Linkedin-in
Twitter Linkedin-in
Search
Close this search box.

QUICK
LINKS

Archives for October 2022

Octodec invests in the African Children’s Feeding Scheme

by

More than half of South Africa’s children continue to live below the poverty line, where poor dietary intake, food insecurity and poor quality of essential services prevail. According to UNICEF South Africa, chronic malnutrition is an underlying cause of half the childhood deaths in SA. Of those that survive, one in three are stunted due to malnutrition. As corporate South Africa, it is our duty to step up and assist.

On Friday, 9 September, JSE-listed REIT, Octodec Investments Limited, visited the ACFS Kagiso centre on the West Rand for the official opening of the NPO’s first vegetable garden where Octodec has provided much needed shade netting and water tanks to help ensure the success of the project.

The team were heartily welcomed with performances by the choir, gumboot dancers and drum majorettes from the youth development programme.

Support provided

This is the third community in which Octodec has assisted in making the food garden more sustainable by providing shade netting and water tanks. 

Caregivers, grandmothers and other volunteers use the food from the communal vegetable gardens to prepare meals for the children. The centre also assists parents in growing their own vegetable gardens so that they can feed their own families.

Malnourished children and even those experiencing short-term hunger have limited capacities to learn. To mitigate this, the ACFS Kagiso Centre supports over 215 children from preschool to Grade 12 per day and reaches over 1200 people from disadvantaged backgrounds in the area.

The Kagiso Centre is also the first centre where Octodec sponsored the youth economic empowerment programme by supplying the necessary equipment and apparel for a band, choir and traditional dance groups, both male and female. The group of 67 girls and 32 boys involved perform and speak at schools in the area to promote and expand the initiative.

The NGO – African Children’s Feeding Scheme (“ACFS”)

As part of Octodec’s socio-economic development programme, they have identified NPOs that support underprivileged families and promote education. ACFS are championing this cause.

Established in 1945, the ACFS is a registered Non-Profit Organisation dedicated to developing and protecting children and their families by focussing on improving access to nutrition, health, early learning and stimulation, and skills development.

The Kagiso Centre is one of the nine community centres providing children with a meal after school and other programmes through the ACFS.

Why Octodec cares

School feeding programmes lead to greater enrolment in schools and improve the ability to learn. By preventing poverty in childhood, we can help prevent the reinforcement of poverty across generations.

As part of Octodec’s vision to ensure a positive impact on its communities and the environment in which it operates, supporting causes like the ACFS helps create a better social fabric for the communities within and around Octodec operating areas.

The post Octodec invests in the African Children’s Feeding Scheme appeared first on Octodec.

Octodec and Property Point join hands to empower emerging black businesses

by

Octodec Investments is proud to announce its newly launched partnership with Property Point. Octodec will support two black property valuer firms through its Enterprise Development Programme. These two individuals are hopefully the first of many who will receive support from Octodec through this programme.

This initiative is a testament to Octodec’s commitment to its CSR strategy. As a business that regularly monitors and prioritises its social and environmental impact, Octodec aspires to create value beyond financial return.

Aligned to this, Mogalakwena Valuers and Intengo Valuers and Property Consultants were recently inducted into Property Point’s programme, with the intention of empowering these two black-owned property valuation businesses over the medium-to-long term.

The individuals will have the opportunity to grow their businesses to a point where they are able to provide the services required by listed companies, ultimately ensuring their best chance at success.

Octodec recognises that its efforts make a difference in the lives of the people, communities, and areas in which it operates, and are thrilled by the prospect of working with both businesses in the near future.

A strong entrepreneurial ecosystem underpins Octodec’s relationship with its supplier community, across various industries, to stimulate local economies. However, the commercial success of these businesses requires more than good ideas. It requires intensive and accelerated training in the form of improving sales and marketing, business, financial and people management. Octodec has partnered with Property Point to achieve exactly this.

The post Octodec and Property Point join hands to empower emerging black businesses appeared first on Octodec.

Emira completes new energy performance certification months before SA deadline

by

Emira Property Fund (JSE: EMI) completed the certification of 31 of its buildings for energy performance in July 2022 to become fully compliant with the new government-mandated Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) regulations well ahead of the 7 December 2022 deadline.

On 8 December this year, the Regulations for the Mandatory Display and Submission of Energy Performance Certificates for Buildings in terms of the National Energy Act come into effect.  In essence, the new legislation means that specific commercial buildings must have EPCs. This includes public sector buildings of more than 1,000 sqm and private sector buildings bigger than 2,000 sqm. Building types include offices, schools and tertiary institutions, places of public assembly, indoor sports and theatres.

The EPC must be displayed in the foyer of each mandated building and submitted every five years to the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI). Based on energy performance, which is defined as net energy consumed in kilowatt-hours per square metre a year, they are graded on their efficiency from A to G, with A-grade certifications being the most efficient.

“Emira moved early to certify its buildings, and we are pleased to have ensured compliance with this new regulation well before the deadline. In line with our good governance, we will be voluntarily certifying a further 23 non-mandated buildings by 31 March 2023, which is consistent with our commitment to best practices, carbon reduction and the environment,” says Ulana van Biljon, COO of Emira Property Fund.

She adds that while EPCs are becoming compulsory, they are, first and foremost, a valuable decision-making tool for property owners. They provide insight into the energy-saving potential of a building and are particularly helpful when investing in and implementing projects aimed at reducing the energy consumption of buildings and property portfolios.

“Knowing a building’s energy performance supports good property and environmental decisions,” notes van Biljon.

Emira’s commitment to the environment is evident throughout its portfolio and its operations. It is active in increasing renewable energy and water efficiency, reducing waste and pollution and promoting biodiversity and positive ecological impact.

In the year from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022, Emira reduced its total emissions by 3.8% to lighten its carbon footprint. Supporting this, it reduced grid electricity usage by 2.0% with 79 different energy efficiency projects, including installing solar power that increased its renewable energy production by 16%, as well as converting to LED lights at its properties and upgrading its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

This SA REIT has turned to solar power to support a green power supply to its buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change. It has increased its installed capacity of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and now has solar panels at nine properties. Its latest solar PV installation is at the prime office asset, Knightsbridge Block A in Bryanston, Johannesburg, which has become one of the first Net-Zero Carbon buildings in South Africa and was the first building to get an EPC in the Emira portfolio. In the year to 30 June 2022, Emira’s PV farms saved 9.9 million kWh and removed 10 543tCO2e emissions annually.

The REIT remains focused on growing its clean solar-powered energy installations to improve energy efficiency and reduce its environmental footprint and the strain on the national grid in light of the increasingly uncertain electricity supply from Eskom. The expansion of its Pretoria Wonderpark Shopping Centre system of 1.6MWp (DC) to 2.8 MWp (DC) will boost its positive environmental impacts. Emira’s solar farms also position it to feed power back into the grid.

But Emira’s clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives are not its only areas of positive environmental impact. Its water efficiency initiatives saved 151,080KL. Working with nature, not against it, by enhancing biodiversity, Emira has installed beehives at a number of properties and recently launched a Spekboom project, helping to plant more of these hardy indigenous plants, celebrated for their ability to remove CO2 emissions from the atmosphere.

Geoff Jennett, CEO of Emira, says, “At Emira, providing great real estate is also about managing our carbon footprint, improving affordable and clean energy, implementing integrated waste and recycling plans, water management and water harvesting projects and safeguarding biodiversity. Our energy and other environmental initiatives provide greener, more enjoyable and more productive environments for our tenants.”

“Approaching energy efficiently and renewably is part of our core environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations that are at the heart of the way Emira acts as a responsible landlord. We drive our positive impacts forward with specific targets and initiatives to give substance to our ESG commitments. The excellent results of our EPC project, which sees us being fully compliant earlier than required, demonstrates the depth and diligence of our commitment,” says Jennett.

Emira completes new Energy Performance Certification months before SA deadline

by

Emira Property Fund (JSE: EMI) completed the certification of 31 of its buildings for energy performance in July 2022 to become fully compliant with the new government-mandated Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) regulations well ahead of the 7 December 2022 deadline.

On 8 December this year, the Regulations for the Mandatory Display and Submission of Energy Performance Certificates for Buildings in terms of the National Energy Act come into effect. In essence, the new legislation means that specific commercial buildings must have EPCs. This includes public sector buildings of more than 1,000sqm and private sector buildings bigger than 2,000sqm. Building types include offices, schools and tertiary institutions, places of public assembly, indoor sport and theatres.

The EPC must be displayed in the foyer of each mandated building and submitted every five years to the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI). Based on energy performance, which is defined as net energy consumed in kilowatt-hours per square metre a year, they are graded on their efficiency from A to G, with A-grade certifications being the most efficient.

“Emira moved early to certify its buildings, and we are pleased to have ensured compliance with this new regulation well before the deadline. In line with our good governance, we will be voluntarily certifying a further 23 non-mandated buildings by 31 March 2023, which is consistent with our commitment to best practices, carbon reduction and the environment,” says Ulana van Biljon, COO of Emira Property Fund.

She adds that while EPCs are becoming compulsory, they are, first and foremost, a valuable decision-making tool for property owners. They provide insight into the energy-saving potential of a building and are particularly helpful when investing in and implementing projects aimed at reducing the energy consumption of buildings and property portfolios.
“Knowing a building’s energy performance supports good property and environmental decisions,” notes van Biljon.
Emira’s commitment to the environment is evident throughout its portfolio and its operations. It is active in increasing renewable energy and water efficiency, reducing waste and pollution and promoting biodiversity and positive ecological impact.

In the year from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022, Emira reduced its total emissions by 3.8% to lighten its carbon footprint. Supporting this, it reduced grid electricity usage by 2.0% with 79 different energy efficiency projects, including installing solar power that increased its renewable energy production by 16%, as well as converting to LED lights at its properties and upgrading its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

This SA REIT has turned to solar power to support a green power supply to its buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change. It has increased its installed capacity of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and now has solar panels at nine properties. Its latest solar PV installation is at the prime office asset, Knightsbridge Block A in Bryanston, Johannesburg, which has become one of the first Net-Zero Carbon buildings in South Africa and was first building to get an EPC in the Emira portfolio.

In the year to 30 June 2022, Emira’s PV farms saved 9.9 million kWh and removed 10 543tCO2e emissions annually.
The REIT remains focused on growing its clean solar-powered energy installations to improve energy efficiency and reduce its environmental footprint and the strain on the national grid in light of the increasingly uncertain electricity supply from Eskom. The expansion of its Pretoria Wonderpark Shopping Centre system of 1.6MWp (DC) to 2.8 MWp (DC) will boost its positive environmental impacts. Emira’s solar farms also position it to feed power back into the grid.
But Emira’s clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives are not its only areas of positive environmental impact. Its water efficiency initiatives saved 151,080KL. Working with nature, not against it, by enhancing biodiversity, Emira has installed beehives at a number of properties and recently launched a Spekboom project, helping to plant more of these hardy indigenous plants, celebrated for their ability to remove CO2 emissions from the atmosphere.

Geoff Jennett, CEO of Emira, says, “At Emira, providing great real estate is also about managing our carbon footprint, improving affordable and clean energy, implementing integrated waste and recycling plans, water management and water harvesting projects and safeguarding biodiversity. Our energy and other environmental initiatives provide greener, more enjoyable and productive environments for our tenants.”

“Approaching energy efficiently and renewably is part of our core environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations that are at the heart of the way Emira acts as a responsible landlord. We drive our positive impacts forward with specific targets and initiatives to give substance to our ESG commitments. The excellent results of our EPC project, which sees us being fully compliant earlier than required, demonstrates the depth and diligence of our commitment,” says Jennett.

The post Emira completes new Energy Performance Certification months before SA deadline appeared first on Emira Property Fund.

Redefine rewarded for strong progress on gender mainstreaming

by

Johannesburg, 10 October 2022 – The lack of women leaders in real estate may remain a challenge across the industry and a hot topic of discussion, but at Redefine, we are bucking the trend as we make significant strides in diversifying our workforce and driving equality. Our commitment to change is leading to significant progress, providing a decided edge for our business.

The major advances we have made in recent years were recognised at the recent 10th Gender Mainstreaming Awards, held at Gallagher Estate outside Johannesburg.

This was the first time we had been nominated and we are extremely pleased to have achieved third place for Gender Reporting of JSE-Listed Companies. The Awards celebrate and reward those who are actively accelerating equality in the workplace and also highlight the positive impact of gender mainstreaming in Africa.

Redefine’s Board level transformation stands out for its gender diversity and inclusivity, with many recent appointments, including that of the company secretary, the audit committee and across the Board, reflecting our values and commitment to transformation and gender equality in the workplace.

“This is a significant milestone for us as it highlights that the path we have embarked on to drive change and manage spaces in a way that changes lives is the right one. Our diversity and inclusion and being recognised for the strides we are making is very pleasing and lays a firm foundation for us to build on well into the future,” says Redefine Chairperson, Sipho Pityana.

“Our purpose is to create and manage spaces in a way that changes lives and we are entrenching this approach into everything we do. We have embedded diversity into our culture to stimulate diversity of thought,” says Redefine CEO Andrew Konig.

“We also have refreshed our engagement strategy for each stakeholder with an eye on being totally focused on inclusivity,” he concludes.

Copyright SA REIT Association

© 2024
Privacy Policy