Melrose Arch sets standards for sustainability

As South Africa migrates to an off-grid economy, one mixed-use precinct is leading the way with its sustainability prowess.

Melrose Arch has a thriving waste separating facility, underground cooling plant, gardens, and rooftop solar system, providing its hotels, businesses, and residential properties with an unparalleled experience.

After blasting and bulk earthworks commenced in the year 1998, Melrose Arch opened with a limited upmarket facility, with phase 1 consisting of only 11 buildings in 2001. It was constructed on a super basement that connects all areas of the precinct and remains the only one of this kind in the country. Parking cars in the basement reduce traffic congestion and assist in reducing ambient air pollution above ground. Therefore, walking on street level is safe and pleasurable.

Melrose Operations Director, Reiner Henschel on April 12 led a tour and demonstrated the precinct’s sustainable process in action and unpacked Melrose’s future dedication.

The following are areas where Melrose Arch is making environmentally friendly decisions:

Eco Centre, Waste Separating Facility

• Melrose Arch’s waste separating facility, which operates 24/7 separates paper, cardboard, metals, plastics, and glass, and sends these for recycling. At the property’s approximately 30 restaurants, cafés, and bars on the precinct, food waste is separated at source in the restaurant kitchens.
• The food waste recycling works by implementing efficient waste separation methods and commitment, allowing each restaurant to divert food waste from traditional waste streams. By separating the food waste at source, restaurants assist in thorough recycling and processing, transforming waste into valuable resources such as compost.
• In February 2024, of the 92.578 tons of waste collected across the precinct, 88% was recycled. A total of 77 303.58m³ CO2, 712 447.19L of water, and 312 494.50 kWh of energy was saved. Additionally, the eco-centre creates employment and enhances community participation in climate-relevant mitigation and adaptation measures.

Melrose Arch Cooling Plant

• The provision of an efficient indoor climate and comfort, particularly in the offices and commercial buildings, has been prioritised since the inception of Melrose Arch’s development.
• The precinct boasts its own 1,471m² district underground cooling plant, that operates 24/7. This remarkable facility includes 8 chillers that are 2722.94kW in size, 12 cooling towers, and 5 building water pumps.
• Operated by a Building Management System, the plant is energy efficient. The cooling is centrally produced and distributes cold water to each building through a closed distribution network. Environmentally friendly and economically savvy, this centre helps to regulate the temperature inside buildings across the entire precinct.
• The cooling plant’s machinery and equipment have a nameplate capacity of 4 324.74KW, but for safety, they are never operated at full capacity. The kVA demand for the plant during the summer months is set at 8.5kVA, which means that the plant regulates itself depending on demand, but it will limit itself to 8.5kVA. The average monthly kWh consumption for the plant is 494 914.08 kWh.

Intricate Solar System

• The Melrose Arch precinct’s rooftop solar system is intricately accommodated across 16 different roof surfaces, and every building under the precinct’s joint venture agreement that can host solar panels does.
• Currently featuring 7 811 solar panels and multiple inverters, generating approximately 3.2MW of clean energy annually, the grid-tied system integrates with multiple generators during load-shedding.
• Some of the commercial operators on the property such as the Johannesburg Marriott Hotel, and Melrose Arch operate their solar systems, providing further sustainability. “We are committed to a target of 30% renewable energy across all of our properties by 2025, and becoming net zero for carbon emissions by 2050,” said, Area vice president: Sub-Saharan Africa, Marriot International, Richard Collins.
• Melrose Arch is investigating the expansion of its current solar capacity, looking to increase its clean energy supply by a further 3MW per annum. Melrose Arch is also investigating a battery plant solution, tied into its grid, to be powered by the solar plant. It will provide the precinct with up to 4 hours of standby energy in the event of outages.

Back up water

• Melrose Arch has two sources of underground water. Through its water treatment plant, water is filtered and cleansed before being converted to potable water.
• This water is channelled to Melrose Arch’s standby tanks, which are in place to enable the precinct to continue to enjoy the water when there are interruptions to the local supply.
• This system keeps the precinct’s gardens green throughout the year and ensures that less water is wasted.
• Last year alone, the precinct saved 3 500 000 litres of water in this way. Furthermore, Melrose Arch and the precinct have a water backup system with sufficient supply to keep operations flowing for up to 72 hours at any given time.

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