Once a niche segment, green real estate is now firmly established as the next frontier in property development. Balwin Properties dominates this market in South Africa, while also being recognised as a leading responsible developer in the global market by way of industry awards, its number of green building certifications and uptake of green mortgages by customers who align with the underlying values.
The group’s multifaceted approach to “Building Better Futures” has placed it in a class of its own over the years, and taps into the unstoppable wave of corporates and individuals around the world who are consciously taking action to secure a future in which all can thrive.
Already, Balwin’s green track record is solid.
Balwin Properties has for the past two years measured its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in the form of a voluntary carbon footprint report and publishes an integrated annual report that tracks commitments and performance.
Balwin was instrumental in the creation of Green mortgages in South Africa, which increases accessibility to homeowners who want to both save money through reduced interest rates and lower utility costs. It is committed to third-party certification for all new developments. In fact, it is the developer with the most apartments registered for Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiency (EDGE) certification in the world, and now targets 6-Star Green Star and Net Zero Carbon ratings from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) for its lifestyle centres, already having 9 of these buildings – all evidence of global excellence in practice. Its work among communities through the Balwin Foundation is equally impactful, and combines donations to charities with skills development in local communities.
Balwin as a next step, early in 2022, consolidated its actions around Building Better Futures into a comprehensive Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policy, which aligns with six of the 17 United Nations’ Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and identifies three big goals: Building Wealth (for first-time home buyers); Building Inclusion (for local development); and Building Smart (for a low carbon future).
South Africans share in global concerns around the imminent threats posed by climate change, while also facing ever-rising utility costs and increasingly erratic service delivery. According to international research , home buyers are driving strong growth in the global multi-family housing green buildings market, which is expected to grow from $40.93 billion in 2020 to reach $55.54 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 7%. “Customers are more informed and acknowledge the benefits and cost savings in the long run from sustainable homes,” the research notes.
Balwin is already delivering exactly this for home owners, shareholders, employees, the communities it operates in, as well as the bigger property industry and green economy, having this new ESG policy in place will see Balwin gain even more ground in a growing market through increased confidence in a secure future from investors and customers alike.
Multifamily Housing Green Buildings Global Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Growth and Change to 2030