Simply Green Magazine, Issue 2, 2014 by African News Agency

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Issue 2 • 2014

Volume 7 No.2

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128

News

Youth

Motoring

08 General 38 Wind Energy 40 Climate Change 52 Motoring

12 Eco-Warriors 128 Kids of Nature 134 Nedbank Internship 136 Climate Leaders 138 Project 90 x 2030

48 Lexus RX350

Energy 28 Wind - SAWEA 34 Astana Expo

simply Leading the eco-lifestyle www.simplygreen.co.za • admin@simplygreen.co.za Cape Town Office • P O Box 30946, Tokai, 7966 Tel 27 (0) 21 713 0018 or 27 (0) 21 712 4665 082 579 7915 • Fax 27 (0) 21 715 2809 SG 2

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Design 11 Eskom Lighting 17 2014 Design awards 22 World Design Capital 2014

Building & Home 54 Green Living Guide 58 Challenge as Opportunity 60 Clay Bricks 70 Sand Bags 74 Timber Frame 82 Fireplaces

Publisher & Executive Editor Chris Erasmus publisher@simplygreen.co.za

National Sales Consultant Kyle Villet kyle@simplygreen.co.za

Creative Director Silke Erasmus admin@simplygreen.co.za

Design Studio Manager Kevin Rule studio2@simplygreen.co.za

En 20 vi Jouronm 10 e r Awnalis ntal Wi ard m nn er Th

Brewe So erieuth A s Li fric mite an d

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25 28 Food & Health

Finance

Fashion

74 Retreats & Recipes 106 Antibiotics 124 Products & reviews

144 Nedbank Fair Share 147 12L Tax

88 Mohair

Recycling 142 Packaging 142 Paper

Garden 156 Soil for life 160 Jane Griffiths 165 Reviews

Regulars 112 Hot off the Press 126 DSTV green shows 166 Green Listings

12 Webmaster Garry Doel web@simplygreen.co.za Webdesign Michael-Ray Erasmus webdesign@simplygreen.co.za Accounts Tracy Lee Nash accounts@simplygreen.co.za

Publishing House Green Spaces Publishing House Disclaimer Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers or staff. Copyright Simply Green is a registered trademark

and is copyright protected worldwide. Material published in Simply Green, including all artwork, may not be reproduced without the permission of the editor. ISSN 1998-1309

SOUTH AFRICA'S ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGN www.indaloyethu.co.za

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PUBLISHEr's VIEW

As I write this, the country is literally shivering. Snow lies across mountain ranges and

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everywhere there is water aplenty. And yet, 10 to 20 years down the line, water may be in such short supply that wet winter days such as we are now having may be one of the few ways ordinary people will have free access to fresh water. Climate change is complicated and confusing in this regard. People shivering in shacks that may be hot and sweltery in the summer – and therefore less than comfortable, but even less protective when things get really wet and cold – may be forgiven for feeling that global warming can't be such a bad thing if it means fewer days such as we are now experiencing. But while global warming may be the main driver for climate change as we now experience that collective of phenomena, the way its impacts on climate change play out is by no means obvious to everyone, everywhere, in equal measure. While glacial melt in critical zones like the Arctic is increasing annually (because warming at the poles, especially the North Pole, is happening in summer seasons far more intensively than in tropical zones), land which was previously unworkable for agriculture is just as quickly being made arable by the annual northward creep of the 'defrosted line'. So there is both good and bad amid all this change, right? Right. But there is, potentially, also far more 'bad' – at least in terms of the next several generations – than 'good' likely to be caused by the warming global temperature. And, of course, there is the issue of speed. This planet of ours has been both much colder and much hotter than at present – but never has it been hotter than it is likely to get in the next 100 years, at the outside, during humanity's long ascent to being the dominant species of the planet. So the question has to be: how will we handle such a changed, and rather more than balmy planet. Even before we get to the projected 3-4°C that we are currently on track for 85 years or so from now (with more warming yet set to follow those already extraordinarily high figures as the 22nd century unfolds), there is the issue of how quickly we are warming things up. All indications are that the speed of our global heat-up is as important in terms of impacts and adaptation plans as the temperature itself. Our global systems are 'wired' through cascade effects and feedback loops to be self-correcting, more or

less. But there are tipping points. One is Greenland's land-based glacial melt-off which is on the verge of going into run-away mode. If that happens, it may well be that we won't have to wait until the end of the century to see what real climate change looks like – it could hit us like a ton of bricks, as the old saying goes, much sooner should that run-away actually happen. Aside from rising sea levels and coastal encroachment from the sea, along with the usual assortment of strange, out-of-season and extreme weather events, this run-away process may, it is speculated by some climate change scientists, result in what they call the 'thermo-haline conveyor belt' grinding to a halt. This would indeed be a 'big' deal for everyone on the planet. This system of ocean top and deep ocean currents moves warm and cool water, salty and less salty water, around the oceans, driving annual krill and other food-source blooms. It is the driver for how our oceans work as far as life is concerned. And it affects much more than the oceans themselves. For one thing, such a run-away event might look like a severe version of the 'Little Ice Age' of several hundred years back when fairs were held each winter on the iced-over Thames. Indeed, predictions of a 'mid-level' ice age are, on current evidence, highly probable. The irony of all this is that such a huge event in human history would render the population-dense northern parts of the North American continent as well as Europe and Asia uninhabitable – not because global warming has made them too hot but because it has melted off too much land-based ice too quickly and caused a crucial life-sustaining global system to shut down, even if only temporarily. There is no computer modelling adequate to really show us what all this is likely to look like, but if we use a combination of ice core sampling going back about a million years, together with the conditions on the planet that would likely pertain in the scenario described, it may well be that long before the year 2100 rolls around, humankind will find itself very differently distributed on the planet as compared to today – and scrabbling to stay viable as a species. The previous comment is almost always met with the groans and moans of the disbelievers. The problem with their reactions is that they are either based in fear or a lack of adequate and accurate knowledge – or both. People just don't want to hear

this stuff, and it's hardly surprising when one thinks even briefly about the implications, which are vast and pretty awful. We have written in these pages, elsewhere and in several media that the problems for humankind will come not so much from the weather itself, though there'll be plenty enough from that quarter, but from one another. When our systems start to fail on a regional and perhaps also global scale, where will people get food, water and fuel? Answer: they won't, or at least not enough of them will get enough. This will mean conflict on a scale we can only now imagine. It may mean inter-state conflict or inter-community conflict, but it will certainly still come down to individual humans trying to scrabble a meager existence for themselves and those closest to them in an environment where resources have literally dried up or broken down. Many people counter with arguments along the lines of: well, any such breakdown will likely only be temporary and can be dealt with, albeit requiring collective action by numerous governments without politics getting in the way. And: the planet is warming anyway because of all the greenhouse gases we've emitted and most of them will be doing their warming thing for hundreds of years to come, so any cooling event, even a global one, will be temporary. Both arguments are correct – as far as they go. But they have flaws too. The first assumes that governments will stay reasonably intact and able to respond to arising crises and that they will co-operate with each other. Under duress people show that they can and do work together, but it is not at all clear that there will be surviving governmental systems in a world so vastly changed that half of all people now living in North America, Europe and Asia will have been forced to migrate southwards (and to where exactly would they move, supposing they could?). Any GHG self-correction to a much colder world would take decades to maybe 100-200 years to work its way back to a more temperate climate such as most people now enjoy, at least seasonally. So there's no short-term fix out there, if we just soldier on as before. By the time we re-organise, recover and begin rebuilding it may be that 100 to 200 years will have passed in a new much colder climate regime. This is not yet the dominant view among climate scientists, who are habitually a cautious lot, having to prove and prove again every step of their arguments in the face of, amazingly, continuing denialism from certain powerful quarters. But there is a slowly growing sector of this community in the know who are seeing the looming disaster that lies before us – and the issue is, again, that of time. We have little time left in which to make the changes needed to head off even the most conservative of climate change scenarios, now considered almost inevitable, that come with a globally warmer world sometime later this

century when the thermometers are reading 2°C warmer on average. Chances are we won't, in fact, head off those sorts of 2°C warmer problems. Chances are we'll go beyond that by at least a degree, or more likely, two. Then the sticky stuff will really hit the fan. But if you've read this editorial, and made it this far, you are probably in large measure in agreement with what is being said, even if it's scary, and so you don't need to be convinced. So how do we reach those in denial (which isn't quite the same thing as being an active denialist being paid to have a particular opinion or so embedded with attachment to the way things are that one can't imagine a vastly changed world)? There really is only one way and that is to keep conveying the warning message. We have only one world to live on currently and we can't afford to mess it up. We can't keep polluting our rivers and oceans and expect no nasty consequences. We can't keep over-grazing, over-fishing and over-farming and expect the land and sea to simply adapt – they won't. We can't keep pouring petro-chemicals into our agricultural production cycle and not expect unintended consequences, from rapid productivity declines through toxic algae blooms in riverine run-offs into the surrounding oceans. We can't keep pumping toxins (and carbon-based emissions) into the air and not expect it to have a very hard impact on all of us air-breathing creatures. We have to change. That is the message. We have to start doing things differently – and if we are already doing things differently, we have to convince others through our examples to go that way too. Ultimately, and beyond disaster scenarios, the argument will be won because of its sheer logic and because doing things which are better for the planet almost always involves smarter and more efficient use of resources, which means a diminished impact on the planet, and is less expensive to maintain. When it comes to our environment, doing what is right is also doing what works, sustainably. We may only hope that the true sustainability ethos will embed itself soon enough and deep enough that we, or our children, will not have to live out some extreme version of a Hollywood disaster movie. But until this message is so deeply part of our culture that we need not say it any more, that will still be just a hope. It is necessary, therefore, for all of us who see the future as a choice of trajectories to impress upon everyone else around us, from home to business and government, that without our immediate efforts to make a more sustainable choice, we will have the choices made for us – and many of us will not only profoundly dislike what then results, but probably won't even live through it.

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CONTRIBUTORS Jane Griffiths is a TV producer, writer, artist and traveller who has been growing organic vegetables and herbs for more than 15 years. Her best-selling book, Jane's Delicious Garden has led to a vegetable revolution in SA, with thousands of home growers now following in her green footsteps. Her second book, Jane’s Delicious Kitchen, is a collection of delicious recipes for making the most of seasonal abundance.

Bennie Naude is an international presenter and trainer with over 100 workshops around the world and loves creating safe and unique experiences to help people believe more in themselves. He's convinced that the only place where true change ever happens is on the inside – your inside.

Johan van den Berg is the CEO of the South African Wind Energy Association, the Interim Chair of the South African Renewable Energy Council and the African Private Sector Focal Point for the Africa-EU Energy Partnership. An Advocate since 1993, he has spent the last fifteen years in environmental dispute resolution; environmental mediation; climate change avoidance/emissions trading and support for renewable energy deployment in Southern Africa.

Karel Steyn is a Senior Consultant on Energy Performance Verification who previously managed the Measurement and Verification (M&V) function for eight years at Eskom. He is acknowledged by the USA Association of Energy Engineers as a Certified Energy Manager and a Certified Measurement and Verification Professional. He is the President for the Southern African Association for Energy Efficiency (SAEE) and a board member since its creation in 2002 and has been active in many capacities in the energy and climate change fields since 1992.

ADVISORY BOARD Sean Doel is the founding editor of Simply Green. A Technical Director at WSP, specialising in contaminated land investigations and remediation. He is also passionate about what we can all do to address climate change.

Jeunesse Park established ProGreen, SA’s first environmental communications and public relations company, as well as Food & Trees for Africa and has won many awards.

Liz Eglington (Western Cape Woman Farmer of the Year for 2005/2006) owns Buffelshoek Farm, is Chairperson of Terra Madre SA and Director and Secretary of the SA Organic Sector Organisation.

Cormac Cullinan is an enviro-attorney and governance expert who has worked on environmental issues in more than 20 countries and founded the specialist enviro-governance consultancy, EnAct.

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Prof Bruce Hewitson is the director of the Climate System Analysis Group (CSAG) and was the co-ordinating lead author on regional climate projections for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Prof Mark Swilling is an internationally-recognised expert in sustainable development and is Academic Director of The Sustainability Institute, University of Stellenbosch.

Roger Metcalfe is a freelance journalist/ photographer specialising in the environment, technology and medicine. He is an ex-diplomat, and former TV producer and currently runs his own alternative energy business 'Solar Connect' which advises architects and developers on alternative energy designs.

Dr Pat Garratt is Managing Director of the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, currently sits on the Steering Committee of the International Aquarium Congress and is vice-chair of the International Aquarium Forum.

News BPA-free plastics may not be as safe as previously thought Bisphenol A (BPA) can be found nearly everywhere in your home, from canned food linings to plastic toys, as well as baby bottles, re-usable water bottles, plastic dishes and more. But what about BPA-free products? Those should be safe, right? Well, as recently as 2011, a study in Environmental Health Perspectives revealed that even BPA-free plastics may release harmful chemicals, and now even more evidence is being put forth by a new Mother Jones report claiming that there are plenty of not so BPA-free companies trying to cover it up. According to the research, BPA-free or not, these plastics may expose your family to unwanted estrogen-affecting chemicals. It could very well be safer to stick with glass and/or stainless steel containers, cups and bottles (although the safety of glass is another issue).

Sustainability Week

EVENTS

17 - 19 June. CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria. Stellar line-up of conferences and seminars confirmed www.sustainabilityweek.co.za

Landmarks lost to the seas A study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters has warms that cultural landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, the Sydney Opera House and the Tower of London will be lost to rising sea levels caused by climate change. The study attributes the projected sea level rise to melting continental ice sheets and warming ocean expansion. The team reached their results using spatially explicit sea-level estimates and high-resolution topography data. Not only are famous cultural landmarks at risk from rising water, over the next two millennia 12 countries could lose more than half of their current land surface, and 36 countries stand to lose at least 10% of their territory. On the whole, 7% of the global population is living in areas that will be underwater. 'Our analysis illustrates that the spatial distribution of the existing and potential future cultural world heritage makes it vulnerable to sea level rise. Future generations will face either loss of these sites, or considerable efforts to protect them,' the study concludes.

City Bowl Market

Thursdays 4.30pm - 8pm, Saturdays 9am-2pm. The Mother City’s favourite market offers great reasons to get out and about in the heart of the city. www.citybowlmarket.co.za

Green Building Convention

10 - 12 September. CTICC. 2 days of inspiring speakers and thought leaders, social events and networking opportunities www.gbcsa.org.za

SAEEC 2014

12 - 14 November. Emperor's Palace. An important energy event of national scope for end-users and energy professionals in all areas of the energy field. www.saee.org.za

One step at a time Inspired by a childhood love of nature and driven by a distinct dissatisfaction with ordinary living, South African Grant Christie aims to walk from Alexander Bay on the west coast to Kozi Bay on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast, carrying all his possessions on his back. Starting in early October 2013, this seven month journey concluded on May 22, 2014; covering a distance of over 3000 km on foot (and an estimated 4 585 844 steps). Endorsed by the Wilderness Foundation South Africa, the purpose of the journey was to uncover the environmental burdens on the coastline and raise awareness of these issues the Wilderness Foundation’s conservation programs; namely the Forever Wild Shark Conservation Initiative and the Pride Project. The success of the project depended on the ability to document the journey and relate the story to the public as it unfolded through written, photographic and video updates on his Facebook page, as well as inspirational talks along the way. Well done, Grant. To learn more about this amazing challenge click here.

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N ews

Goldman environmental prize honors six heroes of the environment The Goldman Environmental Foundation recently announced the six recipients – a group of fearless leaders working against all odds to protect the environment and their communities – of the 2014 Goldman Environmental Prize. Currently celebrating its 25th anniversary year, the Goldman Prize is awarded annually to environmental heroes from each of the world’s six inhabited continental regions – India, Indonesia, Peru, Russia, South Africa and USA. Prize winners are selected by an international jury from confidential nominations submitted by a worldwide network of environmental organizations and individuals. RAMESH AGRAWAL, India: With a small internet café as his headquarters, Ramesh Agrawal organized villagers to demand their right to information about industrial development projects and succeeded in shutting down one of the largest proposed coal mines in Chhattisgarh. RUTH BUENDIA MESTOQUIARI, Peru: Overcoming a history of traumatic violence, Ruth Buendía united the Asháninka people in a powerful campaign against large-scale dams that would have once again uprooted indigenous communities still recovering from Peru’s civil war. DESMOND D'SA, South Africa: Desmond D’Sa rallied south Durban’s diverse and disenfranchised communities to successfully shut down a toxic waste dump that exposed nearby residents to dangerous chemicals and violated their constitutionally protected right to a safe and clean environment. SUREN GAZARYAN, Russia: An internationally recognized bat expert and zoologist, Suren Gazaryan led multiple campaigns exposing government corruption and illegal use of federally protected forestland along Russia’s Black Sea coast near the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics. RUDI PUTRA, Indonesia: A biologist by training, Rudi Putra is dismantling illegal palm oil plantations that are causing massive deforestation in northern Sumatra’s Leuser Ecosystem, protecting the habitat of the critically endangered Sumatran rhino. HELEN HOLDEN SLOTTJE, USA: Using a clause in the state constitution that gives municipalities the right to make local land use decisions, Helen Slottje helped towns across New York defend themselves from oil and gas companies by passing local bans on fracking. For more info visit www.goldmanprize.org SG 8

'We will not let reckless industry and irresponsible government disenfranchise local communities again and create an economic apartheid. The fight to stop toxic industry and save south Durban is the fight to stop economic apartheid.' 2014 Goldman Prize winner Desmond D'Sa's

Water of Life At the Milan Design week in April, Budapest-based concrete company Ivanka unveiled a revolutionary building called the RainHouse that collects rain and filters it through a special bio-concrete system to turn it into high-quality drinking water. A real innovation opening to global perspective that markedly transcends the current practice of sustainable development. The complex rainwater management system is based on Ivanka’s material innovation, bio-concrete, which has a pH neutral orientation and has bio-compatible influences on the water. Both the technical specification of this material and the process itself distinguished this new system from the traditional ways of rainwater collection. The specific technology allows filtering raw rain only physically in a strictly natural way without chemicals so the equipment can produce the highest quality, sun-distilled drinking water. http://drinkrain.com/

Google Earth deforestation map Google has teamed up with with researchers from the University of Maryland, NASA and the USGS to bring the first high-resolution map of global deforestation to life using Google Earth Engine. The project was created using over a decade of Landsat images and puts global land use changes into a format that the public, NGOs and governments around the world can use to learn more about forestry practices and hopefully help deter unwanted deforestation. The creators of the tool hope that it can be used to help predict future land use changes and the effects of climate-related deforestation. With this amount of data being contained in such a user-friendly format, governments and other organizations can use the tool to make better policies to protect our forests. You can view the map and all of the layers here.

A green oasis British architect Thomas Heatherwick has reconceived and devoted a major piece of public land in Abu Dhabi to the wellbeing of its citizens. As the Al Fayah Park is situated in the desert the project proved to be a challenging one for Heatherwick and his studio, the most serious of which was how to provide protection from the hot desert sun for visitors as well as the plants and vegetation. The project evolved as a series of cracked pieces of the desert surface raised on columns to form a gentle dome across the site. The elevated pieces create a perforated canopy of partial shade under which a lush garden can grow, protected from the harsh excesses of the hot sun. The sunken oasis then becomes a landscape of plants and mature trees, forming a series of interconnected public recreational spaces and features cafĂŠs, play spaces, a library, pools and streams as well as community vegetable gardens. 'We became interested in the patterns of the desert landscape and looked at shapes created when the earth cracks from the heat of the sun. We also became fascinated by how, in previous times, people living in such intense heat had grown vegetables in the shade of a palm tree to reduce the strength of the sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rays. Experimenting with the idea of a structure drawn from a fractured desert crust, we started developing a scheme based on revealing partially-shaded planted spaces below a desert surface,' says Heatherwick. For more info click here.

Yann Arthus-Bertrand A wide-angle view of fragile Earth 9 SG

N ews

EARTH-2? Using NASA's Kepler Space Telescope, astronomers have discovered the first Earth-size planet orbiting a star in the 'habitable zone' – the range of distance from a star where liquid water might pool on the surface of an orbiting planet. The discovery of Kepler-186f confirms that planets the size of Earth exist in the habitable zone of stars other than our sun. Scientists don’t yet know what the planet is composed of, though research suggests it is likely rocky. The temperature of the planet depends on its atmosphere and we won’t know what that is made up of until scientists can do more research. The next steps in the search for distant life include looking for true Earth-twins – Earth-size planets orbiting within the habitable zone of a sun-like star – and measuring their chemical compositions. The Kepler Space Telescope, which simultaneously and continuously measured the brightness of more than 150 000 stars, is NASA's first mission capable of detecting Earth-size planets around stars like our sun. For more info about the Kepler mission, visit www.nasa.gov/kepler

Industrial civilisation's impending collapse A new study (which can be read here) by researchers from the Universities of Maryland and Minnesota has confirmed that income inequality, resource depletion and unchecked population growth could lead to the collapse of our industrialised society as we know it within the next few decades. The report predicts that increased strain on the ecological carrying-capacity of the Earth will further the stratification of wealth, dividing society into what the researchers term the 'elites' and 'masses'. As the rich hog all of the resources and dictate political policy, they will allocate little to the majority of the population who are also the ones responsible for creating their wealth. Advances in technology and agriculture will not improve the situation by increasing resource-efficiency due to the fact that it will likely also raise consumption rates. If humans are to survive on the planet, immediate political action is needed to curtail the runaway growth of the economy, the threat of pollution, and the unfair allocation of wealth. To preserve not just the quality of life but its very existence, it is time to restore balance to both natural and social systems. For more info click here.

URBAN ALGAE CANOPY The Urban Algae Canopy by ecoLogicStudio has been presented at the 'feeding the planet' exhibition in Milan with the 1:1 scale prototype of the world’s first bio-digital canopy integrating micro-algal cultures and real time digital cultivation protocols on a unique architectural system. Once completed as part of Expo Milano 2015 Future Food District, the Urban Algae Canopy will produce the oxygen equivalent of four hectares of woodland and up to 150kg of biomass per day, 60% of which are natural vegetal proteins. 'It is now time to overcome the segregation between technology and nature typical of the mechanical age, to embrace a systemic understanding of architecture,' says Claudia Pasquero of ecoLogicStudio. 'In this prototype the boundaries between the material, spatial and technological dimensions have been carefully articulated to achieve efficiency, resilience and beauty.' S G 10

CREATEOLOGY Resourceful designers once again have the opportunity to harness their creativity and technological know-how for a good cause – and the chance to win handsome cash rewards. Eskom's Energy Efficient Lighting Design Competition for 2014 challenges both the novice and the seasoned to come up with their own, unique fusion of flair and functionality, efficiency and aesthetic appeal in designing an energy-efficient luminaire (or in plain language: a lamp). We take a look.

he competition offers a two-fold opportunity. For one, Eskom is inviting high school learners, students and professional designers to think outside the box and submit imaginative lamp designs that not only work, but that are also pleasing to the eye. As the name of the competition implies, it is of major importance that all designs make use of energy-efficient light sources. Secondly, professional designers are also invited to submit innovative energy-efficient designs, systems or products that are suitable for residential applications. These may include, for example, a complete lighting system that caters for a low-cost housing development. Once again, the key word is energy-efficiency. Eskom identified energy efficiency as a strategic priority; it is an essential part of effective resource utilisation and environmentally sustainable technologies and practices. Through the promotion of energy-efficiency, Eskom strives to establish an energy efficient culture in South Africa, not only in the commercial and industrial sectors, but also in the residential area, thus in everyday

life. It must become a way of living and be incorporateded in every aspect of our lives. Since compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) hit the market, it has become more and more apparent that existing lamp designs are not suitable for use in conjunction with new energy-efficient technologies. To address this dilemma, Eskom launched the EELDC to encourage new designs that will demonstrate the fact that efficient lighting technologies (discharge, fluorescent, fibre optic and LED technologies) can, in fact, be used in contemporary and attractive luminaires intended for residential lighting. With this year's theme for the competition being 'Celebrate 20 years of democracy' – along with the R200 000 total prize money – it definitely warrants participation, but make sure you enter by 15 August 2014. The registration of a new patent, of course, also holds lucrative possibilities for the patent holder. There are three categories to enter your design: A) Residential Luminaire Design (students); B) Innovative Energy Efficient Lighting Design (Professional); C) Most Promising Young Designer (Learners); and a special award entry for Most Promising PDI designer (individual) is also available. For full competition details visit www.lighting-design.co.za.

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A ctivism

The Next Eco S G 12

A new generation is coming forward to save the world. They are passionate optimists who believe that their efforts can make a difference, and they are addressing every conceivable 'environmental' issue around, from energy use to overfishing, food distribution and hunger; to waste management, green jobs; to the dissapearance of indigenous cultures and rainforests. In this extract from the book The Next Eco-Warriors by Emily Hunter (pictured), she introduces us to these individuals who are using every path and fabric they can think of to assist change.

o-Warriors 13 S G

t’s as if we’re in a car that is blazing along. We

we become conscious of the state of our world, that

'Where does this tree end and the ground that supports it start? Like the water that falls from the skies and flows through the streams – it is one and the same. I can see how each organism is a part of an interconnected and interdependent whole. I can feel it is the same relationship we share with nature.'

world is stampeding toward a demise of our own

Allana Beltran, 25, Australia

are on cruise control as we hit a crossroads. We desperately need to make a turn. But instead

of slowing down or turning the wheel, we’re going full-speed ahead. The passengers are a diverse and knowledgeable bunch, but all we’re doing is talking, arguing, and fighting amongst ourselves – no one is making the turn. As we barrel straight forward, what lies ahead of us is the edge of a cliff. Those of us not in the driver’s seat yet bear the most responsibility, for we are the last generation to make any significant change in the direction we take. It’s a crippling feeling for many of us. Just as

making. It’s not that we’re apathetic, despite being told that we are. Rather, it’s simply that we do not know what to do.

It is a movement that is evolving beyond banner

away from the edge decades ago, but here we

waving into a colourful mosaic of change. And it is

are ever closer to it. It’s certainly not for a lack of

a movement that is redefining the word activism.

trying on their part. They did, after all, create an

The word activist is no longer held hostage

environmental revolution in the 20th century, full of

to mean only a protester or an 'eco-terrorist'

civil disobedience and consciousness-changing that

(though these forms of activism still have their

shifted westerners’ relationship to the planet.

place). Instead, the next eco-warriors embrace a

But their movement dwindled and grew old as

technicolour rainbow of strategic tactics. They

they did. Their tactics rarely work anymore; their

use an assortment of their own talents, skills, and

faces and voices rarely connect with us; and their

abilities (in some cases, paid work) to stimulate the

stories, though still inspiring, are not our own.

engines of social change.

We need revolutionaries now more desperately

Furthermore, instead of adopting the limited

than ever. With the tipping point we face from climate

notion that only those on top of the power pyramid

change, as well as an assortment of global issues,

can change the world, this new movement reminds

the world is calling out for the next eco-warriors.

us that the world of revolution is open to anyone

Many believe they don’t even exist. Al Gore

and everyone who wants to make a substantial

said to The New York Times in 2007, 'I can’t

difference. After all, it’s usually people at the

understand why there aren’t rings of young

bottom who make the greatest change.

people blocking bulldozers and preventing them

It is also a movement that is as diverse as nature

from constructing coal-fired power plants.' It’s a

itself. It is people from around the world who

disappointing sentiment, shared by many. Yet it’s

are shifting minds, policies, and the axes of old

also the inspiration for my book: because I know

tyrannies. No longer is this movement owned and

the doubters are wrong. For at the same time when

operated by the global north. Instead, it’s pushing

Gore made that comment, a group of young people

boundaries, becoming a movement for all of us,

had already started blocking bulldozers, and many

managed by multifaceted cultures and peoples from

more would follow. The next eco-warriors are here.

the farthest corners of the Earth.

They are alive and kicking.

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movement, not just a Western green movement.

Our parents before us tried to steer humanity

The faces of this movement include people like

There is little dialogue about them, however, so

Enei Begaye, a Diné woman who is changing what is

it’s no surprise few seem to know of their existence.

possible for her Navajo community in Arizona, from

This must change, for as a collective, they represent

coal jobs to green jobs; Wen Bo, a Chinese student

a new movement in the 21st century. It’s a global

who dared to become an eco-activist just after the

Tiananmen Square massacre; American Elizabeth

our fiery spirits for justice that brings humanity to

Redmond, who is reinventing renewable technology

new horizons. And the warriors themselves are not

by using our feet to generate power; Kevin Ochieng,

unwilling conscripts but willing participants who

a Kenyan youth who is leading a climate movement

want to make a better world even in the face of

with underprivileged youth across Africa; and New

great personal sacrifice, risks, and even at times

York City native Tanya Fields, who resists oppression

personal endangerment.

through guerilla gardening.

This eco-war I speak of may seem of mythic

Together they fight an eco-war. Let’s not be

proportions, yet it is the stark reality we must face,

shy about it – it is a war. It is a war for the last of

that we are in time of a war – a war for the planet

the Amazon rainforest. It is a war to end our own

and a war for ourselves. I think many of us know

grave-digging in coal and oil mining. It is a war

this ugly reality one way or another: we can feel the

to defend the people caught in the cross fires of

crumbling of the edge beneath our feet. We feel it

industrial pulverisation. It is a war to defend the

with almost daily news of 'weird' weather events like

rights to life for non-humans. And it is a war for the

the flooding of Pakistan, the raging fires of Russia

creation of a new world, one with renewable energy

or the vanishing ice sheets at the poles. It can make

and a sustainable economy.

you feel as if the show is already over (for some of

This war is being fought against the misinformers,

us, over before it even really began).

denialists, and old guard of the fossil fuel regime

But it doesn’t have

that care only about profit, even at the expense of

to be this way. We can

shortening our time here on Earth.

turn away from that edge.

I believe it is appropriate to think of it as a

There is still time left –

war. Climate change alone is probably the greatest

though

challenge humans have ever faced throughout our

and less every day. Some

precious

little,

entire existence. The challenge is so great because

of us are trying to do

the battle is not with external enemies but a war

this by pledging to be

within us. It is a war where we must stop ourselves

this new generation of

in time to survive ourselves, with the planet as we

eco-warriors, fighting for

know it hanging in the balance.

something better.

Our weapons for this battle are not daggers, firearms, or nukes but tools for social change, such as 'mind bombs' of consciousness raising, energy alternatives, creativity to breed new solutions, and

Reprinted with permission by Conari Press. The Next Eco-Warriors is available here.

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orld Environment Day is celebrated on 5 June. This year the theme is â&#x20AC;&#x153;raise your voice, not the sea levelâ&#x20AC;?.

Climate change, which is partially caused by an increase in greenhouse gasses such as CO2 in the atmosphere, is causing a rise in sea levels. Sea level rise can negatively impact people living in coastal and island regions and can disrupt marine ecosystems. People living inland also contribute to climate change and therefore rises in sea level. You can help reduce the effects of climate change and rising sea levels by making small changes at home.

For more information on Water Wise, please visit www.randwater.co.za and click on the Water Wise logo or contact us on 0860 10 10 60.

D esign

2014 designs of the year awards The Design Museum London recently announced the seven winners for the annual Designs of the Year Awards, which celebrate a yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth of cutting-edge innovation and original talent. We take a look at the winners in their respective categories.

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Graphics

Fashion

A series of installations consisting of a 1:1 outline of

Pop-art prints meet sporty details and structured

a military unmanned aerial vehicle, or Drone. They

shapes in this boldly coloured, powerful collection.

have appeared in the UK, Turkey, the USA, Brazil and

Vogue said of the show: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;By next summer we'll

elsewhere.

wonder what we ever wore before.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Drone Shadows Designed by James Bridle

Architecture

Heydar Aliyev Center, Baku Azerbaijan Designed by Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher

Prada S/S14 Designed by Miuccia Prada

Digital

Elaborate undulations, folds and inflections modify

Peek (Portable Eye Examination Kit) Designed by Dr Andrew Bastawrous, Stewart Jordan, Dr Mario Giardini, Dr Iain Livingstone

this plaza surface into an architectural landscape

A smartphone-based system for comprehensive eye

that performs a multitude of functions.

examinations, PEEK is easy to use, affordable and portable, meaning that it can bring eye care to even the remotest of settings.

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Furniture

Transport

Featuring state-of-the-art ergonomics and pioneering

The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most efficient liquid-fuelled production

design, the construction of the chair not only allows

car; it requires only 8.4 PS to sustain a constant

movement in all directions, but actively stimulates it

100kph on a level surface in still air, a speed the car

thereby promoting healthier sitting.

can reach from rest in 12.7 seconds.

Pro chair family Designed by Konstantin Grcic

Product

The Seaboard Grand Designed by Roland Lamb and Hong-Yeul Eom The Seaboard is a re-invention of the piano keyboard where the keys are re-imagined as soft waves that enable continuous and discrete real-time, tactile control of sound through three-dimensional hand gestures.

The

design combines contemporary

minimalism and traditional handcrafted quality.

XL1 CAR Designed by Volkswagen.

'From the daringly innovative to the reassuringly good, Designs of the Year 2014 is a condensed and vivid selection of the last twelve months in design. This spectrum of expert-chosen design is an insight into what design can do for us both as individuals and as a society.' Gemma Curtin, curator of Designs of the Year.

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Events

LIFESTYLE

We take a look at some of the eco-initiatives involved in the Cape Town Design Capital 2014. Beyond the Skatepark This project seeks to break the negative perceptions of skaters by re-introducing them into public space. This concept was introduced to Cape Town Partnership and City of Cape Town during the Infecting the City 2013 program as part of an ongoing effort to achieve the goal of integration, inclusion and the effective use of space for skateboarders in Cape Town. The National Skate Collective is an organisation geared towards growing the culture of skateboarding in South Africa and the 'collective' has teamed up with Woodies and Africa Skate to help realise this project. #WDC588 www.africaskate.com

ACCIDENTAL ART The focus of the project for the WDC 2014 is to simply 'take art outside' and allow the public to engage with artists, designers and their work in the urban enviroment. The project will reach out on social platforms as well as build traction for 2014 to encourage the expression of creativity and thought in the public realm. Local designers and artists, both undiscovered and well-known, are involved in the project itself alongside Spier Architectural Arts who will help to scale these projects accordingly in the urban space that is used. #WDC522 www.spierarchitecturalarts.com

CAPE TOWN UNHINGED The goal is for Cape Town Unhinged (a movie that aims to create a strong thread throughout the narrative that deals with the connecting of areas, economic groups and the collective city consciousness) to become the definitive piece about the mother city. It is a must-see for South Africans as well as

international visitors,

investors, and anybody planning to move to Cape Town for the long-term to work or study. #WDC554

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PROJECTS Being a recognised project is an opportunity to put the global spotlight on your creativity. Cape Town will be a focal point for the international design community in 2014, with design-focused projects and events hosted in the city throughout the year. As an officially recognised project:

 You'll

be included in the program for the

year and get meaningful exposure through our integrated communication efforts

 You'll get access to key local and global players

in the creative industries, providing opportunity for collaboration, networking and mentorship. Visit www.wdccapetown2014.com

EDUCATION MOD PROGRAMME The Mass participation; Opportunity and access; Development and growth (MOD) Programme of the



'Cape Town’s bid for the title of World Design Capital (WDC) 2014 has showcased the important role design and the creative sector at large play in transforming a city, making it not just a great place to visit, but a greater place to live. The theme “Live Design. Transform Life” provides a solid platform from which we can continue to learn, change and further develop Cape Town using the concepts of integration, creativity and innovative design.'



Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport provides recreation-based opportunities and activities (such as sport, arts, culture, and the like), as well as next level participation for school-going children at 181 MOD Centres across the Western Cape. This gives the city a massive opportunity to use design to promote social and economic inclusion and address the skewed distribution of resources that are a result of the legacy of apartheid. #WDC496 Click here for website

Mariëtte du Toit-Helmbold, CEO of Cape Town Tourism

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EDUCATION

CTCA YOUNG CREATIVES AWARDS AND EXHIBITION By giving young Arts and Design learners the opportunity to showcase their work and compete against their peers in the Western Cape Province, the Cape Town Creative Academy are nurturing the artistic talent of today for tomorrow. An annual art and design competition specifically for Grade 11 and 12 learners, the Young Creatives Award recognises artistic talent and rewards achievement in this area with prizes that incentivise further study and development in the field and urge students to follow their creative calling. #WDC256 www.ctca.co.za

KAYA LABS Kaya Labs is aimed at bridging the digital divide by creating physical spaces in townships and rural areas. Each Kaya Lab is fitted with connected computers that enable access to a Kaya Web that allows students to access a university and educational material or content. A Kaya Lab serves as an environment for students to work, interact and collaborate. It makes it possible for people to access important websites, such as education and government websites. #WDC256 http://kayalabs.co/

YOUTH DESIGN STUDIO: CREATING FOR COMMUNITIES Using the concept of design to start dialogue, this project will offer a unique opportunity to facilitate connections across a variety of usually-stratified categories: age, gender, race, class, culture, belief systems,experiential background, and work experience and skills. #WDC641 www.imagine-more.org

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What it means for Cape Town to be World Design Capital 2014

sustainability

Lookout for these tags around the city indicating a Design Capital event.

GREEN ROOF URBAN INCUBATOR There is an element of Cape Town's landscape that is only visible from above, but which presents a whole world of opportunity. Usually windswept and ignored as useful space, green roofs like the one planned for the top of The Bank on Harrington Street not only create liveable space, but can add to the city's biodiversity, produce fresh vegetables and be a home for honey bees. It can also demonstrate the benefits of natural insulation for buildings to reduce the need for heating and cooling. #WDC600 www.ecodesignarchitects.co.za

GREEN CLUSTERS Urban agriculture is about more than just green spaces and vegetables. It can help protect our urban environment while creating jobs and playing an important role in youth education. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why the Cape Town Partnership has started a series of conversations with urban growers, NGOs and city officials hoping to align individual efforts and lend more momentum to the urban agriculture movement in Cape Town. #WDC271 www.capetownpartnership.co.za

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ODYSSEY SA's leading integrated living mag

DIGIMAG

Issue 1 here Issue 2 here Issue 3 here Issue 4 here Issue 5 here Issue 6 here

Odyssey Magazine, SA's oldest and leading integrated lifestyle magazine, now in its 36th year, has arrived in the digital realm, and is FREE of charge.

Contact Cape Town Head Office Tel 27 (0) 21 713 0018 or 712 4665 082 579 7915 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax 715 2809 info@odysseymagazine.co.za

www.odysseymagazine.co.za Options & insights for people seeking practical steps towards integrated living in the 21st Century

Community

SWEDEN@SA

The Sweden@SouthAfrica project was devised by the Swedish Institute and the Swedish Embassy in Pretoria to focus on entrepreneurship as a motor for development in both South Africa and Sweden, and will co-produce four events (two in Cape Town, one in Johannesburg and one in Pretoria) where South African partners will hope to identify associated challenges. We find out more.

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The participant target markets for the project are entrepreneurs and innovators who want to start a business and create jobs for themselves and others, or those who want their business to expand and use digital media as a tool for growth.

ne hundred years ago, Sweden was one of Europe's poorest countries. Today's Sweden has built its wealth on entrepreneurship

and innovative ideas that have transformed into commercial businesses, many of them at a global scale. Sweden has lately put strong emphasis on industries where sustainability is an integrated part of business and a competitive advantage, as well as on the creative industries as a motor for economic development (with gaming, for example, as one of the fastest growing export industries of the country). Together with South Africa, Sweden can highlight the global challenges of, specifically, the creative industries in the digital era and inspire the sourcing of solutions to shared challenges.

South Africa is listed as the 25th top global economy

What types of challenges do the two countries share?

in The Economist. The very nature of South Africa's

•

Why South Africa?

•

difficulties

for

A sense of pride in the local craft and design, but a lack of confidence in believing this could

thriving entrepreneurial sector, driven primarily by

prosper on an international level.

individuals and a growing reputation in the creative

Which industries are being focused on?

and

global with their business.

innovators, entrepreneurs and a lateral-minded

industry sector.

challenge

entrepreneur and innovator to go from local to

political and socio-economic challenges has birthed economic mind set. South Africa also has a

The

•

High youth unemployment.

•

Policy makers that lack understanding and knowledge of the economic potential of the creative industries.

•

Lack of business skills and funding within

Design (in particular design with sustainability

the creative industries. A need to bridge the

in its DNA), architecture, landscaping, fashion,

gap between the financial sector and the

technology, digital, engineering, gaming – any

creative industries and small-to-medium sized

creative industry that is entrepreneur rich and interested in technological solutions to challenges.

entrepreneurs on the other. •

The participant target markets for the project

communicate and market products, and a

are entrepreneurs and innovators who want to start a business and create jobs for themselves

Lack of knowledge on how to promote, pitch, necessity to do so through digital solutions.

•

and others, or those who want their business to

A need for sustainable solutions and design for a smarter living.

expand and use digital media as a tool for growth. In addition, we are hoping to communicate with, and engage, investors, decision and policy makers and opinion leaders. The

creative

industries

are

driven

entrepreneurial psyches and share many of the

How will these collaborative discussions result in sustainable solutions? •

driving force for development in South Africa,

a natural fit for the project.

and strengthening and raising the status of

The creative industries are an important and often overlooked sector that is capable of building

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Increased awareness of entrepreneurship as a

same challenges that Sweden currently faces, so are

entrepreneurs. •

Higher knowledge and capacity building in

wealth and contributing to growth and economic

the areas of ICT, sustainability, gender and

development.

entrepreneurship.

•

More sustainable innovations.

the Swedish Institute. Instead, Sweden@SouthAfrica

•

More female entrepreneurs.

will co-produce four events where South African

•

More ICT-based innovations.

partners identify the challenges.

•

New jobs and start-ups.

•

Increased awareness by decision makers that

implementation.

Will there be a follow-through once the last event is over?

Increased awareness by capital owners of

We hope that there will be new partnerships with

the business opportunities for investment in

Sweden. Our key message is that it is business-smart

under-served small and micro-entrepreneurs.

to develop, and invest in, the creative industries

the creative industries and SMEs have huge potential and should be considered in policy •

and sustainable business to address social and

What are the project mechanics?

environmental problems which are common to

There is no grant or project money invested by

For more info

South Africa and Sweden.

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O pinion

WIND POWE S G 28

South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first wind farms have started to export green electricity into the grid during the final commisioning phase before reaching full commercial operation. It is now abundantly clear that the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme's (REIPPPP) process has been a resounding success. The wind farms are being built on time and on budget and they carry no risk to the ratepayer of cost overruns or delays â&#x20AC;&#x201C; these risks are shouldered by the Independent Power Producer. There are twenty year Power Purchase Agreements in place and the costs continue to decrease further below the cost of new conventional energy. Moreover, the extra capacity comes as a huge relief to a severely stressed electricity supply system. And there is the further benefit of significant rural upliftment, job creation, and socio-economic development to be delivered from the program as operating revenues begin to flow. On all fronts, it seems wind power is doing supremely well. Johan van den Berg, CEO of the South African Wind and Energy Association, reports.

ER SUCCESS 29 S G

y contrast the broader Electricity Supply Industry is not doing particularly well, with repeated emergencies being declared by

Eskom as it struggles to complete the Medupi and Kusile mega-projects. The contrast raises the question: How much sense and sensibility do we need in the greater electricity system? In the past week, some significant red flags have again been raised about the health of the broader industry. In the budget speech, the Minister of Finance lamented the delays in completing Eskom’s Medupi (coal) power plant, and the inhibiting effect it has had on economic growth in the country. And

The country’s power sector governance system is inherently unstable. It would be in the long term interest of wind power to help stabilise the system at large and bring it to a sustainable and rational footing. Not just the electricity system but the health of the country would benefit.

indeed, the cost overrun when everything is included might come to R100b, approaching a 200% overrun.

faced very gloomy futures should the requested

To this should be added the concomitant damage to

increases of 16% have been granted. But now we

the economy. This was starkly demonstrated, also

might have to revisit this.

last week, when Eskom declared an emergency and

The shortfall has not gone away – indeed, our

had to call on large users to cut demand (and of

peaking plants are now costing us the equivalent of

course production) in order to keep the lights on.

R4.6b per year in the electricity produced as they run

Perhaps the most concerning statement in the

far more often than intended. At say R4.60/kWh the

budget speech was a near aside by Minister Gordhan

huge cost would equate to 1 000 GWh per annum. At

when referring to the Medupi delay, saying: 'there

REIPPPP Round 3 prices, this would be enough to pay

isn’t much we can do about it.' It reflects the sense of

for 6 200 GWh’s of wind-produced electricity, which

paralysis we all feel when we watch the process from

at a capacity factor of 33.3% (average these days for

the sidelines, unable to influence it but beholden to

successful bids) would mean that the money spent

its outcome.

on open cycle gas turbines in the six months ending

In late February, Professor Anton Eberhard, in an

September 2013 would have been enough to pay for

OpEd in Business Day, discussed the impact of another

the output of about another 800 wind turbines – more

paralysis – this time on the ISMO (Independent System

than 2 GW.

and Market Operator) Bill – mooted by the Minister

On the surface, the challenges faced in our

of Energy as far back as 2009 and highlighted as a

electricity supply industry are unrelated to the REIPPPP

priority in President Zuma’s 2010 State of the Nation

process. Wind Power is booming and can continue to

speech – to level the playing field between Eskom

boom despite the problems experienced. An island of

and Independent Power Producers. The Bill has been

prosperity and success in a very troubled sea.

repeatedly pulled from the parliamentary agenda for

But, as the 17th century poet John Donne was want

unclear reasons and will now lapse. In a careful and

to say, no man is an island, and wind power is sure

detailed analysis, Eberhard shows how the absence

to be affected by the surrounding chaos at some

of the Bill has contributed to the supply shortage

point. The country’s power sector governance system

experienced today – and how the failure to act will

is inherently unstable. It would be in the long term

continue to hamper the industry and the country in

interest of wind power to help stabilise the system

future.

at large and bring it to a sustainable and rational

Then, a few days later came newspaper reports of the Minister of Public Enterprises discussing how

footing. Not just the electricity system but the health of the country would benefit.

Eskom might close its R190b funding gap. He says

Once the decision is made that wind power needs

explicitly that a new application to NERSA for an Eskom

to be involved in resolving the broader South African

tariff increase is a distinct possibility. As anyone who

energy challenges, the question arises how best to do

sat through the last round of NERSA hearings would

it. A discussion for another day.

attest, there is intense pain associated with these increases. Many sectors from mining to agriculture

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For more info visit www.sawea.org.za.

Industry growth While the broader regulatory framework for energy shows much potential for improvement, wind power is thriving under the REIPPPPP system. The twenty year power purchase agreement at a contractually determined price with an agreed escalation and backed by Treasury gives Independent Power Producers the necessary security to bank projects, access project finance and secure the required equity to build projects that in some cases may cost R2b or more. The dispatch priority, 'take or pay' nature of the Power Purchase Agreement is well attuned to the needs of renewable energy. As concerns grid access, the sophisticated developers that generally won REIPPPP projects were often early movers and usually secured land not only where the wind regime was good and environmental factors favourable, but also where the electricity grid would be capable of transmitting the power produced. Where required they secured international experience for the construction and initial Operation and Maintenance of wind farms. Moreover, once SA's reserve margin is restored, the abundance of base load plants and the existing peaking plants will ensure that we can build all the wind farms we can muster for a decade or more before we even have to start considering grid stability vis-à-vis a high penetration of renewable energy. Currently, many of the approximately 300 turbines being erected as part of the 634 MW of wind power procured in round 1 of REIPPPP are already producing electricity. During the recent load shedding, the wind farm in Jeffreys Bay assisted in alleviating the shortage in the Eastern Cape. Individual wind farms in Round 1 have been commissioned and have reached Commercial Operations Date. These wind farms have

been constructed on time and on budget and in less than eighteen months. The 563 MW procured in Round 2 is presently under construction and may near Commercial Operations by year end. As for Round 3, preferred bidders totaling 787 MW were announced late in 2013 and are approaching financial close. If one assumes that the final REIPPPP revision will broadly follow the IRP 2010, South Africa is set for about 8 400 MW of wind power by 2030. The South African Wind Energy Association believes this to be a modest target that is easily achievable. Given these very rosy indicators, it becomes clear that wind power will become a very significant new infrastructure sector in the country. The continued success will be bolstered by the fact that wind power in REIPPPP Round 3 was about 30% cheaper than new coal power from Medupi is projected to be. At around 74 c/kWh levelised cost, wind power is undoubtedly the cheapest form of bulk electricity available in the country. While practically all large electricity projects are subject to adverse exchange rate movements as seen of late and Round 4 prices may thus not continue the steady decline seen till now, the relative price of wind power is likely to continue to be lower than conventional power sources. Government's firm support of renewable energy implicitly assumes delivery by this sector on the socio-economic goals of Government as set out in the National Development Plan and Green Economy Accord. With this in mind, the wind industry is working hard on optimising socio-economic benefits from wind farms. Already, the towers are manufactured locally by DCD in Kouga, with a second manufacturer mooted to enter the market soon. The local content percentage of wind farms have shown a steady increase from Round 1 to Round 3. All over the country, people can be seen employed in the construction of the wind farms. Technicians have been sent to Germany to be trained and a R110m training centre is under construction to train the locals at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Already a training course for Wind Turbine Service Technicians has been developed in collaboration with the MERSETA. In terms of the REIPPPP bid rules, local communities have shares in the wind farms being erected and are also the beneficiaries of enterprise development and socio-economic development by the developers of these wind farms. These plans often target education and health and are likely to have a profound impact in rural areas, where development is most needed.

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c o mpany pr o f ile

THE FUTURE IS BLOWING IN THE WIND DCD Wind Towers is a R300m, 23 000m2 manufacturing facility located at the

Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) in the Eastern Cape, and is a joint initiative between the DCD Group, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Coega Development Corporation (CDC). We take a look.

he facility was specifically established in the

contributions towards promoting localisation in

Coega IDZ in 2013 to support the localisation

the energy sector, after being presented with the

of wind tower manufacturing in South Africa,

'Distinguished Contribution to the Advancement of

and marks a new era for South Africa's renewable

Local Content in Wind Energy Award' in 2013 by the

power generation capabilities by contributing to the

South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA).

long-term stability of national electricity supply.

The DCD Wind Towers' manufacturing facility

Supporting the localisation of wind tower

is more than just an investment in the Coega IDZ,

manufacturing essentially ensures the long-term and

but rather a legacy project that will go down in

sustainable creation of more than 150 operational

the history books as the first facility of its kind in

positions that include; boilermakers, shot-blasting

Africa. This translates to local, sustainable jobs for

operators, cutting operators, chamfering operators,

the people of the region, with scarce skills training

roller operators, coded welders and fitters.

and development across a range of skill sets, which

DCD Wind Towers is also contributing positively

to sustainable and renewable power generation, as

can be used not only in renewable energy, but automotive and nuclear sectors too.

set out by the Department of Energyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement

About the DCD Group

Programme (REIPPPP). DCD Wind Towers has already

The DCD Group (Pty) Ltd is an international manufacturing and engineering company providing products and solutions to the rail, mining and energy, defence and marine sectors. As a group, DCD is able to offer comprehensive, integrated heavy engineering solutions in addition to bespoke individual solutions. DCD has been an integral participant in South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s infrastructure development for decades and is now playing an active role as a partner of choice to government in the current infrastructure expansion drive.

signed co-operation agreements with the turbine manufacturers that have been successful in Round 2 of the REIPPPP. The DCD Wind Towers factory will manufacture between 150 and 200 towers per year for the successful REIPPPP bidders. The DCD Wind Towers factory conforms to a number of internationally recognised quality standards, including; DIN, EN, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. With technology

partner Vestas, these towers are guaranteed to be manufactured to the highest international standards of quality and to exact OEM specifications, while remaining uniquely local. DCD

Wind

Towers

has

already

obtained

formal recognition for its continued efforts and S G 32

23 000 M² WIND TOWER MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN THE COEGA INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ZONE (COEGA IDZ) OPENING IN 2014 DCD Wind Towers manufactures and assembles components for wind turbines according to customer design and specifications. MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES

Manufacture of 80 to 110m towers for wind turbines Manufacture of foundation base and anchor cages Assembly of Nacelle

Contact DCD Wind Towers www.dcd.co.za | +27 16 428 0000 33 S G

Buildings

FUTURE

International architecture firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill recently beat 45 other firms to design the Astana World Expo 2017 site. Located in Kazakhstan's capital, the 173 hectare expo site will be entirely powered by wind and solar power in accordance with the expoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 'Future Energy' theme. We look at a few of the concept designs that edged them over the competition.

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ENERGY

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Expo Astana 2017 Energy is the natural resource paving the way for the stimulation and development of the lives of human beings. Energy supports the model of societies and, as a multifaceted concept, sparks intriguing questions regarding the universe and humanity itself. Societiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; access to energy sources directly determines concrete scenarios in their social, economic and environmental development. Scientific research and technological advances, linked to the optimization of the various energy sources, define the functional approaches of societies and can drive a sustainable energy future. Expo Astana 2017 Future Energy is conceived as an extensive, integral project that addresses the fascinating topic of energy from several perspectives, allowing for it to be contemplated as a determining factor in how societies and everyday life function. Future Energy has the clear objective â&#x20AC;&#x201C; exploring strategies, programmes and technologies aimed at sustainable energy development, promoting energy security and efficiency, encouraging the use of renewable energy, and guiding visitors through their essential, active role in the design and execution of a plan for energy efficient production and use. For more info visit smithgill.com and www.expo2017astana.com/en/

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W ind

energy news BIOMIMICRY With the DualWingGenerator, Festo has developed an extraordinary technology platform as part of the Bionic Learning Network. In contrast to conventional small wind power stations, the system uses two pairs of opposing wings instead of rotor blades to generate power. The system's principle consists of reversing the natural wing-beating principle: birds generate the necessary power to move forwards in the air by flapping their wings. A stationary system like the DualWingGenerator, on the other hand, can take the kinetic energy from the flow of air. The wings' linear lifting movement is converted here into a rotary movement. An integrated electric motor turns the energy produced into electricity. The DualWingGenerator is self-optimising and can adapt itself to different wind conditions. In terms of its efficiency, it is by no means inferior to conventional small wind power stations and features amazing benefits even at low wind speeds: in the range of 4-8m/s, the system has a very high, scientificallyproven effectiveness level.

For more info click here.

DIY wind turbine Trying to start home wind energy projects can set you back quite a few Rands if you buy a finished product, but if you're a bit of a handyman, don't mind digging around for materials, and like getting creative, you can try giving Daniel Connell's DIY wind turbines a bash. Connell's design calls for using aluminum lithographic offset printing plates to catch the wind, which he says can be obtained cheaply (or possibly even free) from an offset printing company, a variety of hardware items and a bicycle wheel. Other than basic tools, including a hand drill, you'll need to buy or borrow a pop riveter and some assorted hardware (bolts, nuts, and washers) to construct this device. According to Connell's notes, this DIY wind turbine, which can be built in either a three vane or six vane version, has successfully survived sustained winds of 80km/h (three vane) and up to 105km/h for the six vane version. This wind turbine won't necessarily be powering your home (although a series of these could potentially be used to generate enough electricity to charge a battery bank for modest home use), but it might be a great hands-on school project for your child, or as a hobby.

For the full tutorial click here.

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Africa's Largest Wind Farm Now Online Ethiopia recently unveiled Africa's largest wind farm! The 120mW Ashegoda Wind Farm cost the French firm Vergnet SA $290m to build, and it's just one part of a greater plan to boost energy production from 2 000mW to 10 000mW within the next five years. The facility will help to reduce the occurrence of blackouts in Africa's second most populous country while diversifying Ethiopia's energy portfolio and bolstering the country's role as a key exporter of energy within the region. The Ashegoda Wind Farm's completion was made possible with the help of concessional loans from BNP Paribas and the French Development Agency (AFD). The Ethiopian government also played a part in the wind farm's construction, covering nine percent of the cost. As reported by Al Jazeera, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn outlined the importance of wind power across Ethiopia during a speech at the wind facility's launch: 'Various studies have proved that there is potential to harness abundant wind energy resources in every region of Ethiopia. We cannot maintain growth without utilising the energy sector.' Experts have estimated that Ethiopia's hydropower potential hovers around 45 000mW, while geothermal could provide a more modest 5 000mW. The country's wind power potential, on the other hand, is believed to be Africa's third-largest, eclipsed only by Egypt and Morocco. The 84 turbine wind farm will reduce the country's reliance on hyrdopower, which can prove an unreliable source of energy, especially during the dry seasons. 'It complements hydropower, which is seasonal. When you have a dry water season we have higher wind speed,' said Mihret Debebe, CEO of the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation. While this diversification is a step in the right direction, Ethiopia will still derive more than 50% of its energy from hydropower, especially since much of the 12 000mW target will be met by the controversial 6 000mW Grand Renaissance Dam currently under construction on the Nile River. This hasn't stopped the nation from moving full steam ahead on other renewable energy projects, however; last week the government signed a preliminary agreement with a US-Icelandic firm that plans to invest $4b in Ethiopia's first geothermal farm.

Beacon of Energy International architecture group Skidmore, Owings & Mills (SOM) recently unveiled their designs for Indonesian state-owned energy company Pertamina’s new headquarters. It is being hailed as a futuristic 'energy beacon' that pierces the Jakarta skyline. Shaped like the petals of a budding flower, the Pertamina skyscraper will open slightly at its peak to harness wind energy. Slated for completion in 2020, the skyscraper will become the city’s tallest landmark at more than double the height of the current record holder. Sustainable strategies at the core of its design are exposed in its simple profile yet sophisticated architectural expression. Gently tapering towards a rounded top, the tower opens up at the crown, revealing a ‘wind funnel’ that will take advantage of the prevailing winds and increased wind speeds at the upper floors to generate energy. Precisely calibrated for Jakarta’s proximity to the equator, the tower’s curved facade will mitigate solar heat gain throughout the year. Exterior sun shades will dramatically improve the workplace environment and save energy by reducing the need for artificial lighting in the office interiors. Overall, the development is targeting net zero energy.

For more info click here.

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C limate

news

enviro-issues & how we can help

CLIMATE CHANGE: Your home and transportation could be major sources of greenhouse gas emissions. A certified home energy audit can help make your home more energy efficient. If you get around by bike, walking or public transportation you are doing your part to fight global warming, but if you must own a motor vehicle, consider rather a fuel-efficient hybrid or go electric.

Inevitable West Antarctic glacier loss A new study by researchers at NASA and the University of California, Irvine, have found that a rapidly melting section of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet appears to be in an irreversible state of decline – although the entire event may take more than 200 years.The study presents multiple lines of evidence, incorporating 40 years of observations that indicate the glaciers in the Amundsen Sea sector of West Antarctica 'have passed the point of no return,' according to glaciologist and lead author Eric Rignot, of UC Irvine and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. Basically, warm water has been melting the underside of the floating ice, which has been pushing the grounding line farther inland. This video below demonstrates the grounding line retreat. For more info click here.

POLLUTION: Many of the solutions to air pollution are similar to those for climate change, though it’s important to either make a concerted effort to drive less, or switch to a lower-emissions vehicle. If you aren’t able to install solar or wind power on your property or if your utility gets its electricity from dirty energy sources, consider signing up for a renewable energy producer that connects consumers to 100% renewable energy sources to power their homes.

DEFORESTRATION: You can support Rainforest Alliance and similar organizations, stop using paper towels and use washable cloths instead, use cloth shopping bags (instead of paper), and look at labels to make sure you only use FSC-certified wood and paper products. You can also boycott products made by palm oil companies that contribute to deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia.

WATER: Just as energy efficiency is considered an important solution to the issues of climate change and pollution, water efficiency can help us deal with water scarcity. Some ideas to be more water efficient include installing an Energy Star-certified washer, using low-flow faucets, plugging up leaks, irrigating the lawn in the morning or evening when the cooler air causes less evaporation, taking shorter showers and not running sink water when brushing your teeth.

“We’re not in an era where climate change is some sort of future hypothetical. There is no question that we live in a world that’s already altered by climate change.” Chris Field, Carnegie Institution, California

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BIODIVERSITY: As consumers we can all help protect biodiversity by purchasing products that don’t harm the environment. Next time you are buying groceries, check to see if food packaging contains any eco-labels, such as Fair Trade Certified or Marine Stewardship Council. Also, re-using, recycling and composting are easy ways to protect biodiversity.

Feeding the planet Out of the 68 projects submitted, Nemesi & Partners won the international competition for the design of the Italian Pavilion (which will concentrate on exposing the national food culture and tradition in terms of very high quality products and finished goods) for Expo Milano 2015. Their design, called the Palazzo Italia, is a six-story structure that will generate its own electricity while purifying the air, and will remain after the event is over. The overall concept of the architectural design of the Italian Pavilion is that of an urban forest in which the building, through its skin and its volumetric arrangement, takes on the features of an architectural landscape. The volumetric layout of Palazzo Italia is based on four main blocks that are organised around a central plaza and connected to each other by bridges. The four architectural volumes, like trees, have massive ground-level supports that simulate the great roots of the exhibition itinerary on the ground floor; the same volumes, seen from inside the plaza, opening and expanding upward, reach out with light branches through glass surfaces, creating a dynamic weave of foliage all the way up to the large roof terrace. The branching pattern of the external cladding of Palazzo Italia coherently interprets the theme of the tree of life, inserting it in the form of a petrified forest.

World Health Organisation claims air pollution killed 7 million people in 2012 According to the WHO, air pollution is responsible for one death in eight every year. Overall, 4.3 million deaths worldwide were linked in 2012 to indoor pollution primarily due to cooking with coal, dung, or wood stoves. Outdoor pollution from diesel engines and fires were linked to 3.7 million deaths. Many populations are exposed to poor air quality in both settings, causing a degree of overlap within the aggregate figure of seven million deaths. Further chronic health risks such as birth defects and impaired cognitive abilities in children add to the already sobering statistics. Click here to see the full report.

Carbon dioxide levels peak According to readings from monitoring equipment on a mountaintop in Hawaii, the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere has exceeded 402 parts per million (ppm) during the two recent days of observations â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the highest in at least the past 800â&#x20AC;&#x2030;000 years. Carbon dioxide is the most important long-lived greenhouse gas responsible for man-made global warming, and it is building up in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. Once emitted, a single molecule of carbon dioxide can remain aloft for hundreds of years, which means that the effects of today's industrial activities will be felt for the next several centuries, if not thousands of years. While the Earth's atmosphere has seen higher levels of carbon dioxide than it does now, as well as higher temperatures and far greater sea levels, those instances were due to natural drivers of climate change, such as periodic variations in the planet's orbit and in solar energy output. Scientists have studied and ruled out natural climate drivers as the main cause of global warming since the preindustrial era. Click here for more.

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PROJECT BLUE

C limate

news

China’s explosive economy has left the world in awe, but the country is paying a big price as the “factory of the world” is getting polluted at an alarming speed. Chinese cities are now characterized by an unhealthy hazy weather as the result of large amounts of suspended particles in the air. Students Yang Siqi, Zhan Beidi, Zhao Renbo and Zhang Tianshuo have come up with an idea to address this problem: a skyscraper that would actually transform air pollution into green energy. This sci-fi building proposal called Project Blue just won an honorable mention in eVolo’s 2014 Skyskcraper Competition. The purpose of Project Blue is to transform suspended particles into green energy by creating an enormous upside down cooling tower with a multi-tubular cyclic desulfurisation system that produces nitrogen and sulfur. When both elements are combined with the atmosphere's surplus of carbon monoxide the result is water coal that would later be transformed into methane and used as green energy through a low-pressure reaction called low pressure efficient mathanation – a physical-chemical process to generate methane from a mixture of various gases out of biomass fermentation or thermo-chemical gasification. Click here for more.

Our crops are in danger A study led by the University of Leeds has shown that global warming of only 2°C will be detrimental to crops in temperate and tropical regions, with reduced yields from the 2030s onwards. Published in the journal Nature Climate Change, the study reveals that climate change could affect the world’s crops much earlier than initially anticipated. The scientists found that farmland in temperate and tropical regions would be the most affected, and yields, crop development, and quality would suffer. In the study, the researchers created a new data set by combining and comparing results from 1 700 published assessments of the response that climate change will have on the yields of rice, maize and wheat. Due to increased interest in climate change research, the new study was able to create the largest dataset to date on crop responses, with more than double the number of studies that were available for researchers to analyse in 2007. www.leeds.ac.uk • www.phys.org

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key findings from the new UN Climate Science 1. Climate Report change is not a farmer's best friend.

3. Poor

and other vulnerable populations will suffer the most.

5. Global

warming will be harmful to the economy.

7. Sea-levels

2. We must

reduce the severity of climate change and adapt to its impacts.

4. Higher-end

warming scenarios show far greater risks of triggering tipping points.

and storms will combine to flood coastal cities and force millions from their homes.

'Waiting for climate change' Famed miniature artist Issac Cordal offers us a new perspective on the issues of climate change and capitalism through his provocative series of tiny cement sculptures that challenge our views of society. Thoughtfully arranged without the need for exposition, these mini-scenes are often arranged as site-specific street art interventions. In his series 'Waiting for Climate Change', Cordal created a set of ephemeral and partially submerged installations to draw attention to rising sea level change. http://cementeclipses.com

6. Global

warming is likely to lead to increased water stress.

For more info visit www.ipcc.ch

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CapeNature is the public institution mandated to promote and ensure biodiversity conservation within the Western Cape. CapeNature manages most of the mountain catchments and nature reserves that supply ecosystem services to the citizens of the Western Cape. This requires good scientific data, a sound understanding of fynbos ecology and commitment to the principles of integrated biodiversity management and planning.

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lighting the way Whether for a private home, a commercial business or a wine farm, you can draw smart energy from the sun for less.

Tel: +27 (0) 21 852 7333 Email: r.jacklin@soventix.com www.soventix.co.za

Soventix SA (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary of Soventix GmbH in Germany is involved with the development and realisation of roof top and carport solar photovoltaic plants from residential to agricultural as well as large scale solar farms. Whether you finance the solar plant yourself or sign a power purchase agreement, Soventix will ensure youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re protected from the rising costs of energy for the next 30 to 40 years. Not only will you be saving on your energy bills, but youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll also be contributing to a more sustainable environment. Renewable energy is the future and is more affordable than energy from non-renewable sources. becoming mo 45 S G

Buildings The National Energy Barometer Survey (NEBS) is an annual benchmarking service which Energy Cybernetics administers to compile an accurate database of building energy use information in the country. For the fourth consecutive year, Energy Cybernetics has made its locally developed Energy Barometer tool available to building owners and facility managers to participate in NEBS. The Energy Barometer is a non-intrusive and cost-effective process to determine the energy consumption stance of a building in relation to others in a similar market and environment. We take a look.

ach year building owners and facility managers enter their buildings in the National Energy Barometer Survey (NEBS)

to compare how they have improved their energy use against others in a similar industry - hospitals, offices, car dealers, hotels and shopping centers. The latest results are out and the top performing buildings for the 2012 utility year are: Head office: The Clicks Group. Shopping centre: Westgate Shopping Centre. Car dealership: Barons CV N1 City, owned by Barloworld Group. Hotel: Bantry Bay Luxury Suites. NEBS endeavors to compile an accurate database of building energy use information in the country and is supported by the Central Energy Fund (CEF), the National Energy Efficiency

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Agency (NEEA), the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) and the Energy Training Foundation (EnTF). Participants use the service at no charge, and for that they receive their ranking result that indicates where they are in accordance

Every business should have a CEM ÂŽ

with others in their respective industry. The results help them track their energy efficiency performance, they can see when energy savings investments have made a difference, and if there is potential for more savings because if others in their industry have done better, it means there is opportunity for improvement. Every year, the top performers need to make sure they stay there. That way Energy Cybernetics is contributing to making South Africa energy efficient. Teamwork

makes

energy

efficiency

happen, and it has to happen every day so that the energy savings can make a difference. NEBS helps to reward this teamwork by making

the top performing buildings visible - and the staff know they made a difference. The 5th NEBS is now open. It is an easy online process, just log onto www.energybarometer. com, mouse over the registration button and complete the required information such as building size, energy consumption from your utility bill for the year January to December 2013, the weather patterns to your area, and so on. NEBS encourages companies to become aware of their energy consumption levels, how their buildings are being operated, and to encourage improvements that will bring economic benefits while providing a platform for comparison and learning. All data received through NEBS is treated with utmost confidentiality and results are only made public for participants who agree to allow publication of their ranking. The closing date for completing NEBS entries is 1 July 2014, whereafter the data will be analysed and audited upon which all participants will receive an emailed NEBS certificate of their results.

For enquiries contact Thieda Ferreira:

A Certified Energy Manager (CEMÂŽ) has the knowledge and skills to ensure sustainable energy savings for any business CEMÂŽ is an intensive 4-day training course followed by an examination that requires a 70% pass-mark, after which the candidate may apply for international certification which is recognised in 90 countries. Note that re-certification is required every 3 years. An Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) qualification programme presented in Southern Africa by the AEE's sole approved training partner for the region, the Energy Training Foundation (EnTF). EnTF is also EWSETA accredited and a training provider of the SAEE.

Tel: +27(0) 87 942 5513/4 Cell: +27(0) 76 401 3881/2 info@entf.co.za | www.entf.co.za R

info@energybarometer.com. The Association of Energy Engineers

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M otoring

DRIVER I The Lexus RX pioneered the luxury SUV phenomenon when it was launched internationally in 1997, and since then it has gone on to become one of the world's most successful cross-overs. In fact, the RX heads the sales of Lexus in the US and in the process, outperforms its most direct European competitors two to one. It also enjoys the honour of being the vehicle with the highest customer satisfaction rating ever recorded in the JD Power quality survey. Espousing the 'everything included' philosophy, a generous slug of standard equipment is a given if you're shopping for a Lexus, but the RX350 Special Edition really does pull out all the stops. We take a look.

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NSPIRED

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ccording to Justin Ryan, General Manager of Lexus South Africa, 'the RX350 Limited Edition offers exactly the blend of virtues

and specification that most buyers of this car will be looking for. 'In addition, the recent styling revisions, most notably the more assertive frontal treatment and dynamic new 19-inch alloy wheels make a bold statement and give the RX a sportier persona.

WATCH THIS!

'In the cabin small but telling tweaks have been made to trim details as well as the shape and functionality of some of the controls, particularly the Remote Touch controller which operates more like a computer mouse. The Lexus attention to detail even extends to increasing the opening angle of the centre console box lid to make it easier to reach items inside â&#x20AC;&#x201C; now that's true luxury,' says Ryan. On top of the already well-endowed EX model, the new Special Edition gets the following equipment top-up: Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS): for enhanced nighttime visibility, especially on winding roads, the Dual-swivel AFS in conjunction with the High Intensity Discharge (HID) Xenon headlamps pivots the left headlamp up to 15 degrees and the right headlamp up to 10 degrees, helping to illuminate more of the road through turns. Naturally, headlamp washers are standard. Electronically adjustable steering column with memory. LED door scuff plates.

Side mirrors: now with memory function. Of course even the EX model comes with auto-folding and electrochromatic dimming as standard. Side monitor: a miniature camera incorporated into the passenger door mirror, transmits video images to the vehicle's central display. Ingeniously, the camera will continue to work even if the mirrors are folded back when negotiating a narrow entrance. The side monitor is activated by operating a button on the steering

providing the perfect counterpoint to the buttery soft, jet black leather which 'coats' all the upholstered surfaces including console box. Please note that the front seats are not only heated but come with integrated seat ventilation as well as memory settings for both front pews. Heads up Display: projects simple navigation directions, audio information and vehicle speed onto the front windscreen, so you can spend more time focused on the road ahead. And unlike other systems, it includes a distance countdown and an animated arrow that guides you intuitively through turns. 15-speaker Mark Levinson audio system: key to its superlative performance are no fewer than 15 speakers, each custom-engineered for the particular acoustic characteristics of, and location within, the cabin. It provides perfect 7.1-channel surround sound for your favourite CD, DVD or music from your phone or MP3 player.

UNCONVENTIONAL EFFICIENCY

wheel.

The 3.5l V6 Atkinson-cycle engine is able to convert

Bamboo cabin trim: slivers of silky blonde

more of the energy generated during combustion

bamboo wood trim adorn the steering wheel

into mechanical energy than conventional engines.

(combination wood and leather), interior doors,

This innovative system contributes to low emissions

instrument panel and cupholder garnish,

and enhanced fuel efficiency. The engine delivers 270

horsepower and makes 90% of its peak torque available in a low–RPM range for incredibly responsive power at all engine speeds – all while providing greater fuel-efficiency thanks to the dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence system. And the smooth six-speed automatic transmission uses multiple driving sensors to deliver improved performance and fuel efficiency. The RX Hybrid captures, cools and reuses exhaust gas, reducing emissions and providing best-in-class fuel economy. A portion of these gasses is used to warm up the engine, significantly shortening the time it takes the RX to reach a temperature at which it can function on battery power alone. Lexus' tireless environmental efforts have grown out of a genuine respect and concern for the environment. They say that their concerns range from the gathering and transporting of raw materials to the processing and assembly of vehicle parts, and from the processes at their dealer locations to the handling of materials at the end of a vehicle's life. Lexus also supports charitable programs that cover a wide range of initiatives. The Lexus Eco Challenge, Champions for Charity golf events and the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors are just a few. Each of these charities

Key USPs of the Lexus RX Range Two engine options (3.5 V6 and Hybrid Electric) and three-model line-up – RX 350 EX, RX 350 Special Edition and RX 450 SE. Recently refreshed styling displaying stronger frontal styling with de rigueur spindle grille and deft L-Finessse design touches, a redesigned interior with a wider choice of colours and trims, a new-look instrument binnacle and a second-generation of Lexus's Remote Touch Interface. New 19' alloy wheel design for the RX 350 EX. 3.5 V6 vital statistics – 204 kW @ 6200 rpm / 346 Nm @ 4700 rpm (0-100 km/h in 8 secs / ave 10,6 litres per 100km) Hybrid vital statistics – 220 kW total system output for 3.5 V6 petrol engine with 2 high-output electric motors (0-100 km/h in 7,8 secs / ave 6,3 litres per 100km)

has its own unique approach in improving the lives it touches. In conjunction with their dealers, Lexus is proud to give back to communities and help improve the world.

For more info visit www.lexus.co.za or join Lexus on Facebook.

These pages were made possible with the kind assistance of Lexus

Mobility News

Halfbike

Aerofex Airplanes and helicopters are costly and complicated, putting them out of reach for most people. By reducing costs and simplifying training, Aerofex aims to make flight an affordable reality for businesses ready to employ a multitude of low-altitude applications and for consumers eager to take to the sky. The Aero-X can be adapted for unlimited outdoor uses: surveying, search and rescue, border patrol, disaster relief, aerial agricultural, ranching, and much more. Because the Aero-X is intuitive to fly, you can learn to operate it safely in just a weekend of training. It responds to your movements just as a motorcycle would. And it costs a fraction of even the most basic airplane or helicopter. Maintenance is simple and inexpensive, as the Aero-X is built with very few moving parts and is powered by a reliable rotary engine.

Those cyclists who are not fond of hunching over their handlebars or worry about male numbness and potential prostate problems may be happy to hear about the Halfbike. Currently being crowdfunded over at Kickstarter, the Halfbike is a personal transport vehicle that allows the rider to pedal and manoeuvre in an upright position. Designed by architect Martin Angelov, co-founder of Tuscon, Arizona-based transport design company Kolelinia Lab, the Halfbike has been dubbed the 'low-tech Segway' which the rider controls and brakes through a single, central handlebar. The Halfbike's compact, 8kg design means that it can conveniently be taken anywhere a conventional bike would not be able to go. http://kolelinia.com

For more info click here.

E-FAN's maiden voyage The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first battery-powered airplane, E-Fan, recently completed its first flight in Bordeaux, France. This plane features a technology that could have far-reaching benefits to the environment. Besides its low cost, the aircraft could pave the way to lowering global carbon emissions of commercial flights. Airbus plans to manufacture two versions of the E-Fan. The two-seater E-Fan 2.0 will be a fully electric training aircraft, while E-Fan 4.0 will be used for both training and general flight purposes and will be powered by a hybrid system. Click here for more.

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H(onda)2O Honda is a car company known for its sustainable efforts, which is why they wanted to think of a clever way to promote the new Honda FCX, the world’s first mass-production car that uses compressed hydrogen instead of petrol. With the help of Leo Burnett Melbourne, they came up with a unique brand of water that is made entirely from the emissions of their new automobile. Let’s hope that Honda can continue to develop the proper infrastructure required to put hydrogen-fuelled cars on the road. Once they’ve done that, it would be great to see a less wasteful method of distribution than plastic bottles as well, which are known to cause a huge amount of damage to the environment. As it stands however, this is a great example of solving multiple problems at the same time. For more info on the Honda FCX click here.

Floating cars for tsunami-prone areas Claiming to be the world's smallest four-seat electric car, the Fomm Concept One can both float and move on water. Using a 'water jet generator' to propel itself forward, the car is expected to launch in Thailand in September 2015 with an aim to cover other parts of Southeast Asia and Japan shortly thereafter. Controlled by what looks like the handlebars from a jet ski, the concept weighs just 500kg and is powered by two in-wheel electric motors on the front axle. Sized smaller than a Smart car, if caught in a flash flood the vehicle can move on the surface, but Fomm do state that movement is limited. Click here for more.

Formula E for 'Electric' Formula E is a new FIA championship featuring single-seater cars powered exclusively by electric energy. It represents a vision for the future of the motor industry over the coming decades, serving as a framework to accelerate general interest in these cars while promoting sustainability. Running from September 2014 to June 2015, the championship will compete in the heart of 10 of the world's leading cities. The inaugural season will feature 10 teams with two drivers going head-to-head to create a unique racing series designed to appeal to a new generation of motorsport fans. www.fiaformulae.com

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Home

ECO-HOME S G 54

There are many ways to support an eco-lifestyle at home, from the amount of water you use when showering, to your waste disposal methods as well as pest control and cooking. In this edition, we take a look at a few helpful hints you can consider for heating and cooling, as well as some lighting options.

verything counts when it comes to making a shift towards a greener lifestyle. Whether you choose to install a solar geyser or simply make use of a geyser blanket,

these changes will have a positive effect. Remember, every little bit helps; recycling just one glass bottle saves enough electricity to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours.

Ceiling insulation One of the most important ways in which to manage the temperature in your home better is to insulate your ceilings. Ceilings and good roof insulation can keep a home 5°C warmer in winter and 10°C cooler in summer when compared to homes without insulation. Since 2011, it has been compulsory for all new buildings in South Africa to have insulation installed to a certain standard depending on its location. However, insulation can be added relatively easily to existing homes too. Insulation comes in many forms, including blanket-style strips that are rolled out between the rafters, silver foil or polystyrene boards that act as ceiling and insulation combined. While some insulation options are hazardous to human health and the environment, there are a number of affordable and sustainable options available. These include an option where cellulose fibre composed of recycled newspapers is pumped into the ceiling cavity and forms a thick layer when it settles on top of the ceiling boards.

Draft-proofing Many homes are difficult to heat or cool because of drafts entering from outside through gaps in windows and doors. Adhesive foam sealing tape in various widths is available at most hardware stores and can be adhered to the edges of doors and windows to close gaps and make your home more airtight. Specially designed draft-excluder strips are available to block gaps at the bottom of doors while allowing them to open and close easily. Alternatively, a long thin beanbag called a draft ‘snake’ or ‘sausage’ can be positioned to prevent drafts from entering underneath your door.

Space-heating tips There are a number of options available for heating indoor spaces, but many of them require a great deal of electricity.

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CFLs use up to 80% less energy than incandescent light bulbs, and they last up to six times longer. Used CFLs should be taken to a recycling facility. Some stores also have recycling bins for this purpose. Underfloor heating is one of the most energy-wasteful ways of heating a space and should be avoided if you are trying to save energy. You can use the following tips to keep your home warmer for more days of the year, reducing the amount of time you need to use extra heating: Keep curtains, blinds and shutters open during the day – especially where direct sunlight enters your home. Close all curtains when the sun goes down to retain as much heat as possible. When heating or cooling a space, it is advisable to make the space as small as comfortably possible by closing windows and both internal and external doors. Instead of heating a room, rather wear warmer clothes and use a hot-water bottle or a blanket to keep warm when sitting or sleeping.

Closed fireplaces One of the most enviro-friendly ways of heating internal spaces is to burn a sustainable fuel in a fuel-efficient closed fireplace. Open fireplaces lose a great deal of heat up the chimney, and the release of smoke and fumes into the house can be hazardous to one’s health. Closed fireplaces have a door, and modern designs maximise the release of heat from the fuel into the room while minimising the loss of heat up the chimney. Depending on the design, these fireplaces can be set into the wall or hung on the wall or they can stand alone. They can use a range of sustainable fuels, including sustainably-harvested wood, untreated waste wood or pellets made from waste wood or sawdust. Some of the more advanced units can also be used to heat household water.

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Energy-efficient bulbs Replace

incandescent

bulbs

with

compact

fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs or more expensive light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Compared to an incandescent bulb: CFLs use 80% less electricity and last up to 10

times longer. LEDs use 90% less electricity and last up to 25

times longer. As a general guideline, a 60-watt incandescent bulb emits roughly the same amount of light as a 13 - 15-watt CFL or a 6 - 8-watt LED. Both CFLs and LEDs are available in a variety of whites, including a soft warm white, so you don’t have to settle for that 'clinical' look. CFLs come in a wide range of fittings, so make a note of the size and type of your old bulb or take it along with you to ensure that you purchase the correct replacement. LEDs can replace most halogen bulbs used in recessed spotlights; again it may be best to take your old bulb with you to ensure you buy the right fitting. When disposing of CFLs, make sure that you don’t add them to your kerbside garbage, as they contain small quantities of toxic mercury that can be released when the bulbs are shattered. Rather take them to specialised dropoff points, some of which are conveniently located at major supermarkets. LEDs do not contain mercury or toxic chemicals, but

should be recycled at e-waste dropoff points.

The information in this article is pulled directly from the Nedbank Green Living Guide, which was compiled by The Sustainability Institute and endorsed by the GBCSA. For more info see advert, right, and download the Nedbank Green Living Guide here.

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MAKING

SUSTAINABLE LIVING HAPPEN Many homeowners are taking action to ensure that their homes contribute towards solutions for a better future, rather than adding to the problem. The Nedbank Green Living Guide, the bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proactive response to helping homeowners green their homes, is a refined collection of options to consider when making a shift towards a greener lifestyle. From recycling to using ecofriendly products, the guide will assist users in creating energy-efficient homes that minimise environmental impact. Click here to explore simple, money-saving tips for a greener lifestyle.

Nedbank Limited Reg No 1951/000009/06. Authorised financial services and registered credit provider (NCRCP16).

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Buildings

challenge as

opportunity

Reflecting on the theme 'A Team that Plays Together Wins Together' at the 51st Clay Brick Association (CBA) AGM & Conference, President Julian de la Hunt (pictured, right) realises that the CBA, as it stands today, is now in a position that he would not have even fathomed as little as 10 years ago. He even notes that 51 years ago, terms like 'embodied energy', 'carbon footprint', 'C-value', 'R-value' and 'Life Cycle Assessments' wouldn't have featured in any of the founding members' vocabulary.

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oday, as brickmakers, we find ourselves in whole new era. Not only do we need to learn this jargon, but we are also forced to understand how our Clay Brick products

perform in context â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and in line with latest building trends and National Building Regulations. Above this, the plethora of new legislation that we have been forced to comply with, of late, has made the landscape that we as manufacturers operate in, ever-changing. In fact the only thing that we can be certain about going into the future is change Itself. Additionally, while we as manufacturers of the most enduring and time-tested building materials ever, have every confidence in the performance of the products we are producing, in the last 10 years, we have also seen scientific research prove clay brick's strength and versatility. Almost daily, we see clay brick being used as the 'benchmark' for other alternates to compare themselves to. So much so, there have been an increasing number of false statements being made in the media, which your Association addresses tirelessly to rectify. Going forward, we will continue to research and promote, clay brick, as a product and brand. However, we can only gain value from the work that we are doing, as your CBA, if we get ongoing support and input from you, as members of the Association. So please help us to help you. If we ask for information to support research or any other project we may be working on, please respond to the surveys or questions asked. Information is only meaningful when accurately supplied by a high percentage of members. As is happening in developing nations, and has occurred in the past, there will be redevelopment and modernisation in our industry. Those companies that choose to adapt their production methods to minimise waste and energy usage, while improving on the quality of their products, will grow at the expense of those who believe it is 'business-as- usual' going forward. In a strange way, there is more potential in an industry where a scrap value of 20% and low energy efficiency is the norm, as opposed to an industry which has gone through the development phase, and everyone is competing at a higher level with efficiencies already in place. As an Industry our customers will be asking about our impact on the environment, our carbon footprint and how much we recycle. Studies commissioned by the CBA and tools derived from this research will assist members with putting the necessary strategies in place. While the outlook for our industry appears to be more positive, the road ahead may present its challenges. Be aware that in every challenge, there is opportunity â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for those who are prepared to go for it. So, go for it.

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Buildings

Building a

Sustainable Future with Energy-Efficient Clay Bricks In an innovative move to meet the demand for affordable low carbon clay bricks in South Africa, the launch of a new Energy Efficient Clay Brick Project (EECB) is set to facilitate sustainable transformation in this sector through strategically targeted interventions that focus on enhanced energy efficient production practices and reduced CO emissions across the entire market system, thereby also contributing towards the South African Government's energy-efficiency targets. 2

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he announcement was made, recently, by His Excellency the Ambassador of Switzerland to South Africa, Mr Christian Meuwly, in the presence of a delegation of both Swiss

and South African government representatives, as well as other stakeholders from the Clay Brick sector and built environments at the launch of the EECB Project, which took place at Freedom Park in

Pretoria. 'The EECB Project represents Phase II of the four-year Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln (SA-VSBK) Project, following the successful implementation of this open source South-South Technology Transfer Programme at Langkloof Bricks in Jeffreys Bay, which has seen this energy-efficient brick-firing process being adapted and improved to suit this country's large-scale industrial requirements,' said Ambassador Meuwly. The VSBK is a continuous up-draught kiln that provides for a reduction in energy consumption during the brick-firing process. This new South African improved version of the technology, designed by Jeffrey's Bay based Rowe Construction, has been substantially advanced to maximise on energy consumption and overall production costs, whilst also minimising the initial build costs to construct the kilns.

The EECB Project The EECB Project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Climate, as part of their Change Mitigation Programme, which focuses on energy-efficiency in the building sector. The planning and implementation is undertaken by Swisscontact (Swiss Foundation for Technical Cooperation) with the support of a team of experts in the field of clay brick manufacture and energy-efficiency. Outlining the objectives and structure of the EECB Project, Juancho Hagnauer from Swisscontact explained, 'Ultimately, the end goal is to transfer this new generation of VSBK brick-firing technology, coupled with advanced energy-efficient production practices to a critical mass of at least 50 clay brick producers. This will facilitate a reduction in CO2 emissions by as much as 320â&#x20AC;&#x2030;000 tons per year, resulting in a

10% reduction in input energy.' 'This is achievable as part of a unique market development approach, that integrates energy-efficient production practices with capacity building and knowledge-sharing throughout the entire supply and demand market chain. Therefore, the EECB Project will act as a facilitator of change by equipping both the clay brick producers and related services providers with the necessary knowledge and resources required to make this transition, whilst also engaging with the financial services, private and public sectors to support energy-efficient practices with more favourable financial products and regulations,' said Hagnauer. 'Ultimately, the project aims to increase the marketable steady supply of low-carbon clay bricks, in response to the growing demand for cost-effective, enviro-friendly building materials that meets the

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criteria for green building. Simultaneously, the clay brickmakers will benefit from energy-efficient production practices that will impact positively on climate change, as well as meeting the economic, environmental and social criteria of the clay brick market chain', said Hagnauer

The EECB launch This discussion formed the last part of an interactive three-tiered presentation that involved a series of table presentations focused on related topics, such as the VSBK technology, site implementation, the Clay Brick Carbon Tax Assessment, the Clay Brick Life Cycle and Socio-Economic Impact Assessment/s, as well findings of research pertaining to the Clay Brick Informal Sector. This was followed by a panel discussion, with Ambassador Meuwly, Ms Mokgadi Modise, Chief Directorate of the Department of Energy (DoE), Ms Tumi Dlamini, Executive Director of the Master Builders Association (MBA), as well as Julian de la Hunt, Vice-President of the Clay Brick Association (CBA), with Simon Gear, environmental consultant and air quality specialist, facilitating the proceedings. 'The building and construction sector accounts for as much as

'Ultimately, the project aims to increase the steady supply of low-carbon clay bricks, in response to the growing demand for cost effective, enviro-friendly building materials that meets the criteria for green building.' Juancho Hagnauer, Swisscontact

30% of this country's GHG emissions. Thus, robust collaboration is taking place between our two countries, in an effort to assist the South African Government in fulfilling its commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 34% in 2020, below a 'business as usual' growth trajectory,' said Ambassador Meuwly. 'Above this, the South African government also has the National Energy Efficiency Strategy in place which addresses energy-efficiency in buildings. This is further supported by the National Building Regulation SANS 10400XA which refers to energy usage in buildings. Some municipalities are already introducing energy-efficiency calculations in the approval of building plans, so in the future we will see new buildings being measured for electricity output,' added Ms Modise. 'There is a vast difference in approach between the multi-national contractor

and

the

smaller

builder

towards

incorporating

energy-efficiency principles, as per SANS 10400XA into buildings, hence our efforts need to be geared towards empowering the smaller to medium-sized builder to work closely with the designers, who at the end of the day specify the end product. Hence, we will need more a collaborative effort going forward, not only between the private and public sectors but also within the various stages of any building project,' said Ms Dlamini. 'We are very fortunate to be able to benchmark the success of Langkloof Bricks and their transition towards an energy-efficient production process, as one that makes good economic and business sense. Clay brick has been proven time and time again to be the preferred method of construction, as a thermally-efficient and environmentally friendly building material, hence there is a strong drive from the CBA to support energy-efficient production practices

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ABOUT Swisscontact Swisscontact promotes economic, social and ecological development by supporting people to successfully integrate into local commercial life. Swisscontact creates opportunities for people to improve their living conditions as a result of their own efforts. The focus of its systemic interventions in the private sector is the strengthening of local and global value chains. Through its projects, Swisscontact enables access to professional training, promotes local entrepreneurship, creates access to local financial service providers and supports the efficient use of resources with the goal of successfully promoting employment and income generation. Swisscontact focus in South Africa mainly on Resource and Energy Efficiency projects on one side and Youth and Entrepreneurship Development on the other side.

It is expected that clay brick makers in SA will increase their productivity, become more cost-effective and be able to meet the demand for low-carbon clay bricks. It is further expected that EE production practices will impact positively to the climate change and economic, environmental and social aspects of the clay brick market chain.

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within our industry, said de la Hunt.' 'This Project is one of many energy-efficiency projects the Swiss Government is currently involved with in SA. We supported the setting up the National Cleaner Production Centre with the Department of Trade and Industry about 10 years ago. More recently, we are working with the municipalities to improve the energy-efficiency of street lighting. Another project involves improving the accessibility of industry and small entrepreneurs to green credit lines. We have another instrument with the International Energy Corporation and a local Investor to help small businesses get finance for energy related projects,' concluded Meuwly. It is expected that clay brick makers in SA will increase their productivity, become more cost-effective and be able to meet the

'There is a vast difference in approach between the multi-national contractor and the smaller builder towards incorporating energy efficiency principles, hence our efforts need to be geared towards empowering the smaller to medium-sized builder to work closely with the designers. Tumi Dlamini, Executive Director of the Master Builders Association

demand for low-carbon clay bricks. It is further expected that EE production practices will impact positively to the climate change and economic, environmental and social aspects of the clay brick market chain.

These pages were made possible with the kind assistance of:

ABOUT SDC The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is Switzerlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s international cooperation agency within the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). In cooperating with other federal offices concerned, SDC is responsible for the overall coordination of development activities, as well as for the humanitarian aid delivered by the Swiss Confederation. The support of Switzerland in South Africa started in 1994, and has evolved from national, to a regional programme covering the SADC member states. In South Africa, a programme focusing on Climate Change Mitigation and Energy Efficiency is implemented jointly by SDC and the Swiss Economic Cooperation and Development (SECO). The Energy Efficiency (EE) Building Programme of SDC has the objective of contributing to a significant reduction in energy consumption in the building sector through enhanced energy efficiency in the full life cycle of the buildings. The Programme has three levels of intervention namely: policy support, capacity building and projects implementation.

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A natural choice A dvert o rial

To build with real fired clay bricks is to use one of the most enduring and beautiful materials known to humankind. In durability, strength,

thermal and acoustic insulation, genuine clay bricks have no equal.

Imperial Brick Projects Hotel Verde, Cape Town International

Furthermore, clay bricks are practical, easy to build with, offer good plaster adhesion and beat any weather during construction. Taking into account their many advantages, real clay bricks are more affordable over time than any other building material or bricks made of inferior substances. We take a look at the breakdown of recycled content of a local manufacturer's clay products.

UWC Residential Life Building ape Town based manufacturer Heavy Clay Products Group (which incorporates Claytile, Clayblock & Heavy Clay Technology) incorporate a number of energy and resource saving procedures in their manufacturing

process in order to promote resource sustainability. Once mining activity has been completed, the mined areas are rehabilitated to original agricultural state as per Department Mineral & Energy guidelines. They also use combustion energy in the form of coal fines that are sourced as a by-product from the coal industry (washings from Saldanha Steel), and their drying energy is derived from the incineration of wooden pallet waste from GKN Chep, which would normally be disposed in landfill sites.

Blue Route Mall

Potable water is substituted with recycled waste water from FFS refiners, a by-product of the refining of waste marine oil slops from the shipping industry, which would also usually be disposed of in landfill sites. Storage tanks and piping into Claytile's factory ensure that no contamination of surrounding soil or ground water occurs. The Clay NFP & NFX bricks that are produced have a unit mass of 2.3kg, as opposed to the 3.5kg of most Western Cape opposition producers. This weight-saving advantage enables them to palletise 600 units per pallet, meaning their load sizes of 15â&#x20AC;&#x2030;000 bricks are possible as opposed to just 10â&#x20AC;&#x2030;000 per truck, leading to less truck movement and lower traffic congestion. Slab loads per

UCT - New Engineering Building

square meter of walling are significantly lower, which means design engineers are able to reduce their steel requirements. By using embodied energy in a modern tunnel kiln to fire their products, no heavy furnace oil is used at any stage of the firing process. Brick units are extremely uniform due to computerised kiln temperature controls that monitor and regulate firing temperature variances. Having been awarded the SABS mark of approval in January 2013, their

new production facility is

unaffected by inclement weather, guaranteeing

uninterrupted

product supply, which currently is around 7.5 million units per month all year around. See ad, right for more.

Lentegeur Hospital, Mitchell's Plain

clay brick

the

To order your Imperial or Maxi Plaster Bricks: Call: 021 884 4589 E-mail: info@claytile.co.za or visit www.heavyclayproducts.co.za 69 S G

Buildings

SAND: the test S G 70

t of time

Sand has been the most widely used construction material for the last 10â&#x20AC;&#x2030;000 years, and, even today, at least a third of the world's population live in houses built of sand. We take a look at saving your rands by building with sand.

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he idea of making walls by stacking bags of sand or earth has been around for at least a century. Sandbags have been used for flood control and military bunkers because

they are easy to transport to where they need to be used, fast to assemble, inexpensive and effective in warding off both water and bullets. Sandbag building fills a unique niche in the quest for sustainable architecture. The bags are filled with local natural materials which lower the embodied energy commonly associated with the manufacture and transportation of building materials. The fill material is generally of mineral composition and is not subject to decomposition (even when damp) nor attractive to vermin. The fill material is generally completely non-toxic and will not release any noxious fumes into the building structure in the event of a fire. A common misconception is that a green building has to look radically different from other buildings. In the case of sandbag construction the houses look and feel exactly the same as a plastered brick structure. This eco-friendly method of construction is superior to a conventional brick wall in so many ways; a sandbag home is waterproof, fireproof and thermally highly efficient, meaning you'll feel warmer in winter and cooler in summer. A sandbag home is acoustically superior to a standard brick wall. Sandbag construction offers the opportunity to own a home that is healthier to live in, as it's free of mould, damp and spore. A sandbag structure that has been put together in a unique combination of timber framework and bags has amazing strength. It is able to support any type of roof structure and is also able to support heavy kitchen cupboards mounted on walls. Any room size of floor-to-ceiling height can be achieved. This flexibility is just one of the many advantages that make this building system perfect for any project. It is estimated that about 800 diverse structures have been built using this building methodology throughout South Africa, ranging from double storey houses to large commercial structures. The system is fully endorsed and supported by the NHBRC. With rising energy costs and an ever growing green consciousness, a new approach to designing and construction has become essential. Sandbag construction is a technology that provides for a more comfortable, quieter and secure home while still being able to save energy, save money and provide a healthier structure to live within. 'The bottom line is that with the sandbag building system, better quality homes can be built for less money, using ecologically sound materials', says Andy Strydom of Ambidex Projects.

For more info visit www.ecobuilders.co.za

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Building

Nothing beats timber Using wood to enhance our lives, from tools like spears and, later, bows and arrows to hunt with, through to the structure and decoration of our abodes, has been a practice of humanity since soon after we emerged as a 'new' species. But even in the 21st century we are rediscovering that wood remains one of our best and most useful natural resources when it comes to building. We take a look at timber-frame and related construction methods, and why they can be among the greenest of building systems.

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othing

uildings are collectively one of the largest consumers of world energy resources. In present times of global warming and changing weather patterns, sustainability, and more

specifically, sustainable building, is fast progressing from a buzzword to a necessity and we are increasingly called upon to make carefully considered environmentally friendly choices in terms of what we consume and what carbon footprint we leave behind. Of the various raw materials to choose from for building, timber has by far the lowest embodied energy, and if grown in a sustainably managed plantation, is a truly renewable building resource. Global debate over sustainable management of forests and the dangers of deforestation, has led to the development of forest management certification, ensuring that timber from plantations is harvested sustainably. Timber as a building material serves to reduce carbon in the atmosphere. The carbon cycle in the lifecycle of a tree is such that during the growth and life of a tree carbon is absorbed out of the atmosphere, and when a tree is burnt as fuel or left to decay, the same amount of carbon is again released into the atmosphere. In this cycle a tree can be said to be carbon neutral, or a temporary store of carbon. If, however, the tree is harvested for use as a building material, the timber utilised remains a store of carbon for the duration of the life of the building, at least, therefore reducing the amount returned to the atmosphere. Timber harvested from well-managed plantations is deemed to be a renewable building material, and to therefore have the lowest embodied energy – the total energy used in the production of the building material. It is therefore said that if the source wood itself is sustainably managed and harvested, then all the non-combustion applications for which that timber is used would have a relatively small carbon footprint. As to whether the source timber comes from a properly managed forest or plantation, few of us would have any hope of being able to trace back any materials we might choose for a new home. Hence there is a need for independent bodies to ascertain and affirm the sustainability of such materials. One such, which is widely used and recognised, is that of the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) – see

following page for more. In South Africa, timber homes were re-introduced as an alternative to conventional brick and mortar homes in the '60s. While 70% of the population of the developed world's population live in timber-frame homes – up to 90% in Canada and the United States and New Zealand and 20% in the UK – it has a relatively minuscule share of the local market at an estimate of around 1%. Over the last decade there has, however, been a steadily growing interest in South Africa, as elsewhere in the world. Now the timber frame building system in South Africa is included in the National Building Regulations (NBR), and is recognised by the NHBRC, lending institutions, insurers and local authorities. Timber frame has many forms, and in South Africa, the term refers to what some countries call 'conventional framing'. Conventional Timber Framing, as is predominant in South Africa, is also referred to

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as 'Platform Framing'. The walls are manufactured on site or pre-manufactured in panels, and then raised and fitted onto the floor platform of the building, with the next floor platform, in the case of a double storey building, resting on the frames. External cladding can be timber in various options, a manufactured fibre-cement building plank which can be painted to any colour, or a smooth plastered cement-like finish. Internal cladding can be smooth skimmed dry walling, or timber panelling in a variety profiles, textures and styles. Solid Log homes have also maintained popularity and there are several companies in South Africa who produce high quality log homes. Although timber buildings have been built in South Africa since the early 1800s, it's only in the last 30 years that this form of construction has really become established. Timber

frame

buildings

are

acceptable

It is no surprise then that despite the attractions and some benefits of more modern materials, timber frame remains the most widely used structural building method in the world, offering a fast, eco-friendly, highly insulated building solution, all in one package. One can assume that as the efforts to curb global warming increase there will be a louder call for more sustainable methods of construction.

construction method and supported by our financial institutions on condition that the house is to be

while equally rooted in many practical advantages,

constructed according to SANS 10082. The Institute

including that of being a truly sustainable material.

of Timber Frame Builders objectives are to promote

Timber's warmth and tactile qualities provide a

and maintain acceptable standards with regard to all

welcoming homeliness and closeness to nature.

aspects and disciplines of Timber Construction.

and efficient, utilising easily transportable lightweight

to as 'Post and Beam' construction and the British call

materials which greatly reduces disturbance to the

'Heavy Framing'. American timber framing is based

surrounding environment during the construction

on a traditional method of building dating back to

process. It is the ideal building type for inaccessible

ancient Japan, Europe and medieval England, and

or remote sites, as well as steep sites and when

has seen a revival in the States since the '70s. While

building in environmentally sensitive areas. From a

stemming from ancient traditions, timber frame has

design point of view, timber is an ideal material to

evolved to being considered a 'modern method of

work with providing unlimited scope.

construction' today. This is largely because, when

It is easy to say in general that wood and

compared to 'traditional' brick and mortar, which

wood-framed buildings are not only cost-effective, in

is literally put together, piece by piece, on site,

terms of final cost per square metre of construction,

timber allows for accurate pre-machining in a factory

but are overall better for both environment and

environment with assembly on site. Another reason

for their occupants' health and general state of

is that the hollow frame allows for an infill of the

well-being.

ever-increasing variety of modern insulation options.

Timber frame benefits

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With timber homes, the building process is quick

In the USA and SA, timber frame is what we refer

Timber-frame constructions also have other benefits, such as fitting quite well with other 'natural' building methods â&#x20AC;&#x201C; such as straw bale, cordwood

A lot has been written about 'natural' buildings

masonry and cob building â&#x20AC;&#x201C; because these methods

being better for their occupants than other types

can involve infilling between the timbers that make

of structures. It is a complex issue and one cannot

up the building's structural framework.

therefore simply state that a 'natural' building

Energy efficiency can be achieved by solar-passive

constructed primarily of wood, for example, is

design, which maximises natural heating, cooling

necessarily 'better' than a steel-and-glass structure.

and ventilation, as well as using sufficient insulation.

The choice of using timber as the primary structural

Active solar interventions such as the utilisation of

and often visible material, is largely a personal one,

a solar water heating system further reduce energy

FSC & Fairtrade wood products About Fairtrade International and FSC Fairtrade International is a global NPO that works with farmers and workers to improve lives through fairer trade. They lead the Fairtrade system, develop the Fairtrade Standards and support producers. FSC provides standard setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services to companies and organisations. Products carrying the FSC label are independently certified to rigorous social, economic and ecological standards. FSC rules and procedures are developed through strong multi-stakeholder processes supported and endorsed by social, environmental and economic constituents in the Global South and Global North alike. Fairtrade International (FLO) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) International Center are carrying out a joint pilot project to help community-based and small-scale timber producers get a fair price for their products and gain visibility in the marketplace. This pilot project is designed to improve prices and market access for small-scale timber producers through dual FSC and Fairtrade certification. It is aimed at small-scale and community forest enterprises in the developing world that have been certified to both the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Fairtrade Standards. For more info: Fairtrade; Mariska Przyklenk, FSC/ Fairtrade Timber Project Manager; Shoana Humphries, Social Policy Manager, FSC International Center. Find out more at www.fsc.org. To download Fairtrade Standards for timber click here. The FSC-controlled wood classification aims to guide manufacturers away from using wood sourced from controversial practices such as illegal logging, conversion of forests to plantations or non-forest uses (for example, cutting down a forest and turning it into palm oil plantation), and high conservation value (HCV) forests, social conflict areas and GMOs.

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consumption, and result in financial savings in the

significantly higher thermal insulation of timber-frame

long run.

type systems comes at an affordable price when

Strength. Timber framing by either method

compared with alternative construction methods. Yet

is strong in real structural terms. Heavy-timber

advantage

that,

despite

its

higher tolerance for variances during construction,

trauma from earthquakes, wind uplift and heavy snow

timber-frame structures usually have overall greater

or torrential rain downpour load than light-frame

accuracy and a better standard of finish after handover.

construction.

And timber-frame homes and other buildings of this

Conducive to infilling. There is a great practical advantage in erecting a timber frame first and that is getting the roof on as a protective

type have more facility for fixing constructional glitches.

umbrella, and then infilling the structure using one or

Carbon conscious

more natural building methods. Heavy-timber framing

If you are a dedicated carbon-conscious consumer then

is more appropriate than stick framing for infilling

using timber-frame systems delivers a whole host of

with natural building techniques. With infilling, it is

advantages. Wood, as we have previously repeatedly

not critical that exact spacing be left between vertical

pointed out, is effective as a carbon-neutral material

studs or posts; masonry and cob can fit any space,

(even allowing for transport), and timber-frame has

and straw bales can be made to fit almost any width

the lowest CO2 cost of any commercially available

of space.

building material. For every m3 of wood used instead

Ease of construction. If you've never before

of other building materials, 0.8 ton of CO2 is saved

built a timber-frame structure, you might find it easier

from the atmosphere. Every timber frame home

than conventional studding, which requires fairly exact

saves about 4 tons of CO2. And timber, when properly

tolerances for the application of sheetrock, plywood

sourced and managed, is an organic, non-toxic and

and the like. With timber framing, far fewer pieces are

naturally renewable building material.

handled, and tolerances, at least in the post-and-beam frame, do not need to be quite so exact. Economy. If you are buying from a local sawmill,

It is no surprise then that despite the attractions and some benefits of more modern materials, timber frame remains the most

you will likely discover that timber framing is more

widely

economical than buying finished lumber. When buying

building method in the

heavy timbers from a distant source, this advantage is

world,

lost, and timber framing may become more expensive.

eco-friendly,

The key to building anything economically by any

insulated building solution,

method is to use local or indigenous materials.

all in one package. One

Quick turnaround. A key component in the

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another

frames, with or without infilling, are more resistant to

used

structural

offering

fast,

highly

can assume that as the

mix is that construction times are considerably

efforts

reduced using this technique â&#x20AC;&#x201C; often by as much as

warming

one third or more. Timber frame requires, according

will be a louder call for

to one study, 20% fewer on-site labour days during

more sustainable methods

primary construction. Impact of inclement weather

is reduced as construction need not stop in periods

of rain, frost, snow, and so on. Also, the program of

and

following trades (such as plumbers and electricians) is

a timber frame home â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

easier than with many other methods. Timber-frame

satisfying

additionally offers a lighter form of construction

requirements, and at the

which can be of benefit to foundations particularly

same time using natural

where poor ground conditions prevail.

materials

curb

increase

construction. rapidly

global there

Given

modernising

fast-paced

world,

sustainability

providing

Insulation. It also boasts improved sound

relaxing environment and

insulation compared with alternative construction

closeness to nature â&#x20AC;&#x201C; may

methods, particularly as separating walls. The

well be the answer.

Everything you need to know The Timber Frame Builder's Association (TFBA), now the ITFB, was established in 1982 with its main aim being to set and maintain high standards of quality and professionalism in the timber construction industry. It has as its mantra 'The Seal of Controlled Quality' â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a call to its member builders to adhere to ethical building practices.

n conjunction with the National Housing Building Regulations Council (NHBRC) and the South African Bureau of Standards Code of Practice for timber buildings (SABS 082/88), now known as SANS 10082, its founder-members set about firmly establishing timber frame construction in the market, today boasts a 29-year history with an unblemished track record. It remains the goal of the ITFB to increase awareness of the many benefits of timber buildings and to ensure that the high standards it set more than two decades ago are constantly upheld. 'Timber framing, while still the most common form of construction in many countries around the world, is rapidly gaining popularity in SA, due to it being lightweight and strong, very durable, suited to all climatic conditions, (potentially) enviro-friendly, extremely thermally-efficient â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and all structural timber in SA is harvested from sustainably managed local forests. 'Increasingly, architects and designers are turning to timber buildings and this is evident by the huge number of spectacular structures one can see all over SA,' says ITFB. Choosing a timber building shows that you care about the environment and our planet, says the institute. Timber buildings are carbon sinks. Trees absorb and store CO while they grow. The CO is thus stored in the sawn timber for the life-span of the building. Timber Buildings require much lower processing energy. Carbon dioxide emissions from the processing and manufacture of construction materials other than timber (brick, aluminium, steel and concrete), can be as much as 80% or higher. It follows then that if greater use is made of wood in buildings, the low fossil fuel requirement for manufacturing sawn timber compared with other materials is far more substantial in the long-term than the carbon stored in the wood building products. Timber buildings are enviro-friendly and therefore ideally suited to mountain-side plots, and eco-sensitive areas â&#x20AC;&#x201C; resulting in very little disturbance to the existing vegetation as well as minimising site excavation and costly access with heavier materials, adds the institute. 2

For a full list of ITFB members, see next page.

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Institute of Timberframe Builders S G 80

There are few timber-frame and primarily wood-based buildings that suffer 'sick building syndrome', while many steel-and-concrete structures, or earlier brick-based buildings do have such problems.

Western Cape Actfast Timber Homes

083 675 3518

S Meiklejohn

Builder

GDC Timber Homes

082 550 3114

G Cooke

Builder

Hayescraft

084 240 9901

J Hayes

Builder

Henton Homes

083 234 6633

H Pretorius

Builder

Logo Homes

021 8454606

B Paine

Builder

Rustic Homes

021 845 4606

P Silberbauer

Builder

Timbercraft

021 9882268

J Bunyan

Builder

Timber House Kits

082 853 7924

B Venter

Builder

Handwerker-Haus

021 865 0500

H.Buechert

Builder

Moss Construction

072 779 2465

K Moss

Builder

Caribbean Lifestyles

021 853 6553

T Weiss

Decks

Deck King

021 785 2627

M Burnham King

Decks

Deckscapes

086 010 4093

C de Jongh

Decks

Town & Country Projects

084 682 6641

G Fisher

Decks

Sauna & Decks for Africa

083 277 0527

W Gubb

Decks

Attie Mussmann & Associates

021 855 0724

A Mussmann

Designer

Jacques Cronje Timber Designs

082 925 0097

J Cronje

Designer

ITC

021 557 6851

G Butler

Associate

L C S Timber Solutions

021 808 7440

L.Silberbauer

Consultant

De Cruz Designs CC

021 762 8510

C de Cruz

Engineer

Airton Timbers

021 712 9386

H du Plooy

Supplier

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SNUGGLE S G 82

Your guide to efficient home heating

Winter is here and no doubt you will have already hauled the electric heater out of the closet. Or maybe you have a gas heater or traditional wood fire. We take a closer look at the greener options for warming your home this winter.

hen it comes to choosing between gas heaters, wood fires or electrical heating for keeping your house warm in winter there is little doubt that gas is the best choice

from an environmental perspective. Efficient and clean burning, gas is what you will find in most cold countries. But in South Africa, where we don't have piped gas to our homes, a little more careful thought is required to decide what's the optimum heating choice. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a very efficient way of heating but it is not cost effective unless you carefully select the type of heater that you use and it is still very expensive to run because the gas is linked to our petrol price which just seems to keep going up in spite of the recent decreases. The cost per kilowatt using gas is about 50% more expensive than electricity, but with electricity you are limited to a 3kw heater because of the capacity of a 16-amp plug, whereas you can get a gas heater with a +/-7kw output. Aesthetic and practical constraints undoubtedly come into the equation and so different methods of heating may well be necessary in different rooms of your house. A wall-mounted electrical heater is certainly going to be more sensible for a bathroom than gas, for example. Here is what you need to know to choose the greener, more efficient option for your home.

Electrical heating Electric heaters work through resistance. That is, electrical current flows through a heating element and the resistance that the current encounters causes the element to heat up. There are fundamentally two types of electric heaters to

E UP

choose from â&#x20AC;&#x201C; convection and radiant heaters. Convection heat uses the fact that hot air rises and relies upon natural convection to move the heat around the room. Radiant heat or infrared is different in that it heats objects, not the air. Why is this important? Well it can determine where certain types of heaters may be located. A convection heater will need to be located near the floor level as it has to warm cold air at the floor. A radiant heater on the other hand can be located at the floor or ceiling level since it is heating objects like room occupants or the floor or tub and so on.

ACR Firebox Stoves 83 S G

Convection heating units These kinds of electric heaters are excellent with regard to offering background heat for any closed room. Samples of convection heating units include oil-filled radiators, 'bar' heaters and panel heaters. As far as heating efficiency is concerned, the old-style bar heaters are undoubtedly the least energy-efficient, while wall-mounted panels are the most efficient and rival most other types of space heating options.

Fan heaters These are essentially a form of convection heater with the only difference being that rather relying on the heat to be moved around the room by rising warm air currents, cold air is pulled by a fan over the heating element and then blown into the room. Because of the fan, these units are relatively noisy but are good for quickly warming small spaces.

Radiant heaters These heaters work on the principle of safe infrared waves, similar to the sun. Rather than wasting energy by heating the ambient air through convection, the heaters emit radiant heat in an infrared band that is safe and ideal for absorption by the human body. Because of the 'focused' heating effort, these heaters typically use less than half of the energy of conventional heaters.

Wood fired heaters Wood fired heaters distribute heat by radiation, convection or a combination of the two. Radiant wood heaters create the majority of their heat (more than 60%) from the flames and heat people and objects directly, rather than heating the air. A convection wood heater heats and circulates warm air around a room, similar to electrical convection heaters.

Open fireplaces While an open fire is a joy to watch, fireplaces are generally very inefficient – only achieving around five to 10% efficiency. The fireplace itself is quite expensive to construct and requires a lot of materials. Additionally, an open fireplace only provides heat directly in front of the fire. Much of the heat can be lost through the rear wall which is often outside the home (at least with traditional fire place designs). An open fire's efficiency can be greatly improved (up to 35%) by the use of a fireplace insert which is a

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What to do with the ash from your wood fire? The ashes left behind from a wood fire are also a valuable and versatile by-product. Here are some great uses for your ash. Fire starters Lumps of charcoal (the black chunks, not the grey/white ash) shouldn’t be removed from your fireplace, if possible, as these will help kick along your next fire and get it cranking out heat far faster than a fire just started with wood alone. Filter Left-over charcoal can be pounded with a hammer and then ground into to a fine powder with a mortar and pestle or blender. This can then be used as a filter medium. Note that it’s not quite the same as activated charcoal that you buy, so don’t rely on it for filtering drinking water. Pest deterrent Sprinkle the ash around the border of garden beds to repel snails and slugs. This will need to be applied after rain. Compost Add a dusting of wood ash to each layer of your compost heap as you’re building it up. FertiliSer Ash contains potash (potassium carbonate), phosphate, iron, manganese, boron, copper and zinc and can be quite beneficial as a natural fertiliser. Wood ash increases the pH or alkalinity of soil, so use sparingly. Black charcoal is a little different in that it has a much higher ratio of carbon – so this can be used more liberally. Dehumidifying Lumps of charcoal placed in a can punched with holes can help reduce moisture in areas such as closets, basements, under sinks, etc. Cleaning Dip a damp rag into ash and use to clean silverware, brass and glass. Ash added to a scourer can also give your scouring a bit more oomph.

hollow, metal structure built into the fireplace, allowing for a greater degree of convection heating rather than relying purely on radiant heat.

Pot-belly heaters Pot-belly and similar wood heaters have an efficiency generally in the 25 – 40% range. A pot-belly generates both convective and radiant heat and is a good choice for heating small areas – particularly where space is an issue.

Slow combustion heaters Slow combustion heaters provide the best efficiency – up to 70%. This is due to an airtight firebox, additional airflow controls and air inlets plus secondary combustion chambers to improve efficiency. They are the best option for heating large areas and can be fitted with a fan to help move heat more evenly around the room. Closed wood burning stoves are definitely the most popular, most efficient, most economical, and environmentally friendly way of heating a home, as long as you can accommodate a chimney pipe or flue. There is a huge selection of products available and they come in small +/-5kw, medium +/-8kw, and Franco Belge

large +/-12kw sizes in classic and modern designs, and for freestanding or insert installations. 70% is the minimum efficiency for a closed wood stove to comply with the European regulations and the majority of them are closer to 80% efficient.

Selecting a wood heater As a general guideline, aim for 1 – 1.5kW for each 10m2 of area needing to be heated. For example, if you wish to heat 50m2 of living space, the heater should have a maximum output of 5-8kW. Accurate sizing is critical to the efficient operation and successful performance of a wood heater. Oversized heaters will not burn wood efficiently on low settings. And too small a heater will not be able to satisfactorily heat the area. It is often expected that a larger heater will heat most of the house. However, distributing the heat evenly throughout the house is not always possible. Open-plan areas are usually no problem, but getting heat down from high ceilings, along corridors and into bedrooms can be more difficult. In some cases, just leaving the door open does the trick. Sometimes ducts, ceiling fans or vents may be necessary to help Infiniti Fires

distribute the heat more evenly. Of course, if you are

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wanting to distribute heat throughout your home, then a convection heater will be more efficient than a radiant heater system.

Gas heaters Unless you are custom building your home and include gas supply for a built-in gas fireplace, the most likely gas heating option available in South Africa is the trusty free-standing gas heater that has a removable cylinder mounted in the back of the unit. Aside from the hassle of lugging the cylinder to the store for a refill, these heaters win hands down in terms of energy efficiency â&#x20AC;&#x201C; over 80% in comparison to the best slow wood burners which

Biofires Decorative Alternatives Although not strictly a heating option on their own, biofires create a warm and calming atmosphere in any living space. Burning plant-derived (sugarcane) ethanol these decorative heat sources are odourless and smokeless, making it possible to have them in a room without any need for a chimney. They are an efficient and relatively cheap source of energy, although not suitable for heating an entire room.

achieve around 70%. Gas heaters are also essentially clean burning with little to no air emissions except carbon monoxide in small quantities â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a fan-light or other air vent should be left open. If you use a very efficient [+85%] thermostatically controlled flueless gas heater like the Paloma which will heat about 75m2 and consume 0,5kg of gas per hour, then the operating costs are manageable because the thermostat cuts the burner back to a low flame when the room comes up to temperature. The other gas option are the more decorative flueless gas fires like the Infiniti range where again you get all the heat into the room and nothing is lost up the chimney. All flueless gas heaters must be used in well ventilated areas and cannot be used in a bedroom.

Beauty Fires

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Restio Energy

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Durban and Pretoria. In 2009, we started looking at solutions for people and businesses to reduce their electricity consumption. We realised then that even if half the claims that LED Lighting manufacturers were making were true, if would result in massive energy- and cost-savings for individuals and businesses alike. With the idea of providing cost-effective lighting solutions we took the plunge in what was still a fledgling market in South Africa with regards to LED Lighting, and we are still driven to provide cost-effective, high-quality and energy-efficient lighting to help save South African's as much money as possible and to protect them from annual electricity hikes!

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Mohair

a south african story From the catwalks of the world to the wardrobes, through the homes of the rich and famous, to home-spun traditional wear, runs a thread woven from the noble South African fibre â&#x20AC;&#x201C; mohair. The fleece of the Angora goat, mohair dates back thousands of years to the Tibetan Himalayas, from where the Angora originated. We take a closer look at how mohair has become a key player in local fibre production while taking the fashion industry 'back to its roots'.

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ohair today is one of the world's most exclusive natural fibres, with two centuries of refinement by the South African mohair industry behind it. The founding

of the mohair industry in South Africa was a stroke of good fortune after the Sultan of Turkey sent 12 infertile Angora rams and one ewe to South Africa in 1838. Unknown to the Sultan, the ewe was pregnant and gave birth to a ram kid, thus establishing the Angora breeding stock in South Africa. These beautiful, gentle animals ultimately found their way to the Karoo region of South Africa's Eastern Cape, where great flocks of Angoras are now farmed. Mohair is known worldwide as 'the noble fibre' or 'the diamond fibre'. Its exclusive qualities – lustre, resilience and colour reflection – have been its success, and the SA mohair industry has grown into the global leader, producing the world's best mohair.

The Mohair Process

Mohair surges ahead

The award-winning publication, Women's Wear Daily, recently declared that mohair is the new 'sustainable luxe'. Whether formally 'in fashion', as at present, or not, mohair is indeed a desirable renewable and natural resource and is, for the most

process.

Classing: Sorting the mohair into various lengths, fibre diameter and quality types. Meticulous classing adds value to the product.

Mohair & design

Scouring: Washing the mohair to remove excess dirt and oils (grease).

part in SA, produced according to sustainable guidelines. Angora goats are shorn twice a year and are not harmed during the

Design continues to play an important focal role in the way forward and the mohair industry in SA has identified the need to encourage innovation in the local arena. The Design Indaba in Cape Town has become the showcase of African design and talent and every year MSA encourages interactive opportunities for companies and designers to form part of its exhibition. In 2012, Li Edelkoort and her team from Paris, Collectif France Tricot, took an innovative new look at knitting and crafts and featured events like guerrilla knitting where students knitted 'around' live models, drawing much attention to the DIY movement. In 2013, the stall featured the mohair and wool felted nest by Porky Hefer, a creative designer who uses natural elements in order to call attention to environmental issues. This year has seen a literal 'spin' put on mohair production with the metaphorical introduction of a vintage bicycle powering a knitting machine when cycled.

Mohair facts

Mohair is determined by its micron count – the lower the micron, the closer to the skin the mohair can be worn – and this is where most of the kids' and young goats' hair is utilised in the knitting and fine worsted fabric sectors. The higher the micron,



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Shearing: Clipping the mohair fleece from the Angora goats twice a year, either by hand or with electric shears. The animals are not harmed in any way.

Carding: The mohair fibres are positioned in uniform lengths and most of the vegetable matter is removed. A sliver or coil of mohair, called a 'carded sliver' is produced. Combing: The remaining vegetable matter and shorter, irregular sized fibres are removed from the carded sliver to transform the mohair into the soft, luxurious mohair 'top'. Spinning: Converting the mohair top into yarn. The top is spun into a yarn specified for structure, thickness (yarn count) and surface. Mohair yarns are often twisted or brushed (raised) for a fluffy appearance. End Product: Dyeing – products can be dyed after combing (top dyeing) or spinning (yarn dying) or weaving (piece dyeing). Weaving – yarn is used to manufacture worsted or woven cloth. Knitting: Yarn is knitted into panels for garment production or circular-knitted for socks.

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ď &#x2122;

the stronger the application for which it is suitable. This is

Mohair manufacturers maximise on the fibre's unrivalled

type of fibre is drawn from the adult sector of a flock. Adult

natural beauty, capitalising on its rare, natural qualities,

hair is often used for carpets and commercial applications

which include:

where the hardwearing and lustre properties of the mohair are utilised.

A natural, eco-friendly fibre

Lustre: The fibre's natural lustre gives garments a silky sheen. It's the ideal garment to wear day or night. Lightweight: The fabric is luxuriously lightweight and renowned for its versatility: cool in summer and warm

As already indicated, Angora goats are shorn twice a year

in winter.

and are not harmed in any way during the process. In the

Dye-responsive: Mohair responds magnificently to

pursuit of perfection, their fleece has been refined through

dyes, retaining even the most brilliant colours over

consistently high breeding standards and meticulous

time.

genetic selection. Angora goats thrive in the Karoo, with

Climate control: Mohair breathes, absorbing and

its combination of hot, dry summers, cold winters and

releasing atmospheric moisture and controlling its own

semi-desert vegetation. This combination of best practice farming and best

'climate' to ensure optimal comfort. Durability: Because of its pliability, mohair is rated as

environment for Angora goats has set South Africa apart as

one of the world's most durable natural fibres.

a producer of top-line mohair and mohair products with SA

Crease resistant: Products made from mohair have

globally acknowledged as one of the finest producers of this

an innate elasticity, which ensures they hold their

natural fibre which money can buy.

shape.

The renewable, natural and sustainable aspects of mohair are increasingly adding to its inherent appeal as a

Non-flammable: Mohair is virtually non-flammable, keeping you safe and chic all year round.

desirable fabric, even in the most discerning wardrobes, while adding to the long-term economic prosperity to the Karoo region.

just about anything produced in the world to be imported.

Unique qualities

In the case of mohair, however, it is the world which is

Versatile by nature, mohair is coveted by the world's

we should not only be proud of this fantastic local product,

fashion industry elite, as well as by interior designers, craft

but also strong supporters of this domestic industry and its

specialists, industrial fibre specialists and the tourism sector.

garment industry and other spin-offs.â&#x20AC;&#x2030;S G

The renewable, natural and sustainable aspects of mohair are increasingly adding to its inherent appeal as a desirable fabric, even in the most discerning wardrobes, while adding to the long-term economic prosperity to the Karoo region. S G 92

South Africans are almost used to expecting 'the best' of

coming to our doorstep looking for the best there is. As such

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e l b a rt

A dvert o rial

o r f e i m h t l o C got hea t jâ&#x20AC;&#x2030; us

Once woven together, bamboo fibres create a silky fabric that pampers the body with softness. And thanks to its ability to absorb and evaporate moisture, the mattress surface remains cool and dry.

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With over 100 years experience, Sealy knows how to make beds. A Sealy mattress is exceptionally healthy to sleep on. It's also great to wake up on, relax on and live on. In fact, whatever you do in bed, Sealy supports it.

ood quality is built into every part of the system to extend the life of your bed and give you years of healthy sleep. Finding the right comfort is a matter of personal choice. That's why Sealy offers a wide range of surface feels and comfort choices. Each one is designed to provide a consistent level of support throughout the mattress. You spend up to a third of your life sleeping, so take your time when choosing your mattress. Choose the comfort that is right for you.

Bamboo Air Fabric: It's natural and breathable, circulating the air to keep you cool, dry and healthy. Latex: Push-back support provides you with excellent support for a comfortable, restful sleep.

Memory Foam: It shapes itself around you, providing balanced comfort and support across your entire body.

7-Zone Pressure Relief System: Designed to eliminate tossing and turning caused by uncomfortable pressure points. The mattress features 7-Zone Support in which added support and resistance to impressions is provided in the centre of the mattress. Additional inlays supporting your hips and shoulder. Inner Spring System: Provide two levels of outstanding support. The system initially conforms under light pressure but, as more pressure is applied it firms to provide the correct level of support required. Sit Right Foam Encapsulated: Encapsulates and support the entire spring system. Providing a consistence comfort around the entire mattress to stabilise movement.

• NATURAL ANTI-BACTERIAL AND ANTI-FUNGAL • BREATHABLE • ENVIRO-FRIENDLY • SOFT, SILKY AND COOL TO THE TOUCH • ABSORBS AND EVAPORATES MOISTURE

StayTight Sprung Foundation: An active foundation which uses steel spring that work together with your mattress to extend comfort life by absorbing impact and motion. Include a rubberised gripper fabric that holds your mattress in place and keeps your sheets where they belong. Adjustable Flex-Leg: Uniquely designed and crafted legs provide great stability and have 3 height settings according to your preference.

For more info visit us at www.sealy.co.za or call 011 309 4000.

 1

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Findretoreuattan

Is the free zone, with i, icelectronellphones, Wi-,Fto no c waves or TV ' at radio ou to 'unplug allow y all levels?

choosing S G 96

With all the retreats on offer, how do you choose which one to attend? Bennie Naude looks at some guidelines. Mind-body-soul balance Workshops that are solely focused on 'mind' or 'body' only offer part of the picture; true mind/body/soul integration is what causes long term change.

 Food – do they offer nurturing, nourishing,

intentionally prepared, organic food, with detox options to give your entire body and digestive system a break?



What kinds of body work are offered,

for example, massages?

 What exercise is available, for example, walks in nature, swimming, yoga, and so on.

 Schedule – is it fully facilitated? How much downtime do you get? Is evening entertainment provided?



Variety – is there a variety of facilitators,

processes, seriousness and fun, indoors and outdoors,



Catering for all learning styles – is it

back-to-back PowerPoint presentations or are the facilitators skillful enough to cater for all learning styles?



Average, run of the mill, or unique?

g a retreat

www.haramararetreat.com

How unique is the retreat? How much of it is

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{

Being deeply inspired is what provides the fuel to want to change.

just like the rest, and how much of it is original and

Is it held in a place

innovative?

that will be close to nature,

 Value for money – is the price set at a reasonable

to help heal and nurture you?

that sometimes the higher pricing structure could indicate

with no cellphones, Wi-Fi, radio waves

level or is it a stretch for you to attend? Consider the fact that you would receive more value from the retreat than you would at a regular, more commercial workshop.

Is it held in a nurturing environment? Being nourished by others and handing over responsibilities like cooking and cleaning is a great way to ease out of the rat race and start the focus on yourself. We all know about nature's healing powers that nourish us in ways people and words often cannot. Make sure the retreat meets the following criteria:

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

{



Is it an electronic free zone,

or TV, to allow you to 'unplug' at all levels, or are you just replicating your stressful situation with watching TV, zoning out or checking your emails every few minutes?

 Is the environment tranquil? Quiet? Nourishing? Jaw-droppingly, spectacularly beautiful?

Will you be inspired? If not – you're probably better off staying at home watching Youtube clips or the six o'clock news. Being deeply inspired is what provides the fuel to want to change.

 Do the retreat facilitators inspire you?  Do they 'walk their talk?'  Are they people you'd want to spend time with and feel?

 Do you really believe that they can teach you something and inspire you to be more?

achieves results, is another matter altogether.



What do others say about the retreat and

about the facilitators?

style of learning is different someone

What's their track record?

{

retreats; doing it skillfully and in a way that

We are all different – your to

{

Talk is cheap and just about everyone can run

What variety & level of facilitation skill & experience is offered? else's

–

variety of styles, views and approaches from different facilitators ensure that

 What results did others achieve who attended? Will you learn something, be motivated and/or transformed? It's easy for charismatic facilitators or speakers

you get the most out of it.

to motivate people, but it often rarely lasts;



the difference.

How

and

experienced

skilled

are

the

facilitators?



they

bring

range of experience and modalities? www.glampingsandat.com

www.yogatrail.com

– do you resonate with the way they speak, act, sound

Nature has healing powers that nourish us in ways people and words often cannot.



Are

learning

they new

constantly skills

and

improving themselves and the retreat or do they just keep on doing the same thing?

transformation is the inner difference that makes



Does the retreat offer models, ideas and

theories that you can apply only when you get home, or does it offer the possibility of real personal change and transformation at the retreat?

How many participants are attending and how much time will you receive with the facilitators? Group work can be very intense and powerful

How safe will you be? If you do not feel safe to be you, you won't allow yourself to open up to changing and you're likely to go home exactly the same as you arrived.

 How safe will the retreat be for you to be you?  Are the facilitators present, grounded and

skilled enough to deal with any issues of yours that might arise – whether you are man or woman, straight or gay, white or black, wealthy or poor, a retreat

– wouldn't you rather have some dedicated, one-on-one time with the facilitators, for personal and customised guidance?

 Will you be gaining an experience that puts you first or will it be a 'cookie cutter' one?

What follow-up support is offered? When the retreat is over, what follow-up is offered

'junky' or 'virgin', in a good place in your life or pulling

to help you integrate back into life?

your hair out with frustration?

 Do they offer on-going support afterwards, for



Would they – and the group – allow you to be

just the way you are?

example, follow-up calls and a forum to stay connected.

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T Gathering

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

The athering

The way to get out of the rat race is to simply do just that – but how does one choose the right retreat for yourself? Bennie Naude, of the Gathering retreat, reports.

It's quite simple – your life either creates you, or you choose to create your life. The one is a lucky draw, the other is a purposeful choice about what you really want. Linden Booth



identified four main brain 'states',

based on your predominant brainwave pattern.

A very active mind – multi-tasking,

running around, logical thinking and

planning – results in short, short he rat race, as you well know,

and intense brainwaves, called a beta

is the term used to describe

state. As functional and important as

often

beta brainwaves are, they can also

seemingly

cause stress and anxiety, especially if

frustrating

overwhelming

and

lifestyle,

impossible to-break out of. What's

prolonged.

even more fascinating about the rat

When you spend a lot of time in

race is that it has become so much

a beta state you often miss out on

the 'norm' that most people are totally

accessing the other states:

oblivious that they're in it. Do you

Alpha waves – helping you

also live from weekend to weekend

connect to your intuition

or holiday to holiday and hope that

Theta waves – fostering a deeper

'someday' things will get better?

spiritual connection

The main reason why so few

Delta waves – allowing you to

people ever permanently get out of

access unconscious information

the rat race is that they try to get out

that you cannot get in any other

of it, while being in it. That's a bit

state; also critically important

like trying to get out of quicksand by

for deep sleep, which, in turn, is

moving around frantically – it's just not

essential for regeneration. Missing

going to happen.

out on this can impact your health

Before we look at ways to get out

significantly.

of the rat race, let's turn to science to

Only taking time off for a few hours

see what may happen if you don't.

here and there, an afternoon or a weekend, is often not enough for your

Stress & brain function Only taking time off for a few hours here and there, an afternoon or a weekend, is often not enough for your brain to reset itself and to move out of the beta brainwave patterns.

brain to reset itself and to move out of the beta patterns; especially so

Your brain functions on brainwaves (patterns

electrical

impulses).

These impulses can be short, sharp and intense – like when you're really

if you're constantly checking emails or worrying about things even when you're away from work.

and spread out – like when you're

Beta brain waves & health

in a deep restful sleep. Science has

Being in a beta state for an extended

stressed; or more measured, relaxed

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From left: Jeanne Booth, Bennie Naude, Carol Sachs & Linden Booth

S G 102

time impacts not only your physical health, but also your

couple Jeanne and Linden Booth and myself. When we

emotional and spiritual well-being. No wonder that a lot of

started putting heads, hearts and ideas together in 2013

people do what they can to escape from the discomfort –

with one single focus – to create the best life-changing

partying hard or working harder, playing extreme sports,

retreat that money can buy – the Gathering took shape

going to lovely holiday destinations or becoming addicted

almost overnight.

to cigarettes or TV. Even though there is nothing wrong

The Gathering is a 7-night, 8-day retreat. We designed

with these activities per se, the problem is that none

the entire program with two keywords in mind – 'nourish'

of them actually change anything; after the weekend

and 'nurture' – because we realised that so many people

or holiday or party – you still go back to the 'same old,

are tired, exhausted, stressed, and in dire need of being

same old'.

nourished. What is even sadder is that so few people

The other classic problem with busy people – who

seem to even recognise it, or know what to do about it.

spend a lot of time in beta – is that they are busy people.

We also understood that for real deep and long-lasting

Their diaries (like their minds) are often full or they are in

change to happen, people would have to break away from

positions of responsibility which make it difficult for them

their work environment for long enough to dip out of the

to get away from work. Busy people often set up their

predominant beta-state that fuels the whole cycle. That

lives so that others depend on them – children, partners,

way, they are able to access those inner answers that

colleagues at work – making it 'impossible' for them to

they could simply not access otherwise and that's why

have a chance to get away from it all.

the Gathering offers an internet, radio, TV, social media,

All these 'dependants' and having little time, and ever

news, and cellphone-free experience.

more pressure, unconsciously fuels the stress – and yes, you guessed it, the beta waves, making it increasingly harder to access the other states. Over time this also affects your REM (rapid eye movement) sleep – which significantly impacts your well-being. It's easy to convince yourself you just cannot get away – and that you'll take time out 'later' – when the truth is that being in a prolonged beta state depletes your inner resources – physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. That not only makes it increasingly harder to deal with day-to-day stress, but also more difficult to switch off when you do take 'time out' for short periods of time, like a day here, a day there. If you've set up your life like that, it may be time to really challenge yourself and be honest about the potential consequences on you and your loved ones if you don't take care of your well-being. Maybe you, like so many people, think that things will change 'one day'; the thing is, for most people, 'one day' never comes. The way to change 'tomorrow' is to take responsibility for your well-being today, to say 'no more' to the rat race and to say 'yes please' to some time out. Decide that your life is valuable enough for you to take the time to evaluate what really matters to you. Whether you do or don't, the clock's ticking.

What happens at the Gathering? The Gathering was co-founded by three friends – married

Mind, body & soul Because of the way that mind, body and soul are inextricably linked, the meticulously designed and skillfully executed Gathering program nurtures at the intellectual, physical, emotional and spiritual level. Participants often comment on how their physical appearance changes during their time at the Gathering – the fresh air, nourishing food, ample sleep, mild exercise, deep inner work and the incredible bond of friendship and trust that is forged among participants make them look and feel younger; we see it all the time.

Looking backwards/looking ahead Whether we like it or not, most of our 'baggage' comes from childhood and if you no longer want a 5-year-old or unresolved trauma to run your relationships or finances, the way forward is to resolve the past. The Gathering brings the most up to date technology to help you do that – including energy body work, emotional freedom techniques and matrix reimprinting. At the same time we help you create the 'pull' towards where you want your life to go, by clarifying your life vision and purpose and supporting your process with top-class coaching to help you get absolutely clear on your next steps. If you do not know what your vision and purpose is or you have no idea how to create it, your life experience

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will most likely be unfulfilling. We've become used to participants having massive

WATCH THIS!

breakthroughs and discovering (or affirming) what they want to dedicate their life to – it always releases such an enormous amount of passion and life energy; it's beautiful to watch.

We bring the process, you bring the content The Gathering provides a very strong structure and process, with participants bringing all the 'content'. 'We do not lecture and we do not tell people how to live their lives or what they should do to be happy. Instead, we use our unique process to guide them to find their own answers because in the end, that's really all that matters.' One of the cornerstones of the Gathering is the understanding that we all have different parts, for example, the part that wants to get up early to meditate and the part that presses the snooze button instead. It's so easy to dislike parts of who we are. When we realise what's really behind these parts, and that even the parts that we dislike have gifts for us, we can consciously step into calling on the best part for the job, freeing up

The Gathering – Short intro first got the idea when we saw what a positive impact the Gathering had on a couple that attended. The next step – creating a Gathering exclusively for couples – was a no-brainer. The Executive Gathering is for corporate and executive teams, business leaders and entrepreneurs. Because we appreciate that different businesses have different needs, we devise customised programs on request. Imagine the impact of truly conscious business leadership not only on

unimaginable amounts of energy.

the bottom line, but on the world.

The spice of life

Going international

Because people have different learning styles and preferences, the Gathering is packed with variety and different teaching styles: group exercises and private sessions, body work, massages, outdoor and indoor activities, emotional work, life coaching, nature walks, meditation, labyrinth walks, visualisations, to name a few. Because we come from such distinctly different

The Gathering founders are excited about building the brand in SA first and then going international. We have created a retreat formula that 'ticks every box' – it works, and we love travelling, so it's only natural that we want to take this around the world. We've got our eyes on Bali, the UK, Australia and the US.

backgrounds, we each bring our unique flavour to the

About the founders

retreat; people tell us they love how our different ways of

Linden is an Executive Coach and Personal Development

presenting complement their process.

Trainer with a passion for supporting people to live 'in

We also bring in guest facilitators. We like working

flow'.

with the best of the best; Dr Mark Vella is a regular guest

Jeanne is a wellness practitioner whose passion

facilitator. That means that every participant does not just

is to support people to become loving and accepting

get one, but multiple experts to support their journey

of themselves. She is qualified as a fertility coach,

through the week – this is one of the aspects that simply

cranio-sacral therapist and energy healer, including holistic

sets the Gathering apart and why people get results.

body balancing, matrix re-imprinting and as an EFT practitioner. over 100 workshops around the world and loves creating

After the success of the first Gathering (which was

themselves. He's convinced that the only place where true

oversubscribed) we considered introducing other 'flavours'. Linden immediately suggested the Promise which is exclusively for couples (of any sexual orientation). We

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Bennie is an international presenter and trainer with

Different Gatherings, different flavours

safe and unique experiences to help people believe more in change ever happens is on the inside – your inside. Visit www.thegatheringretreats.co.za

Couples Retreat 18–25 October 2014

The Promise is a 7-day retreat that is all about relationships. The Promise will radically shift the quality of your relationships, creating levels of connection, authenticity and intimacy between you and your partner. It supports you in creating relationships in which you feel empowered, acknowledged and supported. The Promise Gathering is a personal development experience – not a couples counselling retreat. The magic happens when: • You look into yourself and deepen your understanding of who you are in relationships. • You grow your own ability to be responsible for yourself in relationships. • You gain clarity on what is important for yourself in relationships, and why. • You gain understanding of why you get triggered in relationships, and are able to release your historic legacy.

www.thegatheringretreats.co.za

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Health

ď ź

Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food.

www.theromanticholiday.com

Hippocrates

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ď ź

Bacteria and viruses usually take over only when our immune systems are compromised. Be sure to participate in stress reduction exercise which is essential to healthily functioning.

alternatives to antibiotics In herbology, antibiotic-like foods are called astringent â&#x20AC;&#x201C; meaning natural blood cleansers. The word anti (against) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; biotic (life) refers to a list of pharmaceutical antimicrobials designed to kill harmful bacteria in the host body. The problem is these synthetic forms of antibiotics kill off both the good and bad bacteria leaving the body depleted of living microflora that support immune function. Giulia Criscuolo takes a look at herbal options.

ncluding foods and herbs that contain antibiotic properties in your diet can support your immune system and help to

defend you from certain infectious bacteria. There are many foods and herbs known to have natural antibiotic qualities; and with an increased resistance to pharmaceutical antibiotics in people today, it is wise to eat foods that work in your defence on a daily basis. It's good to grow in your knowledge of simple foods, plants, flowers, and herbs that can be used to protect you against illness as well as cure you from infections and disease. This is not to imply that you should not take antibiotics when deemed necessary by your medical doctor. However, knowing

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

of superbugs. Medical overprescribing is surely one piece of the puzzle. But those concerned with human health

Why should a man die while sage grows in his garden? Hippocrates

cannot dismiss or ignore the overwhelming evidence that agricultural practices also contribute to the problem.



There are all-natural antibiotic alternatives The good news in all of this is? We can help the problem. But how? Avoiding pharmaceutical antibiotic drugs as much as is possible and only using these antibiotics when absolutely necessary; Rediscovering the gifts given to us in foods, plants, flowers, and herbs; Purchasing organic, grass-fed meats from small, local farmers. A growing number of people are beginning to realise that much of the healing wisdom we seek will never be found in science and/or technology but within the ancient healing traditions based on nature itself.

how to use certain foods as medicine can help you to

To access this awareness, we find ourselves turning

cut down on over using synthetic antibiotics for minor

to the old methods in an effort to relearn ways of healing

health conditions. Naturally, consult your physician before

that have been carefully passed down through hundreds

proceeding.

of generations.

The downfall of pharmaceutical antibiotics Who can deny the benefit of antibiotics? Since the accidental discovery of penicillin in 1929 by Alexander Fleming, antibiotic use has saved countless lives. Yet strains of bacteria once thought to be conquered are re-emerging despite our antibiotics, and healing resources are disappearing faster than we can discover new ones. In addition to our current overuse of antibiotics, their inclusion in animal feed may actually be the main cause to blame. Antibiotics given to animals raised for mass food production (in horrible conditions that pose a constant threat to their health) are used primarily not to

and sound medicine cannot – nor should they ever – be gauged by how effectively people can exploit the medicinal properties of natural resources. But rather, they recognised human health for what it truly is – an integral part of living in harmony with the Earth. Many common ailments that plague humanity do not necessitate the use of pharmaceuticals in most cases – such as colds/flus, sinus/upper respiratory problems, sore throats, persistent coughs, urinary tract infections and superficial wounds. Many times, these ailments can be safely and effectively treated with lifestyle changes and natural medicines.

stop infection, but to help the animal grow bigger and

Natural antibiotic alternatives

faster artificially.

Philip Fritchey, the author of the book Practical Herbalism:

The downside is that routinely feeding low doses of antibiotics to healthy livestock breeds drug-resistant bacteria that could infect people. Representatives of the livestock and drug industries try to dismiss part of the problem by saying that overuse of antibiotics in hospitals is responsible for the evolution

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Ancient peoples knew that healthy living, healing,

Ordinary Plants with Extraordinary Powers defines the class of antibiotic substances as: 'Agents that destroy or inhibit the growth of viruses and bacteria. Some of these herbs destroy germs by their direct action. Others promote and support the body's own immune responses. They are sometimes called antizymotics. They include:

Cloves (Clove Oil) Ayurvedic health practitioners have been using cloves for the treatment of common digestive disorders. Whereas Traditional Chinese Medicine utilises cloves for the treatment of diarrhoea, athlete's foot and other fungal infections. Even in the 20th century, dentists still use the clove oil as an oral antiseptic and to disinfect root canals.

Colloidal Silver

Avoid pharmaceutical antibiotic drugs as much as is possible and only use them when absolutely necessary.

The use of silver in the battle against bugs goes way

honey can be used as a preservative, to sooth a sore

back into antiquity. Hippocrates was one of the first to

throat and ease a cough, treat minor cuts, scrapes and

describe its antimicrobial properties in 400â&#x20AC;&#x2030;BCE. Low doses

burns, and as a healing mask for skin. Honey contains an

of colloidal silver can make antibiotics more effective,

enzyme which releases hydrogen peroxide and prohibits

and may even allow an antibiotic to successfully combat

the growth of certain bacteria. It harmonises the liver,

otherwise antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

neutralises toxins, and relieves pain; and its antibacterial properties are effective in the treatment of the bacterium

Echinacea Echinacea is one of the best general remedies for helping

Heliobacter pylori or stomach ulcers.

the body rid itself of microbial infections. In conjunction

Mullein

with other 'guiding' herbs and treatments (such as

Mullein's gentle nature makes it one of the very best

uva ursi, myrrh, garlic, thyme, colloidal silver, mullein,

herbs for use with children. It helps break up bacteria

Oregon grape root, and goldenseal) it may be used for

and heal ailments affecting the upper respiratory tract

any infection or inflammation anywhere in the body. It

and sinuses. Numerous studies report its ability to reduce

is often effective against both bacterial and viral attacks.

fatigue, sore throat, cough and headache.

Traditionally, echinacea was used to treat open wounds, diptheria, cellulitis, blood poisoning, syphilitic lesions

Myrrh

and other bacterial-related diseases. This potent herb

Myrrh has been used by natural healers for hundreds of

possesses the ability to destroy the most virulent bacteria

years. It is touted for its antiseptic, antibiotic and antiviral

such as Staphylococcus aureus.

properties. It can be taken internally and used externally as a gargle or wash for wounds. It is most commonly

Onions & Garlic

recommended for bacterial oral infections or sores,

Both foods have been used to treat everything from minor

bronchitis, and sore throats. Myrrh should only be used

illness to major disease and inflammation, both internally

during the acute phase of the illness and is not suitable

and externally. The sulphur compounds are the active

for long-term internal use.

principles. Onion's high phytonutrient content are known to 'mop up' free radicals that can lead to cancer. Garlic's

Sage

broad antimicrobial spectrum incorporates antifungal,

Among the ancients and throughout the Middle Ages,

antiparasitic, antiprotozoan, and antiviral attributes.

sage was held in high esteem. Hippocrates held the position: 'Why should a man die while sage grows in his

Oregon Grape Root

garden?' Its ability to heal ailments of the mouth, teeth,

Oregon grape root is a great treatment for sore throats,

blood, joints, liver, urine, head, sinuses, throat, lungs, and

disorders of the stomach, intestines, urinary organs,

stomach is truly amazing.

eczema, herpes, psoriasis, acne, and pimples. It can be used as an infusion, a wound wash, dried in capsules, or tinctured.

Raw Honey Raw honey, which has not been pasteurised or filtered, can be especially useful for medicinal, antibiotic purposes. Raw

Thyme According to Practical Herbalism: Ordinary Plants with Extraordinary Powers: 'Modern herbalists value thyme for its expectorant and antibacterial properties and it is frequently used in preparations to support and protect the respiratory system. The essential oil is an effective

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disinfectant and natural preservative that is used in many skin preparations, not only for its therapeutic effect, but to protect the product itself from microbial contamination and spoilage.' Thyme is also an excellent treatment for bacterial acne.

Pau D'Arco Pau d'Arco is an herb native to South America whose active ingredient has been found to relieve a wide range of infections, viruses and fungus. Studies suggest that Pau d'Arco may also have cancer-fighting properties, although more research is needed. Pau d'Arco was used by the Indians of South America to strengthen the immune system and fight life-threatening diseases. It's best consumed as a tea or decoction.

Cabbage A member of the cruciferous vegetable family, along with broccoli, kale, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, cabbage has long been recognised for its healing powers. One reason is the cancer-fighting sulphur compounds. Another is that fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C are considered a natural antibiotic and a one-cup serving

Philip Fritchey, pictured, is the author of the book Practical Herbalism: Ordinary Plants with Extraordinary Powers which defines the class of antibiotic substances as: 'Agents that destroy or inhibit the growth of viruses and bacteria. Some of these herbs destroy germs by their direct action. Others promote and support the body's own immune responses.'

of cabbage provides about 75% of your daily adult allowance. Cabbage juice is highly recommended in the

their taste knowing they are supporting your immune

treatment of stomach ulcers. Drink half a cup of fresh

functions as well.

cabbage juice 2-3 times a day, between meals, for two

Thyme, mint, basil, cinnamon, sage, chervil, rosemary,

weeks. Add half a teaspoon of raw, unfiltered honey and

lemon balm, oregano, cumin, tarragon, cloves, bay

sip slowly, even chewing a bit to get the enzymes going.

leaf, chili peppers, marjoram, caraway seed, coriander,

Topically, raw cabbage leaves applied to tender breasts

dill, nutmeg, cardamom, pepper, ginger, anise, fennel,

can relieve inflammation from mastitis, fibro cysts and

mustard and parsley.

menstrual breast tenderness.

Fermented Foods

Nature seems to have all the answers, providing us with a plethora of natural antibiotics in foods and herbs, but she also requires that we meet her half way, by taking

Today more and more doctors recommend you take

responsibility for our own health, which is one of the

a probiotic in conjunction with antibiotic treatment to

most precious things we have. If we treat our bodies as

replace the good bacteria, or microflora, that is also being

sacred temples, we could meet ourselves with the great

destroyed in the digestive system. Fermented vegetables

reverence, care, love, respect and devotion that we all

loaded with micro-organisms may prove to be superior

deserve.

to taking a capsule from the health food store. Raw, unpasteurised sauerkraut (there's cabbage again), raw pickles, cultured vegetables, kefir, miso and natto are

Visit www.otcpharma.co.za or

all excellent ways to re-introduce probiotics into your intestines. Begin with a few teaspoons and increase as desired.

Herbs

recommended for the very young or for those who are pregnant or nursing. Some may even have interactions with other pharmaceutical medications. Please be wise,

There are many herbs with antibiotic properties, so listed

and consult with a trained medical professional prior to

here are the culinary herbs you might use to cook with

consuming any medicinal alternatives.

on a daily or weekly basis. Continue to enjoy them for

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Please note: Many herbs and supplements are not

Boosting performance when you need it most Improving athletic performance to help you achieve your goals

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Endorsed/Researched by:

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Availability Marcus Rohrer Spirulina¨ is available at health shops, independent pharmacies, Dis-Chem, Clicks, Pick n Pay, Medi-Rite and Springbok Pharmacy. Visit www.otcpharma.co.za or call +27 11 516 1700

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Marcus Rohrer Spirulina®: Pure nutrition from nature, for life.

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Hunk-a-licious Gift Set •

Cape Mohair Old School Mens Socks •

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Bobble Water Bottle 1L •

Mawu Neoprene Aquasac •

The Braai Master

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Probio Indoor Composter & Bokashi Bran

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SuperThrive for Men •

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PROBIO Probio, a South African developer and producer of probiotic-based chemical alternatives, has added three new products to their household range: Floor Clean, Kitchen Clean and Bathroom Clean. These spray-and-wipe products are easy and convenient to use, as well as being effective and enviro-friendly. They contain no hazardous ingredients and cause absolutely no harm to humans, animals or plants. Probio uses a special, natural formula which makes their products semi-translucent and colourless, ensuring that no staining or tinting occurs while you clean. The products are fragranced with natural herbal extracts, which have their own health benefits and therapeutic qualities, filling your home with soothing scents like lemon, rose and citrus. They have been designed as a direct replacement to many man-made toxic chemicals currently being used in homes, commercial businesses and agriculture operations within Southern Africa. Probio aims to encourage environmental awareness and responsibility across the country and beyond by delivering products that are dynamic, highly effective and safe to use. www.probio.co.za

IDEA PAINT The innovative new product, IdeaPaint that has transformed walls into creative reusable canvas, is now available in South Africa through the Write Co the exclusive distributors of the premium product. The award-winning whiteboard paint has countless uses at work, home and school. IdeaPaint can be applied to almost any flat surface, creating a dry erase area for brainstorming, presentation, planning, teaching or messaging. Perfect for the office, IdeaPaint encourages creative thinking and collaborative meetings. In a teaching environment IdeaPaint gives teachers and learners the space to imagine and connect, turning walls and even desks into functional and fun learning spaces. At home, IdeaPaint is perfect for the family message board, home office or playroom – the possibilities are endless. This one of a kind application is a durable, flexible, and environmentally responsible product that is quick and easy to apply. It’s also cost effective and most of all – fun and functional. Available in white, black and clear, IdeaPaint can be applied to smooth surfaces of any colour, shape and size. Environmentally friendly and cost effective, IdeaPaint is non-toxic, saves paper and contributes to a greener working environment. No matter where you use it, minds will open and big ideas will follow. www.thewritecompany.co.za

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recipes

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g in

We share a few recipes from the book Retreat: The Joy of Conscious Eating by Daniel Jardim that are sure to warm the soul in the coming months.

utumn is the season of harvesting and letting go. Just as nature begins to rest after the energetic months of spring and summer, so too do we begin to ease into a more still and introspective time of year. Having spent much time outdoors in the glorious

sunshine we gradually begin to spend more time indoors with our closest family and friends, or spend more time on our own to process our thoughts and reflect. With the coming of the season we begin to include more cooked and warming foods to the diet. Longer cooking times impart the most heat to the body and the focus is on those foods that help protect and support the immune system in cooler weather. During this season we are encouraged to breathe deep and allow the breath to remind us of the process of harvesting what is needed and letting go of that which no longer serves us. On a physical level, the upper respiratory tract gets special attention as efforts are made in creating the best defences against those winter sniffles and bugs that have a particular affinity for the lungs. It follows that the predominant flavouring for the season is spice. Not only are spices helpful in bringing additional warmth to the body, they are also wonderfully aromatic. Who can resist breathing in deeply as they walk into a kitchen where exotic spices are being heated? By using spice in cookery, fragranced air is sent coursing through the lungs, and is a wonderful example of how the kitchen becomes the playground where the most symbolic gestures can be enacted simply through the act of cooking. Most spices have wonderful protective and healing qualities too and help to tonify the digestive system in preparation for richer winter fare. Spice encourages us to engage fully with the preparation of food through the sense of smell. Often on retreat each spice will be passed around so that everyone can savour its unique aroma and begin formulating their own sense of discernment in deciding which are favourites. Spice invites a playful experimentation in the kitchen and while the recipes in this section give measurements for each ingredient, be confident in modifying the seasonings used to create combinations of enticing flavouring that are truly your own. In addition to spice, our attention turns to the root vegetables and those ingredients rich in beta-carotene. We all grow up believing that we need this essential nutrient to nourish the eyes, but these foods help keep the membranes of the lungs moist and protected in winter too. Carrots, and squashes of all kinds, and even those cooler seasonal greens like spinach, all help in providing this essential nutrient to the body. By combining these with a smattering of spice and protective herbs such as garlic, onions or thyme we provide even better nourishment and protection for our bodies. Experiment with other seasonal gems like cauliflowers, green beans, madumbis, persimmons, sweet potatoes and pears; and begin to include more fuel-rich foods like lentils and nuts to the diet to keep the body vital as the temperature begins to cool. Most importantly, allow the aromas wafting in the autumn kitchen to fully engulf you in a rapturous sense of bliss. And then, sigh.â&#x20AC;&#x2030;O The recipes on the following pages reprinted with permission by Jacana Media. For info visit Daniel's Facebook page. here.

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recipes

RetReat

autumn

Haloumi and Pistachio Salad with Fig Balsamic Dressing A sensuous salad that tantalises the taste buds with a lively combination of textures and flavours. soft and sweet figs contrast the salty crunch of pan-fried haloumi and pistachio nuts, all topped with a sweet and tangy balsamic fig dressing to make a striking autumn salad that can be plated individually as a dazzling starter.

Ingredients

Method

300 g haloumi cheese

1 Cut the haloumi into 1 cm slices. Heat a little olive

200 g mixed salad leaves

oil in a frying pan and fry the slices for 2–3 minutes

½ red onion, thinly sliced

on each side until golden. Drain on kitchen towel

½ yellow pepper, thinly sliced

and set aside.

olive oil

2 Place salad leaves in a bowl with the red onion and

salt and pepper

yellow pepper. Season very lightly with olive oil, salt

4–6 figs, quartered

and pepper. Toss well with hands to coat the leaves.

½ cup green pistachios, shelled

3 Arrange figs, haloumi and pistachios on salad leaves.

Fig Balsamic Dressing Ingredients

Method

6 dried figs, soaked overnight

1 Place all dressing ingredients in a blender and

½ cup balsamic vinegar

blend until smooth. Adjust seasoning and drizzle

15 ml olive oil

over salad.

1 red chilli, de-seeded salt and pepper to taste

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Daniel JarDim

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recipes

RetReat

autumn

autumn Rolls makes approximately 12

the sheets used to make these crispy rolls are made with flour and usually bought frozen. Do not use the rice paper sheets used for spring rolls as they cannot be fried. the dish shows some of the marked differences in cooking techniques used as we move into winter, and are always a welcome nibble on cool retreat days. Delicious with either a light dipping sauce (see p 27) or peanut and ginger sauce (see p 31).

Ingredients

Method

½ cup rice vermicelli (crushed and

soaked in boiling water)

well. Combine with all other filling ingredients in a

1 cup carrot, grated 1 cup bean sprouts, rinsed

large bowl. Season to taste. 2

2 spring onions, finely sliced 1 cup ‘Chinese greens’ (pak choy/

Soak noodles in water for 5–10 minutes and drain

Make the ‘glue’ by placing flour in a small bowl. Gradually add boiling water to form a paste.

cabbage/lettuce)

Take one wrapper. Place it on a board so that it assumes a diamond shape in front of you. Place 2–3

1 tbsp sesame seeds, lightly toasted

dessert spoonfuls in the corner closest to you. Fold

15 ml lime juice

over and draw back towards yourself to keep shape.

5 ml sesame oil

Roll over twice, fold in the sides and roll one more

15 ml soy sauce

time leaving a lip at the end. Brush the corner with

1 tbsp dhania, chopped

‘glue’ and finish rolling.

salt and white pepper to taste

Heat oil in a wok or saucepan. Fry spring rolls in

frozen spring roll wrappers, thawed

hot oil, turning occasionally until golden. Drain on

vegetable oil for deep frying

kitchen towel and serve with dipping sauce or peanut and ginger sauce.

Glue 1 tbsp flour ½ cup boiling water

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Daniel JarDim

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Spaza

Spaza fruit and veggie bags have a round cushioned base making them ideal for selecting, weighing and transporting your fresh produce from the supermarket or the farmer's market. Take non-plastic and non-disposable living one step further with locally made, hand printed cotton draw bags available in two sizes. Available from www.spazastore.co.za

FINDUS

There are never enough hours in the day – and don’t we all know it? After the meetings, the errands and kids' extra curriculars, you’re ready for a good night’s sleep, but no-one's even had dinner yet. Findus is one of the leading frozen foods manufacturer from Sweden and is now available in South Africa – making dinner time, easy time. Findus takes every possible care and apply the very latest techniques to ensure that all products are safe and of the highest standards possible. In their drive for sustainability and health, they focus on two core areas; sustainable agriculture and good nutrition. www.findusfoods.co.za

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EAT WELL: The Life Changing Recipes of The Stellenbosch Hydro Di Burger Stacked Publications • 978 0 6205 6703 9

Chocolate conjures up images of decadence and deliciousness at once. You can eat it, drink it, cook with it, pair it with just about anything – chocolate is a food hero. For pure indulgence, readers of this book are taken on a tour of the country’s emerging chocolatiers, patisseries, food emporiums, cafés, restaurants and hotels that offer anything from a melt-in-the-mouth chocolate truffle, to a full blown afternoon tea. The book charts chocolate’s history and its cultivation and explains the difference between fine and not-so-fine chocolate. There are masses of fabulous chocolate recipes that have a distinctly South African slant, and, for those who want to learn more, the book includes a number of culinary institutes that offer full or part time chocolate, and patisserie skills training. Turning the pages of this book will spark your sense of indulgence and make you want to join in the fun.

Audacia Wines launches world first: 'No Sulphites or Preservatives Added' Merlot made with Rooibos Wood This highly distinctive, uniquely South African wine provides those allergic to traditional preservatives used in wine with a brilliant alternative. Created using indigenous Rooibos and Honeybush woods, Audacia’s 2013 Merlot is the first of an exciting range. Audacia wine maker Michael van Niekerk (pictured), who has been instrumental in pioneering this innovation, says: 'We regard this as the launch of a totally new and unique category of wine. It allows people who are allergic to sulphur dioxide or other preservatives to enjoy a glass of wine without the normal side effects.' The wine boasts intense aromas and a bouquet of sweet cherries, fynbos, roses and Turkish delight. For more info visit www.audacia.co.za

Freedom From Emotional Eating

Paul McKenna

Random House • 978 0 5930 6407 8

Do you eat to control your feelings? Do you wish that you felt differently about food, about yourself, and about life? These are the types of questions McKenna tries to help you answer his new system that is aimed at getting beneath the issue of weight loss to eradicate the root cause of over-eating. The programme in this book, DVD and CD set is designed to help you bring about dynamic, lasting change and escape from the unsatisfying cycle of frustration and self-medication with food. McKenna finds ways to help you find your inner strength to help you lose weight and gain confidence, freedom and emotional wisdom.

EAT WELL: The Life Changing Recipes of The Stellenbosch Hydro Within the pages of this exquisite book are the very meals and drinks that are made in the kitchen of one of South Africa's favourite spa destinations, The Hydro in Stellenbosch. Each of these recipes is planned in consultation with in-house Naturopaths and refined by resident Chef, Herbert van der Merwe. Central to the philosophy at the Hydro is their approach to nutrition. They believe that what we eat, ultimately, determines our health. Chef van der Merwe has transformed this philosophy into a range of recipes that are balanced, nutritious and filled with delicious combinations of fresh ingredients – he also gives an in-depth nutritional knowledge about the vegetables and fruits he uses in the Inroduction. Accompanied by spectacular photographs by Bruce Paynter, the recipes in this book cover hot dishes, warm and cold salads, condiments and sides, soups and juices, for any day or occasion. The book retails at R450 and can be ordered from information@thehydro.co.za. For more info visit www.thehydro.co.za, and see the following page for two delicious examples.

125 S G

your green tv show guide The must-see shows for all things green, organic & healthy on the home front. June - July 2014 The Gardener (Local) Tues 9pm • Tues 9am • Wed 1pm, Thurs 5pm Sat 10am & 7pm • Sun 3pm & 10pm

SA's favourite gardener Tanya Visser is back again. This practical and informative gardening show will inspire you to get creative in your garden with easy-to-do projects. From containers and hanging baskets to sowing seeds and dividing perennials to replant for spring, Tanya has the know-how to get it just right.

Dear Genevieve Tues 7.30pm • Wed 10pm • Thurs 11.30am • Fri 3.30pm Sat 2.30pm & 10.30pm • Sun 9.30am & 7.30pm

Home designer Genevieve Gorder comes to the rescue of homeowners stuck in a design rut. Genevieve provides the answers with creative solutions and design ideas, she will help homeowners fall back in love with their home!

The Home Show

Monday 9pm • Tuesday 9am • Wednesday 1pm • Thursday 5pm Saturday 12pm & 5pm • Sunday 7am & 1pm

Mandy wanted a kitchen and Andy wanted a garage – architect George Clarke transformed their box-like beige house into an open plan home complete with modern furniture. Now that the dust has settled do they still love their new home? Which items did they ditch and have they caught the design bug? George is back to find out.

DISASTER DIY Monday 8am • Tuesday 12pm • Wednesday 4pm Friday 8pm

Pierre's laid back nature is rubbing off on his attitude towards completing his disastrous deck. Pierre's sisters Beth and Sandra are about to put an end to Pierre's peaceful vacation and transform the ongoing project from death trap to delightful deck.

Home to Keep Monday 2.30pm • Wednesday 6.30pm Thursday 11.30pm • Friday 10.30am

Peter helps families re-purpose a space in their home that doesn’t work with the way they live in it. They love their home and neighborhood that they live in and they don’t really want to move.

the home show

If only they

could just fix this one room in their house.

Get it Done Monday 3pm • Wednesday 7pm • Thursday 10.30pm Friday 11am • Saturday 11am & 8pm • Sunday 4pm

Peter and Annalien help to inspire you with projects to improve your home. From computer stands to cheese boards. The team shows you the materials and tools you’ll need to enable you to build your very own. They will show how to use your power-tools correctly and tell you exactly what mistakes to avoid and what tricks to use.

Rachel’s Favourite Food for Living Monday 11pm • Tuesday 10am • Wednesday 2pm Friday 6pm • Saturday 12am & 7am • Sunday 11am

Rachel’s favourite food for living

Rachel creates a range of comforting food, or food for the soul, as she cooks up Italian baked pancakes, chickpea and choriso soup and yummy white chocolate and raspberry brownies.

Design-a-Garden Starts 15 July. Tuesday 9pm • Wednesday 9am Thursday 1pm • Friday 5pm • Saturday 10am & 7pm Sunday 3pm & 10pm

Don’t miss the new season of Design-a-Garden with Melanie Walker on the Home Channel. She inspires, and motivates all gardeners and touches base with some of the country’s top landscapers to find out the new trends in garden design.

Design-a-Garden Tuesday 9pm • Wednesday 9am • Thursday 1pm

get it done design a garden

Friday 5pm • Saturday 10am & 7pm • Sunday 3pm & 10pm

Don’t miss Design-a-Garden with Melanie Walker on the Home Channel. She inspires, and motivates all gardeners and touches base with some of the country’s top landscapers to find out the new trends in garden design.

F amily

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS, SAFE TRAVEL & COOL PLACES

THINGS2DO S G 128

'If you are wondering how to make the best of the upcoming winter holidays, then read on. But, before you continue reading, I cannot stress this enough: every now and then, remember to do absolutely nothing & relax. It's okay to just "be",' says Petra Vandecasteele, editor of Kids of Nature. Here she looks at a few easy tips to keep boredom at bay in a meaningful way. Quad biking in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve with Nature Discovery Tours. Photo @ Kids of Nature 129 S G

Quad biking in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve with Nature Discovery Tours

uring holidays, many children spend their

Collect some acorns, seeds or nuts in autumn and

days in front of the television or playing

push it in a container (make holes at the bottom)

electronic games. But what about 'the

filled with potting soil. Keep the soil moist and

great outdoors'? How do we spend quality time as

put it on a window sill in a plastic bag, sealed with

a family? The answer is simple: in nature. Children

a rubber band. Once it has sprouted, remove the

are becoming increasingly disconnected from their

container from the bag (be patient, this could take

natural surroundings and it is key to their emotional

several weeks, or even months) and repot as your

and physical well-being that they spend as much

sapling grows until it's strong enough to live in your

time in nature as possible. One doesn't necessarily

garden.

have to go on a 'groot trek' or spend a fortune to

Make a bird feeder: This is a great way to

give them (and yourself) a wholesome break away

attract different types of birds to your garden. Your

from a demanding school routine.

children can read up about their behaviour, food

AT HOME

S G 130

Fun at Umngazi River Bungalows & Spa. Photo @ Kids of Nature

type and flower pollination. Bird feeders are fairly easy to make from berries, seeds, raisins and small

Grow your own Namaqualand: Sorrel, daisies

apple pieces which can be threaded into strings.

and gazania are fantastic green family projects to

The birds will love visiting your garden all year

liven up your garden or backyard at this time of

round and the children can keep a 'bird diary'.

the year. They are so easy to grow that, even if you

Build your own terrarium: Terrariums are

don't have 'green' fingers, they will still thrive and

completely self-supporting and help to absorb

bring you lots of joy. Get the seeds or seedlings

pollutants, while replenishing the air with oxygen.

from your nearest nursery.

These are great to keep indoors and add a unique

Start a vegetable garden: It can be as modest

creation to a minimalist indoor style. Find a large

as a crate if you live in town. Carrots, spinach

clear glass container, potting soil and small stones

and lettuce are great for young and upcoming

to go with the succulent plants and moss.

gardeners, because they are easy and fast-growing.

Cook up a storm: This is the perfect time to

Gardening provides children with good exercise,

teach the young ones how to cook easy meals

fresh air and a sense of accomplishment.

(while you put your feet up). Not only does it give

Grow a forest: Trees are easy to grow at home.

them a sense of responsibility, it's also a great

Cool places for your family to enjoy this winter NEAR CAPE TOWN

Junior photography in nature Photo @ Kids of Nature

way to get children involved in shopping for fresh local produce and sharing recipes. Moreover, it encourages sit-down meals with the family and it's a skill your child can use for the rest of its life. Fancy chocolate? For an easy Rawlicious recipe for your family to try click here.

• Tokai Arboretum, Cape Town: hiking & picnic - 021 712 2844 • Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, Overberg: hiking, picnic, tubing • Nature Discovery Tours, Grabouw: quad biking, e-biking, 4x4, motorbiking • World of Birds, Hout Bay • African Horse Company, Stanford • Klein Paradys Equestrian Centre, Botriver • Two Oceans Aquarium, Cape Town • Montagu Springs Resort, Montagu • The Caledon Mineral Springs & Spa, Caledon • Country living in gorgeous Greyton: Saturday market, mountain biking, hiking in the Greyton Nature Reserve, quaint shops and lovely restaurants. Indulge in a full body massage with Lisa Kevitt (083 499 2825) of Nature's Touch (children love Lisa's gentle touch) or book a family outdoor painting workshop with Adele Fouche (082-522 4010). • Farm life at Oakhurst Farm Cottages, Hoekwil/ Sedgefield: self-catering cottages with fireplace, fresh milk & eggs, learn about organic dairy farming, go hiking & mountainbiking. • Or, spend some leisurly time on a house boat in the Knysna Lagoon.

NEAR GEORGE

AT HOME OR AWAY Stargazing: This is a great pastime for children, and a fantastic opportunity for parents to teach children about mathematical concepts of counting, shapes, patterns, astronomy and mythology. Wide open spaces away from the city lights are ideal for teaching your child (and yourself) about the night

• Tsitsikamma Canopy Tours, Plettenberg Bay • Monkeyland, Plettenberg Bay • Birds of Eden, Plettenberg Bay • Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary, Plettenberg Bay: big cat sanctuary • Cango Caves, Oudtshoorn • Wild Meerkat Adventure Tours, De Zeekoe Guest Farm, Oudtshoorn

sky.

NEAR JOHANNESBURG

Photography Fun: Photography is an excellent

• Cradle of Humankind, Sterkfontein up to Makapans • Vredefort Dome, Parys: meteor impact site • Stargazing in the bush with astronomer Phillip Calcott, Waterberg: 083 552 2119 • Horizon Horseback Safaris, Waterberg

way to stimulate your child's creativity by telling a story and making them more visually aware of the natural world around them. This creates a meaningful pastime which they could be encouraged to develop, while at the same time spending more time in nature. Photographs can be shared with friends and family online, and you can create your own calendar by using some of your child's favourite images. Nature Scavenger Hunt: A nature scavenger hunt encourages your children to explore and learn more about the world around them. Make a list of natural objects which can be collected, like a bird's

NEAR DURBAN



• Tugela Falls, Drakensberg KZN Wildlife: 033 845 1999 • Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve, Howick: hiking, picnic, game • Umkhumbi Lodge: Hluhluwe: wetlands, game drives & water sports, educational family programs • Umngazi River Bungalows & Spa, Port St-Johns: whale-watching, hiking, mountainbiking, horse riding, spa (don't miss the Saturday night buffet.)

131 S G

TRAVEL TIPS  Scheduling your itinerary to match your child's pace.

 If possible, keep to your child's routine.

 Include travel games and activities that will keep them occupied but won't annoy your fellow passengers.

 If there is more than one adult, agree who will be responsible for who, what and when.

 Pack compact healthy snacks that are low in sugar.

 Make sure the children drink plenty of water.

 Involve your children in the planning of the trip.

ROAD TRAVEL  Expect your trip to take longer than usual, plan more toilet stops, foresee more unplanned sight-seeing and let the children run around.

 Be sure everyone has used the restroom before getting into the car.

 Fun things to do in the car are counting the windmills, running a competition between car colours or identifying as many different brands of cars as possible.

 Remind your children the importance of buckling up when driving by car.

AIR TRAVEL  Keep your hand luggage light and simple (ship bulky items)

 Any liquids including perfume, medicine and toothpaste that you intend to carry on an aircraft must be packed separately in a transparent plastic bag. Check luggage policies before packing.

 Get creative with the material onboard. Make puppets out of airsickness bags and put on a show.

 Be flexible and relaxed Picnic with LotusGrill. Photo @ LotusGrill S G 132

Gazania. Photo: www.PaulGodard.com

Tokai Arboretum. Photo: www.PaulGodard.com

Educational family fun. Photo @ Umkhumbi Lodge



feather, a wild flower in a certain colour, a smooth

learning more about the identified animals. This is

rock or leaf in a certain shape, and set a time limit.

a great way to keep your holiday adventurous and

Help them to document their observations and

to create exciting memories. And most importantly,

collection by taking a photograph or drawing a

to bond as a family.

picture.

Create memories: Taking photographs is a great

Have a picnic: This is one of my all-time favourites:

way to remember a wonderful fun holiday, but

the art of doing nothing. And you don't need to

children can also buy postcards of their favourite

go far to have an enjoyable picnic, you can even

place, start a scrapbook of their holiday or even

do it in your back garden. Great places to spend

make sketches or paintings of their fun experiences.

leisurely time are the beach, the forest, a riverbed,

Also, don't forget the video camera if you have one.

a nearby park and our beautiful national botanical

And, who says you should be the photographer?

gardens. Fires are not always allowed, but we've

Delegate to your children and let them master or

discovered a nifty portable solution to enjoy a

improve their photographic skills.

yummy braai anywhere, anytime, in the compact

Have a family portrait shot in nature: How

LotusGrill (available from Mobelli Outdoor Furniture).

about capturing a family portrait in beautiful natural

Technically speaking there's no fire involved, just

settings instead of the typical more formal indoor

hot coals, and it's ultra safe with children around.

scene, and show off with a set of gorgeous nature

Pack your picnic basket with yummy healthy snacks

portraits to share with friends and family. We had a

such as wholewheat sandwiches, fruit and nuts and

really great time with photographer Laresa Perlman

enjoy an impromptu picnic.

at Ravenna Mountain Retreat, Montagu, where we

The Bontebok National Park near Swellendam is a lovely place to picnic (and stay overnight) and you

stayed the weekend hiking, mountain biking and fetching farm fresh eggs in the coop.

can even meet the resident bontebok. For a list of

After all that has been suggested here, don't

the national botanical gardens, visit www.sanbi.org.

forget to find time to do absolutely nothing & relax.

Learn a new skill together: Find something

Enjoy.

that is new for the entire family such as kayaking, snorkeling, fishing or spotting wildlife in nature and

See ad below.

Mindful Living for Families Tips – Reviews – Things-2-Do Family Wellness Workshops for employees with children Petra@kidsofnature.com 083 2301881

www.kidsofnature.com 133 S G

A dvert o rial

MAKING Future environmental leaders The WWF-Nedbank Green Trust is a mutually-beneficial partnership between Nedbank and WWF-SA that supports nature conservation projects through community-based

programs.

Since

inception in 1990, the Nedbank Green Affinity program has helped raise nearly R150m for the funding of more than 200 major conservation projects funded by the WWF Nedbank Green Trust. The Trust has

a strong community-based conservation focus, ensuring that natural resources are sustained for the benefit of people. It is involved in the conservation of species and ecosystem diversity, climate change programs, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and the promotion of actions aimed at reducing to a minimum pollution and the wasteful exploitation and consumption of resources and energy. We take a quick look at its latest Masters Interns program.

S G 134

n the future I want to be involved in formulating

to the intern's academic background, career interest

solutions to address some of the problems

and vision, and develops key workplace-based skills.

that threaten our South African estuaries and

Interns get paid a salary of R10 000 a month for the

their biota. I intend to use what I learn through

full 18 months, and also benefit from an additional

this internship to implement the management of

development budget of R15 000 for short course,

South Africa's aquatic environment,' says Nonhlanhla

conferences and workshops.

Nyalungu, who is one of 10 master's students funded

Interns are recruited from all 23 South African

by the WWF-Nedbank Green Trust who will complete

universities, where adverts calling for applications for

their 18-month internship in the 2013/14 WWF

the program are distributed. Those graduating this

Graduate Development Program this September.

year came from Wits University, Rhodes University,

The next intake of 20 master's students funded by

the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the University of

the WWF Nedbank Green Trust will be enrolled in April

Zululand, the University of Cape Town, the University

2015 for the 2015/16 program.

of the Western Cape and the University of Fort Hare.

'This program focuses on the development of future

Their Masters' degrees were in a range of disciplines –

‘What this internship has taught me so far is the extent of the economic inequality in South Africa, and how the class struggle can lead to failure of all environmental initiatives if not well considered or if its existence is not appreciated.’ Sthembile Ndwande, Internship with the WWF-SA’s Sustainable Agriculture Programme. B Agric, B Agric (Hons) and M Agric – University of KwaZulu-Natal leaders in the environment and conservation sector,'

from Environmental Science, Agriculture and Water to

says Maseda Ratshikuni, Head of Cause Marketing at

Law and Economics.

Nedbank. 'The internship is all about gearing up these

'The selection process is based on the applicants'

postgraduate students to find full-time employment in

expressed commitment to the environment, their

the environmental sector where they can meaningfully

career interest, the vision they have for the environment

contribute to environmental leadership in South

and their motivation to work for the environment in a

Africa.'

particular program,' Dr Raven explains.

Networking is one of the key opportunities

Interns are placed with dedicated mentors in areas

facilitated by the program. Interns are given the

of work related to their academic backgrounds and

opportunity to access key professional networks,

career interests. Their career development journey

which is invaluable to their future careers.

during the internship is supported by a series of the

induction workshops in which they explore the

recruitment of people with technical skills into the

environmental sector, the various role players and

workplace in this sector, generally happens at a

prospective career paths.

'We

select

master's

graduates

because

master's level,' explains WWF-South Africa's Senior

'The calibre of interns is just amazing; they are

Manager: Environmental Leaders Program, Dr Glenda

extremely strong graduates who recognise the value

Raven who conceived, established and leads the

of the environmental career path,' says Dr Raven. 'The

Graduate Development Program.

contribution from the organisations who host the

The enormous value of the internship is that

interns is also massive, and we are most grateful to

it bridges the gap between the learning and work

the mentors for the time and hands-on training they

environments, provides an induction into working

invest in the interns.'

for the environment, develops technical skills related

For more info click here.

135 S G

Y outh

Young Clima Former Vice President Al Gore's training of 700 new African Climate Leaders in March this year was an opportunity of a lifetime for those who attended. This was through his Climate Reality Project that aims to equip individuals from around the globe with the communications skills, knowledge, tools and drive to educate and activate diverse communities on the costs of carbon pollution and what they can do to help solve the climate crisis. We take a look.

S G 136

o date over 6 000 Climate Leaders have been trained around the world. The Johannesburg project, run in partnership with Food & Trees for

Africa (FTFA), hosted the largest contingent of youth yet. Of the 700, 200 were below the age of 18, an incredible 28%. FTFA, the African branch of the Climate Reality Project, sent invitations to its extensive network,

developed

over

the last 25 years, during which

has

FTFA

greening, climate

been

addressing change

and

food security, to ensure that as many people from

all

sectors

society,

including

young people, had the opportunity to apply to

attend.

Through

partners such as Clothes to Cash Exchange and Generation

Earth,

they

were able to ensure a high participation from schools. 'Opportunities rarely come and it is very important to fully utilize them and learn new lessons in the process', said Zviikomborero Machikiti,

student

the

African

Leadership Academy, Johannesburg. 'I was astonished by the environment at the training. I saw many people, young and old, children, parents and teachers. I discovered the importance of climate change and could see the change of my lifestyle as a result, in my own country, Zimbabwe. Former Vice President Al Gore shared information about climate change, stating that the will to act alone, is a renewable resource', continued Zviikomborero. Al Gore, Saliem Fakir of WWF, Wanjira Mathai, Nobel Award winner Wangari's daughter, Goldman Award winner

ate Leaders Jonathan Deal, carbon specialist Harmke Immink

the academy wrote to FTFA to thank them for

from Promethium Carbon and many others helped

this opportunity, 'It was great being surrounded

to dispel some of the common misconceptions

by people who have a similar goal and we have

about climate change.

learnt a lot from this experience'.

'The sheer intellectual depth of Vice President Gore's presentation and his

'These three days of Climate Leadership training

were

life-changing,

inspirational

keen ability to speak with eloquence,

experience that my peers and I will hold dear

served not only as inspiration for

and use for a long time to come. I cannot help

a young person such as myself.

but recommend that more young people become

He also illuminated the fact

involved as Climate Leaders so that they can gain

that anyone, at any age, can

knowledge about climate change and develop the

be a Climate Leader', Abi

skills that will benefit society as a whole in the

Skinner, African Leadership

long run', said Abi Skinner.

Academy. the

If you would like to find out more about the

Oprah Winfrey Leadership

African Climate Reality Project or to book a

Academy

presentation with one of the African Climate

South Africa were also in

Leaders please contact climate@trees.org.za

attendance.

. Join African Climate Leaders Facebook page

Students

from

for

Girls

Keorapetse

Ramagaga, a student from

or follow them on Twitter.

137 S G

Y outh

Inspire&M

What does it take to mobilise South Africa's youth to action? Bring together and nurture young leaders to take charge and lead the way to inspiring their peers and others â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to listen and take action. Dr Hin Wah Li, Communications Programme Manager at Project 90 by 2030, looks at inspiring a low-carbon generation. S G 138

Mobilise

roject 90 by 2030 has been working with

have set up food gardens and recycling depots at

young South Africans for the past seven

their schools, others have carried out energy and

years.

environmental

water audits, built their very own wind turbines or

clubs in schools across three provinces â&#x20AC;&#x201C; namely

installed water tanks to boost their water resources.

KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the Western Cape â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

The projects are very much about the initiative of

looking to involve learners in low-carbon projects

the learners, what they can do and what role they

over the course of the school year.

can play in creating change within their school

have

set

With the help of enthusiastic educators and school management, some Project 90 School Clubs

environment. A handful of the Clubs have branched out beyond

139 S G

2030 is well and truly around the corner, and in 2015 the global community will reach the deadline for putting in place binding agreements to slow the release of greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change. We have the ambitious goal of sending 90 well-informed young climate leaders to the international climate negotiations taking place in Paris in December 2015. the boundaries of their schools and encouraged their

and sustainability to business leaders, decision makers

local communities to be involved in their initiatives.

and negotiators in the run up to the 17th Conference of

One opportunity the learners have to do this is through

the Parties which was held in Durban. With the learnings

the annual 'Day of Action' events. In 2013, learners in

from the Youth Forum in hand, the forum evolved into

Project 90 Clubs in Gauteng held a collective 'Day of

the YouLead-Collective, which was formed in late 2013.

Action' at the Johannesburg Zoo, where they set up

The YouLead-Collective was created with the

stalls offering information on how to set up composting

intention of creating a platform which brings together

units at home; to showcase recycled fashion and also

young South Africans who are motivated to bring about

put on an informative play about climate change.

change in their communities to become representatives

Project 90 is currently working with 20 schools.

of the youth; to voice their climate concerns and

Each school club is assigned a mentor who works

low-carbon ambitions to their local community and

closely with the learners and educator to carry out their

more broadly on national and international platforms.

project for the year, and to organise and promote their

These young climate conscious leaders are tasked with

Days of Actions.

understanding the many facets of climate change, to

Over the last few years, it has become increasingly

create awareness of climate change across South Africa,

evident to us that action within our own home and

and most importantly to shine a light on the voice of the

work life simply is not enough if we are looking

youth on the local and international stage. We reached

to bring about a fundamental shift in how South

our first milestone of sending five representatives to

African society responds to climate change. One of the

the international climate negotiations forum (COP19)

factors we believe is critical in bringing about massive

held in Poland in 2013.

change is leadership that is informed and equipped

2030 is well and truly around the corner, and in

in making sustainable decisions now, with the future

2015 the global community will reach the deadline

in mind. In 2013, Project 90 took a step towards this

for putting in place binding agreements to slow

and incorporated leadership building as a critical

the release of greenhouse gas emissions that are

cornerstone in our engagement with school learners.

driving climate change. We have the ambitious goal

Our

approach

involves

inviting

bright

and

of sending 90 well-informed young climate leaders to

enthusiastic young South Africans to become mentors

the international climate negotiations taking place in

to the learners that are a part of the Leadership Clubs

Paris in December 2015. In the lead up to the Paris

program. The mentors work closely with their club to

meeting, the YouLead-Collective group will be working

build and implement their projects for the year â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this

intensively to build up their climate change knowledge,

would involve project planning, reporting, marketing,

with the aim of actively participating in the climate

training but most importantly it is about inspiring and

negotiations, to influence climate negotiators, and

supporting each other to reach a collective low-carbon

also to engage with their constituencies around their

goal. The mentors have the opportunity to share their

climate-related concerns and interests.

knowledge and experience with their clubs, and in-turn

In the spirit of the youth and the youth of the future,

are provided with the opportunity of acquiring more

let us inspire and be inspired by others around us to

knowledge and developing new skills.

realise the (low-carbon) future we would all like to live

But what's next when the school learners matriculate?

in.

In late 2011, Project 90 hosted a pilot Youth Forum

S G 140

where participants were involved in creating and

For more info visit www.90by2030.org.za or email

delivering a powerful message around climate change

hinwah@90x2030.org.za.

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ecological2

...just a little bit of Nampakâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thinking. 141 S G

Cycle

eco-packaging Much as packaging preserves and protects products, Nampak strives to preserve and protect the environment against the impact of packaging manufacture and waste. We take a look at their latest initiative.

SOUTHERN AFRICA RECYCLING STATISTICS PAPER: 52% of paper in South Africa is recycled. GLASS: Nampak Glass uses 55% recycled glass cullet in the bottle manufacturing processes. PLASTIC: 30% of plastic packaging in SA is recycled. METAL: 72% of all beverage cans in Southern Africa are recycled. Glass cullet (recycled material) used in the glass manufacturing process

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ndré de Ruyter, Chief Executive of Nampak, says that 'as Africa’s largest and most diversified packaging company, we

participate in extensive recycling initiatives and continue to invest significant resources into the development of more sustainable products so that consumers can make responsible purchasing decisions'. To demonstrate eco-thinking, Nampak has likened the volumes saved and recycled to a number of recognisable everyday city living objects. The manufacturer managed to save the equivalent amount of electricity it takes to power 13 725 households for a month and recycled enough glass, paper and board, metal and plastic to make 1 700 glass skyscrapers (similar to the iconic building on Diagonal Street in Johannesburg); 428 million newspapers; 126 Nelson Mandela bridges and 1.7 billion credit cards. To

amplify

reduction,

their

Nampak

commitment also

waste

launched

the

#60DaysResponsibleChallenge on 1 May 2014 in a bid to make consumers more aware of the impact that their actions have on the environment. The two-month campaign is intended to encourage members of the public to rethink their old habits and to consider whether their post-use packaging can be reused or recycled. Participants are required to like the Nampak Facebook page, click on the #60DaysResponsible tab and submit a picture of packaging in any of the Reduce, Reuse or Recycle categories and demonstrate how they use sustainable principles in their everyday lives. Not only will entrants be helping the planet but they also stand in line to win their share of R20 000. 'Every year we throw away packaging which could be recovered, recycled or re-used. We are cognisant of the National Environmental Waste Management Bill and see it as our responsibility to drive positive behaviour change both internally and

among

consumers,'

adds

Lynne

Nampak’s Group Sustainability Manager.

Kidd,

For info Nampak's eco-activities and the #60DaysResponsible challenge, please visit www.facebook.com/nampaklimited or www.pinterest.com/ecological2.

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S hared

responsibility

2030

Fair Share

building a thriving society

Nedbank has recently launched Fair Share 2030, its business response to a series of economic, social and environmental challenges that threaten our society’s long-term success. We take a look at what informed this pioneering business initiative and assess its implications.

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he prevailing model for socioeconomic development

running

into

serious

challenges as the economy bumps against

environmental limits (like climate change and fresh water), exacerbating inequality, increasing the potential for conflict and creating a real risk of stalled progress. While the private sector definitely

Nedbank Group's commitment to Sustainability In 2009, Nedbank Group became the first financial services organisation on the African continent to achieve carbon neutrality. Not only did this

plays a positive developmental role by supplying

achievement cement the group's reputation as a

products and services, creating jobs, paying taxes

bank committed to environmental issues, it also

and supporting social investment, the collective

signaled the beginning of the next stage of Nedbank

business response has not been sufficient to

Group's ongoing sustainability journey.

address these challenges. The private sector cannot afford to be neutral with respect to outcomes for society; neither can different outcomes be expected if the same things are repeatedly done.

While its 'green' commitment is a core element of this journey, the group takes an integrated approach that combines the four pillars of environmental,

Nedbank, an integral part of said private sector,

social, economic and cultural sustainability to

understands that their success is greatly dependent

ensure that its sustainability efforts deliver the

on the success of the environment in which it

broadest possible benefits for its stakeholders,

operates – the people and our planet. They are,

the environment, and the communities in which

therefore, committed to ensuring greater and lasting wellbeing for all through Fair Share 2030. And they are not alone in this view. In 2012 Deloitte

it operates. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated and enhanced by the many awards

surveyed 5 000 millennials across 18 countries

earned by the group as well as its inclusion and

and respondents ranked ‘to improve society’ as

participation in an array of indices and environmental

the number one priority of business. Paul Polman,

initiatives.

the CEO of Unilever, concurs and in a recent interview said, ‘The role of business has to be firmly understood by the CEO down, that it is there to serve

For more info download Nedbank's Sustainable Development Review PDF here.

the broader society, the common good and only by doing that very well [will you] be rewarded, but it has to start there and end there.’

educational outcomes. ‘The

goals

address

socioeconomic

and

Nedbank’s commitment, through its Fair Share

environmental issues, and their interplay, says

strategy is therefore to think and act differently,

Brown, achieving them will also enable other

to go beyond usual business to help create a

desirable outcomes, including improved food

more desirable future through their core function

security, greater resource efficiency and less divided

of being a bank. ‘Not everything that needs to be

communities.

done can or should be done by a bank,’ says Mike

Fair Share 2030 will be additional to all the things

Brown, Nedbank Group, Chief Executive. ‘So we

the bank already does in areas such as renewable

have identified a number of long-term goals that

energy, BEE financing, and enterprise development.

are relevant to both the bank and greater society.

It is not an expense or donation – they expect to

Fair Share 2030 is then an annual flow of money,

make a decent return on this funding.

R6b in 2015, to be lent in a way that contributes to meeting these goals’.

Fair Share 2030 was developed over two years with input from leading local and international

The goals encompass: affordable energy services

experts and was informed by science and in-depth

while containing carbon emissions; sustainable

analysis including the NPC Diagnostic. It forms

clean water and sanitation; employment rates

another vital component of Nedbank’s vision to be

comparable to other prosperous nations; savings

Africa’s most admired bank.

and investments that support national development objectives; and good, cost-effective health and

For more info visit www.fairshare.co.za

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Greening your city Becoming a green city is an essential step towards integrating urban areas into the natural environment, instead of simply using its resources for our everyday needs. You can help your city become green by planting trees, conserving exisitng plants and wildlife, reducing your waste, using less water and energy, and recycling. Existing trees are actually protected by municipal bylaws so unless a trees is causing damage or poses a threat to infrastructure or life, it cannot be cut down or removed.

Image: techfest.org

Municipalities that have adopted successful greening strategies may also be in line to win the Department of Agriculture, Forestries and Fisheries’ National Arbor City Award. Click on the “Green buildings” link below for more information on what you can do to start the greening of our city. And remember, be Water Wise!

For more information on Water Wise, please visit www.randwater.co.za and click on the Water Wise logo or contact us on 0860 10 10 60.

E nergy

tax

Energy tax efficiency On 1 November 2013, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan gave notice that an Income Tax deduction for energy efficiency savings was now in effect. But many people, including many businesses, which may benefit from this tax incentive, do not necessarily understand the full implications of the measure. Karel Steyn, President of the Southern African Association for Energy Efficiency (SAEE), explains.

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he relevant tax Regulation is section 12L

and will increase profit for the year, by R1 210

deduction in respect of energy efficiency

000. Note: A company may need to pay off

savings. This allows for tax deductions calculated

the loan, including interest on the capital

at 45 cents per kilowatt hour or kilowatt hour

investment as well as the costs associated with

equivalent of energy efficiency savings. The value

Measurement and Verification (M&V), using these

of the incentive was regularly mentioned as a

savings. Therefore, the direct savings may not

concern during the recent country-wide workshops

necessarily be accrued as pure profit. It also

organised by Government.

takes time to realise the full benefit of the

The total benefit for making use of the 12L

capital investment, which would be for the life

tax incentive is not simply the 45c/kWh offered

of the energy efficient technology implemented,

through the Regulations. The lifespan of the energy

for example, 20 years. The benefit will also

efficiency measure implemented and the total costs

need to be off-set against the rising cost of

with subsequent benefits, need to be considered

energy and potentially a future carbon tax.

to get to a realistic understanding of what the real

However, the assumption for the purposes of

value of this innovative new tax incentive would

this example is that no repayments on capital

mean for anyone trading for and income in South

and interest are required and the rising cost of

Africa!

energy is ignored.

The Basic 12L provision

The business will pay 28% tax on the additional profit: 0.28 x R1 210 000 = R338 800.

[The following section has been taken (with minor

By applying 12L, the business or tax-paying

changes), from an article written by Gustav Radloff]

entity may get a deduction of 45c/kWh.

The absolute value is dependent on the quantum of

R0.45 x 1 000 000 kWh = R450 000.

energy saved. The tax payer can claim a deduction

The Taxable income is then reduced, as follows:

of 45c for each kWh (or kWh equivalent for energy

R1 210 000 - R450 000 = R760 000.

sources other than electricity), of energy saved.

Tax now payable is only 0.28 x R760 000 =

No concurrent benefits, e.g. funding from multiple

R212 800.

government sources, is allowed. The 12L regulations

The difference between R338 800 and R212 800,

provide for other exclusions, such as a person may

consequently yields a net benefit of R126 000

not receive the allowance for renewable energy,

(or 12.6c/kWh), after tax.

co-generation (other than energy generated from

Therefore, a simplified way of looking at 12L is

waste-heat recovery), and a captive power plant with

that it provides for an additional before-tax benefit

an output increase less than 35% of total input.

of 17.5c/kWh and an after-tax benefit of 12.6c/

The tax rate for companies in South Africa (with

kWh for each kWh saved over the project's lifetime

a few exceptions), is currently pegged at 28%. Using

against which the total projects cost (M&V included)

the 45c/kWh allowance in an example:

needs to be deducted.

Assume an equivalent diesel fuel saving of 1 000 000 kWh/year.

Other Considerations

Assume the average cost per kWh to be R1.21/

The following are some of the additional benefits

kWh to the end-use customer. Note: The unit

which should be considered as part of a 12L project

cost of 1l of diesel fuel containing 11 kWh[1] is

evaluation. It should be understood that these

calculated to be R1.214/kWh, when considering

benefits have been available to companies, even

a wholesale price of R13.35 at SA reef level as

before section 12L was promulgated, and may

at 02 April 2014 (prices may vary between

technically not be defined as 'additional' benefits.

[2]

fuel retailers). This example ignores the

S G 148

impact on the bottom-line of the business

of the Income Tax Act, which allows for a

* Deduction of Capital Expense from Taxable

management and handling costs of diesel.

Income: A 'person' (as defined in the Act) may

The value of the saving would thus be 1 000 000

reduce their taxable income through their normal

x R1.21 = R1 210 000 per year.

tax return process, by deducting the capital expense

All else being equal, this saving will positively

of the equipment required to achieve the energy

12L in a Nutshell Tax incentive of 45c per verified kWh, (or equivalent kWh). Tax incentives are currently offered for one assessment year of kWh savings. Only applicable to registered businesses. No concurrent benefits allowed. A SANAS accredited body to sign-off on the M&V reports. Â efficiency savings. This includes (but is not limited to), the cost of all the relevant equipment provided, delivered, installed and commissioned. It would also cover the cost of any M&V equipment required. If the funds are borrowed, the interest paid would also be tax deductible. Note: These expenses may however be claimed for tax purposes, in relation to the following: according to section 12C, new manufacturing assets can be recovered over 4 years, (40%, 20%, 20%, 20%); and, that used manufacturing assets be recovered over five years. In other words, 20% x 5 years; and all other assets can be recovered over the life time of the asset - Section 11(e).

Recovery of services/ consulting costs The normal tax return process allows for the expenses for services or consulting provided, to be deducted from the taxable income under section 11(a) of the Income Tax Act. These may include (and again, are not necessarily limited to), the fees charged by the M&V body, any consulting fees related to the energy efficiency equipment, the installation or commissioning thereof, which would include the fees charged by an energy services company (ESCo).

Additional profits to the company The facility or process in which the energy efficiency measure is installed will become more efficient and

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in the process increase its profits. These profits would be taxable income, which will be taxed at 28%. However, the balance not taken as tax will still be for the benefit of the company, as mentioned above. It may however be necessary to off-set these profits against repaying capital and interest.

Increasing cost of energy Energy will definitely be more expensive in future. The cost of the energy source in the example above (diesel fuel), is largely unpredictable and has recorded new peaks lately. Therefore, although difficult to quantify, achieved energy savings will bring about substantially higher overall savings year-on-year, going forward.

Climate change benefit Energy efficiency projects offer the most potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The following graph was issued by the International Energy Agency (IEA), and would probably also reflect the status for most individual energy users in South Africa: National Treasury and DoE confirmed that the emissions saved through the implementation of the energy efficiency measures, will be owned by the company involved. The company would therefore

I have a project, What do I Do ? A project owner wishing to claim 12L should submit a baseline established in accordance with the regulation and SANS 50010, compiled by an M&V professional and signed by an accredited M&V body. The baseline needs to be evaluated, approved or rejected by SANEDI. After approval of the baseline, the project owner needs to submit the performance assessment compiled by the M&V professional and signed by the accredited M&V body. SANEDI will evaluate, approve or

reject the performance assessment. After the approval of the performance assessment, an energy efficiency performance certificate will be issued.

be allowed to sell these carbon credits into an overseas carbon market (carbon credits buyer), without it being viewed as a concurrent benefit.

the perspective of implementing energy efficiency

The market value of carbon emission reductions

projects.

(CERs) and verified emissions reductions (VERs)

have drastically reduced over the past few years

Less quantifiable benefits

and under the current EU ETS, only credits from

Implementing energy efficiency also brings about

least developed countries (LDCs) are considered

many other benefits which may be deemed less

post-2012, which may exclude South Africa. Most

quantifiable and therefore of less importance.

within this environment are however confident that

However, these benefits usually do contribute

the carbon market and price will increase as the

positively and at least some of these could be

economies of the developed world recover.

included:

However, notwithstanding the current price

Competitive advantage: A company may use

and status of these credits, the value may be

the emissions offset or higher efficiency levels

substantially higher, depending on the company

at which it operates, to market itself to a distinct

involved, the need for sustainable reporting,

group requiring compliance to environmental or

reputational and other purposes/benefits.

'green' standards, emission or energy use limits,

It should be noted that not saving energy we will

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etc.

ultimately have a negative impact on companies,

Operating in niche markets: A company may

when the proposed Carbon Tax is implemented,

find it easier to operate in niche markets which have

(planned for 2016). Although the Carbon Tax is

a major focus on the environmental impacts of the

seen as the 'stick', the 12L tax incentive should be

companies they deal with. Niche markets usually

viewed as an early 'carrot', when evaluating it from

provide opportunities for larger returns, due to a

lower sensitivity to pricing levels. Development

towards

certification: should

find

ISO 50001

A easier

(Energy

ISO

company to

get

Management)

certified, when they participate in this field, which may in turn open additional export markets which could be highly profitable (especially with the current performance of the Rand).

What does this all mean in practice? It would be best to consider all the benefits, when evaluating the possible use of the 12L tax incentive. As a practical example consider the following as a summary of this article. Place a monetary value to all benefits and consider the overall result. 1. Each

kWh

(or

equivalent)

saved:

For

example, 1 000 000 kWh @ 12.6 c/kWh

the 60% mentioned below - the emission

(portion allowed as tax deduction) R126 000

savings would therefore not have happened

2. After tax profit balance due to the energy

and the carbon tax would have to be applied

efficiency project: R871 200. Note: This

to such. In this example 1 000 000kWh

value would be the difference between

x 1kg/kWh[3] = 1 000 tons of carbon. The

the profit amount and the tax to be paid

possible carbon tax: R120/ton x 1 000

amount, due to the implementation of the

tons = R120 000. A 40% discount would be

energy efficiency project. The R871 200

allowed on the energy use with a Carbon

is calculated by subtracting the 28% tax

Tax due on the balance (60%). Therefore

from the additional profit (R 1 210 000 -

R120 000 x 0.60 = R72 000. The Carbon Tax

R338 800). The NPBIT (Net Profit Before

value will increase by 10% per annum but

Interest and Tax), will remain the same,

for this example, only one year has been

although the NPAT (Net Profit After Tax), will increase as a result of reduced taxable income. NPBIT may however not reflect

considered. 4. Total Value for this example: R126 000 + R871 200 + R72 000 = R1 069 200

the entire additional profit as a result of

5. Then consider against the R1 069 200 the

possible capital costs, interest and increase

additional benefits not quantified, but

in energy costs. This value will increase

mentioned, above, and subtract all the

in future, due to the continual rising cost

related expenses from the total. Note on

of energy, which is not considered in this

expenses: Although the project capital and

example. No, or limited, capital costs, may

operating expenses may have to be paid

be required for some projects such as

from loans with interest attached, this may

where energy savings are achieved due to

be ignored to an extent as the interest,

behavioural changes.

capital and operating expenses can also

3. (Possible) Climate change benefit: R72 000. Note: The value (R120 000) has been

partially be deducted from tax.

if the above mentioned project was not

Comparison to the Eskom Standard Offer Program (SOP)

implemented and with no emission savings

Although the Eskom IDM SOP has been put on hold,

generated and the amount being part of

direct comparisons to this programme are often

derived from the carbon tax applicable

151 S G

made, with the perception that the Eskom SOP being

of other measures, such as the overall value to the

more beneficial. This therefore needs to be put into

business, the future value of the project itself and

perspective as well. Depending on the technology

the energy carrier involved. An additional important

involved, the Eskom payments varied between 42c/

feature of the section 12L tax allowance is that the

kWh, 55c/kWh or R1.20/kWh, with the 42c/kWh being

Regulation will be in force until 1 January 2020,

the usual incentive for most ordinary energy efficient

reducing the uncertainty risk associated with many

technologies. It should be considered that, depending

other energy efficiency programmes and incentives.

on the nature of the Eskom incentive, taxation would

The section 12L allowance will probably be

also apply, at 28%, together with all costs which can

too low to motivate for implementing an energy

be deducted from taxable income. However, if the

efficiency project where funding is a challenge. It will

income of the incentive is of a capital nature (which

however sway those projects which were borderline

could be the case, as it is post investment income

investments or provide for the proverbial 'cherry

received), the income may be tax exempt. The nature

on the cake' where projects were already decided

of the income would however need to be assessed on

on for implementation. National Treasury indicated,

a case-by-case basis.

during the national workshops on section 12L, that

If this consideration is included, and it is found that the Eskom incentive is liable for paying tax,

increasing the allowance would be considered if a convincing case for such can be provided.

then the section 12L incentive may have the same

Notwithstanding the mentioned, the section 12L

or possibly even a slightly higher value than that

allowance, first of its kind in the world, could be

available through the Eskom SOP Programme. This

deemed a 'win-win-win' for South Africa. Companies

is due to the section 12L being 45c/kWh against the

can become more efficient and profitable, thus

normal Eskom SOP being 42c/kWh, (albeit technology

government will be able to take more tax on profits,

dependent).

jobs will be created for suppliers of technologies,

The following can also be seen as impediments

energy services companies (ESCOs), consultants, M&V

on the Eskom offer in comparison to the section 12L:

bodies, tax consultants and supporting functions to

The technologies used on the SOP model had to

all of these activities, such as training/development,

be approved by Eskom and were limited to a few

installation, maintenance, information/data gathering,

technologies;

and the like.

The Eskom SOP only incentivises electricity savings whereas section 12L is applicable to all energy carriers;

For more info visit www.sanedi.org.za, or contact Karel Steyn at karel.steyn@eskom.co.za.

The Eskom SOP only rewards kWh's (electricity) saved between 6am and 10pm on a weekday, whereas section 12L rewards all energy savings made in the assessment period irrespective of when the savings occurred.

Conclusion Care should be taken not to evaluate the 45c/ kWh allowance in isolation, without considering the overall tax implications. Neither should it be evaluated against the cost to be incurred, without due consideration of the multiple benefits related to implementing energy efficiency projects.

[1]

Carbon Trust, Heat Content of Fuel

[2]

Automobile Association Fuel Pricing

[3]

Carbon equivalent for 1kWh as per the IPCC default value

Acknowledgements The author wishes to specifically acknowledge the inputs from the following individuals: * Article by G Radloff, CEO, Energy Cybernetics. * I Swart, Director, Tax - Research & Development and Government Grants and B Drotsche, Deloitte & Touche, who assisted with the tax related matters. * B Bredenkamp and RGovender, South African National Energy Development Institute, (SANEDI).

It is clear that the real additional value of the section

Note that the views expressed in this article are that of the author

12L allowance is the additional tax deduction. Other

and not necessarily that of the Southern African Energy Efficiency

benefits, including tax benefits already available,

Association (SAEE), Eskom, SANEDI or Deloitte & Touche.

should also be considered, when evaluating a project for possible implementation. However, it is important that the benefits are not evaluated independently

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References

Cycle

Use paper to reduce your carbon footprint. No, that is not a typo in the headline. It is a fact.

In the current age of digital communication, it is important to consider how our choice of media and communications impacts on our carbon footprints. We investigate. 153 S G

ays Jane Molony, executive director of the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA): 'While there is no doubt that technology offers immediacy and convenience, we need to take a

careful look at the lifecycles of both digital and paper. Too often there are claims – many of which are unsubstantiated – that market digital as 'greener' than print.' Save the planet and go digital. Go green, read it on screen. Consider the environment before printing this email. 'Many of us have inherited a mindset that paper is bad for the environment, that its production kills trees,' states Molony. 'But few would believe that responsible paper manufacturing, consumption and recycling is "green".' We need to start considering both sides of the story.

The paper story South African paper producers source wood from sustainably-farmed plantation trees, as well as recycled paper and sugar cane fibre. To sustain production, less than 10% of the plantations are harvested annually. The timber is chipped, pulped and paper is made. In the same year, saplings are planted – at an average of 260 000 new trees per day.

Mitigating impact Just like most industries, paper manufacturing has an impact on the environment, but this is mitigated in a number of ways. Perhaps the most significant is the carbon sequestration of plantations from where the wood is sourced. The 762 000ha of South Africa's commercial timber plantations absorb 20 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) and greenhouse gases (GHGs) annually. Similarly, these trees release some 15 million tons of life-giving oxygen per year. The paper industry invests heavily in biomass-based renewable energy, emission reduction and water recycling initiatives, biodiversity conservation at plantation level as well as the promotion of paper recovery and recycling. Once paper is produced, the carbon is locked up and kept out of the atmosphere – in copier paper, books, printed documents, cardboard boxes – to name a few. By recycling paper, we keep this carbon locked up. Destined for landfill – a compact, anaerobic environment – paper (mixed with other waste) will degrade and release gases such as methane which is 25 times more potent than CO2.

The digital (dark) side Computers, servers and digital devices are made from, in most cases, non-renewable materials and require electricity to function. Many components are imported too. Electronic documents are stored in data centres and server rooms which generate heat and further require air-conditioning to regulate temperature.

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Researchers are only beginning to study the environmental effects of e-mail, digital data storage, internet searches and social networking. 'We don't know the environmental impact of saving a document on a server for 10 years or more. And we have no idea of the impact of extracting finite resources to make electronic devices that cannot easily be recycled safely and practically,' says Hans Wegner, chief sustainability officer of the National Geographic Society.

Consider the unseen In his report Print vs Digital Media: False Dilemmas and Forced Choices, Don Carli, a senior researcher at the Institute of Sustainable Communication, says: '[The] invisible "grey energy" used to manufacture digital technologies and the toxic "e-waste" associated with electronics are largely out of sight and out of mind. "Dark data" is also exchanged between computers but never seen by human eyes.' According to a study by the Centre for Energy-Efficient Telecommunications at University of Melbourne, by 2015 wireless 'cloud' infrastructure will consume as much as 43 terrawatt-hours of electricity worldwide while generating 30 megatons of CO2 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the equivalent of 4.9 million vehicles worth of carbon emissions.

Be responsible users of both 'Digital is here to stay and we have nothing against that,' assures Molony. 'But paper has its benefits too. Both have their place and fulfil different needs. We must use our chosen means of communication responsibly.' Paper is a renewable resource and we should look at its entire lifecycle when calculating its carbon footprint. 'It is important to source paper from certified producers. In South Africa, the Forest Stewardship Council mark of certification is one that businesses and consumers should look for,' explains Molony. 'Educate your colleagues about the importance of responsible paper consumption and recycling, especially those overseeing procurement and waste management.'

For more info, visit www.thepaperstory.co.za or see ad, right.

'Digital is here to stay and we have nothing against that, but paper has its benefits too. Both have their place and fulfil different needs. We must use our chosen means of communication responsibly.' - Jane Molony

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Food

grow with th

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'Join the biggest celebration of positive enviro-action across the globe on World Environment Day, 5 June 2014,' says Pat Featherstone. She reports.

orld Environment Day was launched by the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) 42 years ago. It has become an enormous

celebration in over 100 countries. People – young and old – organise activities which create awareness of humanity's devastating impact on this beautiful planet and galvanise communities into action to address the situation. It is an instrument of positive change around the globe; it creates awareness of our common responsibility to take care of the earth, and stirs in people the memory of their own power to become 'agents of change'. The theme of this year's World Environment Day is focused on small island states around the world; homes to distinctive cultures with a wealth of heritage, biodiversity and spectacular landscapes. ravages of climate change, rising sea levels and natural disasters. The islands are also challenged; by managing their waste, curtailing consumption and seeking solutions to the degradation of their natural resources. Added to these are the ever-increasing populations and industrialisation – problems faced by the entire planet, humanity's 'shared island' as Ban Ki-Moon (UN Secretary-General) stated at the launch

of the 2014 International Year of Small Islands and Developing States, 'Let's join forces to protect it.' If you have any interest and concern for what

Every action counts, and when multiplied by the global chorus, becomes exponential in its impact.

home, what will you, your family, your friends, your school, business, restaurant, hotel, enviro-action group and even your government be doing for World Environment Day and the lead up to it? What are you prepared to add to the collective on this day to make a positive difference? If you want a simple and entertaining solution, join Soil for Life – a Cape Town-based NPO – as it Eats for the Earth on, and around, 5 June. Organise a meal – with the environment in mind – and invite your friends, family and colleagues to join you. All that is



he flow

is happening to this magnificent island we call

required of your guests is a donation to Soil for Life and the work it does in under-privileged communities in SA. Stand a chance to win one of several amazing

There is a food-growing culture right now, right here, in your city, in your area. If you're not a part of it, learn how to or do a weekend workshop at Soil for Life.



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fourth year in a row, and whose bite-sized initiative this is. They are going global this year and they're spreading the word of a new consciousness: mindful food that doesn't fly.

In order to qualify for a prize, your meal must take some careful thought and planning. Ask yourself: Are the ingredients local or global?

Most SA cities and towns have a plethora of food markets and health shops, co-operatives and box schemes that source food from local producers.



with nature and each other through this life-sustaining activity. There is a food-growing culture right now, right here, in your city, in your area. If you're not a part of it, learn how to 'grow with the flow' by doing a weekend workshop at Soil for Life's Training and Resource Centre

Everyone, everywhere, is increasingly dependent on

in Constantia. Phone and book your course. It's said to

food originating from far away. Take a tally of what

be a life-changing experience. If you don't have garden

you buy. Check labels for countries of origin and don't

space, start sprouting, grow micro-greens in old seed

be surprised to see that your daily fare has travelled

trays or upcycled plastic containers. Plant quick veggies

sometimes thousands of kilometres by air or sea. This

like lettuce, Japanese greens and coriander that require

long-distance food habit provides us with out-of-season

little space, and grow more than enough food in a short

and travel-weary fruit and vegetables – good to behold,

time. Make a hanging garden outside the kitchen door

but lacking in nutrients after weeks in storage and

and grow pots of parsley and other herbs, spring onions

'treated' to make them last longer and look better. It also

and even carrots.

consumes staggering amounts of energy, creating a huge carbon footprint, quite apart from other enviro-impacts.

One of the simplest and healthiest things we can do for ourselves and the planet is to join the 'local food' movement. Become a

Always ask yourself the following questions when it comes to food: How 'healthy' is my menu in terms of human and planetary health? Has it been produced organically, compassionately and using as little water as possible? What is its carbon

'locavore' and eat only the food that is grown within a

footprint and, therefore, its impact on global warming?

50km radius of your front door. Most SA cities and towns

Has it been genetically engineered? Read labels and ask

have a plethora of food markets and health shops,

questions so that you know exactly what you are feeding

co-operatives and box schemes that source food from

yourself and your guests. Meat-free meals are good for

local producers – anything from ice-cream, honey, bread

your health, your pocket and the environment.

and cheese to vegetables, fruit, teas, oils, eggs, chicken and preserves. Find out about them, support them and in so doing, experience the taste of fresh food at the peak of ripeness, and, because a smaller amount of energy was used to transport the food, it's a safe bet that there was greater money retained by the farmer that toiled to produce it.

How much of what I plan to eat do I grow at home? Take your new consciousness one step further and start growing your own food now. Around 20m2, or four single-sized beds, is all it takes to supply four to six people with fresh vegetables around the year. Just imagine the impact on your wallet and your health. Join the ever-expanding network of food gardeners – people who are concerned about their lifestyle, the quality of their food and the global ecology. They are also realising the enormous benefits of connecting

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prizes donated by Yuppie Chef, their partners for the

Also get into the habit of questioning: What will I do with food waste from the meal? Do I add it to the garbage bin, or rather feed the earthworms or the compost heap and produce soil-enhancing humus for the next vegetable crop or the pot plants?

Where do you go from here? Soil for Life invites you, your friends and family, your colleagues at work, your school and club, your town or your city to Eat for the Earth. You will join the global community on this day. Remember that 'every action counts, and when multiplied by the global chorus, becomes exponential in its impact'. Visit

•

WATCH THIS!

Soil For Life: A look at our Home Gardeners

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Garden No garden or space to grow vegetables? Jane Griffiths gives us the low-down on how to grow delicious vegetables in containers. This is an ideal option for time- and space-pressed gardeners who still want fresh, home-grown edibles. There are stylish choices, including ready-planted ones for those who really are pushed for time.

ost vegetables and herbs grow really well in containers. Even though I have a fair-sized vegetable garden, I still grow

plenty of herbs and leafy greens in containers just outside my kitchen door. It is a lovely sunny, north-facing area, ideal for all the Mediterranean herbs plus it means I can just nip out the back door if I want to quickly add some flavour to a meal.

Why containers? They can be chosen to match and enhance the existing decor of an outdoor space. A raised box is ideal for those with mobility or back problems. They make good use of limited space and a surprising amount of harvest can be gained if they are fed and watered correctly. Soil disease is much easier to deal with in a container â&#x20AC;&#x201C; simply replace the soil. Containers can be moved to take advantage of the sun and to protect from frost.

Choose the right plants for the right container For smaller boxes choose shallow-rooted vegetables like lettuces and Asian greens. In wall mounted boxes select rambling varieties of cherry tomatoes and nasturtiums, to trail over the edges. For more robust vegetables, such as eggplant and squash, choose deep, wide containers. For trees such as citrus or bay, choose a large, deep container.

Mixing it up As in a no-dig vegetable garden, intensive planting and companion planting also work in containers. The trick with containers is to select varieties with similar watering requirements. Some happy container combinations are: Spring onions, lettuces and radishes. Cherry tomatoes up an obelisk with basil at the base and nasturtiums trailing over the edge. Eggplant, Swiss chard, bush beans and garlic chives.

Box tips If the container is large and you plan to move it, put wheels underneath it before filling. Adding an obelisk or tripod to a large container means you make the most of the vertical space and can still plant around the base. Create varying heights by using different size containers or by raising them up on bricks or blocks of wood. If using wooden boxes, place them on bricks so water can drain away. Adding stones or gravel to the bottom of containers doesn't increase drainage â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it just makes them heavier and reduces the amount of growing medium. Rather add a layer of recycled sponges over gaps or the drainage holes.

Choose good quality potting soil Potting soil's functions are to provide water, nutrients and support for plants' roots. It needs

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Containers 161 S G

to drain so the roots don’t sit in wet soil but it also needs to retain sufficient moisture. Using just compost or digging up some garden soil won’t result in happy plants. A good recipe includes a mixture of: Disease-free topsoil, to provide nutrients, density and natural organisms. River sand. Its large, coarse grains provide air pockets as well as weight to tall containers. Sieved, nutrient-rich compost. If you make your own compost using manure and nutrient-rich herbs, the compost will provide nutrients as well as retain moisture. Earthworm compost is an excellent addition. If your compost doesn’t contain manure, add well-rotted kraal or horse manure. A further moisture-retaining ingredient should be added, such as vermiculite, to hold air, water and nutrients. And finally, a slow-release, organic fertiliser.

Maintenance Feeding: Container plants need to be fed more regularly as the nutrients are washed out of the potting

can be gained from a relatively small area. The Urban

soil. Use a dry organic fertiliser every three to four

Box is a stylish yet practical option as it can be

months and a liquid organic fertiliser every month.

personalised to match and enhance the existing decor

Watering: Containers dry out more quickly and need

of any indoor or outdoor space. Plus I love the fact

to be watered more often than plants in the ground.

that they are made using recycled wood from strong

Get into the habit of checking regularly. Installing an

shipping pallets. Its unique and innovative design

irrigation system, such as drip pipe wound through

allows for numerous variations of colour, size and

the boxes, will ensure you don’t kill your plants. Self

height. I am using one of the large boxes, with three

watering containers are great for those who travel. If

tiers, to grow a lemon tree with plenty of vegetables,

you use a spray irrigation system, place cut off plastic

herbs and edible flowers around its base. Plus I have

bottles over the top of the nozzle. This directs the

one tier of the small size box, which I am using as a

water straight down into the container and prevents

seedling bed – it is so easy to protect from birds and

water being wastefully sprayed over the sides

snails and it means I now have a dedicated area to

Protecting: Containers are much easier to protect

continually grow seeds that prefer not to be directly

from snails, slugs, bugs and birds than large vegetable

sown in the garden.

gardens. Slugs and snails are easily deterred by placing

Useful options include wheels and a convenient

a rolled strip of scouring wire all around the container.

handle. When not it use, it can easily be taken

A simple netting cover will keep birds out and if you

apart, folded up and flat-stacked, requiring minimal

are having a problem with bugs, shade cloth will help

space. With non-toxic, lead-free waterproof paint

prevent these.

on the interior, plus 25 exterior colours to choose

Containers can also extend your growing season if you cover them with frost protection.

Jane's recommendation

from, The Urban Box is a perfect growing container and will provide space-pressed gardeners with fresh, home-grown produce for years to come. It is ideal for those with mobility or back problems and is an

The most recent containers I am using are The Urban

excellent choice for patios, balconies and rooftop

Boxes. With these space savers, an abundant harvest

gardens.

Visit Jane's Delicious Garden at www.janesdeliciousgarden.com or email Jane on info@janesdeliciousgarden.com Photographs: Jane Griffiths & Keith Knowlton. SOURCES: Jane's Delicious Garden, Sunbird Publishers, a division of Jonathan Ball Publishers.

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Watering Tip

A good water delivery method for containers is to stick a piece of 50mm diameter PVC piping into the centre of the pot. Cut a length just shorter than the depth of your pot. Using a metal bit, drill evenly spaced holes in the pipe, leaving about 7cm at the top undrilled. Cap the bottom of the pipe (either ask the hardware store for a cap, or use a recycled aerosol spray cap). As you fill the pot with potting soil, insert the PVC pipe, leaving the undrilled 7cm sticking out above the surface. Water the surface and through the PVC pipe â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the water will go down to the roots of your plants.

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Discover Reunion Island

with best-selling author Jane Griffiths Join Jane and her husband Keith as they explore this dramatic Indian Ocean Island. Discover the gardens, spices and cuisines, as well as the spectacular active volcano, beaches and tropical forests. This is a photographer's dream destination and Keith will be sharing his knowledge of photographic techniques and composition.

16 – 26 OCTOBER 2014

This once in a lifetime holiday includes:

• City tour of the capital St Denis • Visit to the Natural History Museum • Visit to a vanilla plantation, a coffee plantation, a rum distillery and a wine farm

• The Volcano & underground lava tunnels excursion • A Creole cooking class. • Visit to the Mascarin Botanical Gardens, a Spice and

fragrance garden, the Garden of Eden and the Market of St. Paul.

• Sunset cocktail cruise For Bookings & further info contact: Animaltracks Islandventures info@animaltracks.co.za • www.animaltracks.co.za

Shelf

FIRST FIELD GUIDE TO Aloes of Southern Africa Gideon Smith Struik Nature • 978 1 8687 2854 1

These natural history guides have been developed to encourage young people and anyone with a budding interest in natural history to learn about the wonders of southern Africa's fascinating fauna and flora. They are an invaluable resource for the beginner, providing information at a glance: each of the species presented is described in easy-to-read text, with a photograph and distribution map. A short introduction gives context to the topic. These compact guides come in a handy pocket size and are easy to use in the field – and make ideal gifts for children or beginners in the field.

Gardening for Birds: Planting and Projects to Entice Birds to Your Garden Tracey Hawthorne Struik Nature • 978 1 9205 4483 6

This is a charming, yet practical, guide to planning and designing gardens with a view to attracting birds. The author caters for garden situations across the country, and includes advice on planning very small gardens and even planting on balconies. Specific 'habitats' are recommended, to attract the widest variety of birds – an open area, wetland, canopy section and wild zone. For each, there's a list of suggested plants, from groundcovers to shrubs, creepers and trees. There are also sections on planting for birds with particular diets: nectar, seeds, fruit, insects and even meat. Beautifully presented, with simple

text and delightful illustrations, this is an excellent perennial gift.

Culture and Horticulture: The Classic Guide to Biodynamic and Organic Gardening Wolf D Storl North Atlantic Books • 978 1 5839 4550 6

Various studies have shown time and again that small organic farms and home gardens are capable of producing more food per acre with less fossil energy than large-scale commercial agricultural installations dependent on machines and toxic chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This book details how food is grown holistically and beautifully by traditional communities around the world, and shows how to apply their ancient wisdom to our own gardens. On the practical front, the book works as a manual for creating and maintaining a bountiful harvest. It explains how to build the soil to maintain fertility; how to produce compost; how to plant, sow, and tend the various fruit and vegetable plants; how to rotate crops and practice companion planting; how to set up a favourable microclimate; how to deal with so-called weeds and pests; how to harvest at the right time; and finally how to store vegetables and herbs.

SAPPI TREE SPOTTING: KZN and Eastern Cape Val Thomas & Rina Grant Jacana • 978 1 4314 0541 1

Until recently, trees have been an inaccessible enigma to all but the most devoted, botanically-minded, treekey followers. The Sappi Tree Spotting series, however, has changed all this. It is an invitation to beginners and tree

enthusiasts to embark on an exciting and informative journey. The books make tree identification easy and enjoyable, offering readers beautiful illustrations and photographs, and loads of factfilled reading. Each book contains grids showing seasonal changes, the animal and human uses for each tree, as well as gardening tips, and information on parks, lodges and hiking trails. The Sappi Tree Spotting series covers trees in the Bushveld, Lowveld, Cape, KwaZuluNatal & Eastern Cape and Highveld regions.

Coastal Gardening in South Africa Allan Haschick Struik Nature • 978 1 4323 0167 5

Most conventional gardening books assume that everyone experiences the same conditions in their garden, no matter where they live, but this is seldom the reality. Coastal Gardening in South Africa sets out to offer advice to gardeners who live in coastal suburbs, towns and villages, where strong winds, saltladen air and, often, high humidity, can play havoc with their planting scheme. Many plants that grow happily on the Highveld, for example, or in the leafy suburbs, shrivel and die when exposed to windborne salt or harsh light reflected off the sea. But this does not mean that coastal gardens have to be bleak and boring; quite the contrary, in fact. The key is to understand your immediate environment and choose plants that will flourish in those conditions. Coastal Gardening in South Africa is a guide to creating a thriving garden, whether you live on the arid ‘Weskus’, subtropical KZN or anywhere in between.

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Listings

To advertise contact adverts@simplygreen.co.za • Rate: R11.25 per word, minimum 20 words, includes image.

KIDS

ECO-PRODUCTS

Naturalwise online shop and blog. Great products to promote and support a healthier, eco-friendlier, chemical-free lifestyle. Fast delivery throughout South Africa. Tel: 086 110 6329 or 011 705 1607, Email: sales@naturalwise.co.za, Blog: www.naturalwise.co.za, Shop: www.naturalwise.co.za/cart/

SOLAR COOKING Olympus Flower Cookers With solar cooking you use the cleanest, most enviro-friendly energy source. Sunbeams are converted to heat on the surface of a dark pot. 'Mirror Of Hope'. Using the energy of our free sun. www.olympusflower.com, helga@eshelbypianos.com Ray: 072-235-1385, Helga: 082-735-0830

metal bender stoves High quality wrought iron stoves for cooking & warmth Rocket stove: made from recycled gas bottles. It uses very little wood and takes a single pot/kettle. www.olympusflower.com helga@eshelbypianos.com Phone during office hours: Ray: 072-235-1385 Helga: 082-735-0830

MEADOWSWEET

Meadowsweet products – free of toxins and synthetic fragrances, a quality range of therapeutic natural body care products with the recommended medicinal dosage of essential oils. Our products include a range of hand and body lotions, body scrubs, sore muscle soak, bath milks, bath salts, spritzers, essential oils, body butters, soaps, shampoo, body wash and massage oils. Our ethos is centered on truth, beauty and goodness in all areas of our lives.

http://meadowsweet.co.za/ms/index.php?

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The Tipi Tannie No harsh chemicals are used in the making of the tipis from The Tipi Tannie. I use 100% cotton canvas, 100% linen and 100% hemp canvas and as far as possible, untreated bluegum poles. If poles are treated, it is with linseed oil. Many design extras can be added and each tipi is unique. Prices start from as little as R690 for a 4ft tipi for little ones age 3-5 and go up to R2 600 for a 7ft tipi with 11 poles, for ages 3-15. Canvas is treated with anti-fungus. Call 081 408 3912, email or

Grow A Tree Grow A Tree is a small social enterprise founded in 2008 working across the country and aims to make tree planting fun. Their main aim is to grow 1 000 000 indigenous trees from seed. Through their website you can buy their starter pack so that you can plant a tree in a comminty area and come back in 20 years to say its progress. You can also sponsor a tree or volunteer to help out at events.