For years, it has been well understood that going green is the "right thing to do". And while the green premium has been coming down over time, this has not been enough to convince all developers of the business case for green buildings. However, the conversation has now fundamentally changed; green buildings are outperforming their conventional counterparts, and the data to prove it has never been stronger.

In 2011, André Harms returned from 14 months in Antarctica with a clear-eyed view of what the planet needed and a conviction that the built environment was one of the most powerful places to respond. He founded Ecolution Consulting that same year.

Fifteen years later, that conviction has produced 512 completed projects, 111 certifications, 2.9 million m² of certified floor area, more than 1,000,000 m³ of water saved annually, and over 122,000 MWh of energy saved each year.

This Impact Report is our first, and it documents what fifteen years of green building consulting in South Africa looks like in practice. We share it because the case for green buildings is only strengthened when the numbers behind it are visible. And we hope it contributes, in some small way, to the growing body of evidence that sustainable buildings are simply better buildings.

On Earth Day 2026, Ecolution Consulting celebrates its 15th anniversary. A milestone that not only represents more than a decade and a half of existence, but also over 500 projects, over 100 green building certifications, and countless memories with the people who made it all possible.

As Earth Day approaches, climate discussions often turn toward energy systems, transport networks and global industry. But one of the most influential climate systems is far less obvious.

We are proud to share that Ecolution Consulting has offset its carbon for the 2025 financial year and will continue to offset its carbon for 2026 financial year and the years to come.

World Clean Energy Day places a global spotlight on renewable energy technologies and the urgent need to transition away from fossil fuels.

As we wrap up 2025, we’ve collected our team’s thoughts to look at our year in review – working through the good, the challenging, and the beautiful.

A comprehensive summary exploring green building in South Africa: its principles, benefits, aims and standards.

The Green Star New Build V2 Tool is driving a new era of built environment sustainability. Find everything you need to know here.

Discover How Biomimicry Is Revolutionising Green Building Design. Read Our Article on Innovative Solutions for a Greener Future.

From director André Harms’ adventurous beginnings in Antarctica; to a small green building firm that led the sustainability of Africa’s greenest hotel, to a dedicated team with a host of green building projects under its wing – Ecolution Consulting celebrated 10 years of living, working, and playing sustainability in April.

Durban based, Equator – the Belt Factory TM has become the first member of the local fashion supply industry to achieve a Five Star Green Star Certification for Existing Building Performance from the Green Building Council of South Africa.

As lockdown restrictions, ease and businesses go back to work, the threat of COVID-19 in workplaces must be taken seriously. Studies have indicated that Heating, Ventilation, and Cooling systems may play a role in the spread of COVID-19, however, research is ongoing.

At Ecolution Consulting, we have been putting a number of measures in place at our workplace over the past two weeks in order to safeguard our employees, do our bit to #flattenthecurve of Covid-19 outbreaks in South Africa.

On 2 March, Ecolution teamed up with Waste-Ed and Bhongulethu foundation school in Masiphumelele to put our collected ecobricks to good use.

The Premier Foods Facility in Lords View Industrial Park, owned by Equites, was recently certified with a Green Star Custom Industrial and Net Zero-CARBON As-Built rating.

As a world in planetary crisis, we have now entered a critical decade. Some experts have even gone so far as to say that 2020 will be the year in which the climate fight is won or lost. 

During COP25, which took place in the first two weeks of December 2019, Ecolution Consulting committed to becoming Net Zero carbon by 2030 alongside other Bcorperations who took on the BCorp Net Zero Challenge.

Last night the 2019 Green Building Council Awards took place during the Green Building Convention Gala Dinner.

World Green Building Week is an annual campaign that motivates and empowers us all to deliver greener buildings by challenging us to explore how we can create a sustainable, healthy and climate resilience built environment for all.