Work as a GBCSA Accredited Professional

There is no doubt, the green building sector is maturing.

In the years prior to 2016 the Green Building in South Africa: Guide to Costs and Trends Report found the cost of building green, over and above the convention cost of construction, averaged 5.0%. In 2019 the updated report found the cost premium of a four star Green Star building averages 1.1%, while buildings with a five-star and higher rating range to only 3.8%, and it is decreasing rapidly.

Today there are more than 500 certified Green Star certified buildings and counting.

Tier approach to assist Accredited Professionals

To compliment this demand the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) has made the manner in which sector professionals are accredited more transparent with a three-tier system.

The tiers are:

• Accredited Professional Candidate (APc) for students and those in the early stages of their careers;
• Accredited Professional (AP) and;
• Accredited Professional Practitioner (AP+) for those who are very active and engaged with the industry.

The GBCSA is aware that to keep encouraging the growth of the sector, there is an opportunity to encourage the professionalism of it. This small step is intended to add growth towards the green building value chain, as well as the quality and quantity of output required as projects, and their environmental significance become more important to South Africa’s context.

Recognised sustainable professionals needed to build green

As the average temperature of South Africa is expected to increase 3˚C higher than the global average, and it is affected by other global economic pressures of a changing climate, there is a significant opportunity to for construction projects, and building operations, to reflect our changing reality.

As the number of Green Star certified buildings and projects increase, so will role of the AP as the standards and certifications are reliant on an AP’s nuanced understanding of green design principles, the Green Star or Net Zero certification systems, and the facilitation of this certification.

Find out how GBCSA-linked education and training will assist you and your time to offer these services.