Construction World February 2015

PROJECT PROFILE

Night flush ventilation Venting of the area between the soffit and the partial ceiling allowed cool air drawn in through the automated window system to create a natural convective stack within the atrium, thereby removing heat from the soffits overnight in preparation for the following day. Renewable energy systems The DEA project has incorporated one of the largest roof top mounted PV systems in South Africa on a commercial office building. The original request for proposal from the DEA stipulated that at least 10% of the building energy was to be produced on-site from a renewable source. The DEA building utilises both high efficiency solar-thermal systems for hot water, and photovoltaic for direct electrical energy production. The selected photovoltaic system utilises a direct feed into the building without a battery store and is utilised as generated. Indoor environmental quality The project has specifically excluded volatile organic compounds in the specification of

Daylight and lighting controls The project was subject to a stringent energy target that assigned a maximum allowed energy consumption per square metre per annum. In order tomeet the demands of this, and given that lighting has been identified as contributing between 30 and 45% of the energy demand of a commercial building, the building incorporated extensive lighting controls that featured occupancy sensing, continuous dimming, addressable lighting components, photometric based control and integration with the BMS. The lighting solution maximised the use The large scale of the DEA Building and the contractual obligation to run the building for a period of 25 years required that a robust data monitoring, trending and analysis system be put in place. The BMS system selected was based on the open source KNX protocol allowing a multi-vendor supply of components over the life of the project and enhancing the long term maintenance adaptability of the system. of natural daylight where possible. BMS system controls and sensing

paints, adhesives and carpeting as well as the reduction in the presence of formalde- hyde. Comfort has been addressed through the inclusion of high performance double glazing improving the thermal performance of the space as well as providing significant improvement in the indoor noise levels and acoustic disruption. The wider impact Job creation Approximately 300 jobs were created for and awarded to the local community (labour) in the development of the project. Further- more, through AGLTA KKC DEA JV utilisation of a skills development plan, the following was also executed: • 4 learnerships offered for degrees in construction management; • 37 candidates received on the job training and practical experience (internships);

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD FEBRUARY 2015

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