Simply Green Magazine, Issue 3, 2016 by African News Agency

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YOUR LEADER IN ECO-BUSINESS & LIFESTYLE

ISSUE 3 • 2016

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ALL ABOUT

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10 l 20 enta nm sm iro nali v En our ard J Aw er nn Wi

Inside

ican Afr ited uth Lim e So ies Th er Brew

News

Features

10 General 48 Energy 66 Motoring 92 Food 120 Conservation 124 Awards

16 SAB Initiative 22 PV forges ahead 28 Making PV panels 32 Fresnal solar 36 Solar energy myths 40 CSP grows globally 44 Eskom: Fact's & foolishness

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Issue 3 • 2016 Volume 9 No.3 •

54 Unique needs 56 Water restrictions 58 Circular economy pt II 60 Mark Sampson: Africa clockwise

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72 Tiny homes pt II 78 Comfort & convenience

86 Food waste 100 Read your labels 111 DIY: Building a fish pond

120 Greenpop: Fest of action

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EDITORIAL Since our previous issue we have been exposed to the unedifying blusterings of Eskom CEO Brain Molefe before Parliament's Select Committee on Energy, attempting without any apparent remorse, to send South Africa down a track of unsustainable, expensive and unnecessary expenditure on more coal-fired power stations and nuclear power, ostensibly required to cover future base-load needs. In our previous issue we took Molefe to task for attempting to minimise the very substantial contribution that renewables (wind and solar) have made towards South Africa's energy needs at a time when 'conventional' power provision was extremely tenuous. Molefe's latest line is quite clear: there is every intention to roll back progress made towards an entirely renewable and sustainable energy sector, with numerous private players involved, towards an outmoded essentially Stalinist vision of state control of the 'levers of power', in this case, literally. For Molefe and those of his thinking, it is better to have an unaffordable monstrosity in the form of the Eskom of old â&#x20AC;&#x201C; everything in the hands of the state, and all controlled 'from the centre' according to political agendas, rather than service provision requirements â&#x20AC;&#x201C; than to have non-state players involved at all. This can be the only possible reason for cancelling, more or less at the last minute, a large concentrate solar SG 6

power unit that was due for construction in the Northern Cape (ideal turf for such energy production), on the spurious basis of inadequate funds. It has since emerged that Molefe has cancelled all planned renewable energy projects in favour of going nuclear. Let's assume that the industry specialist cited as a commentator on this development is right, in that he believes the nuclear build being contemplated by Eskom will cost around R1.2trillion and not the (more realistic) R1.5t that some others have estimated, and that modern nuclear plants could run, as Molefe claimed, for 60 years or more. Even so, Molefe's numbers simply don't add up. With solar and other renewables (wind, mostly) showing ever-lower build costs, and with relatively low maintenance costs, nuclear does not even come close to the same cost frame as competitive renewable options. Molefe says there's no problem, and that Eskom's (which is to say, Jacob Zuma's) nuclear ambitions will be paid for 'off the books'. Apparently what the Eskom CEO meant was 'out of operating revenue', which is an odd thing for the cash-strapped state entity to be saying. Already, he claims, Eskom has 'identified' some R150b towards the R1.2t build cost mentioned. Assuming construction run-ons and other likely additional costs, the figure he has offered as a solution to the very good question of 'how do we pay for nuclear power plants we can neither afford nor which we need' is to offer out of revenues something between 10 and 12.5% of the build cost.

The rest, it is implied, will have to come from those most likely to build such stations in SA, being either the Chinese or the Russians – or some other as-yet unnamed 'local' investors. This is so because at present Eskom's status as a borrower is virtually 'junk', so no money at an affordable rate is likely to be found anywhere else to fund this scheme. If so, who then will own these utilities in all practical terms – South Africans, or foreign powers whose agendas by no means are certain to coincide with what is best for the average South African? How will we contain costs when, once such nuke plants are in place or in the process of being built, and it emerges that it will indeed be an extremely costly business for those buying their power (meaning you, me and most everyone else in this country) from the only (government-controlled) supplier who, in turn, is deeply indebted to foreign interests? The answer, obviously, is that we won't. But you'd never know that in listening to Molefe speak to Parliamentarians who, for the most part, are clueless when it comes to advanced technical issues such as are now on the table but, in the ANC majority, are dutiful loyalists who will do their masters' biding. Molefe simply brushed aside any contradiction of his position – and hardly bothered to even explain himself, in a manner more generally noted and very similar to that of another troubled state enterprise, the SABC, recently. In his 'take it or leave it, but this is the way it will be' attitude, Molefe came off as high-handed. More than that, it was clear he was either appallingly ill-informed or wilfully dismissive of the underlying economics of what is essentially an ideological decision to retain as much state power, again literally, as possible and not have this crucial blunt instrument of policy 'weakened' by the growing involvement of private parties wishing to join in the independent power producers' contribution towards building in South Africa a modern, reliable, low-cost, renewable and decentralised power infrastructure. Either way, in Molefe we have another example of a loyal cadre of certain currently in-power persons who is making decisions not in the interests of South Africans as a whole but that of some clique of interested and, it would seem, conflicted players whose agenda has yet to be publicly spelt out and acknowledged. Surely we can do better, both in terms of replacing Molefe in a crucial role which will affect our economy and collective welfare for generations to come, as well as thinking through our current challenges much more creatively than simply engaging in a 1950s-era throwback of 'centralism above all else'. And then we have the habitually nodding 'yes men' of industry who (out of sight of course) shrug at the foolishness

of nuclear for South Africa now (or even ever) because there's clearly a buck to be made – even if it's at all our expense. All this just as South Africa had begun to make serious headway as a potential world leader in renewables, especially solar. In this edition, then, we investigate the situation with solar in SA (and globally) and demonstrate beyond any doubt at all that we are perfectly situated (once again, meant literally) to take the best advantage of the overwhelmingly obvious free and renewable energy source we enjoy daily – the sun. If Molefe et al get their way, we will be doomed to more decades of energy uncertainty – not necessarily because of poor maintenance or maladministration of the proposed suite of nuke plants, which is also far from impossible, but most likely because, while we will be able to produce the power we need, it will too expensive for most people and businesses to afford. What happens then? We, at Simply Green, know we'd rather not find out the hard way. So we once again urge all who read our words and understand our point to apply as much pressure as they can on Molefe, his minister and on the government as a whole to 'get a grip' and begin to deal with our energy problems in a way that does not leave us with unaffordable high-carbon footprint energy produced by the most toxic method known to mankind – there is no such thing as 'safe' nuclear waste, and some of the most hazardous post-production nuclear materials are radioactive for tens to hundreds of thousands of years. Is there any way for sense to prevail at this time? We certainly hope so – and we call on all South Africans of good conscience to face down the centrists who want control over whatever state assets may be to hand, including Eskom, evidently for the ideology of it and perhaps also for the status and power that such control yields. Where will organised industry and commerce be when next Molefe brings his woefully inadequate story to the precincts of Parliament? We hope they will be in the gallery and in line to make their own presentations pointing to the foolishness of what currently passes (uncritically, in most cases) for South Africa's future energy plan. But will they? And as for the rest of us – it looks increasingly like legal social resistance at every level is our only option.

Green greetings Chris & the Team 7 SG

ADVISORY BOARD SG 8

Brian Wilkinson is the CEO of the Green Building Council. He joined the GBC in 2011 as Chief Executive Officer after some creative encouragement out of what he thought was his ‘early retirement’. At the time he was working with ILIMA Trust, an NPO involved in supporting leaders in the public sector.

Gareth Burley is the CEO of Green Business Synergy, a company that brings business together for sustainable energy solutions and projects. He consults to companies and organisations such as the SAEE, Measurement and Verification Council, Energy Saving Company QDM, Microcare Solar Manufacturers and local government.

Jane Griffiths is a television producer, writer, artist and traveller, who has grown organic vegetables and herbs in her Johannesburg garden for 20 years. Her best-selling book Jane’s Delicious Garden has led to a vegetable revolution in South Africa, with thousands of people now following in Jane's green footsteps.

Kevin James Kevin James is a sustainable business strategist and futurist. He applies systems thinking to tackle some of the most pressing environmental and social challenges facing business today, He believes that the only way to solve the many problems that our current sustainability conundrum presents to us, is to connect the dots between stakeholders, their activities and the various systems within which they all interact.

Richard Duckitt has a BSc in Environmental and Geographical Studies (UCT), an Honors degree in Oceanography and is a registered Green Star Accredited Professional for New Buildings and a Green Star SA Assessor. Promoting sustainability solutions through an integrated and collaborative approach, he considers how all elements of a building’s design, construction and management work together to meet the needs of its owners, occupants and the environment.

Richard Sherman serves as a technical advisor on multilateral environmental agreements, international environmental governance, climate change and sustainable development. He is a member of South Africa’s Official Negotiating Delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and is currently the Advisor to the Co-Chair of the Board of the Green Climate Fund and is the convenor of the African Group of Negotiators Finance Working Group.

Carole Knight is a freelance environmental writer with specialisations in sustainability, emerging trends, and globalisation. She lives in the Western Cape of South Africa. The website for BirdLife South Africa is www. birdlife.org.za

Mike Britten has a B.Comm (Econ Hons) from the University of Natal, has worked in the Rhodesian Government Economics Ministry, and became General Secretary of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of Rhodesia during the sanctions war. He spent the next 25 years running his own businesses, and at the same time writing weekly economic updates on the SADC region for a variety of overseas publications. Specialised on the economics of energy, particularly renewables.

Jeunesse Park established ProGreen, SAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first environmental communications and public relations company, as well as Food & Trees for Africa and has won many awards. She continues her work as a social activator with the African Climate Reality Project.

Susanne Karcher is a chemical engineer who runs her own Environmental Consultancy called EnviroSense. Her company specialises in the planning, development and facilitation of tailor-made governmental, industrial/commercial and residential 'Integrated Resource and Waste Management' programmes. Susanne is also the coordinator and chair(wo) man of the Southern African e-Waste Alliance (SAEWA).

Johan van den Berg is the CEO of the South African Wind Energy Association, the Chair of the South African Renewable Energy Council and the African Private Sector Focal Point for the Africa-EU Energy Partnership. A barrister, he has spent 18 years in dispute resolution; environmental mediation; climate change avoidance/ emissions trading; and efforts to deploy renewable energy in Southern Africa.

Prof Mark Swilling is an internationally-recognised expert in sustainable development and is Academic Director of The Sustainability Institute, University of Stellenbosch. Swilling has published eight edited and co-authored books, over 54 book chapters, 37 articles in refereed journals, and compiled 22 major technical reports.

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Obituary: Great Barrier Reef | 25 000 000 BC - 2016 Climate change and ocean acidification have killed off one of the most spectacular features on the planet. Here is a faux-obituary written by eco-journalist Rowan Jacobsen. The Great Barrier Reef of Australia passed away in 2016 after a long illness. It was 25 million years old. For most of its life, the reef was the world’s largest living structure, and the only one visible from space. It was 1 400 miles long, with 2 900 individual reefs and 1 050 islands. In total area, it was larger than the United Kingdom, and it contained more biodiversity than all of Europe combined. It harbored 1 625 species of fish, 3 000 species of mollusk, 450 species of coral, 220 species of birds, and 30 species of whales and dolphins. Among its many other achievements, the reef was home to one of the world’s largest populations of dugong and the largest breeding ground of green turtles. The reef was born on the eastern coast of the continent of Australia during the Miocene epoch. Its first 24.99 million years were seemingly happy ones, marked by overall growth. It was formed by corals, which are tiny anemone-like animals that secrete shell to form colonies of millions of individuals. Its complex, sheltered structure came to comprise the most important habitat in the ocean. As sea levels rose and fell through the ages, the reef built itself into a vast labyrinth of shallow-water reefs and atolls extending 140 miles off the Australian coast and ending in an outer wall that plunged half a mile into the abyss. With such

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extraordinary diversity of life and landscape, it provided some of the most thrilling marine adventures on earth to humans who visited. Its otherworldly colours and patterns will be sorely missed. To say the reef was an extremely active member of its community is an understatement. The surrounding ecological community wouldn’t have existed without it. Its generous spirit was immediately evident 60 000 years ago, when the first humans reached Australia from Asia during a time of much lower sea levels. At that time, the upper portions of the reef comprised limestone cliffs and innumerable caves lining a resource-rich coast. Charlie Veron, longtime chief scientist for the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the Great Barrier Reef’s most passionate champion (he personally discovered 20% of the world’s coral species), called the reef in that era a 'Stone Age Utopia.' Aboriginal clans hunted and fished its waters and cays for millennia, and continued to do so right up to its demise. Worldwide fame touched the reef in 1770, when Captain James Cook became the first European to navigate its deadly maze. Although the reef was beloved by nearly all who knew it, Cook was not a fan. 'The sea in all parts conceals shoals that suddenly project from the shore, and rocks that rise abruptly like a pyramid from the bottom,' he wrote in his journal. Cook’s ship foundered on one of those shoals and was nearly sunk, but after several months Cook escaped the reef.

For the full story click here.

Partnerships for Forests Opens First Call for Concepts Partnerships for Forests, a technical assistance and grant-making programme funded by the UK government, has opened its first call for concepts. The programme seeks to tackle deforestation and improve livelihoods by catalysing investment in forests and sustainable land use. To create viable investment propositions, the programme facilitates and incubates partnerships between private sector companies, public sector actors and civil society. These ‘Forest Partnerships’ aim to result in positive outcomes for all partners, while contributing to reduced deforestation, reforestation, afforestation, forest restoration or forest conservation, at scale. Partnerships for Forests is now calling for concept notes from organizations which have ideas for, or have already formed such partnerships. Organisations eligible to submit a concept note include private-sector companies, co-operatives or trade associations, civil society or community-based organisations, non-governmental organisations or research institutes. The first call is focussed on building sustainable supply chains for cocoa, palm oil, rubber and fuelwood/timber in West and Central Africa (focussing on Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana and Liberia). Partnerships for Forests will support partnerships at different levels of maturity, from those that are only ideas through to projects that are already being piloted. However all partnerships should have the potential to deliver impact at scale, either through their own activities or replication elsewhere. Further information on eligibility and how to apply is available here. Concept notes, outlining proposed partnerships, were to be submitted by 14 October 2016. Partnerships for Forest is funded by UK Aid from the UK government and implemented by Palladium and McKinsey & Company.

Tshering Tobgay: This country isn't just carbon neutral – it's carbon negative Deep in the Himalayas, on the border between China and India, lies the Kingdom of Bhutan, which has pledged to remain carbon neutral for all time. In this illuminating talk, Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay shares his country's mission to put happiness before economic growth and set a world standard for environmental preservation. The Prime Minister hopes to eventually convert all the country’s vehicles to electric power. Similarly, Bhutan subsidises the cost of LED lights and the government is in the process of going completely paperless. In addition, free electricity is provided to rural farmers, which helps to reduce the use of firewood for cooking food. By 2030, Bhutan plans to be zero-waste and achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions. And the country’s food supply will be 100% organic by 2020.

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N ews Canada commits $22.6m to support training of African Mathematical Scientists on Climate Change Solutions The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, has announced that Canada will contribute CA$22.6m over five years to the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences – Next Einstein Initiative (AIMS-NEI) to train African mathematical scientists to develop climate change adaptation and mitigation solutions. With the funding, AIMS will expand its successful model of training African post-graduate students in advanced mathematical sciences to incorporate a greater focus on climate change. The funding will be delivered via Global Affairs Canada (CA$19.6m) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) (CA$3m). IDRC will manage the funding on behalf of the Government of Canada. With this Government of Canada funding, AIMS will develop a specialized program in climate change at AIMS-Rwanda and a climate change course option will be offered at all AIMS centres. AIMS will also support up to three research chairs to lead some 50 African researchers to build a specialized body of knowledge in addressing the impacts of climate change in Africa. AIMS will create a climate change internship program for its students and alumni, as well as research fellowships for outstanding African women mathematical scientists to conduct climate change research. An additional AIMS centre will be opened in Francophone Africa. AIMS is building a critical mass of mathematical scientists in Africa who can address the continent’s complex

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economic, health, agriculture, and environmental challenges. Every year, some 50 of Africa’s top students enroll in each of AIMS’ six centres to take a 10-month graduate-level course, leading to a Master’s degree in mathematical science. Already, AIMS alumni have demonstrated their impact on climate change research. For instance, alumni have developed crop models to estimate the future of food security in the face of a changing climate, used mathematical modelling to help industry convert waste to energy, and developed models to understand the diffusion patterns of infectious diseases as warming climates lengthen transmission seasons. www.NextEinstein.org

'This initiative demonstrates Canada’s commitment to Africa’s youth and their ability to find lasting solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges, like climate change. AIMS will make great strides to increase the recruitment and advancement of young mathematical scientists, especially women, in Africa.' - Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie

The Low Line: The world's first underground park The Low Line in New York City, is a project to build the world's first underground park in an abandoned subway station in the Lower East Side.

EARTH DAY 2016: Leonardo DiCaprio reminds us not to rest on laurels

BAC NINH's green city hall Vo Trong Nghia Architects (VTNA) has unveiled a proposal for a Green City Hall in Vietnam’s Bac Ninh City. Designed as a vertical park, the 36 000m2 proposal is meant to serve as a new symbol for a traditionally agricultural, but rapidly industrialising area of Northern Vietnam. The VTNA proposal is part of a larger plan to develop a new urban area on the edge of the old city, and is designed to be a catalyst for future green developments in the area. The building is composed of two volumes that lean towards each other – think shuffling cards with a riffle or dovetail method – in a gesture that is meant to symbolise a unity of citizens and government. Cultural facilities in the structure’s base give way to government offices in one tower with party offices and a citizen center in the other. The two towers culminate in an observation deck. Click here for more

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ELON MUSK'S MASTER PLAN Almost a decade ago, a not-so-well-known tech millionaire named Elon Musk took to the blog of his least-famous company and published a 'secret master plan' to bring zero-emission electric vehicles to the masses. Now part two of Musk’s not-so-secret plan has been revealed, and it contains a much more ambitious strategy to transform the way we get around – plus a way to power it all sustainably.

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How bees detect flowers' electric fields

The media, and the general public, seem to have a love/hate relationship with Elon Musk and Tesla Motors. Either he's a genius and the company is going to change the world, or he's a rich guy with big dreams of luxury products for other wealthy people. Perhaps that's because it's easy to criticise a company with audacious goals yet with relatively few of its products actually on the street, but it's also hard not to cheer on the efforts of a forward-thinking company like Tesla, which aims to bring an integrated clean energy/energy storage/ transportation solution to the masses, even if the economics don't quite work yet for the average person. In a nutshell, Tesla's plan for world domination looks like this: • Create stunning solar roofs with seamlessly integrated battery storage • Expand the electric vehicle product line to address all major segments • Develop a self-driving capability that is 10X safer than manual via massive fleet learning • Enable your car to make money for you when you aren't using it. There are multiple speed bumps to get over, and perhaps more than a few previously unseen roadblocks to navigate around, so the Tesla plan for world domination (or at least clean transport and energy) isn't necessarily a short-term and fast-tracked one, but considering how behind-the-times other car companies seem to act, and how slow they are to change, there's a lot to cheer for in this master plan from Elon Musk.

EARTH'S WEAKENING MAGNETIC FIELD

Click here for more

New satellite data from the European Space Agency has revealed some puzzling findings: the Earth’s magnetic field appears to be weakening much faster than previous research would suggest. These measurements show that on the whole, the planet’s geomagnetic field is weakening about ten times faster than expected, at a rate of about 5% every decade. However, it’s also important to note that in some regions it’s actually strengthened, particularly over Asia.

GROWING FORESTs FROM WASTE To tackle desertification, the Egyptian government is growing tree plantations that thrive on waste water. According to the United Nations, global desertification continues to worsen with 12 million hectares of land lost to desertification and drought every year. In response to the issue, the Egyptian government came up with a plan in the 1990s to green 36 of its desert locations using sewage water. Today the forests are thriving and providing a valuable natural resource while simultaneously fighting desertification. Click here for more

3D PRINTED VILLAGES These proposed 3D-printed floating villages could be a means to future energy independence. The structures, envisioned by architect Vincent Callebaut, would recycle ocean waste harvested from international waters as building materials for new, sustainable marine architecture.

TRUTH IN PICTURES 'When the Last Tree Is Cut Down, the Last Fish Eaten, and the Last Stream Poisoned, You Will Realise That You Cannot Eat Money.' This prophecy is becoming a more and more brutal reality. But, even today, not every person is aware of the horrible effects our lifestyles have on nature. Hefty.com recently published a series of evocative photographs that will leave you speechless. BELOW: (L) The scars left behind from the mining of oil sands in the Canadian province of Alberta. (R) an oilfield in California and the merciless overexploitation of humans.

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S ustainability

â&#x20AC;&#x2030;COMMITMENT TO A

BEARING S G 16

AGRICULTURE IS

G FRUIT South African Breweries (SAB) draws much of its success from the expansive barley fields of the Southern and Northern Cape that are flourishing under the care of both commercial and emerging farmers. We take a look at their commitment to agriculture.

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griculture remains the primary economic activity in South Africa’s rural communities, and

given

SAB’s

size

and

scope

operations, the company has a significant impact on the country’s agricultural economy. This influence is met with corporate responsibility and, as part of SABMiller’s global sustainable development framework, SAB is setting an example in ensuring a prosperous future for rural communities in which it operates. Given

that

barley

remains

SAB’s

largest

requirement in terms of raw agricultural material, SAB has focussed its considerable energy on a

number of agricultural projects that are geared towards promoting sustainable farming practises and increasing the local agricultural input from both commercial and emerging farmers. Better Barley Better Beer was introduced by SAB in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund South Africa (WWF-SA) as a holistic framework that focuses on

environmental and social awareness by encouraging sustainable farming practises that improve the socio-economic value of a farm while protecting the environmental integrity of the land (and monitor the economic performance of producers). The project supports both commercial and emerging barley

Promising new varieties of barley being tested by So

farmers in the dryland Southern Cape and the irrigated barley fields in the Northern Cape in gaining a deeper understanding of sustainable

projects that focuses on the complete barley

farming practises that ultimately deliver a superior

supply chain. This projects caters specifically for

grain to SAB’s Malting Houses, and consequently

emerging farmers and supports the development

deliver a great tasting beer.

of a sustainable, reliable and competitive barley

The noble barley grain may grow less than a

supply chain for the breweries. Emerging farmers

centimetre high, but it really is the foundation on

are assisted from the point of inception with a

which many of SAB’s great beers are made. For this

detailed soil analysis and any upgrades if necessary,

reason, SAB works closely with the South African

fertiliser recommendations, and water requirement

Barley Breeding Institute (SABBI) in Caledon who

monitoring. Optimal planting times specific to

are responsible for developing new barley cultivars

the land are calculated and SAB assists with a

with superior yield potential, stability, and disease

comprehensive assessment of crop performance

resistance while providing improved malting and

throughout the growth cycle. SAB’s intention is

brewing quality. It’s a laborious and delicate

to ensure that there is a meaningful increase in

process where thousands of potential cultivars are

profitability for the farmer and an improvement in

put though a rigorous testing process that last up

the community’s social development.

to 17 years for promising cultivars. A successful

As a part of its Vision 2030, government’ National

new malting barley variety will deliver incremental

Development Plan sees agriculture as the vehicle to

improvements in yield and extract potential, which

create nearly one million jobs by 2030. In order

translates into significant gains for both the farmer

to achieve this goal, government in partnership

and the brewer. Go Farming is another of SAB’s agricultural

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with key stakeholders such as SAB must develop strategies that allow emerging farmers access to

outh African Barley Breeding Institute in Caledon. product-value chains within the economy. SAB’s investments in their agricultural projects are closely aligned with this strategy. According to a recent study conducted by Econex, more than 110 000 direct and indirect employment opportunities were created in rural areas through SAB’s investment in the local agricultural sectors. The underlying objective of SAB’s agricultural projects is for the agricultural sector to become financially secure, independent and sustainable, with the capacity to provide SAB with quality raw material. This mutually beneficial relationship allows SAB to create a robust supply chain for barley, maize, and hops; while diversifying their sourcing footprint geographically and demographically. Emerging farmers are supported in developing sustainable farming practises and benefit through improved infrastructure, access to market, land acquisition, modern farming techniques and the positive impact their success has on economic growth within their communities.

Better Barley Better Beer was introduced by SAB in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund South Africa (WWF-SA) as a holistic framework that focuses on environmental and social awareness by encouraging sustainable farming practises that improve the socio-economic value of a farm while protecting the environmental integrity of the land (and monitor the economic performance of producers).

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MA TC HI NG

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FOOD&BEER

Just about everyone has heard about matching food to wines (or vice versa, depending on whether you are a foodie or a wine lover). But the SAB folks have had a 'better beer' idea arising from their 'Better Barley Better Beer' initiative. And this is how they did it.

fter a full day's travel into the Boland from Cape Town, a barley breeding primer, farm tours, including to SAB's own barley farm,

and a relaxing spa treatment (much enjoyed), the SAB folks had something special in store for us

Pork belly, crackling, caramelized apples and weiss

wordsmiths for our evening as their guests.

jus, fennel and potato dauphinoise, matched with

They took us to what is literally a hole in the

Newlands Spring Mountain Weiss. Beyond yum.

rocks in the heart of Hermanus, a former Strandloper

Course 5 was Apple shortcake, with butterscotch

hangout turned cool restaurant (for those 'in the

sauce, which at least one of us missed out on

know') called Bientangs Cave Restaurant.

because of an unfortunate dairy allergy but which was

There we were treated to an amusing presentation

generally agreed to also massage the taste buds just

of beer and food matching – something rather unique

right – and the accompanying chilled green apple,

and, as it turns out, delicious.

Flying Fish Apple flavoured beer was a remarkable

The special menu began with three versions of

revelation, stimulating animated conversation around

oyster, all served in the shell. These were Oyster

the subtle and not-so-subtle differences between

natural, Panko Crumbed oyster with lemon olive

apple cider and apple beer.

oil and Oyster with ginger, soy and chilli, toasted

More than one person remarked that the chilled

sesame. These three were matched, in order, with

green apple, Flying Fish Apple flavoured beer was so

Castle Milk Stout, Castle Light and Carling Black

good it would require careful watching not to become

Label. Mixing and matching beers with food flavours

a full-blown addiction, right off the bat.

was encouraged and turned out to be as much fun as the 'professionals' matches.

The other option for dessert was White chocolate mousse with seasonal berries and stout chocolate

As if the oysters (everyone loved them) hadn't

sauce, which was matched with SAB's lovely Castle

even happened, 'Course 1' was Beetroot Cured

Milk Stout Chocolate – another instant favourite

Salmon Trout, micro herbs, wholegrain mayonnaise

around the table.

and radish. This was matched with Castle Lite. Cheers all round for the beers and the bites.

Finally, and perhaps to the relief of some who were by this stage not merely filled with good food,

Course 2 was Belguim Moules Frite, steamed

but plenty of beer (one does not spit out good beer,

mussels with skinny twice fried chips, homemade

as in a wine tasting, so the mood at our was, well,

mayo, matched with Newland’s Spring Passionate

merry), Course 6, consisting of Parmesan Cheese

Blond. Yum.

with fresh pear, wrapped up the outing with its

Course 3 was, appropriately, Ale braised beef

partner for the night, Pilsner Urquell.

brisket, sweet potato puree & ale jus, matched,

One could say the SAB folks outdid themselves,

equally appropriately, with Newland’s Spring Jacob’s

but that might put them off doing the same or

Pale Ale.

something like it again – and one would never wish

Course 4 was more deliciousness, in the form of

for that to happen.

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R enewable Energy

The large scale generation of electricity using photovoltaic systems is clearly the most exciting and far-reaching development in the local energy field in many years. Companies big and small are rushing to get their share of this new energy production sub-sector. The development has already sent shock waves through traditional electricity utilities (both local and international), and who are themselves getting onto the bandwagon. Economist and regional business analyst Mike Britten reports. S G 22

23 S G

Tâ&#x20AC;&#x2030;

he UN estimates that 634 million people

2025 the cost of wind and PV electricity generation

in Africa have no electricity and many are

could fall by a further 50%, making electricity

too far from the grid to ever be connected.

significantly cheaper than utilities currently charge.

The International Energy Agency calculates that two

Already in Texas, some new PV farms are contracting

thirds of the World's population will still not have

electricity supplies at prices utilities cannot match.

reliable access to electricity by 2030. Energy and energy production systems are, therefore, a major driver in future development,

concentrated solar power (CSP), and what looks like

especially when considerations around global

leading in the future, at least in the short-term,

warming and climate change are including in the

photovoltaic. Coal will be the dominant source of

calculation of our energy resource options and mix.

electricity for possibly decades, partly because

Renewable systems of generation are the logical

of entrenched capital, and partly because some

answer, especially around individual installations

countries continue to plan their generating capacity

and mini-grids. The falling cost and improving

expansion from coal. China is reported to be

quality of PV panels, and other forms of renewable

commissioning ten coal fired stations monthly,

energy, are making the possibility of electricity

while South Africa is still tendering for more

service for people in both remote and urban areas a

generation capacity from coal.

more feasible and affordable prospect. Taking a long range view, it is estimated that by

S G 24

There are many ways to generate large scale electricity, coal, gas, hydro, nuclear, solar by

PV panels capture radiant energy from the sun,

and transform the energy into electricity, without

DE AAR SOLAR FARM, SOUTH AFRICA

any other inputs and without emissions, noise or

2013 and 2015 respectively.

moving parts. The climate change implications of

There is a general acceptance that in the

the use of PV rather than carbon-intensive resources

hierarchy of potential electricity generating systems,

are therefore enormous.

wind power is still currently the cheapest source.

The PV system is made up of many solar cells,

But wind has other drawbacks, not the least in

connected to bring together the small current

widespread community action against the turbines,

from each in panels to form a useable supply, with

while maintenance costs are proving to be much

thousands of other panels forming a PV park, in the

higher than expected. Also, wind does not blow

case of industrial-sized production.

24/7, even in coastal areas. Potential sites for

The technology for electricity generation from

photovoltaic parks are far more numerous, and

photovoltaic panels has been available for several

often in areas where they do not conflict with local

decades, and has been extensively used in small-scale

communities.

units for yachts, homes, pumps off-grid, and many

PV generation is initially capital expensive, but

other applications. Large scale photovoltaic parks

the latest quality panels are guaranteed to last

are also not entirely new, but their growth has been

25 years with little reduction in electrical output,

slow. Among the first significant solar parks was

maintenance is low, and contract agreements to

60MW in Spain in 2008, while recent large scale

feed into the grid are often for 20 years or more.

parks include 200MW in China in 2011, 221MW in

Research will inevitably improve performance as

India in 2012, and 550MW and 579MW in the USA in

investment in PV escalates.

25 S G

So what has produced the new tsunami of interest in PV? Photovoltaic panels have not always been of a high standard, and some cheaper ones have lasted no more than two years. Now panels have dropped in price by almost 50% in five years, technological improvements have made them more efficient at changing light to electrical current. Older panels operated at about 25% efficiency, with most current panels achieving 40%, while some developers are claiming over 90% for the latest panels. Most important, however, it has been shown on the ground that large photovoltaic parks can produce electricity as cheaply as wind turbines, and in the future will probably be the cheapest form of generation. The rush to invest has been joined by some of the world's biggest companies and investors. Leading the pack is the astute Warren Buffett. His Berkshire Hathaway group, through NV Energy, is known to have invested $16bn in PV electricity generation in Texas, and to have forecast the doom of current electricity utilities, due to PV operating costs nearly half that of the utilities. Shell is investing in PV in a substantial way, and described PV as 'the future backbone of the world energy system'. At a different level, Google is investing $300m and Apple $1bn.

'Texas Gold' In Texas, the centre of the new wave, the new 'Texas gold' is attracting huge investment from the old oil

S G 26

industry, including Saudi Arabia, reported to total $5tr in the last two years. Forbes Magazine described the rush as 'hands down the most profitable investment', while the Financial Post called it the 'new Black Gold'. Bloomberg says PV has become main-stream with fewer perceived risks. The investors list begins to look like a 'who's who'. And the US government is now accepting PV with some 124 military bases in 33 states constructing PV farms. What may turn out to be world's largest PV

farm is planned for the US Navy to supply 14 South Western bases. A tender by Austin Energy for a 600MW park brought bids for seven 976MW, at prices per kWh as low as $0.04. A 100MW PV Energy plant in planning is expected to produce at $0.0387 per kWh. Just a year ago the going rate was $0.1377. These figures are way below utility parity. International

donors

and

investors

have

supported the new trend, with France contributing $2bn and Germany $3bn for PV in Africa. Of total PV investment in 2015, China led with $110bn, trailed by the US with $56bn. Also big in the field are India and Russia, with 120 other countries committed. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IREA) reports that at the end of 2015 PV capacity had

reached 222GW, and estimates that by 2050 this will rise to 4â&#x20AC;&#x2030;500GW. It is estimated that renewables in South Africa, with projects in the pipeline, will generate 4â&#x20AC;&#x2030;294MW, placing it at tenth in the world. This will mean investing R192bn, a majority of which is in PV parks,

RUSTMO1 SOLAR FARM, SOUTH AFRICA

and financed in part by foreign investment. The projects have created nearly 20â&#x20AC;&#x2030; 000 construction jobs and supply the equivalent of 1.2m homes. South Africa may not have the biggest PV parks in the world, but significant progress is being made. Most capacity has been built with private investment, with the IDC involved in some parks. Most efficient areas for PV are Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Northern Cape. Phelan Energy, the largest private developer in South Africa, has phase one up and running, and a 75MW phase two in planning, at a PV park near De Aar. It will create construction jobs and provide electricity for an equivalent of 175 000 homes. On a smaller scale, the Rust Mo1 farm owned by Momentus Energy at Buffelsport is a 7MW farm costing R240m, of which IDC has contributed

There is a general acceptance that in the hierarchy of potential electricity generating systems, wind power is still currently the cheapest source. But wind does not blow 24/7, even in coastal areas. Potential sites for photovoltaic parks are far more numerous, and often in areas where they do not conflict with local communities.

R108m. The park has a 30 year contract with Eskom, and was approved by government under

by 2050 glass waste alone could total 78m metric

the Deptartment of Energy's Renewal Energy

tons, and the total of recovered material could

Independent Power Producer Procurement (REIPPP).

amount to $15bn. In the EU there is already a legal

The DoE hopes to have 17â&#x20AC;&#x2030;800MW of PV power by

requirement that panel manufacturer must pay for

2030, which may well be optimistic on its part.

the cost of recycling, and taking into account the

The Airports Company of South Africa has a R16m PV power project at George airport, completed

rapid expansion of PV parks worldwide, this could become a global trend.

in 2015. The project will provide 41% of required

A significant advantage of the PV generation is

electricity. The ACSA has committed to PV projects

the positive influence on climate change. While wind

at five regional airports, and later to the three major

turbines have no influence on CO2 emissions, PV is

airports.

rated at 0.26 grams per megawatt hour, gas at 198,

The groundswell to large scale PV generation

nuclear at 672 and coal at 687.

has already spawned a new industry, re-cycling

Websites on renewables are legion, but one

the panels, and where this is not possible, dealing

worth looking at is the IREA report 'The Power to

with the waste efficiently. The IREA estimates that

Change'.

27 S G

R enewable Energy

Making

PV Panels in SA S G 28

The use of photovoltaic (PV) panels to generate electricity on a large scale is very much the coming technology. The potential for South Africa to manufacture PV panels locally is now an issue of major interest. Economist and regaional analyst Mike Britten reports.

29 S G

n 2005 a breakthrough was announced by the University of Johannesburg (UJ), with the development of revolutionary 'thin-film' PV

panels which use the electronic properties of semi-conductors to convert light into electric energy.

The

announcement

said

the

new

technology had surprised the world, in that it was a new thin-film panel, and would be more efficient and cheaper than existing imported panels. The

Thin-film PV production is on its way, both locally and internationally, to become the power production industry standard â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and the local economy is likely to be among those best placed to obtain greatest benefit from this development.

development was a result of the work of Professor Vivian Alberts, a physicist at UJ. Until 2005 solar cells were only produced from

Johannesburg, the IDC, and the Innovation

silicon, in an expensive manufacturing process.

Technology

Twenty years of research up to 2005, funded

production is not yet on line, this is planned to

by the National Research Foundation and the SA

happen soon and a production plant is being

Deptartment of Science and Technology, aimed

considered for Gauteng.

Agency.

Although

commercial

to find a material other than silicon. This was

Local PV panel production would give the local

achieved by Professor Alberts in 2003, using a

renewables industry a significant lift, if quality

material which was described as 'single phase

and cost are competitive.

alloys' which could be prepared by a combination

In the US thin-film production started in 2002

of commercially proven processes. Production

by Phoenix First Solar, and later by Global Solar.

was said to have taken place at UJ in July 2005.

Serious problems arose in getting reliable supplies

The announcement indicated that the panels,

of trace elements including indium, gallium,

convertors (inverters) and storage batteries would

diselenide, and the more common cadium and

be available in SA within a year, and that 'about

selenium. This difficulty caused BP to withdraw

thirty square meters of the panels would be

from research in the sector.

enough for the average family to be self-sufficient in all its power needs'.

Finally opened

The 2005 announcement has turned out to be

The long-awaited SA thin-film production unit in

optimistic, and illustrates how relatively simple the

Stellenbosch was officially opened in early July.

technology is but how difficult the manufacturing

Flighted as a 'demonstration plant', the panels will

processes can be. Until recently, very little has

use 85% local content.

been heard of the plans to commercialise Professor

Further interest in SA-manufactured PV panels

Alberts' break-through. A partnership was formed

has been created by the announcement that

with Singulus Technologies, a quoted German

Chinese company Jinko Solar, the fourth largest PV

engineering firm that supplied the necessary

manufacturer in the world, has unveiled an R80m

production equipment. The technology involves a

PV plant in Cape Town. The factory will produce

film 2um thick as against the usual 300um, and

1â&#x20AC;&#x2030;300 panels a day, equivalent annually to 120MW

has been licenced in 100 countries. Production

of solar generating capacity.

under the patent is taking place in Germany and

Thin-film now has 11% of the panel market

China, and probably other countries as well, but

internationally, and has better efficiency in low

not yet in SA.

light, meaning it will work earlier in the morning

The company went through several years of uncertainty, with Bosch Germany challenging the

and later in the evening than traditional silicon based panels.

patent, but after much wasted time, the challenge

In short, thin-film PV production is on its

was turned down in court. During this time,

way, both locally and internationally, to become

research centred on the quality of South African

the power production industry standard â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and

glass, to avoid the need to import, so that the

the local economy is likely to be among those

final product could be wholly South African made.

best placed to obtain greatest benefit from this

In 2014 a R180m plant was opened in

S G 30

Stellenbosch, financed by the University of

development.

WIND ENERGY WEEK

SOUTH AFRICA

31 October – 4 November 2016 Official events of the South African Wind Energy Association and Global Wind Energy Council

South Africa’s primary custodian of Wind Energy, SAWEA, in proud partnership with the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) will host a ‘Wind Energy Week’ in Cape Town from 31 October to 4 November 2016. ‘Wind Energy Week’ will include the Inaugural WindAc-Africa Conference, the 6th Annual Windaba and will conclude with, the launch of the ‘Industry gives back’ Initiative. DAY

WindAc-Africa: 31 October & 1 November In its inaugural year, WindAc-Africa is positioned to become the Leading Academic wind conference on the Continent. The event, which will be held at the South African Renewable Technology Centre (SARETEC), aims to be the platform for an international high-quality academic exchange, which will cover the entire wind-power value chain from the wind resource to policymaking for wind power. A formidable international steering committee has been established to develop the programme content. Additionally, a call for posters has been made for the ‘Business meets Science’ platform in order to encourage dialogue between industry and academia. A call has been made for Poster submissions which cover 1) the practical relevance of research topics 2) new problem solving approaches and 3) possible partnerships between science and industry. Posters will be housed at the hub within the conference venue. For the latest information on the programme visit: www.windac-africa.com

1&2

DAY

Windaba Conference and Exhibition: 2-3 November

3&4 SOUTH AFRICA’S PREMIER WIND ENERGY CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION

DAY

Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), will for the 6th consecutive year, house Windaba Conference and Exhibition. The 2-day conference is themed ‘Towards 100% Renewables’ and will provide the most relevant and up to date information which participating wind energy professionals have come to expect. Our Gold Sponsors this year include turbine manufacturers: Enercon, Goldwind, Nordex, Siemens and Vestas. The Government’s Independent Power Producers Office will endorse the event for the second year running, demonstrating once more the alignment between government and industry in making the wind energy market a success.Exhibition space ranging from raw floor space to custom stands is still available kindly contact Yolanda@windaba.co.za for further details. For updates visit: www.windaba.co.za

Career Expo & Community Outreach Day: 4 November Under the guidance of the ‘Wind for Communities Working Group’ we will launch an initiative branded ‘Industry gives back’. The aim of the day is to deliver a differentiated networking platform, to leave a legacy in a community through which we as a collective can evidence a tangible Socio Economic turnaround in a community interfacing with Renewable Energy.

Gwec and Sawea Members receive a 10% discount on Conference and Exhibition participation. Gold Sponsors:

Category Sponsors:

Bronze Sponsor:

Endorsed by:

Supporters:

Media Partners:

INTERNATIONAL

31 S G

R enewable Energy

Fresnel solar systems take off

S G 32

Frenell's latest CSP plant design incorporates a higher-temperature molten salt system to provide overnight storage and a lower cost of energy in a move which could boost lagging Fresnel deployment. Heba Hashem of CSP Today reports.

Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2030;

lobal installed Fresnel CSP capacity is currently around 177MW, compared with 4.2GW of parabolic trough capacity and 629MW of CSP tower capacity, according to the CSP

Today Global Tracker. While Fresnel designs offer some cost advantages in manufacturing and installation, advancement of these systems was hindered by an inability to operate at temperatures high enough to provide energy storage. The provision of energy storage has become a key driver of CSP development and competition could intensify as Germany's Frenell recently announced the first commercially available linear-focusing technology that uses molten salts as a Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF) and Thermal Energy Storage (TES) medium. Frenell's DMS technology uses molten salt as the HTF directly in the collector, allowing the integration of TES with a direct two-tank molten salt storage system. As opposed to a parabolic trough collector with synthetic oil as HTF, no oil-salt heat exchangers are required and salt storage temperature is not limited to the maximum oil-HTF temperature, Anton Hoffmann, project engineer at Frenell, told CSP Today. 'The increased HTF temperatures to up to 550ÂşC allows the application of advanced reheat Rankine-cycle steam turbines that

Linear Fresnel CSP projects under construction

33 S G

will increase power block efficiency significantly,' Hoffmann said. This improvement could lower the Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) to between $50/MWh and $70/ MWh, based on baseload power generation with more than 15 hours of TES, according to Frenell. This price is lower than forecasts for other CSP technologies. International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) recently forecast the LCOE of parabolic trough plants will fall by 37% to $90/MWh by 2025, and the generation cost of solar towers is set to fall by 43% to $80/MWh.

The Fresnel mirror field is typically situated closer to the ground and less susceptible to wind loads, requiring a relatively lean support structure, using low-cost coil steel and standard steel profiles

Structure savings

Scandellari, CEO of solar developer Enerray, told CSP

Fresnel systems benefit from several manufacturing

Today.

and installation advantages over parabolic troughs,

Enerray

was

created

2007

Italian

conglomerate Maccaferri Group and has mainly

Hoffmann said. The primary mirrors are made of flat float-glass

focused on PV development. In 2014, the firm was

mirrors which cost less to manufacture than curved

selected to develop the 1MW CSP-Organic Rankine

mirrors used in parabolic trough designs, he said.

Cycle (ORC) demonstration plant which will generate

The Fresnel mirror field is typically situated

electricity and heat for industrial processes.

closer to the ground and less susceptible to wind

The plant consists of a linear Fresnel concentrator

loads, requiring a relatively lean support structure,

alongside a small operational parabolic trough

using low-cost coil steel and standard steel profiles.

system and was expected to come online in

In addition, the collector receiver on a Fresnel

September.

system does not require the rotary joints which are

The cost of the plant is estimated at â&#x201A;Ź6.5m

used on parabolic trough systems, or flexible hoses

($7.4m) and Moroccoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s OCP Group, the largest

between collector units, which further reduces

phosphate producer in the world, is financing the

costs, Hoffmann said.

plant to assess its productivity for potential future

'This is particularly important for the use of molten salt since rotary and flexible pipe connections

applications. 'Industrial

applications,

especially

the

proved to be technically challenging in combination

mining sector, are a very interesting field for

with molten salt fluid,' he said.

Fresnel technology in terms of electricity and heat

A high proportion of commercial bank lending in completed Fresnel projects highlights the

production,' Scandellari said. The most suitable mining sites would be those located in areas with high levels of direct solar

bankability of the underlying technology. The 125MW Reliance Areva CSP 1 project in

radiation, such as Morocco, South Africa, Chile, and

India is the largest Fresnel CSP plant to date and the

parts of Brazil and Western Australia, he said. New

project was 70% financed through foreign debt, 5%

markets like Iran could also offer opportunities, he

local debt and 25% equity.

noted.

The 30MW Puerto Errado 2 plant in Spain, which

Frenellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s use of molten salt storage marks an

uses Frenell's collector and has been in operation

advancement for Fresnel designs and Hoffman

since May 2012, sourced debt from three European

believes wider deployment of Fresnel projects in the

commercial banks.

coming years will lead to further cost reductions.

Industrial openings

of a cost reduction development,' he said.

'Linear Fresnel technology is only at the beginning Industrial

applications

represent

market

opportunities for Fresnel technology, Michele

S G 34

Source: CSP Today

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35 S G

Energy

SOLAR ENERGY MYTHS Tâ&#x20AC;&#x2030;

he first fact the CRP wishes to clarify is that

Thirdly, CRP wants to squash the myth that

of panels has dropped by 75% since 2009,

'clean coal' can be a clean source of power. Coal is

and will probably drop another 25% by 2018. In

dirty whichever way you burn it, and currently more

conjunction with technology advances, PV generated

CO2 comes from burning coal than from any other

electricity will be cheaper than electricity from coal,

source, and no innovation will be able to change

oil, or natural gas. (See the article in this edition

this fact.

to see that PV panels can already generate at lower cost than other power systems.)

The fourth myth is that PV panels will not work in poor weather. In fact panels are more effective

CRP calculates that 20% of world electricity

in cold weather, and can be effective enough to

generation is produced by clean renewables. As

produce viable electricity even in cloudy conditions.

this percentage grows, it will make a greater and

CRP points out that the leading country in PV

greater contribution to reducing the effects of

electricity generation, Germany, is not particularly

climate change.

warm or sunny. New thin-film panels operate almost

Secondly, to counter the view that man-made

as well in poor conditions as in full sunlight.

carbon dioxide is not the main cause of global

Another myth is the idea that panels are unreliable

warming, it states that there is now consensus

is contested. The fact that most manufacturers now

among 99% of scientist that human activity is

give a 20 year guarantee, and that panels installed

the culprit. The main sources of pollution are oil,

40 years ago are still operative, should go a long

coal and gas productions and combustion. Solar

way to refute this myth.

variations due to changes in the sun's radiation are

S G 36

considered to be 'minimal to negligible'.

PV is expensive, suggesting that the price

A myth not directly dealt with the Crp in this

The Climate Reality Project (CRP), Al Gore's Washington-based climate change awareness initiative, has published 'Top Solar Energy Myths', in an effort to promote the use of solar (by which they mean photovoltaic panels) and refute what they see as public misinformation.

report but previously addressed is that nuclear power production is an 'inevitable' alternative to coal since renewables are alleged to be unable to provide 'base load' (meaning the underlying minimum electricity output required at even the lowest demand periods, usually late at night and in the early hours of the morning, and at times when there is no solar radiation to draw on). However, Concentrated Solar Power trough arrays have already demonstrated in Seville, Spain, that 12 hours of sunlight are sufficient to provide full and uninterrupted power output for more than 24 hours. A series of CSP plants strategically located could, therefore, easily provide sufficient power to cover base load needs, even without wind or any other renewable power roduction sources. The

way

forward

with

renewables

'If we do not act now, future generations will look around and back at us and say, 'You knew this â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you knew what was going to happen to the planet and you decided to ignore it?'.' - Al Gore

seem

increasingly to be a mix of wind, PV and CSP, with some hydro power, either direct or through pump storage schemes, added in.

37 S G

PROUDLY RADIANT

Advertorial

Consol Solar Jars, a product proudly conceptualised and manufactured by Suntoy in South Africa, will be a main attraction at the 300th anniversary commemoration of renowned British Landscape Architect, Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, when Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park in England hosts a light art commission using 1â&#x20AC;&#x2030;000 Consol Solar Jars as one of its key set pieces.

S G 38

rown is celebrated for shaping the vision of the picture-perfect English countryside. Visual artist Laurent

from

Creatmosphere,

cross-genre

studio specialising in the interplay of light as art between architecture and space, has been commissioned to create a light spectacular as has never been seen before using the Consol Solar Jars. He will be filling an entire field with pinpoints of light to map the rich and diverse history of green

'We here at Suntoy, together with our European distributors Sonnenglas, are enormously proud to have our Consol Solar Jar play an integral and creative part in this initiative. Seeing it being used in this way and not just as originally intended (as a reading light and portable solar lantern), demonstrates its potential as a fun, eco-friendly and sustainable alternative light supply that makes it easy to go green. It truly is bottled sunshine.' - Suntoy Managing Director, Harald Schulz

spaces in a creative and captivating way. Applying stunning, ground-breaking technologically, this new interactive light commission entitled 'IN LIGHT: Illuminating Capability Brown’s Landscape', launches on the 29 October and runs until the 13 November. Three centuries later, Lancelot 'Capability' Brown’s work is still celebrated and lives on. Compton Verney’s 18th century mansion, 'Capability' Brown Chapel and Bridge will be lit in vibrant ways for people to appreciate and play with. There is an interactive element that gives visitors the opportunity to take over the light controls and light up various parts of the house and trees in exciting ways. This is the first time globally, that wireless DMX technology will be used to activate so many solar powered lanterns in an art exhibition of this magnitude. The technological challenge was made easier in collaboration with UJ (University of Johannesburg) and their research facility RC (Resolution Circle). Compton Verney Park is a place steeped in rich architectural history, its current state being the result of an 11-year restoration project that will see this magnificent building returned to its 1768 splendour and glory that was designed by one of the most important landscape architects of the 18th century, Lancelot 'Capability' Brown himself. 'We here at Suntoy, together with our European distributors Sonnenglas, are enormously proud to have our Consol Solar Jar play an integral and creative part in this initiative. Seeing it being used in this way and not just as originally intended (as a reading light and portable solar lantern), demonstrates its potential as a fun, eco-friendly and sustainable alternative light supply that makes it easy to go green. It truly is bottled sunshine,' concludes Suntoy Managing Director, Harald Schulz. For more details on the event click here.

About Suntoy Suntoy combines the potential of solar technology with renewable and sustainable energy solutions. From design to manufacture of the Consol Solar Jar, we are proudly South African. Suntoy promises to give our planet a brighter future by making every hour a solar-power-hour. For more info visit www.suntoy.co.za.

39 S G

CSP GROWS GLOBALLY

R enewable Energy

A solar tower belonging to the Spanish firm Abengoa is shown near Seville, in southern Spain

S G 40

The info on the following pages is provided by CSP Today. It is proven to enable interested parties to gain full visibility on leading CSP projects, including status, financing and who is building them; streamline your business development efforts by placing timely leads on CSP projects; save time and effort by getting access to contact details of project decision-makers; understand which CSP markets will grow, by getting all the information you need on regulatory environment and financing in global CSP markets; and to stay ahead of your competitors.

CSP Today Global Project Pipeline BUSINESS

INT ELLI GENCE

Global CSP Capacity (MWe) by Technology and Status 7000

Parabolic Trough dominates the CSP landscape with 4 GW of operational capacity. But Tower technology is catching-up with more than 9GW in the pipeline.

6000

2040 5000

6212 629

4000

320

3000

2000

Scroll down to find a full list of solar tower projects worldwide.

850 4156

4042

818

2141

633

1000 970 131 150

0 Announced

Planning

165 23

Development

684

170 1

108

Construction

Operation

n Dish n Fresnel n Parabolic Trough n To be confirmed n Tower Source: CSP Today Global Tracker (August, 2016)

CSP Today Global Tracker

41 S G

CSP Today Global Project Pipeline B USIN ESS

IN T ELLIGEN CE

Solar Tower Projects Worldwide Title

Country

Current Status

Developers

El Oued

Algeria

150 MWe

Announced

SPE

Beni Abbes

Algeria

150 MWe

Announced

SPE

DLR- Algeria CSP Project

Algeria

7 MWe

Planning

BMU; DLR; MESRS

Perenjori Solar Tower Project

Australia

20 MWe

Announced

Abengoa

Sundrop Farm Solar Thermal Plant

Australia

1.5 MWe

Construction

SundropFarms

Aalborg CSP; John Holland Group; Van der Hoeven

Lake Cargelligo

Australia

3 MWe

Operation

Lloyd Energy Systems

SMEC

Jemalong Solar Thermal 30 MW Australia Station

Gross Capacity

30 MWe

Planning

VastSolar

Australia

115 MWe

Planning

ExergyPower

SolarReserve Port Augusta CSP Australia plant

110 MWe

Planning

SolarReserve

Solastor Port Augusta CSP Plant

Australia

110 MWe

Planning

Solastor

Petrobas Vale do Açu

Brazil

3 MWe

Development

UFRN; UFSC; CTGAS-ER; Petrobras

Maria Elena 1

Chile

100 MWe

Announced

Aprovechamientos Energéticos S.A.; Ibereolica Solar

Kalgoorlie Solar Tower

EPC

Maria Elena 2

Chile

100 MWe

Announced

Aprovechamientos Energéticos S.A.; Ibereolica Solar

Maria Elena 3

Chile

100 MWe

Announced

Aprovechamientos Energéticos S.A.; Ibereolica Solar

Maria Elena 4

Chile

100 MWe

Announced

Aprovechamientos Energéticos S.A.; Ibereolica Solar

Trebol Title Solar Copiapo

Chile Country

Announced Current Status

Abengoa Developers

EPC

Atacama-1 (Planta Solar Cerro Dominador)

Chile

110 MWe

Construction

Abengoa

Abeinsa

Copiapo CSP-PV hybrid project

Chile

260 MWe

Development

SolarReserve

Atacama-2 (Planta Solar Cerro Dominador)

Chile

110 MWe

Development

Abengoa

Camarones

Planning

Elecnor

CSP Today Global Project Pipeline 315Capacity MWe Gross

B USIN ESS

IN T ELLIGEN CE

CSP Today Global Tracker

Abeinsa

Chile

105 MWe

SolarReserve-Shenhua 1 GW CSP scheme

China

1000 MWe

Announced

Shenhua Group Corporation; SolarReserve

Supcon Delingha 40 MW

China

40 MWe

Construction

Zhejiang Supcon Solar Technology

Golmud (Qinghai CSP Group)

China

200 MWe

Construction

Qinghai CSP Electric Power Group

No.703 Research Institute of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation; SolarReserve

Suncan Gansu

China

10 MWe

Construction

SunCan

Qinghai Tower

China

10 MWe

Development

China General Nuclear Power Group; Solar Energy Development Corp

Qinghai Delingha CSP Generation Project (Unit 2)

China

135 MWe

Development

Huanghe Hydropower Development Co.

Suncan Inner Mongolia Project

China

50 MWe

Development

China Inner Mongolia HuaQing Group; Suncan

Dahan Power Plant

China

1 MWe

Operation

IEECAS

Supcon Delingha 10 MW

China

10 MWe

Operation

Zhejiang Supcon Solar Technology

Qinghai Delingha CSP Generation Project (Unit 1)

China

135 MWe

Planning

Huanghe Hydropower Development Co.

Shanghai JingDian BeamDown Tower Project

China

100 MWe

Planning

Shanghai Jing Dian New Energy Co.

247Solar-Enesoon 1 GW CSP project

China

1000 MWe

Planning

247 Solar Inc.; Shenzhen Enesoon Science & Technology Co.

BrightSource Energy; Shanghai Electric Group

Hebei Construction and Investment Group; Himin Solar Energy Group

BrightSource Energy; Shanghai Electric Group

CSP Today Global Tracker

S G 42

CSP Today Global Project Pipeline B USIN ESS

Title

Country

Gross Capacity

Current Status

Developers Alfa Mediterranean Enterprises Limited; Vimentina

EOS CSP Project

Cyprus

50 MWe

Planning

Taqa CSP Project

Egypt

250 MWe

Planning

TAQA

PÉGASE

France

1.3 MWe

Operation

CNRS

EPC

Jülich

Germany

1.5 MWe

Operation

DLR; Kraftanlagen Munchen

Crete CSP Plant

Greece

50 MWe

Development

Motor Oil Hellas; NurEnergie

Acme Rajasthan Solar Power 1

India

2.5 MWe

Operation

ACME Group; eSolar

SECI CSP Project Rajasthan

India

50 MWe

Planning

SECI

Ashalim Plot B (Megalim Solar Power)

Israel

121 MWe

Construction

BrightSource Energy; General Electric; NOY Fund

STEM Project

Italy

2 MWe

Operation

A2AS.p.A.; Magaldi Group

Mazara Solar

Italy

50 MWe

Planning

Abengoa

Noor III

Morocco

150 MWe

Construction

ACWA Power; Sener

Kiwano Solar Power Plant (Eskom)

South Africa

100 MWe

Development

Eskom

Redstone CSP Project

South Africa

100 MWe

Development

ACWA Power; Solar Reserve

Acciona; TSK

50 MWe

Operation

Abengoa; Industrial Development Corporation

Abener

0.1 MWe

Operation

Stellenbosch University

Khi Solar One TIA Helio100

South Africa South Africa

IN T ELLIGEN CE

Kraftanlagen Munchen

ACME Group

General Electric

ACWA; Sener; SEPCO

CSP Today Global Project Pipeline Solis 1

South Africa

125 MWe

Planning

ACWAPower; BrightSource Energy

Solis 2

South Africa

125 MWe

Planning

BrightSource Energy

Ilanga Tower 1

South Africa

150 MWe

Planning

FG Emvelo

Kai Garib CSP

South Africa

150 MWe

Planning

Abengoa

Paulputs CSP Project Title

South Africa Country

200Capacity MWe Gross

Planning Status Current

Abengoa Developers

SolarReserve Kotulo Tsatsi CSP Plant 1

South Africa

200 MWe

Planning

Kotulo Tsatsi Energy; SolarReserve

SolarReserve Kotulo Tsatsi CSP Plant 2

South Africa

200 MWe

Planning

Kotulo Tsatsi Energy; SolarReserve

SolarReserve Kotulo Tsatsi Energy CSP Facility

South Africa

150 MWe

Planning

Engie; SolarReserve

Rooipunt CSP Plant

South Africa

150 MWe

Planning

Engie; SolarReserve

Kalkaar CSP

South Africa

150 MWe

Planning

Engie; SolarReserve

Ilanga CSP 7

South Africa

150 MWe

Planning

Emvelo

Ilanga CSP 8

South Africa

150 MWe

Planning

Emvelo

Gemasolar

Spain

20 MWe

Operation

Masdar; Sener; Torresol Energy

Cobra; Sener

PS10

Spain

11 MWe

Operation

Abengoa

Abener

PS20

Spain

20 MWe

Operation

Abengoa

Abeinsa

El Borma ISCC

Tunisia

5 MWe

Announced

STEG Nur Energie; Top Oilfield Services

TuNur

Tunisia

2000 MWe

Planning

DEWA CSP Project - Phase 1

UAE

200 MWe

Planning

B USIN ESS

EPC

CSP Today Global Tracker

Crescent Dunes

USA

110 MWe

Operation

SolarReserve

Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Station I

USA

126 MWe

Operation

BrightSource Energy

Bechtel Corporation

Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Station II

USA

133 MWe

Operation

BrightSource Energy

Bechtel Corporation

Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Station III

USA

133 MWe

Operation

BrightSource Energy

Bechtel Corporation

SierraSunTower

USA

5 MWe

Operation

eSolar

Source: CSP Today Global Tracker (August, 2016)

IN T ELLIGEN CE

CSP Today Global Tracker

43 S G

P ublic F orum E nergy D ebate

ESKOM & CO

Facts & Foolishness On 6 September 2016, 30 civil society organisations wrote an open letter to the Ministers of Public Enterprises, Energy, Environmental Affairs, and Health, expressing their alarm at recent statements and actions by Eskom management. This related particularly to Eskom's statements on renewable energy and the implications thereof for climate justice, but also to Eskom's failure to disclose records that provide evidence of steps taken to reduce air pollution that damage people's health. Here is the letter in full.

S G 44

Dear Ministers Brown, Joematt-Pettersson, Molewa and Motsoaledi

programme (REIPPPP) has not only stabilised our

Call on Ministers of Public Enterprises, Energy,

investment and created about 25 000 jobs, at a time

Environmental

when the economy is stagnating and jobs are being

Affairs,

and

Health

ensure

Eskom's compliance with obligations to protect the environment and human health.

power supply, but stimulated almost R200b in private

lost in other sectors. South Africa has some of the best renewable

As civil society organisations and citizens working

resources in the world. In light of recent cost trends

towards the achievement of environmental rights

and decentralisation opportunities, the commitment

and environmental justice in our communities across

to the addition of 17 800MW of renewable energy

South Africa, the signatories to this letter are highly

by 2030 should be treated as a minimum objective.

alarmed by the conduct of Eskom and government

Ideally, this commitment should be achieved sooner,

in recent months. We are also extremely concerned

and renewable energy prioritised ahead of ahead of

that the detrimental health, water, and climate

the procurement of new fossil fuel or nuclear options,

impacts of Eskom’s operations – so significant that

which are expensive, dangerous, and dirty.

these impacts in themselves impair the development

In addition to the REIPPPP, the barriers to

capabilities of our people and government – are not

small-scale, community-based renewable energy

featuring in the public debate around Eskom.

investments must be removed to encourage and enable a just transition to renewable energy systems

Commitment to renewable energy for the people

for the people. If Eskom continues its anti-renewable

In May, Eskom CEO, Mr Brian Molefe claimed that

future, while also putting job creation and the supply

renewable energy was a disappointment, as it failed

of affordable, clean, accessible electricity for all South

to provide energy when it was most needed and so

Africans at risk.

did not make a meaningful contribution to electricity

energy stance, it risks becoming obsolete in the

supply in the country. These comments are simply

Air pollution & health

not borne out by the facts, including research by

In stark contrast to clean, affordable renewable

the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

energy, coal-fired power stations have significant

which demonstrates that having the bulk of South

impacts on human health and the environment,

Africa’s generation from wind and solar is not

including South Africa’s scarce water resources. In

only technically feasible, but also the lowest-cost

2014, Eskom argued that it was unable to comply

option. This is especially critical to the roll-out of

with air quality standards, and that the health impacts

accessible energy for all. Renewable energy has

of its emissions should be given less weight than the

been shown to be cheaper than coal, even when the

costs it would have to incur to comply with these

significant environmental and health impacts of coal

standards. Eskom’s non-compliance with numerous

are discounted.

legislative requirements for its coal-fired stations – as

And then in July, Eskom’s board indicated that

recorded in the Department of Environmental Affairs’

it would not sign power purchase agreements with

annual National Environmental Compliance and

renewable energy independent power producers

Enforcement Reports – exacerbates these impacts,

(IPPs), beyond those already agreed in bid window

consistently violating citizen's constitutional rights to

4.5, arguing that the need for such IPPs should be

an environment not harmful to health and well-being.

re-evaluated as there is adequate generation capacity

Eskom has even refused to sign an agreement with

Climate change & the need to start decommissioning older plants

a concentrated solar project that has already been

Although we must make clear that South Africa’s

accepted by government.

Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) – which

to meet demand, and it is expensive for Eskom to buy renewable energy from IPPs. Since then,

This attitude is indefensible: as the Minister

sets out South Africa’s climate change commitments

of Energy and several others have pointed out:

under the Paris Agreement – fails to make adequate

electricity from the renewable energy IPP procurement

commitments to address the devastating impacts of

45 S G

climate change, South Africa’s signature of the Paris Agreement signals its intention to make some efforts to address these impacts. The NDC recognises that South Africa must 'transition to a low-carbon energy sector' by replacing 'an inefficient fleet of ageing coal-fired power plants with clean and high efficiency technology'. Several of Eskom’s power stations are reaching their end-of-life, having been commissioned in the 1960s and 1970s. However, Eskom has indicated that it does not intend to decommission its stations, but will rather 'renew' them. Quite apart from contradicting South Africa’s constitutional commitments, continued reliance on and maintenance of Eskom’s old and outdated coal-fired power stations will mean an unreliable electricity supply and will put even greater

Eskom’s proposals to extend the lives of its ageing, polluting coal-fired power stations makes its non-compliance even more concerning, and highlights the importance of ensuring legal compliance to reduce the detrimental health impacts of pollution from these power stations.

strain on the fiscus. Eskom’s proposals to extend the lives of its

they be made available on an urgent basis. It is not

ageing, polluting coal-fired power stations makes its

clear whether this is because such plans do not exist.

non-compliance even more concerning, and highlights

If that is the case, that is of great concern to us.

the importance of ensuring legal compliance to

Eskom previously sought – and largely obtained –

reduce the detrimental health impacts of pollution

several postponements of compliance with minimum

from these power stations.

emission standards, despite the evidence provided by civil society and community organisations of the

Lack of transparency

enormous health impacts that such postponements

Despite this, civil society organisations are facing

would cause. Without plans to ensure compliance with

increasing resistance from Eskom to releasing

their air emission licences – and to decommission

documents

environmental

those stations which cannot comply – the danger is

and health impacts, which are necessary to allow

that Eskom will again seek to avoid compliance with

government and society to arrive at transparent,

the stricter emission standards that apply from April

informed decision-making. Pertinent information

2020.

relevant

Eskom’s

includes: • • •

•

each coal-fired power station’s latest plans to

Conclusion

ensure compliance with:

Eskom’s

the emission standards in the relevant air

rhetoric simply fly in the face of state’s constitutional

emission licences, and

obligations and all available evidence. This cannot be

in relation to periods not covered by the current

condoned, nor allowed to continue. We call upon the

licences, at least with the minimum emission

Ministers of Energy, Public Enterprises, Environmental

standards prescribed by law;

Affairs, and Health to take all steps necessary

copies of these compliance plans and the latest

to ensure that Eskom honours government’s legal

decommissioning schedule and plans for each

obligations and its renewable energy policy objectives

coal-fired power station; and

to secure clean energy that will protect people’s

the decision-making timelines and mechanisms

health and well-being.

behaviour

and

anti-renewable

energy

within Eskom’s board to ensure compliance with the licences and the standards, and the decommissioning schedule and plans.

S G 46

EDITOR'S NOTE: Eskom's, and more specifically its

Eskom has, to date, failed to respond to a request

CEO Brian Moller's wilful disregard for the constitutionally

under the Promotion of Access to Information Act

required applications of decisions for the greater good of

for these records – the request for these records

all South Africans cannot go unchallenged. See editorial

was made four months ago and it is important that

on pg 6

Water doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come from a tap. Water goes on a long and complicated journey to get to you.

Visit journeyofwater.co.Za to learn more about where your water comes from. Photo ÂŠ Hougaard Malan

47 S G

Energy

news

Environmental organisation turns to court over new coal-fired power plant On Tuesday, 23 August 2016, Earthlife Africa Johannesburg (ELA), represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), instituted legal proceedings in the Pretoria High Court to set aside the environmental authorisation for the proposed 1200MW Thabametsi coal-fired power station near Lephalale in the Limpopo province. ELA has asked the court to review and set aside the Department of Environmental Affairs’ decision to authorise the proposed power station, as well as the Minister of Environmental Affairs’ March 2016 decision to uphold that authorisation on appeal. Although the Minister upheld the authorisation on appeal, she also required Thabametsi to conduct a climate change impact assessment for the power station – a first for a proposed coal-fired power station in South Africa. That climate change impact assessment is currently underway. Makoma Lekalakala, co-ordinator and senior programmes officer of the Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Partnership of ELA says: 'We hope that this litigation will send a strong message to government, and to other prospective coal IPP projects, that climate change impacts – particularly of coal-fired power plants – can no longer be ignored. There are significant impacts to the environment and to human health, which must be assessed'. CER Attorney, Nicole Loser, says: 'ELA and CER have always maintained that the power station should not have been authorised in the absence of an assessment of the climate change impacts. The main basis for our court application is that the Minister, by requiring Thabametsi to undertake a climate change impact assessment, clearly agrees that a climate change impact assessment was necessary to properly assess the environmental impacts of the project.' Thabametsi is one of the two proposed coal-fired power stations to have submitted a bid in November last

S G 48

year under the Department of Energy’s coal-baseload independent power producer procurement programme (CBIPPPP), which aims to procure 2500MW from coal-fired power stations. The preferred bidders have yet to be announced. More than 10 proposed coal-fired power stations, hoping to sell their electricity to Eskom under the CBIPPPP, have submitted applications for environmental authorisations. CER, on behalf of partner organisations groundWork, the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance and ELA is challenging the environmental authorisations issued to three of the proposed power stations – Thabametsi included. The court papers highlight the significance of the impacts of climate change – particularly for a water-scarce country such as South Africa, where vulnerable and poor communities are likely to be worst affected – and the need for a committed response from SA to these impacts, particularly in light of the country’s commitments made by signing the Paris Agreement on climate change. The Waterberg area, where the power station is proposed, is particularly afflicted by limited water availability. The Waterberg has also been earmarked under the Infrastructure Development Act, as a catalyst for unlocking the northern mineral belt. Bobby Peek, director of environmental justice organisation groundWork, says: 'Coal is an industry in decline and at risk. Our country has world-renowned capacity for renewable energy, such as solar and wind. There is no need for new coal-fired power in South Africa – we will resist all new coal power plants and mines because authorising new coal developments is not in the best interests of South Africans.'

The court papers have been served on all the respondents. For copies of the notice or more info and updates please contact Nicole Loser, tel 021 447 1647 or email nloser@cer.org.za

California’s last nuclear power plant to be retired by 2025

Plans to Build World’s Largest Nuclear Plant on Hold The British government astonished the nuclear industry late last night by refusing to go ahead with plans to build the world's largest nuclear plant until it has reviewed every aspect of the project. The decision was announced hours after a bruising meeting of the board of the giant French energy company EDF, at which directors decided by 10 votes to seven to go ahead with the building of two 1 600 megawatt reactors at Hinkley Point in Somerset, southwest England. One director, Gerard Magnin, had already resigned in protest before the meeting, saying the project was 'very risky'. All six union members, who are worker directors, said they were going to vote against because they believed that any new investment should be directed at making ageing French reactors safer. So certain were EDF that a signing ceremony with the British government would take place to provide the company with 35 years of subsidies for their electricity that they had hired marquees, invited the world's press and laid in stocks of champagne to toast the agreement. But EDF Chief Executive Vincent de Rivaz, who had pushed for the deal, cancelled a trip to Britain on hearing the government announcement. Britain's new prime minister, Theresa May, who had never publicly endorsed the project like her predecessor David Cameron, has clearly heeded the myriad voices outside the nuclear industry that say this is a bad deal for British consumers.

By 2030, California hopes to gain 50 percent of its energy from renewable sources and a proposal signed recently brings Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) closer to that goal. Together with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), labor unions, and environmental groups like Friends of the Earth, PG&E signed a historic proposal to close Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, the last nuclear power plant remaining in the state, by 2025 and replace the power it generates with renewables. Diablo Canyon currently provides around 20 percent of electricity in PG&E’s service territory. It accounts for six percent of California’s electricity mix and nine percent of in-state power generation. Controversy has shrouded the nuclear power plant in the past; the reactors are only 600m away from one fault line, and others lie nearby. Back in 2013 the Union of Concerned Scientists said the power plant wasn’t 'enforcing seismic regulations'. PG&E, which provides electricity to 16 million people across central and northern California, owns the reactors. They’ll withdraw a request for a license extension, let the license expire and switch over to renewables. PG&E’s renewable energy goals are actually more audacious than California’s; they aim for 55 percent energy from renewables by 2031. Wind and solar power will be among the renewables to replace nuclear power at the plant. This is the first time that a nuclear plant retirement has contained a commitment to switch to renewable sources. NDRC estimates the proposal will save PG&E customers money in the region of $1b. Source

Click here for more

49 S G

Energy

news

Solar Energy Could Meet up to 13% of Global Power Needs by 2030 The share of global electricity generated by solar photovoltaics (PV) could increase from 2% today to as much as 13% by 2030, according to a new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Released today at InterSolar Europe, Letting in the Light: How Solar Photovoltaics Will Revolutionize the Electricity System finds the solar industry is poised for massive expansion, driven primarily by cost reductions. It estimates that solar PV capacity could reach between 1 760 and 2 500GW by 2030, up from 2 27GW today. 'Recent analysis from IRENA finds that cost reductions for solar and wind will continue into the future, with further declines of up to 59% possible for solar PV in the next ten years,' said IRENA Director-General Adnan Z Amin. 'This comprehensive overview of the solar industry finds that these cost reductions, in combination with other enabling factors, can create a dramatic expansion of solar power globally. The renewable energy transition is well underway, with solar playing a central role.

S G 50

'World electricity demand is expected to grow by more than 50% by 2030, mostly in developing and emerging economies,' said Mr Amin. 'To meet this demand while also realising global development and sustainability goals, governments must implement policies that enable solar to achieve its full potential.' Reaching a 13% share of global electricity by 2030 will require average annual capacity additions to more than double for the next 14 years. The report highlights five recommendations that can help achieve this increase including: updated policies based on the latest innovations; government support of continued research and development activities; creation of a global standards framework; market structure changes; and the adoption of enabling technologies like smart grids and storage.

www.irena.org

Wind, solar can supply bulk of South Africa’s power at least cost, CSIR model shows The dramatic fall in the cost of supplying power from wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) plants has moved the global electricity supply industry beyond a critical 'tipping point', which leading energy scientist Dr Tobias Bischof-Niemz says is irreversibly altering the operating model, with significant implications for sun-drenched and wind-rich South Africa. Instead of renewable energy playing only a modest and supportive role in the future supply mix, research conducted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Energy Centre shows that, having the bulk of the country’s generation arising from wind and solar is not only technically feasibly, but also the lowest-cost option. CSIR Energy Centre research goes so far as to suggest that it now makes sense, for cost reasons, to favour renewables generation over traditional baseload sources, and to supply any 'residual' demand using 'flexible' technologies able to respond to the demand profile created when the sun sets and/or the wind stops blowing. Ultimately, the expectation is that the CSIR will meet its full 30GW/year demand and have surplus energy to balance load at other CSIR sites in a ‘virtual power plant', to fuel a fleet of electric cars, as well as to produce hydrogen for mobile and stationary fuel-cell applications. Click here for the full article

Germany bans fracking German lawmakers approved a measure that, for all practical purposes, bans fracking within the European nation. This follows years of debate within the country about the safety and legality of the practice, which has until now been largely unregulated. The new law allows conventional drilling for oil and gas to continue, however hydraulic fracturing (fracking) will be banned in all but a handful of cases, mostly non-commercial projects. It does allow for scientific test drilling with the permission of relevant state governments and the supervision of independent experts.

Lucy lightening up your life Lack of sunlight can lead to everything from Vitamin D deficiency to seasonal affective disorder. Solenica, founded by Diva Tommei, came up with a bright solution: Lucy, a smart, solar-powered natural lighting system. Lucy tracks sunlight and reflects it inside to brighten even the darkest spaces. Solenica is currently crowdfunding on Indiegogo, offering Lucy for a reduced price. According to Solenica, for 90 percent of our lives we live indoors, missing out on the benefits of natural sunlight. Those who live through dreary winters or are simply more sensitive to a lack of light suffer. Solenica’s Lucy eases that suffering through an 'articulated mirror' that follows the sun using a 'proprietary algorithm' to reflect bright light into a home throughout the day. Lucy makes slight adjustments as the sun moves to bring more sunshine inside. Lucy can be placed indoors or outdoors – Solenica also sells a security lock if users want to place the device outside – and can easily be moved to different spots around the home.

Click here for more Click here for more

51 S G

Energy

news

Scotland reaches gutsy emissions reduction goal six years early Scotland has made great strides towards meeting its 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. Their goal was to reduce emissions by 42% by 2020. The Scottish government announced recently in a press release that the country passed the goal in 2014, when they achieved 'a reduction of 45.8 %. Climate change secretary Roseanna Cunningham said between 1990 and 2014, emissions fell by close to 46 percent. Emissions in the rest of the UK since 1990 only fell by 33%. Cunningham suggested that individuals turning down the heat may have contributed to the reduction. Others said the government still needs to step up their

commitment to cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Stop Climate Chaos Scotland spokesperson Jim Densham told The Guardian while it was good the goal has already been reached, showing people don’t have to sacrifice comfort drastically to combat climate change, the government still needs to 'lead with the big policies for major emission reductions.' According to the Scottish government, the target for 2050 is an 80 percent reduction in emissions. Cunningham said since the country has already met its 2020 goal, it will likely pursue more ambitious goals in legislation. Click here for more

Costa Rica celebrates 100% renewable energy Costa Rica is much more than a lush, green tourist paradise; it’s also a green energy pioneer. The small Central American nation has generated 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources for more than four months, and the run isn’t over yet. The

S G 52

country, which draws clean energy from a variety of renewable sources, still has its sights on a full year without fossil fuels. Click here for more

Here comes the sun – and cheap solar power to go with it Scientists at Stellenbosch University have found a way to harness cheap solar energy by perfecting a process that has stumped the world's best engineers for years.

Algae-powered future? A proposal for an algae-powered city has won the design competition for Liberland, the world's newest sovereign nation in Europe. A 2.7 square mile patch of land located in a floodplain on the Danube River between Croatia and Serbia, Liberland presents a unique challenge for architects and urbanists tasked with designing a self-governing micro-nation that guarantees its citizens economic and personal freedom. RAW-NYC tackled the challenge with a deep green mixed-use city design that stacks horizontal layers vertically to accommodate population expansion. The winning proposal is a pedestrian-friendly design that supports a growing populace with stackable horizontal structures. Called Inverted Archaeology, this groundbreaking technique constructs the city-state in consecutive temporal layers to form a self-sufficient, compact, dense, integrated and resilient urban fabric. This is a transit-oriented development that achieves optimum site efficiency and mitigates what – in such a dense environment – would entail a great deal of greenhouse gas emissions from cars. Algae, strains of which don’t require significant sunlight to proliferate, would be grown on the underside of buildings to provide a clean source of energy. The design specifically creates an environment that is conducive to innovation, ensuring that all citizens – regardless of their ethnicity, race, age, gender or profession – have every opportunity to reach their full potential and participate collectively in financial gains.

As news of the ground-breaking design travelled across the globe recently, the scientists behind Helio100 continued testing of their prototype. The Solar Thermal Research Group has dramatically reduced the cost of creating heliostats – computer-controlled mirrors that keep the sun reflected on a fixed target as it moves across the sky. The design requires no costly building work or a highly trained workforce for installation, only two people to lay out the steel frames on the ground and a streetlight-style central tower. A Helio100 installation consists of 100 2.2m² heliostats generating 100kW of power in total – enough to power about 30 households. The pilot installation is in Mariendahl, an experimental farm between Stellenbosch and Klapmuts. The SA Photovoltaic Industry Association's Wido Schnabel hailed the announcement as 'brilliant news'. 'The beauty of concentrated solar power technology is that it allows us to store much more energy than photovoltaic panels. This means we have energy for cloudy days or at night,' he said. Click here for more

Click here for more

53 S G

Energy

Unique needs Râ&#x20AC;&#x2030;

ecently, a president of an African country

Producer Procurement Programme model, which has

remarked that, in the interests of industrial

resulted in cost-effective and successful renewable

revolution, the continent should not

energy plants across the country. Research from

concern itself too much with its carbon footprint.

the Managing Infrastructure Reform and Regulation

If you did a double take upon reading that, you're

initiative at the UCT Graduate School of Business has

not alone.

also shown that this is more than replicable across

In July, Xinhua News Agency reported that

And it's not just green energy initiatives in

innovation take-off on the continent, in view of

Africa that are setting the continent apart. A top

September's G20 meeting under the chairmanship

business publication last year reported on Africa's

of China.

top five cleantech startups, one of which is the South

The latest industrial initiatives in Africa added

African company Freedom Won â&#x20AC;&#x201C; founded to drive

up to a continent ready for industrial revolution,

the continent's clean energy and electric vehicle

Senegalese President Macky Sall said at the opening

developments. The other four are Kenya's M-Kopa,

of the 35 New Partnership for Africa's Development

which started a pay-as-you-go solar revolution,

(Nepad) Heads of State and Government Orientation

capitalising on the high mobile penetration; Quaint

Committee Meeting at the 27th African Union Summit

Global Energy Solutions, which aims to bring 50MW

in Kigali, Rwanda.

of clean energy to Nigeria; African Clean Energy

So far, so good. And then Sall argued that

in Lesotho, which developed the ACE 1 Ultra-Clean

African governments should not concern themselves

Biomass Cookstove to help combat the pollution

overmuch with minimising the impact of fossil fuels.

caused by widespread open-fire cooking; and iCoal

Just recently in June, global renewable energy

Concept Ltd (also in Kenya), which turns the waste

producer Mainstream Renewable Power signed a

from charcoal into modern energy.

$117.5m (R1.68b) equity investment from multiple

On a smaller scale, other companies are setting

investors to accelerate the buildout of megawatts

continent's carbon footprint was 'minimal'. The key

of wind and solar plants across Africa. South Africa,

was to 'balance the mix in developing clean energy

meanwhile, has been a game changer and a trendsetter

and at the same time [using] fossil fuel', he added.

in terms of its Renewable Energy Independent Power

S G 54

the continent.

African governments were anticipating a major new

Wait, what? Certainly, fossil fuels have not yet

Professor Walter Baets looks at why Africa should be moving determinedly away from fossil fuels and toward innovation in cleantech.

been eradicated from African industry, but there are several reasons the continent should be moving determinedly away from them. Firstly, Africa's needs are unique. Since 75% of the population lives directly off the land, it is paramount to safeguard the environment in order to ensure both food security and the livelihoods of a large portion of the continent's citizens. Secondly, it is a blatant

It is a blatant misconception that Africa need not worry about its carbon footprint – it has increased twelve-fold since 1950.

misconception that Africa need not worry about its carbon footprint. Although the continent's emissions

dependence on fossil fuels? Technology, as the

are still significantly lower than China, the US, India,

Merriam-Webster Dictionary would have it, is 'the

Russia and Japan, its carbon footprint has increased

use of science in industry, engineering etc, to invent

twelve-fold since 1950. Libya and South Africa's

useful things or to solve problems'. Solve problems,

carbon emissions, per capita, are more than double

not create them. And industrialisation will not be

the global average of 1.3 metric tons per year.

advancement if we take a step backward.

But there is more at stake here. There is such

It is time for our leaders to break out of binary

a massive opportunity for innovation that it would

thinking; the Watership Down narrative of progress

be a pity to miss out on it by going the fossil fuel

versus sustainability. Today, sustainability is the

route. Africa has increasingly distinguished itself

very definition of progress. Anything less should

as a clean-energy superpower, as well as leaping

not be acceptable to us.

ahead in the innovation trends too: Interwaste, for example, has created the first refuse-derived fuel plant in South Africa – aiming to reduce waste to landfill and pioneer turning general, industrial and municipal waste into alternative fuels. So why, one wonders, is there still a misconception that Africa's impending industrialisation, and urbanisation, must necessarily involve an ongoing

Walter Baets is the director of the UCT Graduate School of Business and holds the Allan Gray Chair in Values-Based Leadership at the school. Formerly a professor of Complexity, Knowledge and Innovation and associate dean for Innovation and Social Responsibility at Euromed Management – School of Management and Business, he is passionate about building a business school for ‘business that matters’.

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W ater

restrictions loom as

water levels drop

Water authorities have sounded the alarm over the rapidly declining levels of the main supply dams to the Nelson Mandela Bay and Gamtoos Valley farmers, pointing a finger at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality for squandering the scarce resource. We take a look.

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ith the level of the Kouga Dam currently at

the metro. The rate

67%, chief executive officer of the Gamtoos

at which restrictions

Irrigation Board (GIB) Pierre Joubert has

are

voiced concern that water restrictions for GIB water

decided by the board. The water system

consumers could be implemented in September if good rains are not received in the catchment area in

the interim.

designed in such a way

the

Gamtoos

According to Joubert, such measures would most

that the dam at Loerie

probably not have been necessary had the Nelson

serves as a balancing

Mandela Bay Municipality adhered to government

dam,

gazetted water restrictions of 15% implemented in

always have water in

July last year.

it. It is from this dam

which

must

'To this day it has not been done and this

that water is being

borders on a punishable offence. Despite harsh

rerouted to the metro. 'Although

words between representatives of the Department of Water Affairs and municipal officials, nothing has

metro

been done,' he said.

The incomplete Nooitgedacht Low Level Water

the

already

used

full

quota

its

between last July and

Scheme – a project several years in the making aimed

February

at bolstering the metro’s water supply – put further

they have nevertheless

pressure on the Kouga Dam, said Joubert. Reports

continued to withdraw

last year state that the project, which was initially

water from the [Loerie]

touted for completion in 2013, would be completed

dam,' said Joubert.

in 2017.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Joubert said a survey conducted by GIB a few years ago

this

year,

'Despite harsh words between representatives of the Department of Water Affairs and municipal officials, nothing has been done.' - Pierre Joubert

Joubert said the possibility of a monthly rather than an annual quota for the metro was currently being investigated.

had revealed that 10 000 employment opportunities

HISTORY

are created in the Gamtoos Valley when farmers

In 1991, irrigation farmers in the Gamtoos Valley

relying on irrigation receive their full allocated water

had a choice to either remain under the State Water

quota.

Scheme (Water Act, 1956) or establish an irrigation

'With every 10% reduction in the water quota,

board. They opted for the latter. Although the

a thousand job opportunities are lost,' he warned,

infrastructure (Kouga Dam and canals) still belongs

adding that the metro had not been applying

to the State, the newly established Gamtoos Irrigation

responsible water management.

Board took over the maintenance and running of the

'Their internal losses are unacceptably high.

scheme.

Apparently, they do not have enough money to

In retrospect, this was a wise decision. By keeping

maintain it or to give urgent attention to water leaks

the canal system in good condition, the GIB has

that are reported. It is time that the municipality get

ensured that agriculture in the Gamtoos Valley could

their priorities in order and deploy their resources

proceed undisturbed for the past 25 years and not be

more effectively, seeing that it has a direct impact on

derailed by unnecessary leaks in the system.

job creation and the economy in the Gamtoos Valley,' said Joubert.

FINANCIAL LOSSES Kouga Dam

implemented

Joubert explained that although his council did not have a say in the quotas for consumers, recommendations had been made to the Minister of Water Affairs, who would make the final decision.

Joubert warned that if the level of the Kouga Dam

The responsibility for how the matter with the

dropped to the point where water restrictions had to

metro would be addressed therefore lay with the

be implemented and it could be proved that irrigation

Department of Water Affairs, he said.

farmers were suffering financial losses as a result, his council would not hesitate to institute claims against

For more info visit www.gamtooswater.co.za

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E conomy

CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN AFRICA Partâ&#x20AC;&#x2030;II

The circular economy is a generic term for an industrial economy that is producing no waste and pollution, by design or intention, and in which material flows are of two types: biological nutrients, designed to re-enter the biosphere safely, and technical nutrients, which are designed to circulate at high quality in the production system without entering the biosphere as well as being restorative and regenerative by design. Susanne Yvonne Karcher reports on the launch of the African Circular Economy (ACE) Network.

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Global South/North Circular Economy (CE) Knowledge Exchange workshop took place in June 2016 with participants from Europe

and South Africa, hosted by JG Afrika. CE experts, academics and practitioners including Northern Hemisphere representatives from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Tearfund, the SCP Centre, Green Alliance, Tomorrow's Company (all based in the UK) and Pavia

University (Italy) virtually 'met' their enthusiastic Southern

counterparts

including

academia,

consultants and researchers from Biomimicry SA, Wizeimpact, JG Afrika, University of Cape Town, Greencape, EnviroSense and the Cambridge Institute for Sustainabilty Leadership. The objective of the workshop was to exchange best CE practice and project approaches with a view

While South Africa and Africa at large are not seen as currently positioned players in the space of circular product design, they might become so should CE become mainstream in a 'leapfrogged vision' of SA and Africa – our continent has certainly yielded some experts of international standard in the field of waste beneficiation aiding poverty alleviation.

to build a regular skills transfer and communication channel which will enable Southern practitioners to join the wider Global CE debate, currently predominantly taking place in European countries. Presentations were shared from both sides highlighting the need to not only have a sound 'business case' for CE but also to ensure that CE is the catalyst to drive poverty alleviation and job creation, especially, for example, in the renewable energy and resources sectors simultaneously. SA & Africa While South Africa and Africa at large are not seen as currently positioned players in the space of circular product design, they might become so should CE become mainstream in a 'leapfrogged vision' of SA and Africa – our continent has certainly yielded some

as a single voice of like-minded people to the current global CE discussions. Members of ACE Network also want to stay informed about any exciting CE projects which are increasingly funded by the EU and emerging in other BRICS member states, specifically China, India and Brazil, with a view to leapfrog any expertise and findings made and attract similar CE funding. The ACE Network and its envisaged work and research area through its members is built on four 'design principle' pillars namely: Technical and Biological Nutrient retention within the African economy: •

make a CE 'Business Case' •

The latter is at the heart of a much needed CE-inspired political agenda change that would fit the

African economic context where our most precious

Resource

optimisation

– focussing on

Africa's most commonly found geological and

experts of international standard in the field of waste beneficiation aiding poverty alleviation.

Economic viability – as a key requirement to

biological resources •

Livelihood optimisation of our human resource – improving the lives of as many Africans as possible.

and abundant resource is people. It was felt that the Global South could in that field add much valuable

For more information about the outcome of the first

input to a global debate that currently almost entirely

inaugural Global North/South Knowledge exchange

lacks any African perspective or expertise as part

meeting held, to be invited for future exchanges and to

of the development of current CE project facets and

enter the growing ACE discussion network please contact

aspects. After the workshop discussions it was agreed to

any of the ACE co-ordination team members: Alex Lemille – Wizeimpact

start the African Circular Economy (ACE) Network.

Sally-Anne Kasner – JG Afrika

The aim is to band together African CE experts,

Kirsten Barnes – GreenCape

academics, policy makers and business leaders into a

Susanne Yvonne Karcher – EnviroSense

knowledge sharing network that can provide 'access'

Peter Desmond – Tomorrow's Company

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A frica C lockwise

Pan-African P

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Passage

Part 1

From South Africa to Liberia

Stand-up comedian Mark Sampson, his activist wife Sam Pearce and their two children Ruby (13) and Zola (10) have recently had to pause their Africa Clockwise trip due to the Ebola pandemic. Sam reflects on their first year on the road in their Big Green Truck.

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here's nothing quite like driving your family through 12 African countries in 12 months to bring you together. We've

travelled 16 000km and broken down 10 times. We've survived a flying solar panel in Namibia, a wheel coming off in Angola, an AK-47-wielding bandit in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, getting stuck on the ferry across the Congo, being bitten by scores of jungle bugs in Gabon, driving through thigh-high mud in Cameroon, a tourist-infested voodoo festival in Benin, a scorpion

Mark and I have learnt that our greatest bliss comes when we surrender to 'the gods of travel', as Kingsley Holgate says.

bite in Togo, a thumping madman in Ghana and news that his mum was seriously ill in hospital in the

malaria plus typhoid in Côte d'Ivoire. African

United Kingdom. By the time we'd made it across the

hospitality wherever we've been, fabulous surf and

border and were making plans to leap on a plane,

palm-fringed perfection at beaches all along the

she'd passed away.

But,

mostly,

we've

enjoyed

warm

West Coast, and Christmas at the continent's most

I thank God that at least Mark had managed

spectacular street party, the Calabar Carnival in

to speak to her on the phone one last time: she

Nigeria.

had said he mustn't worry, but stay with his family

After three years spent dreaming and plotting,

and continue the adventure as his dad would have

we left Cape Town on 1 July 2013 in our Big Green

wished. He was able to send a video eulogy to

Truck, an ex-South African National Defence Force

the funeral, dedicating the trip to his parents and

Mercedes 911 adapted to run on waste vegetable

thanking them for the spirit of adventure they

oil. The original plan was to take two-and-a-half

inspired in him. He also named a never-before-surfed

years travelling Africa Clockwise around the

wave on the starkly beautiful Angolan coast after his

circumference of the continent, spend some quality

mum: Joy's Gift.

time with our kids while they're still young enough

The constant challenges of the journey have

to think we're cool, and attempt to break the

helped him work through his grief. In the DRC, I

Guinness World Record for the longest journey

found myself negotiating in French at midnight in

made on alternative fuel.

the middle of a crazy, wonderful city called Matadi,

While we'd already done 10 000km in trials

with an AK-47-wielding oke in a scarlet ski mask

around South Africa thanks to Kalky's fish and chips

demanding protection money against 'bandits';

restaurant in Cape Town, we weren't sure how easy

Mark got us out of an equally sticky situation when

it was going to be to source used cooking oil en

Big Reg/the Big Green Truck got stuck trying to get

route. Namibia proved easy, as we scored 600l from

onto the ferry across the Congo.

a lovely man in Okahandja, who'd been storing the

Ruby is never happier than when socialising, and

dirty oil from his two restaurants in his garage and

in Angola she made a true friend. Ngeve lived in the

was happy to have us take it away. This stash kept

wooden hut right next to where we happened to pull

us going all the way to Congo.

up. A family of six kids lived in the hut, though she

In Namibia, one of our five Treetops Renewable

and her younger brothers slept in a tiny tent outside.

Energy Systems' units flew off the roof but

Their mother lived across the way, their father was

miraculously landed without smashing. In Angola the

a fisherman we never saw, and their grandfather sat

wheels came off a bit-literally and metaphorically.

outside for half the day. The eldest daughter, aged

When bolts broke off on a rocky road outside

14, cooked for all six of them. Ngeve was shy at

Dombe Grande, we narrowly escaped losing a wheel,

first, but sharp as a button and full of fun. She and

and were only saved by the quick-thinking response

Ruby communicated mainly through laughing.

of the first of many amazing 'bush' mechanics to rescue us en route.

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The first day there, they'd played a matching card game in the truck, and afterward Ruby had

On the day we had to cross into Angola before

gone back to Ngeve's place, which was completely

our visas expired, Mark received the devastating

empty except for a plastic table, two chairs and

The original plan was to attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest journey made on alternative fuel.

63 S G

some small piles of clothes on the floor. That

in Ghana; and our soul-brother Jules Ineka in Grand

evening Ruby told me, 'I know you've always said

Drewin, CĂ´te d'Ivoire.

how lucky we are, but I've never really felt it till now.'

We have struggled to source used vegetable oil

Before we left, I was worried that I was being

along the way; in Nigeria, for example, no one eats

an irresponsible parent by taking my children

chips. A manager of hip fast-food chain, Fiesta Fries,

into dangerous places beyond the reach of

told me they had sold their deep fat fryers after

decent medical care, but the cover granted by our

the first year of operations and had gone back to

pan-African Liberty Health Blue policy put my mind

offering traditional fare of fufu (pounded cassava)

at rest: in an emergency situation, we can be flown

and pepper sauce.

out of anywhere within two hours. The children

Without the donations of palm oil from Siat

have proved remarkably resilient, handling snakes

Gabon and sister plantation Presco Plc in Benin

and scorpions and tiny ferocious biting bugs with

City-some of which we swapped with restaurants

aplomb.

en route to persuade them to change their dirty

Having the same routine every day inside the Big Green Truck-no matter where we are-helps

carcinogenic oil more frequently-we would not still be in contention for the Guinness World Record.

enormously. The scenery outside may be constantly

Although severely behind schedule, Mark and I

changing, but inside there is a reassuring regularity:

have learnt that our greatest bliss comes when we

in the morning, we do school; in the afternoon, we

surrender to 'the gods of travel', as Kingsley Holgate

Ruby told me, 'I know you've always said how lucky we are, but I've never really felt it till now.' swim; at dusk we come inside behind the mosquito

says. Give up trying to fight trying circumstances

screens, shower and eat supper, then play games or

and go with the flow. The only time we get stressed

watch a movie on the laptop cinema Dad has rigged

is when we have to rush, usually to meet visa

up, hanging from the clothes cupboard on bungee

deadlines; if you have time, there's no need for

cords. At bedtime, the kids crawl into their rooms in

tension. We feel blessed just to be hanging out

the nose cone above the cab and fall asleep to the

together, enjoying the simple life of slow exploring,

sounds of the bush or the sea.

moseying along, discovering the next lovely beach,

Although Zola was scarcely as tall as our Continental tyres when we left, and quite shy,

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the next colourful market, or our next fascinating friend.

his confidence has grown on every step of the

Mark has been a stand-up comedian in Cape

adventure and he's become quite an adrenalin

Town for nearly 20 years, but most people don't

junkie. He squealed with delight when the truck

know he started as a busker in London's Covent

made it through thigh-high mud just before crossing

Garden, chucking around fire clubs on a unicycle.

the border from Cameroon into Nigeria.

When we stay in a rural village, where more than

Our favourite places have all featured fabulous

often we don't speak the language, he does a

surf combined with big-hearted hosts who didn't

juggling and magic show just before we leave to say

charge us to stay despite the palm-fringed perfection

thank you for their hospitality. The children both

of their beautiful beaches: Chef Thomas Mouri

learnt a magic trick to take part, and the finale has

Ngouo at HĂ´tel Tara Plage in Kribi, Cameroon;

the kids and I doing a rousing dance number with

Danielle and Olivier Funfschilling at Ezile Bay Village

fire.

We are proud to represent the Department of

received excellent treatment. But the delay meant we

Arts and Culture in promoting the African Union's

crossed into Liberia just as Ebola arrived in Monrovia.

Charter

for

African

Cultural

Renaissance

and

My parents both turned 70 in July and the

fostering pan-African cultural co-operation through

children and I flew out to the UK to surprise them at

the ARTerial Network. As well as entertaining at

their birthday party. We were going for only a couple

schools, bars and several South African Embassies

of weeks and took one bag of clothes between the

en route, Mark has performed sleight-of-hand magic

three of us. We're still here.

at hundreds of police roadblocks. It works like a

Mark spent a wonderful couple of weeks in the

dream. In seconds, a simple magic trick can turn a

surf at Robertsport outside Monrovia, falling in love

surly policeman sporting an automatic weapon and

with the Liberian people-but when Ebola arrived in

mirror shades into a delighted six-year-old boy. We

the village, he realised he was in danger of getting

have never paid a bribe.

stranded away from us on the wrong side of an

We spent Christmas as guests of the effusively

international travel ban.

hospitable Cross River State Tourism Bureau in

Currently, the border is shut between Liberia and

southeastern Nigeria, privileged to witness the jewel

Sierra Leone, and Guinness has given us permission

in the crown of their December festival offerings:

to suspend our World Record attempt, as it is

Carnival Calabar, known as 'Africa's biggest street

impossible for us to continue our journey. The Big

party'. The parade of 25 000 superbly costumed

Green Truck is sitting in a compound in the rain in

and choreographed performers is world-class; why

Monrovia, being looked after by the SA Embassy.

go to Rio when you can enjoy the same level of

And we are sitting here in Mark's mum's house

sophisticated pageantry for a fraction of the price in

in Cornwall, watching the collapse of several West

Nigeria, while supporting the African economy?

African economies while international governments

Alongside our visit to the Afi Mountain Drill

waste precious time debating options of 'boots on

(an ape related to the baboon) Ranch, the Calabar

the ground' in Iraq and Syria-ignoring the more

Carnival made Nigeria the highlight of the trip so far

urgent need for them in Liberia and Sierra Leone. We

for the kids.

are watching, and waiting, and praying.

At the onset of the rainy season in Côte d'Ivoire, all four of us managed to get malaria and typhoid in the same month. Luckily for us, Côte d'Ivoire has relatively sound health infrastructure and we

Follow Africa Clockwise on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, or on Sam Pearce's blog at www.africaclockwise.co.za

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Motoring News Solar cars cross the finish line as records tumble The Sasol Solar Challenge is a biennial competition aimed at showcasing the power of alternative energy. Emphasising engineering and design, the competition gives South African and international innovators and university students in the disciplines of science, engineering and technology an opportunity to showcase their ingenuity by designing world-class solar-powered vehicles. Participating teams are expected to design, build, and manage their solar-powered vehicles as they race across the South African terrain, covering a distance of at least 1 000km of varying road conditions. The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town was the scene of celebration recently as 11 teams from all over the world crossed the finish line after successfully driving just over 27 000km collectively on public roads on solar power alone. Dutch team Nuon won the Challenger class after completing 4 716km, breaking the four-year old record of 4 630km and beating Japanese team Tokai. The Dutch team had to have a perfect day to stay ahead of strong competitor Tokai, who set the record in 2012 and won the World Solar Challenge on numerous occasions in the past. With new regulations set for the global competition, all the teams will use the South African event to build completely new vehicles for the 2017 challenge in Australia, which is shorter than the Sasol Solar Challenge. In South Africa, five teams held their own against the tough international competition. North-West University came in fourth position with 3 524 kilometres under their belt, and high school team Maragon Olympus managed to beat the University of Johannesburg by just 40 kilometres. North-West University had to work hard to come back from an accident during track testing just before the Challenge began. But the 28-member team worked long hours, beating two international and four South African teams on the event. Another incredible achievement on the 2016 Sasol Solar Challenge was celebrated when high school team Maragon Olympus crossed the finish line in seventh place narrowly beating the University of Johannesburg. For the Sasol Solar Challenge, a new record has been set, and teams are already planning their return in 2018 to improve on today’s achievement. The Sasol Solar Challenge director, Winstone Jordaan, said that this has been the most competitive event to date. 'The calibre of competition at this year’s Challenge has been awe inspiring to watch. We also had a very safe event with no major incidents – which is always our biggest point of pride when moving more than 350 people through the country on public roads. 'The Sasol Solar Challenge has such a positive impact on the teams that compete that we would like to challenge all South African universities to take part – to maximise the ripple effect that it has on our country’s engineering and energy development.

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GM Commits to 100% Renewable Energy by 2050 General Motors plans to generate or source all electrical power for its 350 operations in 59 countries with 100 percent renewable energy – such as wind, sun and landfill gas – by 2050. This new renewable energy goal, along with the pursuit of electrified vehicles and efficient manufacturing, is part of the company's overall approach to strengthening its business, improving communities and addressing climate change. GM is also joining RE100, a global collaborative initiative of businesses committed to 100% renewable electricity, working to increase demand for clean power. In 2015, GM required 9TW hours of electricity to build its vehicles and power its offices, technical centers and warehouses around the world. To meet its new renewable energy goal, GM will continue to improve the energy efficiency of its operations while transitioning to clean sources for its power needs. Today GM saves US$5m annually from using renewable energy, a number it anticipates will increase as more projects come online and the supply of renewable energy increases. In addition, the company anticipates costs to install and produce renewable energy will continue to decrease, resulting in more bottom-line returns. The new renewable energy commitment builds on GM's previous goal to promote the use of 125MW of renewable energy by 2020. The company expects to exceed this when two new wind projects come online later this year to help power four manufacturing operations. GM is in a unique position to meet this renewable energy goal given its electric vehicle battery expertise. Energy storage can ultimately address the intermittency or reliability of wind and solar energy. GM is now using Chevrolet Volt batteries for energy storage at its Milford Proving Ground data centre office. For details click here.

Nissan and BMW switch on first joint coastal EV charging stations Nissan South Africa and BMW Group South Africa have added momentum to Cape Town’s green revolution with the introduction of their first joint electric vehicle (EV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) charging stations in the Western Cape. The three charging stations are located at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town and are supported by Growthpoint Properties, who manages the complex. Nissan and BMW last year signed a memorandum of understanding that will see them jointly install EV charging stations across the country’s main metropolitan nodes. The planned charging stations will supplement the stations already available at certain BMW and Nissan dealerships – that can charge both manufacturers’ electric vehicles – and it forms part of the two companies’ strategy to support the adoption of EVs in South Africa’s most populous cities. The joint venture started its operations in Johannesburg with a combined charging hub at the Industrial Development Corporation in Sandton and the Department of Environmental Affairs in Pretoria. It is also installing charging stations at several of its large metropolitan dealers.

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Motoring News Toyota Sells Nine-Millionth Hybrid Car Toyota's hybrid vehicles have saved their owners 25 billion litres of petrol – enough fuel, theoretically, for each of their cars to travel around the Earth, and then some. The calculation was revealed by the world's leading carmaker when it announced it has sold more than nine million Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles around the world. The latest milestone, achieved in April, comes as Toyota South Africa prepares to introduce its newest hybrid, the striking new Prius. Toyota's parent company in Japan has revealed that the total fuel saving from its nine million hybrids represents an average of more than 2 770l per vehicle compared with driving petrol-only cars of similar size. The saving would provide enough fuel for each of those vehicles to travel at least 52 400km, or 1.3 times around the equator, based on a nominal average consumption of 5.3l per 100km. Instead of doing that, of course, Toyota's hybrid owners have pocketed billions of dollars in savings. Toyota has also estimated its hybrid vehicles have resulted in approximately 67 million fewer tonnes of CO2 emissions than would have been emitted by petrol-powered vehicles of similar size and driving performance. Globally, Toyota's total is led by the world's best-selling hybrid, Prius, with 3.7 million sales since its debut in Japan in December 1997. Prius c has reached 1.25 million sales, Prius v 634 000 and Camry hybrid 574 000. Locally, over 2 900 Hybrid models have found homes, including Lexus hybrid models. As Hybrid models are extended to additional product ranges and hybrid technology becomes more accessible, we look forward to even higher levels of hybrid adoption.. Toyota has positioned hybrid advances as core environmental technologies for the 21st century. Using these technologies, Toyota is also working on improving non-hybrid cars. For more click here.

Ford's self-driving car of the future There have been whispers about Ford Motors’ plan to create a fully autonomous vehicle for years, but at the recent Further With Ford annual trend conference, CEO Mark Fields unveiled the company’s plans for the future of transportation – and some information on how these cars will operate. Most notable is the fact that, unlike existing vehicles which contain an AI but also allow a human to take control in an emergency, Ford’s planned vehicles will have no steering wheel, gas pedal or brakes.

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New solar-powered Karma Revero Those awaiting news about Karma Automotive’s new Revero model have some exciting updates to chew on. For starters, solar panels on the roof are expected to generate sufficient energy to fully power the car. A teaser released by the company sheds more light on what aspiring Revero owners can expect. Have a look at the video, right, to see more of this classy ride in action. For details click here.

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled plans for its self-driving bus Mercedes-Benz just gave us a glimpse of the future of urban transportation with its new self-driving bus. The semi-autonomous Future Bus is a much safer bus that is also more efficient and more comfortable than today’s conventional buses. Thanks to several cameras and radar systems, the semi-automated city bus relieves the driver’s workload, while its predictive driving style saves wear and tear while lowering fuel consumption and emissions. The Mercedes-Benz Future Bus utilizes autonomous CityPilot technology that was originally introduced in the self-driving Actros truck that the automaker presented two years ago. Mercedes-Benz says that the technology has been further developed for the Future Bus with several functions. Thanks to a dozen cameras combined with long and short-range radar systems, the CityPilot technology is able to recognise traffic lights, communicate with them and safely negotiate junctions controlled by them. It can also detect obstacles, like pedestrians, on the road and automatically stop on its own. The Future Bus also approaches bus stops automatically, where it opens and closes its doors.

100% electric car breaks acceleration record A team of 30 Swiss students have created the fastestaccelerating car in the world – and it’s 100% electric. In just 1.513 seconds, the Grimsel race car can go from zero to 100km/h – in fact, it’s half a second faster than Tesla’s 'Ludicrous Mode' for the Model S. Watch the video left for more info, or click here to see the official footage of the run.

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Mobility News

Hyperloop One aims to transport people and cargo under water Imagine the Port of Los Angeles moved 16km off shore with ships docking at floating stations and cargo containers transported underwater from the coast via supersonic tubes. The coastal areas where the Port of Los Angeles used to take up miles of space has been transformed into parks, residential areas, office complexes and beaches. That is the future envisioned by LA-based startup Hyperloop One that is developing the technology to realise Elon Musk’s dream of moving passengers and cargo at supersonic speeds through evacuated steel tubes. On May 11, Hyperloop One conducted the first live trial of the technology at a test site in the Nevada desert about 16km North of Las Vegas. The Propulsion Open Air Test (POAT) involved a sled that was propeled by electromagnets to a top speed of 185 km/h along a track measuring 457m in length. For more click here.

Electric scooter 'sharing' is taking Berlin by storm Gogoro is on a mission to bring clean, green transportation to cities around the world by bringing its innovative, stylish scooters to Europe for the first time and launching a brand new vehicle sharing service in Berlin. Developed in partnership with Bosch, Coup lets you rent one of 200 Gogoro Smartscooters in four Berlin neighbourhoods for €3 for 30 minutes or €20 euros for the whole day. Click here for more.

Watch this traffic-beating bus in action The so-called 'straddling bus' that took the Internet by storm in 2010 has made the incredible leap from a crazy design dream to reality as it received its inaugural test run in Qinhuangdao, Hebei province recently. The Transit Elevated Bus, to give it its official title, is designed to help combat gridlock by letting passengers soar over the tops of cars on the increasingly-congested roads of China's major cities.

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Norway is considering building a series of underwater tunnels to help commuters more easily cross the nation's many fjords.

AeroMobil unveils futuristic flying car, plans to launch by 2017

Norway has hatched ambitious plans to install the world’s first floating underwater tunnels to help travellers easily cross the nation’s many fjords. At present, the only way to travel across the bodies of water involves taking a series of ferries – an inconvenient and time-consuming process. The 'submerged floating bridges' would consist of large tubes suspended under 30m of water, and each one will be wide enough for two lanes of traffic.

While it’s easy to see a flying car as a luxury item, the AeroMobil team insists that there are practical uses for the vehicle. For example, it could cut commuters’ travel time, help people travel medium distances, and could even be used by first responders and law enforcement in areas with poor road infrastructure. Click here for more.

Click here for more details.

Solar Impulse completes flight around world Swiss pilot and initiator Bertrand Piccard landed the experimental solar-powered aircraft in Abu Dhabi after 48 hours in flight from Cairo, Egypt. Taking turns piloting each leg of the journey, Piccard and SI co-founder André Borschberg have bagged numerous world records and a cumulative 558 hours of flight time to achieve their shared goal, all without burning a single drop of fossil fuel. Click here for more details.

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E co

homes

Tiny Homes

â&#x20AC;&#x2030;LIVING B In our previous issue, Simply Green Issue 2, 2016, we began a series on the new global trend towards tiny homes as an increasingly popular way to deal with space restrictions in hyper-urbanised environments and hugely lowered building costs and eco-impact footprints. In this issue, we follow up with Part 2 in which we look at some other aspects of this rapidly spreading trend

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BIG

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ne of the original models for a tiny house must have been Airstream trailer. Many a tiny house today lives on wheels, just

like the Airstream’s original travel trailer. Kent Griswald, writing for the TinyHouse blog, puts it this way: ‘Tiny houses built on wheels are just one of the many options for a person considering a tiny house.’ Anyone who has had the opportunity to occupy an Airstream (or equivalent) caravan, as it is called in this part of the world, will know both the delights and the limitations of spending any length of time in such super-tiny home. Without upgrades that allow for more than a couple or few days away, such tiny living is very hard. However, a growing number of tiny homes are being built on wheels but without the hyper-restrictive space and support facilities issues of caravans. Mostly, this is an American trend for now, but it is bound to catch on and grow as the tiny home movement continues to evolve internationally. Some tiny homes are fixed to the earth on which

Refurbished Airstream trailer

they’re built, while others are little different from RVs (caravans) decorated to look like houses.

Just about every American will recognise or

regulatory & safety issues

remember the Winnebago craze that took off in the

As of yet, there is no set of regulatory standards

States in the 1970s. It was, for many Americans, a

concerning the tiny house movement in the USA, nor

mobile home that they could take on holidays (they

in most other countries, even where it is becoming

would say vacations) to just about anywhere that

ever-more popular as a housing solution. One US

had a halfway decent road.

law firm, provides this perspective:

For those with or looking to have a tiny house

‘Even though most municipalities lack legislation

which happens to be on wheels, one of the main

regarding tiny houses, tiny houses will generally

‘negatives’ to keep in mind are the expenses which

be subject to municipal zoning regulations if

come with parking overnight in a campground

the municipality has a minimum square footage

serving RVs. There are generally parking fees, waste

requirement for residential dwellings.’

fees, water and electricity charges. Some tiny house designers do attempt to

the key is speaking to your local municipal housing

provide their own heat and electricity using solar

officials if you decide that trying to build or kit-order

panels and battery systems. Water, sewer lines, and

a tiny house is the way you wish to go.

refrigerators are items which were never meant to hit the road. But if you do own a tiny house on wheels, or wish to, make certain you know where to legally park it

In a 2015 article The Denver Post dealt with some of the hurdles facing tiny home would-be owners, including the fact that most American cities and towns simply do not allow tiny houses:

and reside in it. Some overseas municipalities where

‘Denver’s housing code dating to 1956 says

this trend is becoming more popular are starting to

structures must cover at least 150 square feet —

look more closely at the tiny home phenomenon

not including halls, bathrooms and closets — plus

and while our local municipal officials may not

100 square feet for each additional resident. A

yet be with the program on that front, they will,

200-square-foot tiny home for two would be illegal

no doubt, have to be at some point in the not too

even if built on private property. Zoning rules, too,

distant future (and besides, what’s the difference

limit what innovators can do.’

between a ‘tiny home’ and a ‘shack’?

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No doubt, a rough equivalence applies in SA –

While each suburb in urbanised South Africa

will have roughly similar restrictions, shacks are obviously excluded in ‘informal settlements’ – the question is whether or not your local officials will allow a variance off the ‘norm’ in the place where you wish to place your tiny home. Before doing anything else, would-be tiny home owners, wherever they may live, need first to check on the legal status of your desired micro residence.

materials Finally, know the materials which have been used to create your tiny house, or which you wish to use in such a home. If plywood or laminates have been used, make certain there is no gassing of VOCs. The same holds for whatever paints and finishes are used. Ventilation is very important. Remember, you will be living inside a very small space. And always make certain you are comfortable with the headroom and leg room you’ve allowed yourself.

A tiny home on wheels

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Buildings

COMFORT CON

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CONVENIENCE A WINNING COMBINATION

DoubleTree by Hilton Cape Town â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Upper Eastside was recently awarded the '5 Star Green Rating for Existing Buildings' by the Green Building Council of South Africa. The hotel is the second property in the whole of South Africa to attain this award. We take a look at what the winning factors were in the decision.

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oubleTree by Hilton is a fast-growing,

•

Indoor environmental quality audits for Carbon

global collection of more than 460 upscale

Dioxide,

hotels with more than 111 000 rooms

lighting and acoustic comfort in occupied • • • •

Implementation of a green cleaning policy chemicals

offer unique, contemporary accommodations and •

Occupant comfort and transport modes survey conducted during the performance period

lounges, room service, health clubs, business

'Preserving the environment is a key part of

centres and meeting and banquet space. The hotel was judged and rated on various

The building is operating 42% more efficiently

by encouraging the use of green cleaning

proudly serves. DoubleTree by Hilton properties full-service facilities including restaurants and

The building is operating 63% more efficiently

than the industry in terms of water usage

Rewarding Experience (CARE) for hotel guests, other Team Members and the communities the brand

Rooftop organic herb and vegetable garden

than the industry in terms of energy consumption

chip cookie upon arrival and continuing throughout with Team Members dedicated to Creating a

temperature,

which are used daily in the hotel's restaurant

the hotel aims to return the human touch to travel, starting with the presentation of a warm chocolate

Monoxide,

spaces

in gateway cities, metropolitan areas and vacation destinations across six continents. Everything about

Carbon

Travel with Purpose, Hilton Worldwide's corporate responsibility strategy,' said Francois Steyn, general

building features. purchasing

manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Cape Town – Upper

practices encouraging the use of products that

Eastside. 'We are absolutely delighted with this win

are environmentally preferable

and pleased that we are being recognized for our

•

Interdepartmental green operational guidelines

efforts to reduce our environmental impact.'

•

Operational waste and materials management

•

Sustainable

procurement

and

all

reservation

enquiries

please

plan

For

Physical displays installed in the hotel facilitating

DoubleTree by Hilton Cape Town Upper Eastside

sustainability awareness and education amongst

Hotel by telephone on +27 (0) 21 404 0570 or visit

guests and staff

the website here.

This is an amazing accolade for the hotel and all who were involved in making this achievement a reality

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contact

81 S G

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www.nuwkem.co.za

500ml Hand Soap Dispenser

Nu-Bio Block - Urinal Cleaning Block

The hand soap dispenser is versatility personified - it can be used as a foam hand soap, to a lotion hand soap, to a hand

Nu-Bio Block is a drop-in bio-treatment for urinals that

sanitiser, to a seat sanitiser. It can even be converted into a

eliminates urine smells by slowly diffusing a bacterial culture. It

body wash by simply replacing the refill.

is completely biodegradable, para-dichlorobenzene free (an insecticide used in deo blocks, that are generally used in urinals

The hand lotion, foam hand soap and body wash are all Green

to combat odour). Does not cause build-ups in drains and

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C onscious K itchen

Food Waste How much food gets wasted in your home each week? Are you part of the problem or the solution. Liesel James looks at food waste in the home.

Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2030;

e always strive to waste as little food

waste disposal, which means reducing methane gas,

as possible in my home as we plan our

producing nutrition's compost for your plants and

meals out carefully, eat our leftovers and

or food for your free range chickens.

if there is anything left over after that, it gets fed to our backyard kitchens. In order to help you take small steps towards

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food waste to landfill facts â&#x20AC;˘

Food waste sealed in a plastic bag on a landfill

a conscious kitchen in this issue I am suggesting

site doesn't decompose properly. Instead, it

different ways to utilise your organic food waste.

produces methane, a greenhouse gas, which

Everyone's home must have a solution for food

contributes to global warming, as well as a

liquid leachate, which can contaminate water supplies. â&#x20AC;˘

Composting your kitchen food waste is easy and requires little time, effort or space, depending on which system you use. The compost is invaluable for the soil in your garden or potted plants: It's a complete and natural food for the soil, helping to improve its structure, water-retaining abilities and overall health. So let's look at the different options.

Worm Bin Composting (Vermicompost) A worm farm is ideal if you don't have too much space outside as it can sit on your balcony or patio. It's also one of the cleanest, neatest and easiest composting systems to use. Building one of these bins is very simple: 1. Use 2 of the same size non-transparent buckets and lids. 2. Drill 20+ 6mm holes on the bottom of both bins, this is for drainage and worm travel. 3. Drill more holes along the sides at the top of bins for ventilation and also drill holes in one lid only.

In order to help you take small steps towards a conscious kitchen in this issue I am suggesting different ways to utilise your organic food waste. Everyone's home must have a solution for food waste disposal, which means reducing methane gas; producing nutrition's compost for your plants and or food for your free range chickens.

4. Place shredded moist paper in one bucket add a few handfuls of soil and place that bucket into the empty bucket and add your food scrapes with more damp shredded paper or cardboard.

worms, red worms or 'wigglers,' for this form

5. Close the top with the ventilated lid.

of food-waste disposal, just Google to find the

6. Place the non-ventilated lid upside down and

supplier nearest to you.

place 4 bricks on each corner and rest the

Waste for Worm Composting: Pasta, rice and

buckets on there.

bread; dried and crushed egg shells; teabags and

7. As you fill the layer with small amounts of

coffee grounds; dry fibre like egg crates and empty

scraps and leftovers, the worms work their way

toilet rolls, to make up 25% of the contents; Raw or

up through the layers, eating the waste (they

cooked fruit and vegetable peelings.

consume up to half of their body weight a day).

Avoid: citrus fruit and onion peelings (which cause

It is this action that speeds up the composting

acidic conditions), plant seeds, meat, fish, dairy

process, leaving you with rich, dark compost in

products, dog and cat droppings, spent tissues,

the lowest tray after only a few months.

grass cuttings and leaves, diseased plant material

8. The bottom lid collects the wonderful tonic

and anything in excess.

which should be siphoned off regularly and fed to your plants when diluted 1:10 with water. 9. This tonic can be stored in screw-top wine bottles until you need to use it 10. Keep the bin between 12-25ÂşC for optimum composting conditions

Conventional Composting You can recycle both kitchen and garden waste if you keep a compost heap or bin in your garden. Decomposition of organic materials in your compost pile is greatly increased when you create the proper

11. There are also plenty of places to obtain the

balance between the carbonaceous materials (called

ready made kit both bin with lid and proper

'brown' because they are dry) and the nitrogen-rich

87 S G

materials (called 'green' because they are more fresh and moist). An insulating box or bin is essential: make your own from pieces of wood or buy a ready-made wooden or recycled plastic version. A lid or covering, such as a piece of old carpet, keeps the contents of the bin warm and the rain out. Here are the easy steps for making compost: 1. Choose a spot for your bin. This should be readily accessible from your kitchen. 2. Start your pile out by laying down a 10cm layer of brown ingredients. (Carbon). 3. Add enough water to dampen but not soak the browns. 4. Add a 15mm layer of healthy soil or pre-made compost to introduce the micro-organisms to your pile. 5. Add your greens (kitchen food scraps and yard waste) as they become available. (Nitrogen) 6. As your greens pile up, continue to add browns with a goal of maintaining a browns to greens ratio of between 5 and 8 to 1. 7. Occasionally check the moisture level of your pile. If it gets drier than a wrung-out sponge, add water. If it gets over-watered, mix in some more dry browns (making sure that the ratio remains in line). 8. Turn and fluff the pile every month using a

If you don't have backyard chickens to feed your leftover food to, you can still reduce food waste in your home by buying only the amount of food you need, storing your food for optimal shelf life, cooking what you need and composting anything that's left.

garden fork bringing the inside material to the chicken manure is a powerful fertilser for your

outside when you do. any

plants and can be added to your compost heap (it

distinguishable ingredients and should look

takes 6 weeks to break down); free range eggs;

like dark, nutrient-rich soil.

chickens are very easy to maintain and they will get

9. Finished

compost

shouldn't

have

10. If there's a foul smell, it's not ready and is either

rid of most of your food waste. This waste will also

too wet (add dry browns/carbon), needs air

likely not be nutrient-dense enough to sustain them

(turn the pile inside-out and fluff) or its ratio of

so continue supplementing your chickens' diets with

browns or greens is out of balance.

proper animal feed.

Organic Material to Compost: Vegetable and fruit peelings; tea leaves and coffee grounds;

Living in Cape Town you can have up to five hens without a permit.

crushed egg shells; grass cuttings and weeds;

If you don't have backyard chickens to feed your

woody pruning's; straw, hay, wool, sawdust; vacuum

leftover food to, you can still reduce food waste

dust; wood ash; paper, paper towels and newspaper;

in your home by buying only the amount of food

leaves from non-coniferous trees and shrubs.

you need, storing your food for optimal shelf life,

Avoid: Meat, fish, and cooked food, weed seeds,

cooking what you need and composting anything

diseased plant material, disposable nappies, glossy

that's left.

newsprint and coal ash.

The path towards a more conscious life is taken one step at a time. Happy conscious cooking.

Chickens Having a couple of chickens in your yard is very rewarding and has many benefits: bug control;

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For more contact Liesel: liesel@creatingchange.org.za

Advertorial

Herbafrique was founded in 2005 by a research and development team. They provide what they believe to be the finest scientifically founded herbal products in South Africa. Only the finest African ingredients and the highest standard of manufacturing has gone into these biological and natural products. Herbafrique’s intention is to create awareness around herbal remedies and provide great products as an alternative to conventional medication and skin care. Herbal deodorant: this unique products contains no harmful aluminium or talcum powder and is perfectly safe for all hygienic purposes as an anti-bacteria and anti-fungal deodorant. Corn starch is the base for dryness, Zinc oxide as an antifungal, Sodium bicarbonate deodorises, Lavender is an anti-bacteria as with Tea Tree and Orange blossom for fragrance. Comes in 100g and handy mini handbag size with puff.

3Waygel: this all-purpose 300ml wash and shampoo contains no sodium chloride (salt) which attributes to stinging eyes, dandruff and itchy scalp and skin. This unique formula contains Rosemary (the herb for hair) Calendula (nature’s anti-fungal) Rooibos extract (anti-oxidant) and Lemon Pith to lift grease and grim. Ideal for campers, holiday makers and active gym goers.

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For more info visit www.herbafrique.com 89 S G

Food

SUPERFOODS RAW CHOCOLATE ORIGINAL - 60g The Original bar uses Balinese organic coconut nectar sugar at a low percentage of 15%. This is what The Superfoods team believe is the best sugar-option. Coming from the sap of the coconut blossom palm, this sugar is minimally processed, low GI and is a more mineral dense sugar. ZERO SUGAR ADDED - 60g The Zero Sugar Added bar is dark chocolate, combined with all the same superfoods and tonic super-herbs, but completely naturally sweetened with wild harvested, local mesquite powder. Mesquite is known as white carob, and gives a gentle caramel sweet flavour, along with other health benefits as well. www.superfoods.co.za

SKINNY GREEN COFFEE Skinny Green Coffee (or Coffea Canephora) is made from raw unroasted coffee beans that are rich in both caffeine and chlorogenic acid. These compounds help boost the metabolism and inhibit gluconeogenesis or fat absorption. Their formulation includes evodiamine that has a thermogenic property that induces heat production and energy generation. This causes the metabolism to speed up and work harder resulting in more calories being burned. www.skinnygreencoffee.co.za

LANCEWOOD One of the top cheese brands in SA has launched an exciting new product set to take lunchboxes by storm: the cheddar and sweetmilk full cream cheese spreads, available in convenient tubs, are a taste-bud sensation. Made with real A-grade cheese and butter, the great tasting, creamy spreads are also preservative free. Available nationwide at all major retailers. Click here for their Facebook page

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If you’re looking for a fruit that’s a triple threat, the 'queen bee' of fruits, look no further that the cranberry, perhaps the super-est of all of Mother Nature’s fruits. In addition to offering a unique, invigorating taste and serving as a versatile ingredient in dishes from burgers to salads, the cranberry is supported by more than 50 years of research suggesting that it plays an essential role in promoting health and wellness. Now, new research shows that the cranberry’s benefits may have an important role in urinary tract health. According to a landmark trail published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a daily regimen of cranberry juice reduces symptomatic UTIs by about 40% in women. That’s a big win for your body – especially for those women who are currently on regular regimens of low-dose antibiotics for the prevention of recurrent UTI symptoms. And people agree – according to an omnibus survey of 1 000 Americans conducted by KRC, three in four Americans confirmed they’d rather drink a glass of cranberry juice a day than take antibiotics multiple times a year. Find more information on the study and the health benefits of cranberries at www.cranberryhealth.com

OCEAN SPRAY These deliciously-flavoured cranberry drink alternatives contain only five calories per serving with the added benefit of 100% vitamin C, making it simple to stay hydrated and enjoy a sweet and healthy beverage without the calories or sugar in a traditional soft drink. Ocean Spray is committed to managing their business in a way that minimises environmental impact. They believe that a focus on strong overall environmental management throughout their value chain will strengthen long-term performance and help ensure a sustainable future for their grower-owners and co-operative. Click here for their Facebook page

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Food 4 Innovative ways to locally grow food Urban Farming Pod Designed by New York-based non-profit design group Terreform ONE, the Urban Farming Pod is described as a 'living' cabin for individuals and urban nuclear families to grow and provide for their daily vegetable needs. These inhabitable pods hope to plug ecology into city spaces. The sphere prototype is made of reclaimed flat packed materials. It comes fitted with a sub-irrigation system and its shaped foam panels serve as sleeves for planting and potting. Farm Tower Paris-based French design firm ABF-lab have designed an urban farm tower that they believe could be breaking new ground in the built environment. The Food-Farm Tower is a vertical farming facility that appears to be cascading down to its community garden facilities on the ground. The tower will span over 21â&#x20AC;&#x2030;000 square feet, and will take an estimated cost $3.78 million to build. The Impact Farm Danish innovators Mikkel Kjaer and Ronnie Markussen, of Human Habitat, have designed The Impact Farm. The farm can be transported and installed anywhere in less than 10 days. The Impact Farm is delivered in a shipping container that consists of an assembly kit of pre-made components. When the components are put together they expand to become a two-storey, vertical hydroponic (soil-free) farm, with the shipping container forming a central role in the design. Farm in a box Suitable for individuals and communities, the self-watering, self-feeding, weed-resistant EarthBox is a portable, reusable, maintenance-free, organic gardening system that produces 60% more yield than a conventional garden, using half the fertiliser and 40% less water. Source

the 'Silicon Valley of agriculture' Denmark is making huge investments in urban agriculture, with some of the world's leading architects and designers steering the way to a whole-systems, ecological approach to growing food. The project is designed to enhance co-operation between researchers and businesses and their ability to boost agricultural performance in a dense urban environment, ensuring long-term food security without environmental degradation. The master plan comprises three main sections â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Lawn, a central communal green space that will become a 'showroom' for experimental food production, the Strip, the main street with 'active' ground floor facades to ensure a lively atmosphere throughout the day, and five Plazas that 'bind' clusters of buildings together, creating individual neighbourhoods with distinct identities. Source

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AEROFARMS set to build world's largest indoor vertical farm AeroFarms CEO David Rosenberg is trying to build an agricultural empire out of an old paintball arena in the blighted urban neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey, just 45 minutes outside Manhattan. AeroFarms joins a host of other companies seeking to grab a foothold in the burgeoning indoor vertical farm industry. As traditional outdoor agriculture suffers, there has been a rise in demand for locally grown, fresh, organic products, and the fresh greens and herbs that a company like AeroFarms can deliver tend to fetch a premium over lesser quality alternatives that come from farther away. Once the Newark farm is up and running, the 21 336m2 indoor facility will produce 75% more yield than a traditional outdoor farm of the same size. This is in part to the indoor vertical farm’s ability to stagger crops regardless of season, giving 22 crop turns each calendar year.

For more info visit www.aerofarms.com

BIODEGRADABLE PACKAGING COULD REPLACE PLASTIC Designers from Japan have created a prototype design that could completely change the way we deal with product packaging. The design group, AMAM, calls their project Agar Plasticity, which explores the use of a seaweed-derived substance called agar as a biodegradable substitute for conventional plastic packaging. The group found that by boiling certain types of algae and dehydrating the resulting soup, it’s possible to create a variety of shapes and textures that could replace plastic film or foam packaging. For example, the frozen solution takes on a soft, cushioning structure, and when it’s compressed, it forms a plastic-like film. Agar is traditionally used as a food thickening agent and vegan gelatin replacement, and or various applications throughout the medical and scientific fields. Not only is the source of this plastic material completely sustainable and biodegradable, but when it breaks down in the environment, it can actually help improve surrounding soil by increasing its water retention properties. This prototype material is so impressive, it walked away from Lexus International’s fourth annual design competition with the top prize of 2016.

For more visit www.lexus-int.com/lexus-design/

How to Make: Edible Utensils You Can Eat After Using. Cut down on plastic waste with Yuka Yoneda's DIY recipe for edible cutlery you can make at home.

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ways to keep food cool without a refrigerator MITTICOOL The MittiCool was originally designed by potter Mansukhbhai Raghavbhai Prajapati for use by people in rural areas. This homey refrigerator is made completely of clay and requires no energy, keeping food cool using evaporation.

WAKATI In developing countries, about 45% of produce goes bad before the farmers can ever get it to market. Wakati solves this problem by simply using a litre of water per week and solar power. Produce can be preserved so more food reaches more people, and farmers earn more money.

STORING VEGETABLES IN SAND Sand works to prevent moisture from rotting the fruits and veggies. Just fill a cardboard or wooden box with sand, fill it with your veggies, and place it in a cool place like a basement or pantry so the produce will stay fresher for longer.

WELTEVREE'S GROUNDFRIDGE The Groundfrige, which as the name implies, is installed underground and covered with a layer of dirt about three feet thick. An early adopter program is currently underway in Belgium and the Netherlands, but Weltevree hopes to bring the Groundfridge to the rest of the world in late 2016.

Bio Robot Refrigerator Rather than using cool air, the refrigerator of the future could employ odorless, non-sticky biopolymer gel to chill food. Yuriy Dmitriev decided to develop a new idea for refrigeration that was a finalist in Electrolux Design Labâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s competition.

COCA COLA'S BIOCOOLER Coca-Cola teamed up with Leo Burnett Colombia and the International Physics Center to design a Bio Cooler (albeit as part of a marketing campaign) that operated when users watered the plants growing on top of the device. The water evaporated inside the cooler, chilling the drinks inside.

eCOOL Four friends in Denmark came up with the perfect way to cool off their beers without electricity. They designed eCool, an off-grid cooler placed about three feet underground to keep the heat out in the summer and frost out in the winter so beers are always prime temperature.

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BIODEGRADABLE WATER BOTTLE – an eco-alternative to plastic Ari Jónsson, a student at the Iceland Academy of the Arts, recently showcased his project at DesignMarch (a design festival in Reykjavik, Iceland) that combines red algae powder with water to create a biodegradable bottle. His innovative solution to the problem of plastic pollution is agar, a substance made from algae. Agar dates back to the 1650s, when a Japanese innkeeper tossed out extra soup and saw it gel together overnight. It made its way into microbiology labs in the late 1800s and is still used today to separate molecules. To create a bottle out of algae, Jónsson mixed powdered agar with water. The resulting mixture had a wobbly, jelly-like consistency, and he heated it before pouring it into a cold mold. The mold was swirled inside a container of ice water until the agar formed a bottle. Just a few more minutes of refrigeration, and the bottle was ready for use. The algae bottle retains its unique shape until it is empty, and then it begins to break down. It’s an all-natural alternative to plastic, and Jónsson says drinkers can even chew on the bottle if they enjoy the taste. Agar is often used as a vegetarian or vegan substitute for gelatin in desserts, and is both safe for the environment and humans. 'I feel there is an urgent need to find ways to replace some of the unreal amount of plastic we make, use, and throw away every day. Why are we using materials that take hundreds of years to break down in nature to drink from once and then throw away?' says Jónsson.

Source

A Lesson to the World by Woody Harrelson Woody Harrelson released a video explaining just why we should support products and companies that resonate with our values and the planet – a message which many people might not have heard otherwise.

'Economically, many folks don't feel they can afford organic. While this may be true in some cases, I think more often than not it's a question of priority. I feel it's one of the most important areas of concern ecologically, because the petrochemical giants – DuPont, Monsanto – make huge money by poisoning us.' - Woody Harrelson

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Wholesome Nutrition for You Ian Craig & Rachel Jesson

How not to die Michael Greger MD

Struik Lifestyle • 978 1 43230 600 7

The vast majority of premature deaths can be prevented through simple changes in diet and lifestyle. In How Not to Die, Dr Michael Greger, the internationally-renowned nutrition expert, physician, and founder of NutritionFacts.org, examines the fifteen top causes of premature death in heart disease, various cancers, diabetes, Parkinson's, high blood pressure, and more. He explains how nutritional and lifestyle interventions can sometimes trump prescription pills and other pharmaceutical and surgical approaches, freeing us to live healthier lives. The simple truth is that most doctors are good at treating acute illnesses but bad at preventing chronic disease. The fifteen leading causes of death claim the lives of 1.6 million Americans annually. This doesn't have to be the case. By following Dr Greger's advice, all of it backed up by strong scientific evidence, you will learn which foods to eat and which lifestyle changes to make to live longer. History of prostate cancer in your family? Put down that glass of milk and add flaxseed to your diet whenever you can. Have high blood pressure? Hibiscus tea can work better than a leading hypertensive drug – and without the side-effects. Fighting off liver disease? Drinking coffee can reduce liver inflammation. Battling breast cancer? Consuming

Few people would dispute the fact that there is a bewildering array of books available on the business of eating, fitness and nutrition, many of them, unfortunately, with (hidden) vested interests in the food industry and singular theories. But every now and again a refreshing and ethical book based on sound, proven scientific principles comes onto the market, which is more than just another trendy diet book. Wholesome Nutrition is such a book. In it, nutritional therapist and exercise physiologist Ian Craig and his co-author, health food specialist and sports scientist Rachel Jesson, cover in detail the emotive topics of nutrition and health from a scientific perspective. They neatly unwrap all the jargon and pseudo-mystique, offering sensible, practical, economical everyday dietary approaches in a book that's not only enjoyable and informative to read, but at the same time accessible to all South Africans who care about optimum health and the business of living life to the full. And most importantly, Wholesome Nutrition stresses the fact that we are all different, and therefore a one-sizefits-all approach is counter-productive to good health.

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Macmillan • 978 1 5098 2080 1

soy is associated with prolonged survival. Worried about heart disease (the leading killer in the US)? Switch to a whole-food, plant-based diet, which has been repeatedly shown not just to prevent the disease but often stop it in its tracks. Full of practical, actionable advice and surprising, cutting edge nutritional science, these doctor's orders are just what we need to live longer, healthier lives.

Periodic Fasting: Lose Weight, Feel Great, Live Longer Annchen Weidemann & Annaret Brand Struik Lifestyle • 1 43230 424 9

Studies have shown that eating significantly less for limited periods of time produces better results than sustained dieting, and that reducing calorie intake is beneficial for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. Periodic Fasting introduces the concept of eating normally for five days, followed by two days of restricted eating (also known as the 5:2 diet). During fasting, the body uses its inherent healing capacity to restore our health and well-being. Unlike many popular diets, periodic (intermittent) fasting puts you in control of what you eat. It's as simple as eating normal, healthy meals on non-fasting days and making sensible choices on fasting days. It requires no special diet foods or supplements, so everyone in the

family can eat the same meals, making this an ideal weight-loss programme for families with differing nutritional needs. Includes guidelines and menu plans for fasting and non-fasting days, examples of meals and snacks that make up the 600 calorie limit on fasting days, and sixty tasty and nutritious recipes for breakfasts, lunches and dinners with variations on how to adapt the dishes for fasting days. The recipes as pictorially beautifully laid out and appear most inspirational.

The Naturalista: Nourishing Recipes To Live Well Xochi Balfour Headline â&#x20AC;˘ 978 1 47223 244 1

If you have ever felt the stress of 21st-century living wrap itself around your heart and turned to a double espresso and a faint hope that tomorrow will be better, then this book will show you how to slow down, listen to your body and find a more natural, holistic way of life. Xochi Balfour changed her life from her little London kitchen and, as The Naturalista, has been blogging about her experience of balancing and simplifing her life in harmony with the natural world. Without recourse to expensive ingredients, all-consuming cleanses or dramatic diets, Xochi has taken the principles of naturopathy and created a way of life, from a gentler way of eating to simple beauty recipes as well as bringing relaxation and mindfulness into your everyday routine. Her food is gluten-

and dairy-free and predominantly plant-based, but straightforward and delicious, her skincare recipes can also be made from kitchen ingredients and her techniques for everyday mindfulness can be fitted into the busiest of lives. Her recipes include power balls and energy bars, raw chocolate, sea salt and pistachio fudge, corner shop turmeric and coconut dahl and beetroot falafel as well as a glutenfree carrot and flax bread. For your body, there is a rosewater facial spray, passion fruit and papaya face mask and lavender and shea butter body lotion, while for your home, Xochi will show you the benefits of barefoot earthing and how to make your own incense. This is truly a bright and beautiful guide to natural living in the modern age.

It's All Easy: Delicious Weekday Recipes Gwyneth Paltrow Sphere â&#x20AC;˘ 978 0 7515 5549 3

Gwyneth Paltrow is back to share more than 125 of her favourite recipes that can be made in the time it would take to order take-out (which often contains high quantities of fat, sugar, and processed ingredients). All the dishes are surprisingly tasty, with little or no sugar, fat, or gluten. From easy breakfasts to lazy suppers, this book has something for everybody. Yummy recipes include Chocolate Cinnamon Overnight Oats, Soft Polenta with Cherry Tomatoes, Chicken Enchiladas, Pita Bread Pizzas, Quick Sesame

Noodles, and more. Plus, an innovative chapter for 'on-the-go' meals (Moroccan Chicken Salad Wrap, Chopped Salad with Grilled Shrimp, and others) that you can take for lunch to work or school, to a picnic, or to eat while watching soccer practice.

GMO â&#x20AC;&#x201C; OMG: Is This The End Of Real Food A film by Jeremy Seifert What a gentle approach I found in this documentary. Especially because this is a very tricky subject matter. I found Jeremy most sincere, on behalf of his children, in investigating the reality behind the source and manipulation of almost all the food we all eat. It does not really matter any more in which part of the world you are based either as GM food is found almost everywhere. Jeremy has the courage to speak to farmers for and against GMO seeds as well as scientist and those in that very industry. Even when he did not get the answers to his seemingly innocent questions, that said more than enough. So this documentary is not about 'in your face activism', but it is most certainly gently addressing the seriousness of this major conundrum we all face. So the answer is to educate yourself, insist on full labelling on all food items, buy local and organic and cook your own food. This is therefore a most relevant and important documentary to see. Available from www.wisdomtonourish.com

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t o v i ew a l l o u r previously published magazines online click here www . s i m p l y g r ee n . c o . z a

Mother Nature Products have been proud manufacturers of great green baby products in Cape Town, South Africa, since 2006.

mothernatureproducts.co.za 99 S G

Food

read your

l e b la What to look for when switching to a dairy alternative

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Worldwide, people are switching from milk to dairy alternatives like almond milk, whether due to intolerances or allergies, or simply taste. Being able to understand all of the nutritional information on the label will help you make your choice. Here’s what to look for when you next go shopping. Lactose

or cup of coffee, in cooking and baking – or simply

Some people can’t digest milk because their bodies don’t make enough of the enzyme lactase, and this makes them lactose intolerant. If this is you, then choose a dairy alternative that’s completely

enjoyed as a standalone beverage. So whichever dairy alternative is best for you make sure to read the label on the back of the packaging first.

lactose-free.

About Almond Breeze

Sugar Many dairy alternatives are loaded with added sugar and sweeteners to create a better taste and flavour. This is not a good option for diabetics and anyone who is cutting down on their sugar intake. Look for an unsweetened alternative such as Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almond Milk which has no added

Almond Breeze is a leading international brand of almond milk. It is a delicious low-fat alternative to milk made from almonds – a natural super-food – and it is completely free from dairy, eggs, lactose, casein, peanuts and gluten. The unique formula in Almond Breeze comes from

sugar.

Blue Diamond, The Almond People, who have over

Fat

world’s finest almonds.

100 years’ experience in growing and harvesting the

If you are cutting down on your fat intake due to dietary reasons you should make sure you choose a dairy alternative that has no more than 3g of fat per 100ml serving. And remember that not all fats are equal; unsaturated fats are a better option for health reasons than saturated fats.

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) Many products are grown from genetically modified seeds. Some people are sceptical of GM products as it is not from a ‘natural’ source. If this is something you want to avoid, opt for a GMO-free dairy alternative.

Taste If you are looking for a dairy alternative that tastes

Almond Breeze Original and Unsweetened is available at leading supermarkets nationally for a recommended retail price of R34,95.

great, Almond Breeze Almond Milk has a rich, creamy and nutty flavour, making this a delicious choice that can be used with your favourite smoothie

For more info and recipes please visit almondbreeze.co.za 101 S G

Y outh N ews PAPER FOR WATER Paper For Water was started by sisters Katherine and Isabelle Adams when they were just 5 and 8. Their goal was to raise $500 to partially fund a well in Ethiopia by giving hand crafted origami Christmas ornaments at Starbucks in exchange for donations. They took their first donation on November 3, 2011 and sold out on the first night. By December 31, 2011 they had raised over $10 000 to more than fund a whole well in Ethiopia. As of March 1, 2016 these two girls who are now 10 and 12, and with the help of hundreds of volunteers, have raised almost $800 000 to fund over 100 wells in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, India, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Peru, Uganda,Zimbabwe and on the Navajo Reservation in Smith Lake, New Mexico. Their ultimate goal? Clean water for the 633 million people around the world who still don’t have access to clean water. You can help by donating here or even volunteering to create origami ornaments.

www.paperforwater.org

Youths have the power to bring change When you think of Bali, you think tropical paradise. But, unfortunately, those iconic beaches tourists from all over the world flock to are now littered in mass heaps of rubbish. Plastic bags make up the largest majority of the waste. And it’s getting worse. We’re sorry to deliver the bad news, but it appears sunbathing on Bali’s beaches isn’t going to be worth that long flight because as you’ll literally be sunbathing among debris. Two teenage sisters have taken a stand against pollution in Bali – and they’ve convinced the government to ban plastic bags by the year 2018. The island suffers from a crushing plastic pollution problem, so Isabel and Melati Wijsen decided to take action and start Bye Bye Plastic Bags to mobilise other kids and adults to work toward a cleaner Bali. To achieve the goal, the girls have organised beach clean-ups, put on a fashion show, given a TED talk (see video), gone on a hunger strike, and met with the UN Secretary General. These sisters are just getting started. If you’d like to help, you can sign their Avaaz petition to persuade the governor to be faithful to his promise and pass legislation to turn their dreams into law.

www.facebook.com/byebyeplasticbags

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CURRENT POWER A few startups have spent millions developing massive underwater power plants that gather energy from ocean waves. But a Florida teenager has invented a small-scale alternative, designed for the developing world, that costs just $12. Hannah Herbst, age 15, started thinking about renewable energy after talking with her nine-year-old pen pal in Ethiopia. 'I found out that she's living in energy poverty, and she doesn't have access to things that I take for granted every day,' Herbst says. 'Then I was boating with my family through the Boca Raton Inlet, and our boat was really jerked around by the current. I thought, why not use this power?' Her prototype, which won her top prize in the 2015 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, uses a 3D-printed propeller connected by a pulley to a hydroelectric generator. As waves move the propeller, the generator turns that motion into usable electricity. As part of the contest, Herbst worked with a scientist from 3M to refine the design into a final prototype. Unlike large-scale ocean energy projects, the tiny system doesn't generate a lot of electricity. But Herbst says it's enough power to run a small desalination machine, turning ocean water into safe drinking water. 'When I'm done developing it, I'm going to open source it,' she says. 'Everybody in the world can have access to the materials list and the data I got â&#x20AC;&#x201C; everything you need to make this device. I really want to help my pen pal. I can't imagine a day without energy in my life.'

Click here for more

KIDS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD Taylor Wilson believes that kids can change the world and that he has some great solutions. This inspiring 17-year-old is someone we definitely need to listen to. He built a working fusion reactor in his parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; garage when he was just 14 and he believes nuclear fusion could help the energy crisis on earth. Taylor is the youngest person ever to produce nuclear fusion, which is a nuclear reaction where atomic nuclei fuse to form a heavier nucleus and release a lot of energy. The American nuclear physicist was initially interested in rocketry and space science, before entering the field of nuclear science at the tender age of 10. In the video above, he takes the TED stage to tell us a little bit about his story.

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Y outh N ews

CAMPER TO 'GLAMPER'

Richard Greene: A conversation with 13-year-old physicist Max Loughan is an inspiring young man with a big vision. 'As cheesy as this sounds, from day one on this planet, I knew I was put here for a reason. And that reason is to invent and to bring the future.' 'My true goal is to help. It is to invent a future where people can be happy, where they can be safe and sound.' This unusual teenager has invented a free Tesla-inspired energy device, using a coffee tin, spoon and some wire, which he says cost him $15. His eloquent theories on God, the universe, the Bible and physics, are sure to touch your heart and mind.

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Summer is on its way, and most teens will be thinking of swimming pools, malls and hanging with friends. 14-year-old Ellie Yeater of Williamstown, WV, had larger aspirations for her summer holiday by using her time to do a complete make-over of a 1974 Wilderness camper. Though still rustic in style, Ellie managed to create a dreamy, relaxing camping space that has retro flair to spare, with some help from her family and an eco-savvy approach. Though sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s young, Ellie, shown above, had the maturity to impressively save up $500 worth of birthday and chore money in order to purchase the camper, which she found through a local buy-sell-trade publication for a cool $200. Ellie used the rest of her saved funds to buy paint, fabric, flooring and other goods for her renovation. Her father Larry kicked in a bit of extra cash to help buy wood and some roofing materials.

For more on Ellie's project click here

ORANGE PEELS FIGHTING DROUGHT Amid South Africa’s worst drought in recorded history, one Johannesburg schoolgirl has created a super-absorbent polymer that could change the way crops are grown. The polymer is created from simple, readily available recycled materials – orange peels and avocado skins – and it’s capable of storing hundreds of times its own weight in water. Kiara Nirghin’s project 'No More Thirsty Crops' won the Google Science Fair’s Community Impact Award for the Middle East and Africa. Nirghin knew that other super-absorbent polymers rely on chain molecule polysaccharides to give them their power, and her project sprang to life when she learned that orange peel is composed from 64% polysaccharide. It also contains pectin, which is used as a gelling agent in numerous applications. When combined with oily avocado peel and left in the sun, the mixture undergoes a reaction and forms a polymer compound. As a Google Science Fair winner, Nirghin has been assigned a mentor from the company to help her develop her idea further, including potential tests on the field. Soon, she’ll learn if she’s one of the sixteen finalists in the global competition – but even if she doesn’t make it to the final round, it sounds like she has a promising career ahead of her. Considering that South Africa’s agricultural union has been pleading with the government for subsidies to help weather the recent water crisis, Nirghin’s project could offer much-needed relief. Her super absorbent material could be used to create reservoirs that farmers could use to maintain their crops at minimal cost.

Click here for more details

EARTH GUARDIAN His name is Xiuhtezcatl. At 16 years old, he is one of the US’s most prominent enviro-activists and he has been fighting against climate change for more than half his life. Colorado-born Xiuhtezcatl Martinez has become an impassioned voice for youth around the world, urging government leaders to take swift action to halt the effects of climate change. He was one of a group of kids who sued President Obama earlier this year, alleging his administration has failed to protect the environment for future generations, and he organised a petition to issue the same expectation to this year’s presidential candidates and it has already garnered more than 100 000 signatures. He is not even close to stopping. For more info and videos on this incredible teen click here www.earthguardians.org

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Reviews by Mike Britten

the Okavango, this book is truly

all professors at Wits University.

a standout in the plethora of

Physical areas covered in the book

WILDLIFE OF THE OKAVANGO Duncan Butchart

wildlife books available today.

are wide and varied, from well-

Whether you are heading for the

known tourist spots, to unknown

Okavango or just adding to your

areas in almost unknown countries.

wider wildlife knowledge, Duncan

Twenty of the chapters cover

Butchart’s offering should be on

geology in South Africa and nearby

your bookshelf.

countries, including the Victoria

Struik Nature • 978 1 77584 338 2

This edition is a superb update of a book first published 20 years ago. Author Duncan Butchart has spent a large part of his life in the Okavango, has consulted in 11 African countries, and studied wildlife in several leading international wildlife projects. Butchart’s broad experience shows in this book. To give an idea of how extensive this book is, it covers mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs, fishes, invertebrates, trees, and even aquatic plants. As a result, only 30 of the 137 pages cover the mammals we would usually expect to see in a wildlife book. Where else would you find information on chameleons, dung beatles, water lillys and the flame lilly. With its top class photographs, plus its coverage of less well known aspects of the natural world of

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AFRICA’S TOP GEOLOGICAL SITES

Falls, the Drakensberg, the Karoo, Table Mountain, and the Fish River Canyon. Further geology comes

Struik Nature • 978 1 7758 4448 8

from Ethiopia, the Rrift Valley,

If, like me, you have given South

Mount Kilmanjaro, Egypt, Libya and

Africa’s geology only passing

the Indian Ocean Islands.

attention as you travel around

An introductory chapter will show

the country, this impressive book

that the South African coastal

will change your mind. There are

areas are 2 500 million years old,

44 chapters, each covering a

while the Karoo is a meer 65

different geographic area, each

million years old. Delve into the

by a different author or authors.

Chapter on Table Mountain and

With very high-quality maps,

the Peninsular and you will find that

satellite images and photographs,

it is a complex of several systems,

the overall result is highly

including shale and granite. Rock

informative in a way that readers

formations at Sea Point show

with little geology background will

granite over shale, brought up from

enjoy. The success of the book

10km underground. The formation

must, in part, be attributed to the

was described by Charles Darwin

three co-ordinators, Richard and

on his 1836 voyage. Having

Morris Viljoen, and Carl Anhaeusser,

personally explored the Victoria

some countries. The advice offered in these pages covers a truly wide field. Apart from the important problems of the documentation required for people, vehicles and equipment at border crossing, the author includes check lists for vehicle spares and recovery items, medical issues, personal equipment and clothing, a grocery list and even some suggested recipes. But it is the advice on where to visit off the beaten track, associated with practical advice on petrol prices, diplomatic missions, currency values, motor repair facilities, and many more which makes this book unique. A mention of the photographs must be made. Many are not photographic competition composition, but rather are used to enhance the author’s clear interest in people and interesting

Falls on many visits, this chapter

where you could only get through

was of special interest. I learned

borders by paying off officials.

that the origin of the Falls was

The authors aim is to equip the

the huge lake covering what is

traveller with all the necessary

now the Makgadikgadi (spelling

information required to plan and

according to the book) pans, an

execute a trouble-free trip through

area of 175 000 square kilometres.

Botswana, Zambia, and East Africa

But these are just two of many

to Ethiopia. In this aim she has

chapters which will delight readers.

achieved her objective splendidly

Reading Africa's Top Geological

and in great detail.

Sites will inevitably introduce

With experience of 4X4 travel

THE BEDSIDE ARK David Muirhead

you to the geological terms and

around Southern Africa, the author

Struik Nature • 978 1 77584 4617

concepts, and the book will widen

planned her trip, as related in

readers interest in what could

the book, with precision. What

otherwise be thought of as a very

makes her account much more

dry subject.

comprehensive than the usual

4X4 TRAVEL GUIDE TO EASTERN AFRICA Maureen Day

Cape to Cairo travel books, is that the author and her several travelling companions chose to take the bye ways rather than the

Struik Nature • 978 0 620 67051 7

highways, and got to grips with

The author describes her trip as ‘4

the ‘real’ people of the countries

vehicles, 6 countries, 10 months,

they visited. Author Day is clearly

30 flat tyres, 45 000 kilometers, 26

an animal person, domestic and

border crossings, 1 theft, 0 bribes’.

wild, and provides publicity for

Perhaps the most important statistic

what she felt were the abuse and

is about bribes, as for decades East

neglect of animals in the countries

Africa has been believed to be

she visited. Light is also shed on

(with some justification) an area

the lack of environmental action in

landscapes and buildings. If you are planning a trip up Africa, this book is a must. Even if you enjoy just learning more about our African neighbours and their peoples from you armchair, it will not let you down.

This little book could easily be missed in a bookshop, and that would be a pity. While this is overwhelmingly a light hearted review of wildlife, it also provides some interesting bits of information in every chapter. As a bedside read, it is an excellent option. In line with the light hearted approach, you will find nothing about lions, leopards, rhinos or elephants. But you will find the octopus, the praying mantis, the dugong, the dung beetle and the fur seal. The best way to give a flavour of this little book is to give you one or two extracts. About the

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of ways to get to know how to identify the 600 trees, and where they can be planted. As a wildlife fanatic I have always found the ways of identifying trees complex, and have never taken the time to learn the techniques. But if you have the inclination to study introduced trees alongside your local trees, this is certainly a book for you.

AFRICA SOLO Mark Beaumont Struik Nature • 978 0 593 076 330

This book lays out the day-todung beetle Muirhead writes, ‘No insect rose to such high eminence in the ancient halls of Egyptian religion as the sacred scarab. The Egyptians believed that a cosmic scarab, a type of dung beetle, rolled the golden orb of the sun across the sky towards the west during the day and then trundled it through the underworld at night, attending to any necessary repairs and maintenance along the way. When the sun popped up in the east each morning, it was consequently as good as new’. Again about honey bees, ’bees are born from the tears of the sun, or so the ancients believed. This mystical insight probably has something to do with the fact that honey, the product of bees incessant labour, is as close to liquid sunlight as you can get. Bees need to visit upward of 50 000 flowers to produce enough honey to spread on your morning toast’. As a light read with content to keep you interested, this is a worthwhile buy.

GUIDE TO TREES INTRODUCED INTO SOUTHERN AFRICA Hugh Glen & Braam van Wyk

cycle ride from Egypt to Cape Town. In 333 pages, with many photographs, the author travels through Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia,

Struik Nature • 978 1 77584 1258

Botswana and South Africa. As

This is a guide to trees, but with a

the start of the trip was April 2015,

difference. South Africa is believed

plans did not include travel through

to have about 2 000 introduced

Zimbabwe, a country usually

trees, and this book sets out to

included in trans-African travel.

cover the best known 600. The

Although accompanied by a

book is aimed at tree enthusiasts,

photographer, a Mr Fixit, and

but particularly at landscapers and

a back-up team, the trip was

gardeners, with nearly 500 pages

certainly an enormous challenge.

of excellent photos, descriptions,

Tussles with customs officials,

and maps showing areas in which

health issues, roads from dirt

a tree can be grown. Because

to non-existent, and difficult

you may find both introduced and

communications with the outside

local trees in an urban garden, the

world, made life a struggle. But

book is aimed to be a companion

Beaumont was used to difficult

to the Field Guide to the Trees of

challenges, having rowed across

Southern Africa, also Struik.

the Atlantic, and having broken

One aspect of the book highlights

the record for cycling around the

how many of the trees and plants

world. What makes a man leave

we assume are South African, but

his family and face significant risks

which turn out to be introduced.

to undertake these travels ? I find it

We all know the imported status

hard to understand the motivation

of trees like the jacaranda,

for such adventures, and found it

flamboyant and camellia, but you

hard to get enthusiastic about the

may or may not be surprised at the

book. However, I have absolutely

hydrangea, wattle, prickly-pear,

no doubt there are many who

pawpaw, almost all the many

would enjoy the day-to-day detail,

palms, Arabica coffee, and many,

photographs and undoubted

many, more. The first 33 pages of

message of the book.

the book are a very useful series

S G 108

day experiences of the authors

 3

Lost Ocean: 5o postcards Johanna Basford

designs feature all of the charming

cycle. Of course it all depends on

imperfections of original chalkboard

when the rain comes. Whether you

art. Relax and fill them with color

are a happy-snapper type of tourist

Penguin Books • 9 780 7535 5737 2

to create your own rustic-chic

or a more serious flower lover with

These clever postcards feature

masterpiece. Each whimsical white

botanical leanings, a visit to the

beautiful drawings from Lost

line illustration is presented on a

flowers will lighten the heart, lift the

Ocean, illustrator and ink evangelist

textured black background, just

spirit and pique the curiosity.

Johanna Basford’s magical journey

like a real chalkboard. You ll be

The guide combines visual

beneath the waves. Color in the

delighted by the way warm colours,

inspiration with practical advice on

cards to bring to life shoals of exotic

bright colours, neons, and lighter

where to see the best wild spring

fish, curious octopi, and delicately

pastel shades really pop from these

flowers, starting with early bloomers

penned seahorses, and then share

designs. Use light-coloured pencils

in late July to September’s

the magic with your friends – that

and gel pens to personalize your

spectacular landscapes and

is, if you can bear to part with them!

work with lettering, flourishes, and

October’s lesser-known gems.

Each postcard is an invitation to an

patterning. Talented chalkboard

There is also a great overview map

inky new world hidden in the depths

artist Valerie McKeehan provides

as well as flower-spotting tips,

of the sea. For pirates, mermaids,

useful colouring tips and tricks,

identification of commonly seen

and undersea explorers of all ages.

along with beautifully coloured

flowers, wildlife alerts, tourist spots,

examples to help get you inspired.

accommodation, flower etiquette

Each design is printed on one side

and the protection of flowers.

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and display.'

city life behind, and is light-weight

Chalk–Style BOTANICALS: Deluxe Colouring Book Valerie McKeehan Struik Nature • 978 1 4323 0758 5

Chalk–Style GOOD TIMES: Deluxe Colouring Book Deb Strain Struik Nature • 978 1 4323 0757 8

All the beauty of colouring with chalk, but without the mess! These 32 gorgeous hand-drawn floral

Visitor’s Guide Flower Route Marion Whitehead Map Studio • 9 781 7702 6857 9

This guide explores the coast north of Cape Town when 3 500 species burst into bloom in the veld during the sexiest part of their reproduction

for tourists to take back home as their travel memento.

We have THREE copies of the Visitor's Guide Flower Route books to give away. Please email us here with your full contact details to stand a chance of winning.

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 3

Green is not a Colour Devan Valenti This is both a book and a new way of approaching our modern life issues in a much more sustainable way. According to the authors, our society's unsustainable methods of consumption have reached an all-time high, and our planet has suffered a great deal as a result. The driving forces behind these high levels of consumption – population growth and increased demand – are leading us into an uncertain future. It is clear that meaningful transformation is needed. It was the unintended consequences of innovation that led us into this situation. But as it stands, innovation will be the primary key to leading us out of it. Our lives are getting busier and busier, more cluttered with information than ever before. We want resources that are accessible, informative, factual and straight-to-the-

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point – information that inspires and moves us to action. With the growing importance of sustainability in our world and the growing environmental challenge we face, it becomes clear that environmental education and sustainable strategies need to become a top priority for government, industry, and daily life. Unfortunately, most (if not all) resources that cover these issues are either too technical or specific to one area of concern. Green Is Not A Colour therefore provides an unique outlook by offering a holistic view of sustainability while addressing both the broad challenges we face and the available solutions to overcome them. Lavishly illustrated and highly informative, Green Is Not A Colour is dynamic, easily-accessible and fully understandable. For more info: http://www. greenisnotacolour.org

LIFE'S A BEACH Ann Gadd Map Studio • 9781770268616

Discover the beauty of South Africa’s beaches with MapStudio’s newly released Life’s a Beach. This guide explores 9 500kms of the best beaches in the world, from Alexander Bay along the coast to Sodwana, visiting hundreds of beaches and exploring a magnificent coastline. The author, Ann Gadd, has trekked up dunes, scrambled over rocky cliffs, swam as often as time would allow, hung off numerous piers and took over 6 000 photos. This guide is a fantastic keepsake for locals as well as anyone who enjoys water sports, and is light-weight for tourists to take back home as their travel memento.

We have THREE copies of Life's a Beach books to give away. Please email us here with your full contact details to stand a chance of winning.

DIY building a fish pond 1. scope This leaflet deals with the construction of a pond shell in concrete. Aspects of pond design and maintenance such as water circulation and filtration are not included and the reader is advised to get specialist information on these at the design stage.

Paving or planting

Slope down Bricks laid in mortar

2. introduction The method described in this leaflet is suitable for ponds with a diameter or length of up to about 5 metres. The floor and sides of the pond are formed by a fairly thin continuous concrete shell which is lightly reinforced. No additional waterproofing membrane is used and the concrete shell serves as the water container. The surrounding soil is relied on to support the shell when the pond is full of water. For the system to work successfully it is important that: â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘

The pond is constructed in undisturbed subsoil and not in filled soil. The concrete in the shell is thoroughly compacted to ensure that it is free of voids.

Many ponds of this type have in recent years been constructed successfully both by professional landscapers and do-it-yourself enthusiasts.

3. making provision for rainwater runoff Rainwater which falls on the garden or paving surrounding the pond must not be allowed to run into the pond. The area immediately around the pond must therefore be sloped away from the pond as shown in Figure 1.

4. edge detail It is advisable to create a nearly horizontal (but sloping down away from the pond) rim around the edge of the pond. This will serve to strengthen the shell. The rim can be left exposed but will probably look better if it is covered with bricks or stones laid in mortar. See Figure 1.

Pond shell

Rim

Curve in shell

Figure 1: Details of edge of pond

5. excavating Excavate in undisturbed sub-soil to the required size and shape allowing for a total shell thickness of 40 to 50 mm. The water depth should be at least 450 mm but 700 mm is preferred for fish. The transition between side and bottom should be curved as shown in Figure 1 - sharp corners are difficult to build and are weaker than curves.

6. lining and evacuation This is done to ensure that the mesh stays clean and concrete used for the pond is not contaminated by soil. Line the excavation with a coat of cement plaster about 15 mm thick using 1 part of cement to 6 parts of sand, both materials measured in a loose state. Use enough water in the mix to produce a workable, plastic consistence.

7. spacer blocks

8. mesh

You will need at least 16 blocks for every square metre of pond shell including the rim. Make spacer blocks of mortar and place the head of a 75 mm nail in the centre of each block. Block size should be 15 mm thick by 30 mm by 30 mm. Block details are shown in Figure 2.

Place two layers of galvanized chicken mesh (25 mm openings) against the spacer blocks to that the mesh is 15 mm clear of the plaster lining. The twisted wires of the two layers should, as far as possible, be at right angles to each other as shown in Figure 4. The edges of the mesh should be overlapped by at least 50 mm and laps staggered as far as possible. Ends of wires must be twisted under the mesh and not be allowed to stick out.

75 mm nail

Mortar

15 mm

30 mm

mm First layer

Second layer

Figure 2: Details of spacer block Mortar for spacer blocks should consist of a mixture of 1 part of cement, 1 part of coarse sand and just enough water to produce a plastic consistence. After casting the blocks cover them with plastic sheeting for 24 hours to prevent drying out. Then cure them by keeping them under water for at least a week.

Figure 4: Orientation of mesh layers Fix the mesh in position with hooks pushed through the plaster as shown in Figure 5. The hooks can be made of 4 mm thick wire.

Fix spacer blocks about 250 mm apart in both directions and by pushing the nail through the plaster lining into the soil as shown in Figure 3. 2 layers mesh Spacer block Spacer block

Soil

4 mm wire hook 15 mm 75 mm nail

15 mm plaster lining to excavation

Figure 5: Fixing the mesh Figure 3: Plaster lining and spacer block

The mesh must be continued into the rim at the edge of the pond.

9. mixing the concrete Concrete for the shell is mixed in the proportions: Cement complying with SABS ENV 197-1*; type CEM I or CEM IIA: Coarse concrete sand: Fine pit (plaster) sand: 6 mm stone: Potassium dichromate or potassium chromate:

1 bag (50kg) 60 l 20 l 50 l 4g

plus enough water to give a plastic consistence similar to plaster. * Note that it is illegal to sell cement not bearing the SABS mark.

10. notes: • • • •

Batching of concrete materials must be done accurately. Do not mix more than a one-bag batch at a time. Mixing may be done in a concrete mixer or by hand on a concrete slab or steel plate. Chromate salt (potassium dichromate or potassium chromate) is included in the mix to prevent the zinc galvanizing layer on the mesh from reacting with the cement and so impairing the bond between concrete and mesh.

11. placing and curing the concrete It is important to place the entire shell in one continuous operation to avoid creating joints which may become lines of weakness. Make sure therefore that sufficient materials and labour are available. Before starting to place the concrete remove any foreign objects or debris such as leaves, twigs, soil lumps, etc from the excavation.

Cover as soon as possible with plastic sheeting to ensure that the concrete cures in a moist state. The plastic sheeting should preferably be light coloured – white or clear – because dark colours can cause heat to build up in the concrete. The pond can be filled slowly two days after placing the concrete but the cover should remain in position until filling is complete. Parts of the concrete shell above the water level should be kept wet and covered for two weeks. If filling has to be delayed, keep the cover over the shell for at least two weeks during which time the concrete should be kept visibly wet. Change the water after it has been in the pond for a fortnight before stocking with fish and plants. (Several water changes are better.)

12. quantities of materials A one-bag batch mixed to the proportions given above should be sufficient to do about 3 m2 of shell.

13. repairs Drain the pond before attempting repairs. Cracks in the shell can be repaired as follows: (a) Cut out a band of concrete 15 mm deep by 150 mm wide along the crack so that the crack is in the centre of the band. Do not cut through the mesh. (b) Remove all loose material including dust from the area which has been cut out. if possible use an industrial vacuum cleaner to do this. (c) Fix a 140 mm wide strip of galvanised mesh (25 mm or preferably 13 mm openings) to the existing mesh where the concrete has been cut out.

Concrete placing should be done in the shade if at all possible. Using a plasterer’s trowel with the corners rounded off, press the concrete through the mesh, filling up to the mesh and removing the wire hooks as placing progresses. Apply immediately afterwards another 15 mm of concrete over the mesh so that the total concrete thickness is 30 mm. It is very important to press the concrete firmly into position to compact it thoroughly. Wood float the concrete to give a fairly rough texture. If a smooth texture is required, use a steel trowel but only after the concrete has started to stiffen. Do not trowel if a layer of water is covering the surface of the concrete. If placing is not done in the shade keep the surface of the concrete moist by spraying lightly but frequently with water using a gardener’s mist sprayer. Use only enough water to maintain a sheen on the surface.

(d) Prime the back and sides of the groove with a mixture of cement and water made to the consistence of thin cream. The priming coat must be applied in a very thin layer. Do not pre-wet the concrete before priming. (e) Immediately afterwards, before the priming coat can dry out, pack a fairly dry mixture of 1 part cement and 2 parts sand into the groove. The sand should be fairly coarse sand which has been passed through a 2,36 mm sieve. Compact the patch using an orbital sander, fitted with a smooth steel plate on the surface, filling any low areas and scraping off high areas. (f ) Keep the patch damp until the pond is filled.

These pages brought to you with the kind assistance of AfriSam.

E co A ction

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Greenpop's Zambian Festival of Action Five years ago, Greenpop planted a seed in Livingstone, Zambia with their first ever tree planting project outside of South Africa. The Festival of Action has grown like one of Greenpop's famous trees since then. Since the beginning, they have gone out on a limb, and learned all sorts of lessons, including: branch out, remember your roots, stand tall and proud, drink lots of water, stay grounded, but keep growing, and grow like a tree: in all directions. Also, be generous with your fruit and every once in a while, turn over a new leaf. We take a look.

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the necessary resources, reporting mechanisms,

from having a singular focus on tree

funding and support from Greenpop,' says Greenpop

planting to taking a more plural approach

Managing Director and co-founder Lauren O'Donnell.

turned

'This is an exciting challenge and something we

over to great effect: eco-enterprise workshops,

want to work on and do more of, to further grow the

permaculture activities, food forest projects, public

holistic nature of this project.'

art activations, waste management training, skills development and leadership now take centre stage.

Ethos

The Festival of Action, which takes place in June/July

At the heart of Greenpop's ethos is a belief that

every year, is now an emersion in sustainability – a

environmental and social solutions lie not in anxiety,

conference of holistic active citizenship and skills

which can immobilise, but in positive action. Building

sharing that leaves participants ready to tackle

on the learnings from the project's five-year journey,

challenges in their own communities.

the 2016 edition dug even deeper into cultural

and

several

'new

leaves'

have

been

'For me the main success of the project this year

discovery, green living, and the impact of planting

was that we included some new and interesting

trees and growing food gardens. For many of the

innovation components which allowed for us to

festival participants, the event is their first exposure

stretch our boundaries and add new kinds of

to a hands-on (re)connection to nature.

value,' says Greenpop's Tree-E-O and co-founder

'I had never planted a tree before, I usually just

Misha Teasdale. 'I'm really excited about a holistic

do flowers,' says Cambridge, a LearnServe volunteer

approach to impact. After five years on the ground

from Washington DC, USA. 'I've never dug in the

learning from tree planting and connecting with

ground. I learned different stuff about the soil and

communities, we now really understand that tree

the clay. I found it really cool, that's something I can

planting isn't a silver bullet when it comes to impact.

take home and do.'

So bringing in other NGOs and facilitators that have

Cambridge was one of 139 participants from 16

got deep knowledge and years of experience has

countries who joined the event this year. Greenpop's

been really enriching for everyone. For me, our

events attract a special demographic – a wildly

biggest win was adding these new dimensions.'

diverse group from all over the world, united by an

Deforestation

urge towards agency. Not just humans being, but

In Livingstone, deforestation is a daily reality.

three weeks, helping to plant six community forest

But rather than seeing this as an insurmountable

gardens at the Sons of Thunder co-operative outside

obstacle, Greenpop sees an opportunity to learn.

Livingstone. These gardens included trees, herbs,

Questions asked by this innovative organisation

vegetables and shrubs all planted in permaculture-

included: What is Zambia's solution to the challenge

inspired systems. Eco-education activations were

of climate change? How can we all contribute to

run at seven schools. During these days, 76 trees

this solution? The Festival of Action brings together

were planted, 80 self-watering seed germinators

high school students and adults from Zambia and

were made, 82 eco-bricks were stuffed and 213

all over the world to learn about sustainability and

learners were inspired.

active citizenship and to plant hundreds of trees at schools and community farms near Livingstone.

Cook Off

Every edition of the event presents opportunities

Then there was the Great African Cook Off –

for nuanced solutions facilitated by Greenpop, and

the first event of its kind in Livingstone. Six

devised by Zambians themselves.

cooking

humans doing. And they did a great deal during the

teams

used

locally-grown,

organic

'As this is a Festival of Action and our goal is to

produce and alternative cooking technologies in

grow this event into a global conference of action,

this lively cooking competition with a twist. The

bringing people from around the world together

local community gathered to share knowledge

to share various sustainability projects, one of

and learn about improved cooking technologies

the challenges, naturally, is co-ordinating all the

including rocket stoves, solar cookers, gasifiers,

different projects and ensuring that they all have

improved charcoal burners and more. Co-hosted



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reenpop's Festival of Action has evolved

2016 Impact by the Numbers Between 25 June and 17 July 2016, Greenpop achieved the following: • •

• •

• • • •

•

Greenpop welcomed 139 participants from 16 countries to The Greenpop Village. Six community forest gardens were planted at the Sons of Thunder farmer co-operative. These gardens included trees, herbs, vegetables and shrubs all planted in permaculturally inspired systems. One orchard was planted which included a variety of high value food and medicinal trees. Eco-education activations were run at seven schools. During these days, 76 trees were planted, 80 self-watering seed germinators were made, 82 eco-bricks were stuffed and 213 learners were inspired. Murals were painted at four locations to make Livingstone that much more colourful. Local crafters spent 15 days creating during upcycling workshops with Heath Nash. An eco-bench and a cob oven were built using natural building methods. Greenpop ran over 30 workshops on Asset Based Community Development, FMNR (Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration), tree identification, natural building, permaculture, eco-enterprise, upcycling and photography. The Festival of Action produced almost zero waste.

117 S G

ď &#x2122;

by Greenpop and a team from the University of Nottingham, the intention behind the event was to frame development as a celebration and explore the barriers to cookstove uptake in rural and urban Zambia while exposing people to the various technologies that are available in this space. 'Through

conversation,

exploration

and

experimentation attendees at the event were able to decide for themselves the pros and cons to improved cookstove technologies and to form their own opinions on them,' explains Matthew Koehorst, Greenpop's Head of Department for planting and sustainability. 'It was great to see people engaging with an environmentally beneficial and locally produced product that can bring income into communities while also reducing people's reliance on illegally produced charcoal.' Fun and music accompanied the learning, with entertainment provided by the local Mosi-Oa-Tunya Band, who were joined onstage by Alex Paullin of the Conservation Music Project. Alex and the seven-member band had composed music with an environmental message prior to the event, which was performed along with Mosi-Oa-Tunya's own songs in a lively set that lasted more than an hour. The band was also accompanied by Jane Osborne, a

'I think the most powerful thing is a group of people with the same passion because you can all put your minds together and create so much life. That is how you change the world. One person, plus another person, plus another person, grows into a community that can actually change everything.'

Zambian performer who has shared a stage with the likes of Miriam Makeba and other musical greats.

includes in all of their events and activations,

Fashion show funded and run by Waste ED, during

there's also a growing sense of depth to Greenpop's

which local Zambian designers were challenged to

programme in Zambia: The Festival of Action

use materials that would have been thrown away as

also included a series of Asset Based Community

a resource to make beautiful garments. This year

Development

the designs were outstanding, with designers using

workshops on bee-keeping and Farmer Managed

a variety of collected materials such as coffee cups,

Natural Regeneration (FMNR). There were also

bottle tops, ice cream spoons, Hungry Lion (a local

Natural Building and Eco-Enterprise workshops,

fast food restaurant) packaging and newspaper to

which served as an incubator for local solutions

make skirts, dresses, tops and accessories for the

to local issues. 'Being able to address issues

models to showcase.

on community development at an environmental

Practical & fun

festival was really cool,' says Gina Hendrickse, a

workshops,

including

focused

South African student participant.

'Greenpop is a practical group, they aren't all about

This may seem like an awful lot to fit in to three

the talk just shouting with a bunch of concepts that

weeks, and it is, but perhaps even more important

people have already discovered,' says Fortune, a

than this programme is what happens after the

Zambian student participant. 'They're more practical

project: the skills that participants take home and

and go do the actual planting and teach the

the actions they are inspired to take in their own

communities. They do all sorts of things and have

communities.

helped me see that sustainability is a way of life and not just something you have in your mind.'

S G 118

Aside from the element of fun that Greenpop

The Cook off event also hosted a Trashion

'I'm at the Festival of Action because we have been learning a lot of climate change and have been

talking about it a lot and I wanted to see it in practice,

co-operative. Greenpop had found a formula that

to meet great people with great experiences in the

worked. Since then, each edition of the event has

field,' says Mulemba, a UN Climate Ambassador and

added layered nuance and learning to the formula,

student participant in the Festival of Action. 'We are

helping to grow the Festival of Action into a truly

a bit restricted to the knowledge that we have. It

life-changing experience.

made sense to come here and broaden our minds

Amber, a high school student from South Africa,

and broaden our thoughts on things that we can

sums up the experience: 'I think the most powerful

actually do. Like the eco-brick, that's awesome! It's

thing is a group of people with the same passion

very easy, too much, and believe me, it's something

because you can all put your minds together and

I'm going to spread to all the schools!'

create so much life. That is how you change the

The focus on trees in the early years of the

world. One person, plus another person, plus

event was not without its successes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the trees

another person, grows into a community that can

planted in the Dambwa Forest reforestation site

actually change everything.'

in 2012 had a survival rate of over 90%, but the most effective element of the project was already the partnership with Sons of Thunder farming

If you'd like to join Greenpop's Festival of Action in 2017, pre-register here

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Conservation news Trade of the African elephant and white rhino a priority At this year's meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP17) in Johannesburg, the issue of trade as it relates to the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the white rhino (Ceratotherium simum) was once again on the agenda. While anti-trade lobbying has been at an all-time high, it should be borne in mind that the current crisis with regard to declining rhino and elephant numbers is due to CITES's adoption of a strategy that has failed to work – namely, a moratorium on legal trade. This trade ban, in place since the 1977 in the case of rhinos and since 1989 in the case of elephants, has only served to fuel poaching – the IUCN's African Elephant Status Report, launched at CoP17, confirms that Africa's overall elephant population has seen the worst decline in 25 years, largely due to poaching over the past 10 years. Similarly, the white rhino population has suffered severe decline, with over 100 000 rhino poached. Eugene Lapointe, founder of IWMC World Conservation Trust and former Secretary General of CITES from 1982-1990, says that CITES should urgently consider lifting the trade moratorium in view of the fact that the intended results have not been achieved. 'It is time to accept that prohibition has not worked,' he said at CoP17. 'Outlawing legal trade has meant that only outlaws themselves are trading. It is clear that a well-managed, controlled trade would be a tool with which African range states could conserve their dwindling elephant and rhino populations.' Lapointe says that history has shown that prohibition does not work, whether it relates to alcohol, drugs, ivory or rhino

World Rhino Day

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horn. Further, demonising poachers creates a false dichotomy whereby people are viewed as enemies of wildlife. 'We are recreating the inquisition. By saying people are the enemy, we

WWF are pleased to bring you good news. Since 2003,

are finding witches to burn at the stake, instead of looking for

thier Black Rhino Range Expansion Project has been

sustainable solutions that benefit both people and animals.

working to grow populations of critically endangered

Communities living adjacent to areas with rhino and elephant

black rhino. This work is paying off, with black rhino

should be allowed to legally benefit from the sustainable use

numbers in KwaZulu-Natal having increased by 21%

of these resources. People must be part of the solution to the

during this time and over 70 calves having been born

poaching problem,' he says.

on project sites. They have created a beautiful and

'We want CITES to lift the trade moratorium and change its

moving video that showcases their inspiring black

philosophy so we can conserve species, not for the sake of

rhino work.

species themselves, but for the sake of humankind.'

www.wwf.org.za

www.iwmc.org

The gratitude of the Humpback Whale! This is a true story! Happened in Cape point, An area known as Rocky banks! A nine metre long sub-adult Humpback Whale Got entangled in fishing rope! Stuck without hope! When released He came to his rescuers To give thanks! August two thousand and sixteen! A surreal and emotional moment happened Of a mental connection between Man and a Whale I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think that before Has ever been seen! It took the South African Whale Disentanglement Network volunteers Over six hours to cut the Whale free! What he did after that Has now created a story In the annals of maritime And human history! Once all the ropes were removed The Whale swam right next to the boat! Then he gently placed his head on the gunnel While staying motionlessly afloat! Staring at his rescuers In communication, eye to eye! For twenty minutes

With his head on the Sea rescue craft he did lie! Then swam off gently As if saying, thanks and goodbye! The volunteers on board Such a situation they had never met! A beautiful feeling mammal Gave them twenty minutes of silence That they will never forget! We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realise their intelligence! Second only to man! Let us preserve them As they, like us, Are an integral part of nature, Gods and the universe's plan! Forever on their minds These moments will impale! The day that they were shown The gratitude of the Humpback Whale! Copyright David Nicoll 30.08.2016

Clever animation reveals hidden cost of deforestation in less than 1 minute

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Conservation news

Ocean sanctuaries New marine reserves are making a big splash around the planet, and not a moment too soon to work – namely, a moratorium on legal trade.

Dolphin-speak

Earth is on the brink of a sea change. Its oceans are still mostly wild, without the obvious human footprint often seen on land, but they're also increasingly plagued by man-made dangers such as climate change, overfishing and plastic.

Scientists record a human-like conversation between two dolphins for the first time ever.

Yet despite our inertia on many terrestrial issues like air

Yasha and Yana, two Black Sea bottlenose dolphins,

pollution or deforestation, we're actually building some

have been chatting it up lately and scientists have been

momentum for saving the seas. It's just a drop in the

listening in. The recordings can clearly be heard to be

bucket so far, but the recent pace of ocean protection is

conversations, as the mammals pause to let the other

promising nonetheless.

finish and can string distinct 'words' together to form

The past few years have brought a surge of new marine

sentences. The research confirms for the first time that

sanctuaries, including sprawling reserves near New

dolphins use an advanced form of communication similar

Caledonia and Hawaii that each cover about 800 000

to humans.

square kilometres. The nations of Gabon, Kiribati and

The study, published in the journal Mathematics and

Palau have all made waves with huge new refuges off

Physics, was performed at the Karadag Nature Reserve

their coasts, and the UK recently approved nearly 520 000

in Feodosia, Russia. The two dolphins were recorded

square kilometres reserve around the Pitcairn Islands.

speaking to each other in a pool at the reserve and

Conservationists are now working to string together

the analysis of their conversation was fascinating. Dr

an array of protected areas to create the 30 000-island

Vyacheslav Ryabov, lead researcher of the study, stated:

Pacific Oceanscape.

'Essentially, this exchange resembles a conversation

And the hits keep coming.

between two people.'

Click here for the full story

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UK protects its oceans The UK is designating an enormous amount of space located around a few of its British overseas territories as protected areas, ending commercial fishing around the islands and ensuring preservation of marine life in the area. The announcement makes it one of the world’s largest fishing-free zones. Even better, two additional islands are expected to be granted protected status by 2020. Pitcairn, located in the southern Pacific, will face an end to commercial fishing in its 840 000 square kilometres of space. Similarly, in the southern Atlantic, the 445 000 square kilometres around Saint Helena Island will also be protected. 'Sustainable' local fishing will be permitted,

Malaysia's Marine Park After over 13 years of negotiation and planning between conservation groups, the government, and the fishing industry, Malaysia recently established a massive 1-million-hectare marine park. The new Tun Mustapha Park, located by the Sabah Province in the Coral Triangle, is home to endangered species such as dugongs and green turtles. About 360 fish species, over 250 hard coral species, and vegetation such as mangroves add to the richness of this ocean space.

but activities such as oil drilling will be off the table.

The Sabah Parks department confirms the park will be

The islands of Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, both near

'a multiple use, managed area' with spots for artisanal

Saint Helena, will join the two islands in their status by

and commercial fishing as well as areas under 'strict

the years 2019 and 2020, respectively. Sir Alan Duncan,

protection'. According to World Wildlife Fund Malaysia,

the UK minister of state for Europe and the Americas,

damaged regions will be allowed to recover. This could

stated to The Guardian, 'Protecting four million square

take three to five years for areas that haven’t been too

kilometres of ocean is a fantastic achievement, converting

badly harmed, but five to ten years for areas in worse

our historic legacy into modern environmental success.'

condition.

Click here for the full story

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2016 SANLAM / BUSINESS PARTNERS ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

South Africa’s premier annual entrepreneurial competition, Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by Sanlam and Business/Partners, has named Johan Eksteen, second-time finalist and owner of Agricon, as the overall winner of the 2016 competition. Speaking at the event – held in Johannesburg on 1 September 2016 – spokesperson for the 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year competition Gugu Mjadu says that Eksteen was selected as the overall winner due to his strong entrepreneurial attitude and the remarkable growth and expansion that his business has exhibited since first entering the competition two years ago. 'Since being named a finalist in the 2014 competition, Agricon has not only expanded and experienced rapid growth in turnover, but has also made improvements in its business processes which have contributed to its growth,' says Mjadu. She adds that the high calibre of business acumen and entrepreneurial talent of the finalists this year made it no easy task for the judging panel to decide on six category winners from the 15 deserving entrepreneurs who were selected to advance to the final round of judging.

For a full list of winners click here.

2016 PETCO Awards recognise extraordinary PET recycling achievements

The 2016 PETCO awards acknowledged a wide range of achievements, from recognising products that have been designed with recycling in mind, to the best product using recycled PET (or rPET), to the best female entrepreneur within the PET value chain, whose perseverance has created and sustained a successful, growing business venture in PET collection or recycling. Among the 2016 PETCO Award winners are: Best Recycling Information, Awareness and Education Programme, Gregory Player from Clean C, Cape Town; Best Product using recycled PET (rPET), Woolworths Holdings Limited; Best Product that has been ‘Designed for Recycling’, Coca-Cola Southern Africa; PETCO Recycling Champion, Kimberley Recycling (Kimberley); PET Community Outreach and Upliftment award, shared by K1 Recycling (Katlehong), WasteWant (Elsies River, Cape Town), and the PEACE Foundation (Polokwane); Woman PET-trepreneur, shared by Megan Leach from Envirowaste Recyclers (Welkom), and Nomlindelo ‘Pinky’ Modisang from Lindithando Construction & Projects (Walkerville); PET-trepreneur, shared by Gcina Makhoba from Mpilenhle Recycling (Mpilenhle), and Brian Masemola from Boremako Recycling (Pretoria);

· ·

For a full list of winners click here.

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innovating cleantech The Global Cleantech Innovation Programme for SMEs in South Africa (GCIP-SA) is part of a global initiative that aims to promote clean technology innovation to address the most pressing energy, environmental and economic challenges of our time. Specific areas of focus are energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste beneficiation, water efficiency and green buildings. The GCIP-SA is implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with funding by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). In South Africa UNIDO is partnering with the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) as the execution and hosting institution for the GCIP, while the US-based Cleantech Open serves as the main knowledge partner of the global programme. The GCIP-SA combines an annual competition and a business accelerator programme where SMEs and start-ups are continuously trained, mentored and assessed on their business models, investor pitches, communication and financial skills for the development of a more marketable and investor-attractive product and business. In addition to a cash prize and business support, the winning SME also gets an opportunity participate in the Cleantech Open Global Forum in Silicon Valley, USA, to join a network of investors and potential partners and compete with winners from other GCIP countries. See right for the 2016 finalists. For more info visit click here.

GCIP-SA finalists, 2016 Amahlati Eco-Tech’s Hot Spot for geysers is a plastic geyser glove that can be fitted over any standard geyser element to push hot water from the bottom to the top, providing hot water within 30 minutes. The conduit is made from plastisol paste and can be retrofitted to any geyser. Team leader: Sandiswa Qayi Boaberry’s aWetbox – a wetland in a box – is a cost-effective, low-maintenance solution to assist municipalities and homeowners to improve water quality. It can also be connected to grey and rainwater harvesting systems as a water re-use and recycling solution. Team leader: Yolandi Schoeman Cocos Solutions’ superhydrophobic HV coatings are intended for use on power networks for anti-pollution (AP) and anti-icing (AI), thereby reducing power outages and saving energy. Team leader: Corinne Greyling

Ducere Holdings’ MISER hydraulic hybrid transmission system improves fuel usage, reduces carbon dioxide emissions and lowers the cost of vehicle ownership. Team leader: Andre Reyneke Isidima Design’s Arumloo is a ceramic toilet effectively flushes on less than 2 litres of water, significantly reducing household water demand and provides access to flush toilets where limited water is available. Team leader: Jonny Harris Pegasus Engineered Green Mobility’s multi fuel technology reduces fuel operating cost and greenhouse gas emissions on commercial vehicles by replacing diesel as the primary fuel by natural gas or bio-methane. Team leader: Lovell Emslie SanAqua HCA’s Hydrochemical Activation Treatment (HAT) system treats water of varying quality and enhances other water treatment systems cheaply and efficiently. Team leader: Pamela Alborough Sustainability Professionals’ Mashesha syngas stove cooks with large pots for institutional use. The stove uses biomass/wood fuel, but needs 50% less fuel than what is required for open fires and is also much safer. Team leader: Louise Williamson Thevia Roof Tiles are made from 99% waste materials (crusher discard and recycled HDPE). The tiles are twice as strong and 75% lighter than normal cement tiles, with a similar manufacturing cost. Team leader: Martin Ackermann

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celebrating sound sustainable practices As AfriSam is looking forward to another successful AfriSam-SAIA Award sustainable architecture in 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; when the best sustainable and innovative work in South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s building sector is acknowledged and celebrated. With a record 47 entries in the four award categories, the overwhelming response signals a resounding endorsement of the increasing importance of sustainable and innovative design practice in the South African built environment. We have entered a new era, one in which sustainable design has to be a non-negotiable, integral part of the building industry. We take a closer look at the nominees in the Sustainable Architecture category.

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African School for Excellence

BMW Head Office Building

Local Studio

Boogertman+Partners Architects

Brakpan, Gauteng

Midrand, Gauteng

A series of 6 U-shaped classroom clusters are

The design of the building conceptually focuses on

arranged around a vast central hall space. Each

the regeneration of an iconic structure – maintaining

classroom cluster (termed ‘learning communities’)

the spirit of the original building while infusing

is designed around the schools education model,

the envelope with the life of a new entity that is

which is designed to rotate learners between spaces

simple in aesthetic intent, whilst attempting to be

for instructional learning, peer-based learning, and

energy efficient. Green principles were imperative

self-study throughout the duration of the school

to reinvent the building’s thermal comfort and

day.

energy efficiency and so achieve a holistic solution to the working environment, earning it a 5 Green Star rating.

Barn House Strey Architects The Barn House accommodates an impressive

Department of Environmental Affairs Building

array of green technologies and plays with forms,

Boogertman+Partners Architects

materials, building methods, passive heating and

Pretoria, Gauteng

cooling and sustainable (‘green’ & ‘eco’) concepts.

The DEA building achieved a six star green

The sustainability cycle of the building incorporates

office v1 design rating based on the fact that the

elements that reduce the amount of energy used

structure reflects the culture of the institution,

over its lifetime, the reuse, upcycling and recycling

the way they work and function as well as the

of the materials at the end of the building’s use.

institutional purpose, beliefs and service to the

Centurion, Gauteng

country and the community. The design responds to an environmentally sensitive and sustainable architecture and hosts an array of sustainable technologies.

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Gorgeous Green House

iCat Eco Factory

Sagnelli Associate Architects

Earthworld Architects Pretoria, Gauteng

Durban, KwaZulu Natal project,

iCat Eco Factory is an example of sustainable design

Gorgeous Green House is a great example of

collaboration between client and architect. The

user-end sustainability thinking. Special thought,

project focused on housing both the administrative

consideration and research by the client allowed the

and production functions of the company, thus

design of the house to incorporate many sustainable

merging corporate headquarters with warehouse

features, as well as the use of sustainable and

space. This allows for an environmentally sustainable

environmentally friendly materials. The house

structure, that minimises travel distance, costs, as

also boasts an incredibly integrated eco-system of

well buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall footprint. The design was

bee hives, kitchens, vegetable garden and natural

greatly influenced by seasonal changes in lighting

swimming pool attracting over 40 species of birds,

and climate, with every facade of the building

insects and wildlife to the property.

responding accordingly.

Government House Pietermaritzburg

Liv Village

Robert JW Brusse Architect

Cottonlands, KwaZulu Natal

Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal

Liv Village accommodates a community clinic, open

Restoration of this beautiful Edwardian styled house,

air hall, educational facilities and accommodation.

dated 1845, began several years ago. Special detail

The Village provides production and training

and consideration was taken into making sure all

facilities which extend the integration into the local

the original materials and aesthetics of the building

economic and social networks to provide skills and

were maintained and restored to its former glory.

employment, which aims to provide increasingly

Specialised craftsmen from around the country

independent economic sustainability for the project.

client

driven

green

research

contributed in meticulously piecing back together this historic heretage building.

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Designworkshop

Maboneng Precinct

Oudebosch Camp Kogelberg

Daffonchio & Associate Architects

Architecture Coop

Johannesburg, Gauteng

Kogelberg Nature Reserve, Western Cape

The Maboneng Precinct is a unique case of vast urban

Tucked away in an UNESCO World Heritage Site in

regeneration of a historic district in Johannesburg. It

the mountains above Betty’s Bay, Oudebosch Camp

is an open, mixed–use neighbourhood development

nestles unobtrusively within a protected wilderness

that includes a broad spectrum of different sized

area in the Kogelberg Biosphere. The buildings

spaces that attempts to create a precinct that is

are modestly scaled, lightweight, with planted

inclusionary whilst maximising the financial viability

roofs. The palette of natural, local, renewable,

of the development as a whole. Studios, art galleries

low embodied energy, non toxic materials and

and a range of shops, restaurants and coffee

components develops the low impact sustainable

bars that are fueling an inner-city lifestyle, with

qualities of the project. Low tech simple passive

entrepreneurship and creativity at its core.

design principles underpin crafting of the building envelope which is shaped for the shifting seasons.

New Business School for NMMU Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

Outreach Foundation Community Centre

The finishing of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan

Local Studio

University (NMMU) Business School reflects its

Johannesburg, Gauteng

design intention. The exterior uses a minimalist

The Outreach Foundation Community Centre is

face brick with flush jointed, tinted mortar to match

one of the first new inner-city social infrastructure

the brick. The interior and courtyard are spatially

projects to be built in Hillbrow since the 1970’s. The

more diverse, with a variety of volumes with a

building houses 3 primary functions: a computer

multitude of light sources and a range of lighter

centre, dance studio and offices and meeting areas.

neutral colours and textures.

The simple form of the community centre is entirely

The Workplace Architects with GAPP

governed by the programs housed. The building site is situated on the rooftop of the unfinished community hall of the 1970s German Consulate – elevated almost two stories above the street level, it creates strategies around public placemaking.

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The adjudicators have already crisscrossed the country to conduct in-depth, in-loco inspections of all short-listed entries. Apart from recognising excellence in Sustainable

Wits Rural Facility Training & Research Center

Architecture and Research

Kate Otten Architects Klaserie, Limpopo The Wits Rural Campus is a 350 ha environmentally protected

and

ecologically

sensitive

area

indigenous bush bordering the Kruger National Park. Acting as a world class rural knowledge hub, the facility is nestled in between the existing vegetation of the landscape, maximising the use of the site. In spite of their different uses, the buildings are programmatically linked together by a network of covered walkways, which create visual corridors that sporadically open to various courtyards within the bushveld.

in Sustainability, the judges looked for the most innovative contributions to the fields of Sustainable Products and Technology and Sustainable Social Programmes. Awarded projects will have to demonstrate how they make the world a better place by embodying sound sustainable practices and bear the hallmarks of great

WWF SA Braamfontein Alive Architecture Johannesburg, Gauteng The WWF building in Braamfontein is the first

architectural or social design and innovative thinking in the field of sustainability.

6-Star GBCSA Design Rating on a brownfields site in South Africa. The primary focus of the design of the building, a restorative project in a heritage building dated back to 1905, was centered on the maximisation of the site parameters, whilst recycling most of the existing materials within the site. The building which enforces the WWF sustainable ethos has a serious implementation of green technologies, water harvesting, natural ventilation.

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From paddling the Amazon, exploring the Arctic and climbing Mount Everest, to hiking the Grand Canyon and visiting Easter Island—when it comes to adventure bucket lists, the sky is the limit. Or is it? The Intrepid Explorer spoke with a would-be space pioneer from Durbs.

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