manager of the Company’s services department, will present a proposal to shareholders for a R4,6 million project to achieve this. Devenish spoke at the Green Building Council Convention in Cape Town this week where the Council’s environmental ratings system for buildings, Green Star SA, was launched. The project cost of R4,6 million and would pay for itself in 6 years. 

Devenish said that the V&A Waterfront Company’s 85 buildings were valued in the region of R7 billion.  The Company had won a “Greening the City Award” in 1991.  Since then the concept of greening has changed significantly.  While sea water is used in the Waterfront residential units, with savings in the region of R750 per year, the proposed project will use sea water for the air-conditioning in the retail sector.

 Of the Company’s energy bill, 40%-50% is for air conditioning while 17% - 25% is for lighting.  An audit by specialised contractors of the entire electrical and water services is underway and is expected to be complete by the end of the month. Ways to conserve water in toilet flushing systems as well as the recycling of water is all being taken into consideration.  The Company will be going out to tender for a recycling operator in the near future.