01 May Similan comments on property trends
Comments by our development manager Kushinga Kambarami, PMP® on a recent property trends article.
“At Similan, we like to think that just like the efforts of shareholder activism have brought ESG investing to the fore, we are developer activists, pushing the envelope in terms of what is possible and profitable, both for investors and the homeowners benefitting from the lower utility costs brought about by designing and building green”.
A few comments I’d like to add in support of the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) theme that was highlighted among the property trends in this article published recently.
The increasing prominence of ESG funding and green financing is a real sign of the times indicating that sustainable urban projects are no longer an option but an imperative. This is also evidenced by the fact all four major metropolitan municipalities in South Africa are signatories to the C40 Cities initiative which pledges to ensure that all new buildings have a zero-carbon footprint by 2030, with all existing buildings slated for the same by 2050.
The promulgation of the building regulations SANS 10400 XA (Energy Efficiency) Edition 2 towards the end of 2021 and the imminent issuing of Part XB (Water Efficiency) are all signals indicating the inevitably greener path stakeholders within the industry are taking.
All five major South African banks now also offer a green mortgage bond which offers preferential rates to purchasers of green-certified homes. Contrary to perception, green homes look much the same as standard homes, but with efficiency built into them through careful design and material selection. All of this results in lower energy and water consumption.
At Similan, we like to think that just like the efforts of shareholder activism have brought ESG investing to the fore, we are developer activists, pushing the envelope in terms of what is possible and profitable, both for investors and the homeowners benefitting from the lower utility costs brought about by designing and building green.