Insights · 8 December 2025
Measurement, audits and a 6-Star result — inside the Liberty Two Degrees re-certification
Six iconic retail properties, 550 000 m² of audits, and a Promenade Mall rating that went from 5-Star to World Leadership.
Left: Imbue Sustainability founder Simon Penso with the award for Highest Rated Project — Existing Operational Performance, for Promenade Mall, one of the properties assessed for re-certification for Liberty Two Degrees. Right: Danika Taylor, Runner-Up in the Rising Green Star category at the GBCSA Leadership Awards.
Sustainability within the built environment is not a final destination — it is an ongoing journey defined by improvement, precise measurement, and relentless commitment. And this is the journey that Danika Taylor has walked in her career: first during her five years at Imbue Sustainability, and now in her current role at Solid Green Performance, a division of Solid Green.
At the 2025 Green Building Convention, Danika was recognised as Runner-Up in the Emerging Green Star category in the GBCSA Leadership Awards. Her work for Liberty Two Degrees (L2D) forms part of the impressive body of work that flagged her as a top candidate.
In 2024, she helped guide L2D through an extensive re-certification process across their South African portfolio, comprising six iconic retail properties: Sandton City Precinct, Nelson Mandela Square, Eastgate Shopping Centre, Liberty Promenade, Liberty Midlands Mall, and Botshabelo Mall.
The results of the 2024 EBP certification cycle revealed remarkable shifts in performance compared to the initial 2021 ratings:
- World Leadership — Liberty Promenade Mall elevated its status from a 5-Star rating in 2021 to a 6-Star World Leadership rating in 2024.
- South African Excellence — Liberty Midlands Mall, Nelson Mandela Square and Eastgate Shopping Centre all maintained strong 5-Star ratings. The Sandton City Precinct also secured a 5-Star certification.
- Best Practice — Botshabelo Mall achieved a 4-Star rating with a 6-point improvement.
The three pillars of performance
These scores are determined by three main areas: measuring operational data, conducting onsite audits, and committing to updated sustainable policies and plans.
1. Robust benchmarking
You cannot manage what you do not measure. A significant portion of the EBP rating is derived from operational data.
2. IEQ audits
Indoor Environment Quality is fundamental to occupant health and comfort. We conducted extensive on-site audits covering over 550 000 m² of Gross Lettable Area nationwide, testing factors such as fresh air, lighting, acoustics and thermal comfort, as well as obtaining feedback from building occupants.
3. Policies and plans
Keeping sustainable policies and plans relevant and up to date ensures that these buildings strive for their sustainability goals year on year.
Innovation in action
Beyond the EBP certifications, L2D is implementing tangible, on-the-ground changes to drive efficiency:
- Net Zero Waste — in 2024 the portfolio achieved Net Zero Waste ratings, diverting significant volumes of waste from landfill.
- Solar power — substantial solar PV installations have been completed at Eastgate, Liberty Promenade and Liberty Midlands Mall.
- Water efficiency — rainwater harvesting systems at Promenade and Midlands Mall, and the strategic upgrade of chillers from water-cooled to air-cooled systems.
Looking ahead
The re-certification of these buildings showcases a REIT committed to tangible change. EBP ratings are not one-off initiatives; they represent a continuous journey of sustainable operations.
With future projects including further energy-efficiency rollouts, biodiversity strategies and advanced water harvesting, Liberty Two Degrees is well-positioned to continue leading the way in the South African retail property sector.