Divercity earns IFC EDGE Champion recognition

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13 September 2023

Divercity Urban Property Group has received the EDGE Champion recognition from IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group as part of its commitment to certify 100% of its portfolio with the EDGE certification.

Divercity is committed to partnering with IFC to foster the decarbonisation of the built environment in South Africa

An innovation of IFC, EDGE is an online platform, a green building standard and a certification system available in more than 150 countries. EDGE was created in response to the need for a measurable solution to prove the financial case for building green and help jumpstart the mainstreaming of green buildings. EDGE empowers building professionals to quickly and easily determine the most cost-effective ways to build green based on occupant behaviour, building type and the local climate.

As an EDGE Champion, Divercity has shown a remarkable commitment to reshaping the affordable housing market through sustainable practices. Following their EDGE certified projects in Johannesburg, Divercity plans to build an additional 3,000 EDGE certified units in South Africa over the next three years.

Carel Kleynhans, CEO of Divercity Urban Property Group, says, “Divercity is dedicated to creating mixed-use precincts that enhance urban living, with a focus on sustainability and inclusivity. It is our aim to transform South Africa’s cities by providing affordable and high-quality rental accommodation options that embody urban excellence, environmental sustainability and contribute to societal good.”

He adds, “Becoming an Edge Champion and certifying with Edge gives credence to our unequivocal commitment to carbon reduction.”

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By 2030, the UN’s goal is to ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services.

Our impact

Over the next five 5 years, Divercity expects to construct more than 10,000 new and green affordable residential units in centrally-located neighbourhoods, expanding housing options close to economic opportunity for low- and middle-income households. Construction of the new residential units will help address the growing housing deficit and issues of spatial segregation in South Africa.

By 2030, the UN’s goal is to develop reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all

Our impact

Divercity is providing housing in locations that are connected to existing infrastructure, such as healthcare, schools, jobs and parks. This serves to reinforce accessible and equitable cities, as well as strives to break the destructive pattern of South Africa’s apartheid infrastructure and planning.

By 2030, the UN’s goal is to strengthen the resilience and adaptive capacity to climate related disasters

Our impact

More compact cities – enabled through the kind of development that Diversity advances – are associated with substantially lower greenhouse gas emissions, better land-use, and energy and resource efficiency, based on research 1 we’ve done with the Green Building Council South Africa (GBSCA) and Arup. Divercity has a commitment to minimising greenhouse gas emissions and is already supporting climate change mitigation through a range of measures, such as rooftop solar arrays, energy and water efficient design in all of our buildings and EDGE rating of all new developments.

By 2030, the UN’s goal is to ensure equitable and quality to pre-primary, primary and secondary education and lifelong learning

Our impact

Through our Ithemba Upliftment Foundation, we are contributing to early childhood development, enabling hundreds of young children to receive quality education at Daycare Centres in our precnits. This is in addition to the widened access to formal education facilities that are part of our developments, and our efforts in supporting lifelong learning through supporting adult education.

By 2030, the UN’s goal is to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, renewable and modern energy sources

Our impact

As the cost of renewable energy generation capacity becomes more accessible and affordable, we are integrating these technologies more broadly across our residential portfolio. Divercity is focussed on eco-responsible housing as a viable means to contribute to sustainable and environmentally friendly urban development – through rigorous adherence to green building standards, including the use of energy efficient LED lights, rooftop solar arrays, energy efficient hot water generation and energy efficient building design.

By 2030, the UN’s goal is to encourage and promote effective public, private and civil society partnerships to attain the global goals

Our impact

Our partnerships empower us to champion progressive policy that supports sustainable development. One impactful example of such a partnership is our work with Green Building Council South Africa (GBSCA) and Arup, the global multi-disciplinary firm, on a research project on the enormous environmental and economic costs of the current dynamic of urban sprawl in Johannesburg. Through this project, we developed actionable recommendations for policymakers, investors and other stakeholder groups.
You can read more about the research project, titled: Does location matter? here.