Green Economy Journal 26 by GreenEconomyMedia

Economy G

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The Circular Economy Why & how

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Nanotechnology The creation of useful “advanced” technologies by manipulating matter at the nanometre scale How do we see things so small?

It’s all about size. Size matters!

Modern electron microscopes such as the transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope can magnify things up to a billion times.

Nanotechnology involves the ability to make useful objects by working with materials in the nanometre (nano) scale.

Left: Researchers at the Microscopy and Microanalysis Unit, Wits University, studying carbon nanotubes using an electron microscope.

This means that very small components (nanomaterials) are organized into more efficient arrangements (e.g. devices). The conventional scale of nanomaterials ranges from 1-100 nm which follows the definition of the National Nanotechnology Initiative in the United States of America. A DNA double helix (2.5 nm) falls within the nano scale range. A material with a length of 1 micrometre and diameter of 10 nm is called a nanomaterial because one of its dimensions is less than 100 nm.

What’s “nano”? 1

1 billionth ( 1 000 000 000 ) or 10-9 of something e.g. Nanometre (nm) = 1 billionth of a metre. The word nano originates from the Greek word which means dwarf.

Bubblegum fact

Are nanomaterials the same size and shape?

In Roman times (4th Century), the Lycurgus Cup was a glass cage cup made of a dichroic glass which exhibited different colours in light. When lit from the front, it appeared green and when lit from behind, it appeared red. Scientists finally solved the mystery of this by discovering that silver and gold nanoparticles were used… even in ancient times. Cheers to that!

Nanocapsules A nanomedicine application where drugs packed into nano-sized capsules that can be delivered to specific infected sites in the body to provide targeted healing.

Nano purifying “teabags” A nanobiotechnology application that uses an antibacterial teabag to purify water.

Nanomaterials (materials used in nanotechnology) vary depending on the field in which they are used. Quantum dots (spherical nanomaterials) are usually used in biomedical applications such as creating images of infected body cells. Nanopillars (sheet-like nanomaterials) are used in solar cells in the place of silicon to make them more efficient.

Carbon nanotubes (tube-like nanomaterials) and fullerenes are used in many applications in science and engineering.

The concepts of nanotechnology started with a talk entitled “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom” by physicist Richard Feynman at an American Physical Society meeting at the California Institute of Technology (CalTech) on December 29, 1959, long before the term nanotechnology was used.

Nanotechnology has numerous applications

Nanotechnology is an interdisciplinary field (one that has applications in engineering, chemistry, biology, physics, etc.)

Plastic nanocomposites

This field of science and technology has current applications in medicine, food, water, energy, agriculture and the environment.

Nanotechnology is used in packaging and in the engineering and in the manufacturing of bodies of vehicles. Light materials such as carbon nanotubes are used.

Nanotechnology enhances efficiency of the products being produced. Nanotechnology reduces the costs of traditional methods because it uses fewer materials to make useful objects.

Future applications will include construction of smaller circuits and computers, solar powered water treatment plants, biological nanosensors, and many more.

Nanosensors Nanotechnology is used in agriculture to detect crop pests, drought and the presence of plant infections e.g. viruses.

Poster information by: Professor SD Mhlanga Email: sabinano2008@gmail.com Cell: +2773 482 4277

More information can be obtained from these websites: www.npep.co.za (email: info@npep.co.za), www.nanowerk.com, www.nanohub.org, www.nanotechweb.org, www.nano.gov, www.nano.org.uk, etc.

https://www.facebook.com/nanotechn/?fref=ts

Richard Feynman (above) spoke about nanomaterials as early as 1959.

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In Water Purification Water purification and nanotechnology Microbes such as bacteria that cause cholera and viruses and harmful chemicals such as arsenic, lead and certain pesticides are some of the major problems affecting our water. Water purification systems that use nanotechnology remove bacteria, viruses and other contaminants from water more effectively than most old technologies used to purify water.

Bubblegum fact

Johannesburg city offers the best drinking water in the country scoring 98.92% in the 2012 blue drop report, with South Africa being one of the countries with the best drinking water in the world. Blue drop status means that tap water is safe to drink! Do YOU think bottled water can beat that? Check the TDS (Total Dissolved Solutes) in the labelling of your bottled water (it should be less than 1200).

Nanomaterials for treatment of surface, ground and wastewater allow us to make these waters potable (safe to drink).

Left: A young girl uses a LifeStrawÂŽ purification filter to drink from a dirty water source. Nanomaterials in the filter remove all contaminants in the water as it is being drunk. Source: http://celfeducation.org/waterguide.html

Conventional water treatment technologies that use chlorine and other chemicals to kill bacteria can sometimes produce side-effects in humans. The advantage of using nanomaterials lies in their high reactivity because of the large surface area-to-volume ratio that the nanoparticles offer.

Below: Using nanofiltration membranes, even the smallest pollutant particles in water can be removed. Source: http://www.homeschoolingteen.com/2012/07/ nanofiltration-may-help-in-reaching-target-unwater-goals-2/.

Examples of water treatment nanotechnologies Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles When used together with ultraviolet light, they have improved the removal of organic pollutants in water.

Nanofiltration Membranes These act like a barrier, removing dissolved salts and pollutants. They also soften water.

Nanorust Magnetic nanoparticles of iron oxide suspended in water can bind arsenic present in water and can be removed together with the iron oxide by filtration.

Desalination Membranes These are a combination of polymers and nanoparticles that remove dissolved salts from water. Above: A typical process followed during the purification of water using nanotechnology: Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline. in/2007/04/14/stories/2007041401050700.htm

Silver Nanoparticles Poster information by: Professor SD Mhlanga Email: sabinano2008@gmail.com Cell: +2773 482 4277

Nanoparticles of silver behave as antimicrobial agents that kill germs found in water.

For more information please visit: www.npep.co.za; email: info@npep.co.za https://www.facebook.com/nanotechn/?fref=ts

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Nanotechnology

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Economy Editor’s Note G

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EDITOR: Melissa Baird, LAYOUT AND DESIGN: Shanice Daniels CLIENT LIAISON OFFICER: Linda Tom PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: Shannon Manuel DIRECTORS: Gordon Brown PROJECT MANAGER: Vania Reyneke SALES: Jessica Lamoral, Glenda Kulp, Louna Rae, Farai Maunga PRINTING: FA Print DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Edward MacDonald PUBLISHER: Alive2Green PHYSICAL ADDRESS: Cape Media House 28 Main Road Rondebosch 7700 Cape Town TEL: 021 447 4733 FAX: 086 694 7443 WEBSITES: www.alive2green.com/ publications/ green-economy-journal/ DISTRIBUTION AND COPY SALES ENQUIRIES: distribution@alive2green. com ENQUIRIES: info@alive2green.com ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: vania.reyneke@alive2green. com EDITORIAL PROPOSALS: melissa.baird@alive2green. com COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 2006/206388/23 VAT NUMBER: 4130252432 ISSN NO.: 2410-6453 PUBLISHED: July 2017

Economy G

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The Circular Economy

Why & how

Pioneers17

Smart tech for life

‘New’ Water

Crises solution

cating oil is hazardous. s. Irresponsible disposal of used oil pollutes ands and the environment.

Fossil Free

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and recyclers to dispose of your used oil. he ROSE Foundation on 021 448 7492, m or visit www.rosefoundation.org.za

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I have been working from Vienna, Austria for the past month because I had been invited to attend the Pioneers’17 Top 50 Start Ups event. To say it rocked my world is putting it gently and it made me recall the chat I had with the American Ambassador at COP 17 in Durban a few years back. When pressed why the US was not participating in the Kyoto protocol, he retorted that technology was the solution the world needed to address the environmental resource issues. I can now see his point, but to a degree. As I got my head around how artificial intelligence is already running aspects of our world, there is more to come and whatever you wish or desire— there will be an app for it—if it doesn’t already exist. But I asked a robot engineer what could ever replace the look in someone’s eyes when they tell you about their day, or the gracious ‘thank you’ of a person in customer service – or the fact that circumstances may go beyond the capabilities of the algorithm? We need humans AND we need technology—if we just rely on machine intelligence then none of our own gets developed and this is an essential part of evolution and the progression towards a better understanding of what is going on in the world and where we fit in it. ‘New water’ is a result of technological breakthroughs in waste water treatment and offers some positive hope that there is a solution to the water crises this country faces. I think you will find the solution intriguing and for early adopters of new investments—waste water plants could be proven very profitable and transformative to the economy and clean up the water ways. Fossil fuels—and all their derivatives—are a massive aspect of the Business as Usual model so what are the options for other investments that could progress sustainable change? The growing movement towards alternative investments that could power new businesses is gathering in strength and leads to some interesting new fund options developing. I remember walking in to the first ‘green building’ I had ever been in—in Gauteng a few years ago and noting how different it ‘felt’—and now there is research to back up the sense that they really are better places to work from, invest in and build for cities that are reshaping their future. So even though times are tough and the old Chinese curse “May you live in interesting times” is playing out in encyclopaedic depth there is lots to be excited about and relevant economic solutions to the system change that is required. Tough but not bleak. Not yet anyway. There are people out there creating and inventing and thinking and reshaping, going for big blue-sky opportunities; believing in a better world conjoined with an attitude that shows we can do—and make—better. Sincerely,

Melissa Baird 3

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Contents ISSUE 26, JULY 2017

19 www.alive2green.com/publications/green-economy-journal/

NEWS AND UPDATES World Green Economy Summit, illegal fishing, solar security solutions and extreme adventure

FOSSIL FUEL DIVESTMENT The strengthening movement towards regenerative capital

WATER How ‘new’ water offers can generate economic growth and new legislation

AFRICAN CAPITAL CITIES Mayors’ pledge to tackle climate change

E WIZZ An electric solution to inner city commuting—with zero emmisions

FUTURE TECH Pioneers17 snapshot of a changing world

FULL CIRCLE SA can benefit from the circular economy

GREEN BUILDINGS Productive work spaces equal enhanced output from happy staff

22 5

NEWS AND UPDATES

World Green Economy Summit 2017 to be held in Dubai The fourth World Green Economy Summit “WGES 2017,” supported by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, and organised by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO) in collaboration with global partners, will be held on 24-25 October at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center. The fourth edition of WGES will be held under the theme “Driving innovation, Leading change.” WGES 2017 is expected to attract more than 3 000 participants, and will be held in conjunction with the 19th Water, Energy, Technology and Energy Exhibition “WETEX 2017” and the 2nd “Dubai Solar Show 2017” as part of the Green Week activities in Dubai. DEWA is organising the WGES 2017 in collaboration with the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO) and with the support of the UN Development Programme (UNDP). Source: Arab News, June 2017

SENER’s SA thermosolar plants win prizes in the African Utility Week Industry Awards

The SolarTurtle: perfect for where conventional solar PV solutions will not work

In crime-ridden areas across Africa, traditional solar PV solutions have failed. The solar panels are typically stolen within a few months of deployment. Enter the SolarTurtle: an ultra-secure solar kiosk for community electrification. Shipping containers are converted into small, mobile solar power stations, and the SolarTurtle feeds just like a turtle. In the morning when it is safe, the panels unfold from their secure location to feed from the rays of the sun. In the evening when it is unsafe, the panels fold away into the hard shell of the container. The SolarTurtle sells electricity by the bottle. A recycled plastic bottle is cut in half and a battery is inserted. The lid of the bottle is converted into a 12V cigarette lighter socket. This simple design allows communities to build and maintain their own battery packs. The SolarTurtles are perfectly designed for off-grid schools or other instances where conventional solar PV solutions will not work. Source: James van der Walt, CEO SolarTurtle The 100 MW Kathu and 50 MW Bokpoort thermosolar plants in the Northern Cape Province, for which SENER provides essential technology such as the SENERtrough® parabolic trough collectors and the system of thermal storage in molten salt, received the “Deal of the Year” and “Large Scale Renewable Energy Project” awards respectively in the African Utility Week Industry Awards. SENER is part of the construction consortium engaged in these projects together with other companies in the sector. Particularly, Bokpoort was built by a joint venture between SENER, Acciona and TSK and South Africa’s Crowie, whereas Kathu

Braam Malherbe and Wayne Robertson row 8,100km from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro Extreme adventurer, motivational speaker and conservationist, Braam Malherbe together with his partner Wayne Robertson, achieved an epic world first by rowing approximately 8,100kms from Cape Town to the Rio de Janeiro yacht club. They rowed in a small vessel called Mhondoro, and arrived at their destination on 9 May 2017 after spending 92 days at sea. Their mission was to raise awareness of the state of our planet and launch the DOT (Do One Thing) Challenge to highlight the importance of doing one thing for the planet on a daily basis. Malherbe founded the DOT Foundation to support projects that provide education and assistance in one of four categories—water, waste, energy and conservation. This world-first expedition is the most southern rowing expedition ever undertaken from South Africa. Besides the obvious physical and mental challenges, what’s more extraordinary is that this challenge was entirely unassisted and unsupported, without a single rescue boat following them or in contact with them. Source/contact: Osi Raviv, pr@braammalherbe.com

Solar Park is being built by engineering and construction companies SENER and Acciona. The NOORo solar complex located in Morocco, a project in which SENER is also part of the construction consortium with other sector companies, was a finalist in the “Large Scale Renewable Energy Project” category in the ceremony held on 17 May at the International Convention Centre in South Africa. Source: Sener, May 2017

Greenpeace: 13 infractions found in just 20 days of fisheries surveillance in West Africa

Greenpeace’s Esperanza has been on a two-month long expedition in West Africa to document the threat of overfishing on the marine environment and on the food security for millions of Africans depending on fish. The crew on board, with the

support of fishing authorities from coastal countries in the West Africa, aim to reduce the number of vessels fishing illegally or committing different offenses. Eleven arrests of vessels fishing illegally occurred in just three weeks of joint surveillance with local authorities in West African waters. This is out of 13 fishing regulation infractions identified during the two-month ‘Hope in West Africa’ ship tour, which also included fisheries

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monitoring and civil society and political engagement in a total of six countries.In total, Greenpeace and inspectors from Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone and Senegal boarded and inspected 37 industrial fishing vessels. The 13 infractions included shark finning, incorrect net mesh sizes, trans shipment at sea, lack of documentation and fishing outside of permits. The infractions were committed by fishing vessels with Chinese, Italian, Korean, Comoros and Senegalese flags. Source/contact: Onboard the Esperanza: Pavel Klinckhamers, project leader, Greenpeace Netherlands, pklinckh@greenpeace.org

NEWS AND UPDATES

Nuclear build under scrutiny

Fair Trade Tourism welcomes Hotel Verde, Africa’s greenest hotel

April’s court judgement declared years of planning 9 600 megawatts of nuclear capacity unlawful and required South Africa to start the procurement process again. And, this time, to make it transparent. Energy Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said a decision on SA’s nuclear future will be taken in the next three months on Monday, 19 June, at a Russian nuclear conference. If so, it would be five months after the initially estimated R1-trillion deal was declared unconstitutional. And awarding the new nuclear contract will take place “before the end of the year, and we very imminently want to start,” Kelvin Kemm, South African Nuclear Energy Corporation chairperson told Reuters at the same conference. Nuclear firms from China, France, South Korea, Russia and the United States are bidding. And, responding to a query on whether Russia’s Rosatom is again a serious contender, Kemm said: “Absolutely, Rosatom is a very important player”.

Hotel Verde, situated at the Cape Town International Airport, has just been certified by Fair Trade Tourism at the annual World Travel Market Africa in Cape Town. The 145-bedroomed hotel earned its spot as one of the most sustainable hotels in the world, after becoming the first hotel worldwide to receive a double-platinum green building certification from the United States Green Building Council in 2015. The Fair Trade certification brings new weight to Hotel Verde’s commitment to responsible tourism principles, verifying the sustainable practices of more than just the hotel’s design and building operations. The certification was audited extensively by KMPG and focused on aspects such as fair wages and working conditions, fair purchasing and operations, equitable distribution of benefits and respect for human rights, culture

and the environment. Says Samantha Annandale, CEO of Verde Hotels: “Management is committed to following the principal tenets of sustainable procurement, to minimize their environmental impact, to maximize wider social benefits and of course, ensuring the wellbeing and future of our employees.” Source/contact: Jacques Maritz, Media Liaison for Hotel Verde and Verde Hotels

Fourleaf Estate in Port Elizabeth - the first residential project in Africa to receive EDGE certification

Source: Reuters Africa, June 2017

Cleaning green: The sustainability challenge for a massive industry Despite the massive scale of the cleaning industry, there is not enough understanding in South Africa of the significant role the industry should play in sustainability. Although there is plenty of environmental legislation directed at land and wildlife, very little is aimed at the environmentally-friendly maintenance of urban spaces. Sustainability in cleaning includes the use of genuinely eco-friendly cleaning products; reducing wastage of water, electricity and disposables; and longer lasting and recyclable machinery. Gavin Herold, General Manager of Africa and the Middle East for Nilfisk, one of the world’s leading suppliers of cleaning equipment, says there’s really only one way to maintain essential cleaning standards while cutting the consumable bills, and that is through the latest state-of-the-art machinery.

Polyco launches a movement to make waste work About 177 000 tonnes of polyolefin plastics, such as milk and detergent bottles, bread bags and assorted food containers, were recycled last year—contributing

Fourleaf Estate residential estate in Port Elizabeth became the first residential development in Africa to receive certification for achieving the EDGE resource-efficiency standard. The Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) handed over the certificate to Similan, the property developer for Fourleaf, at a ceremony at Mutual Park, Pinelands.

Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) is a green building certification system developed for emerging markets by the International Finance Corporate (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. Homes built according to EDGE principles are designed to use 20% less water, 20% less electricity and 20% less embodied energy in the materials used in construction. Fourleaf developers achieved savings of up to 25% in water efficiency, 29% in electricity efficiency, and up to 43% of embodied energy in the construction materials by using cored bricks, cellulose roof insulation and clay roofing tiles on timber rafters, and other initiatives. These resource efficiencies offer potential annual savings for homeowners of R 1 280 per unit per annum. Contact: Bernadette Grant-Smit, bernadette.grantsmit@epicmslgroup.com

“Technology is your friend in this space as our new generation ranges are made to far higher sustainability standards in terms of the products they use, optimal efficiencies in cleaning times, longer shelf life and their recyclability”. Source/contact: Emma Corder, Nilfisk, emma.corder@ nilfisk.com approximately R1.7 billion to the country’s GDP and creating over 14 000 jobs. However, 363 000 tonnes were not—meaning that South Africa is missing out on potential GDP growth and muchneeded employment opportunities. These figures were revealed at Polyco’s recent fifth AGM by Chairman, Jeremy Mackintosh. Polyco is a non-profit company established in 2011 by polyolefin packaging producers to reduce the amount of polyolefin waste going to landfill by providing funding to increase the sustainable collection,

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recycling, recovery and beneficiation of polyolefin plastics. Mackintosh said that while the polyolefin packaging market grew by 3.3% in 2016, recycling volumes remained at the same level as the previous year. Polyco Chief Executive Officer, Mandy Naudé added: “We, as South Africans, are facing a national crisis, with a recent Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) study noting that only 5% of our population recycles.” Source/contact: lisl@polyco.co.za

CAMPAIGN

Breaking up with fossil fuels

David Le Page

ove or hate: what is your emotional connection with fossil fuels, oil, gas and coal? As a child, growing up in the Johannesburg suburbs in the 1980s, I always enjoyed the smell of petrol. A mixture of the sweet and the synthetic, it was the smell of journeys beginning, of heading for long family holidays in the mountains and by the sea.

I also knew the smell of other hydrocarbons, comfortingly domestic: turpentine, that my mother used for her oil painting, and benzene—that all-too-carcinogenic, once-common household cleaner. At the beginning of every winter, my parents would order a truckload of anthracite from the Middelburg Coal Company. Men dressed like looming apparitions from the Dark Ages, covered in soot and sacking draped from

their heads, would unload great loads of black rock into the bunker outside our kitchen door. And we’d burn it throughout the winter, the stove always on, leaking a faintly acrid, dusty smell along with the solid glow that warmed us through dry, bitterly cold Highveld mornings and evenings. Later, as a young man, I remember the sheer exuberance I felt when I first drove

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CAMPAIGN

Did I have any sense, then, of the dark side of these fuels? There was the obvious poverty of the men who delivered our coal (and those who rail that we must protect these jobs should remember how dangerous and insecure they often are), the gloom of sooty winter nights, but these impressions were different to separate from the generally oppressive air of late apartheid South Africa. It’s now difficult to remember a time when I was not conscious of the threat of climate change, but I do have a sense of the over-awing sensation that came on me as I slowly learned the full dimensions of the challenge in the mid-2000s. And the helplessness I felt: how could such an immense problem be turned around?

A pension that is invested in oil, gas and coal is, it’s increasingly clear, a pension that is designed to lose value in a climate-threatened economy.

home a little 1600 hatchback bought second-hand, my first car, its lively kick underfoot as I squirted the distilled force of irreplaceable multi-million-year-old fossil essences through its engine. And gas! I grew up with rickety ring-plated electric stoves, but have always preferred the instant keen blue flame that surges up into my cooking from a gas stove.

As a father, my stomach sometimes lurches with fear when I read the latest news of scientists confronted by racing global change that all too often outpaces predictions: drought-stricken farmers, melting glaciers, acidifying oceans and threatened ecosystems. How will my children, and their children, cope with the unstable world we are creating? Is it too late for us, or can we transform, by some alchemy of blind optimism, our world of greed and inequality into a new, more humane and persistent equilibrium? Humanity has been supplementing our own energy by burning things for tens of thousands of years, with profound impacts on the land and climate even before the Industrial Revolution steroid boosted the whole process. Fire, whether it’s grilling a steak or trapped in an engine, or clearing land for agriculture, or embodied in the steel and concrete with which we’re over-paving the Earth, is a deep part of our culture—and we now have to turn away from it, find a way of life that is more about growing than burning and consuming, reorient the vast and inexorable apparatus of industrial capitalism to actually feeling the pain that it inflicts on the biosphere and our prospects for a secure future. In 2013, a friend who felt this dilemma as keenly decided to mount a public screening of a documentary about an obscure social movement that was getting underway on US campuses. The documentary was Do The Math. It profiled a dishevelled US writer and activist, Bill McKibben, who had co-founded the global climate campaign 350.org to mobilise global civil society for a favourable outcome to the ultimately disappointing 2009 Copenhagen climate negotiations. I liked 350, to me it seemed to embody a colourful and approachable strain of activism less grim than some others. McKibben has a wry and folksy sense of humour: ‘In fact, corporations are the infants of our society—they know very little except

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how to grow (though they’re very good at that), and they howl when you set limits. Socialising them is the work of politics. It’s about time we took it up again.’ Do The Math told the story of a 350.org US roadshow designed to persuade people and churches and foundations and universities to stop investing in fossil fuels on the basis of the kind of simple logic that sophisticates often loathe: ‘If it’s wrong to wreck the planet, then it’s wrong to profit from that wreckage.’ After watching Do The Math, I thought it might be a good idea to write to the University of Cape Town, and try to persuade it to divest from fossil fuels, just like the many US universities that were starting to do the same thing. That letter, co-signed by other alumni, staff and students, began a long journey. You can dive into the details on the Fossil Free South Africa website, because yes, the letter turned into a process, and the process into a campaign, and the campaign into an organisation. UCT is now seriously considering a responsible investment policy, and the world has greatly surprised even 350 itself by taking up the divestment campaign to the tune of $5.4 trillion worth of investment funds now freeing themselves of the dead weight of carbon emissions to varying degrees. This last May, Fossil Free South Africa hosted a divestment dialogue in Cape Town attended by representatives of 15 different investors and asset managers.

“The global fossil fuel sector is being shaken to its roots by technological transformations in renewable energy and electric mobility, and this change is only just beginning” Divestment in South Africa is a huge challenge. We’re a developing country still saddled with the widespread and erroneous belief that fossil fuels are needed for development, though 48 developing countries with 100% renewable energy targets now prove that to bewrong; an incredibly coal-dependent energy sector, a polity threatened by state capture (not least by big coal interests), and few if any existing ethical funds. But even if you’re a deeply selfish person who cares not a jot for planet or children, your own self-interest demands you pay attention to this movement. Whole countries, like Ireland, Norway and New Zealand are now divesting their major pension and sovereign wealth funds—cities like Melbourne, Paris, Oslo, Seattle and many others have divested. Join us on this journey—subscribe to news from Fossil Free SA at tinyletter.com/FossilFreeSA. David Le Page is the Coordinator of Fossil Free South Africa.

CRISES SOLUTION

Water: crises and opportunity If one reads the many reports in the media about our water crisis, it is easy to conclude that we are in trouble as a nation. But this is simply not true. You see, any successful country will never let a good crisis go to waste. Successful leadership learns from a crisis and adapts behaviour accordingly. This is what makes society resilient to shocks like extreme droughts. Prof. Anthony Turton Centre for Environmental Management University of Free State

n the simplest of narratives, South Africa is only in a water crisis if we continue with Business as Usual. We have known, since the year 2000 when the first National Water Resource Strategy was published, that we have run out of the resource. It showed that by 2025, we will have a national deficit of 2,040 million cubic metres (MCM) per annum. This includes three critical areas: Cape Town (Berg River Water Management Area (WMA)) with a deficit of 508 MCM; Durban (Mvoti to Mzimkulu WMA) with a deficit of 788 MCM; and Gauteng (Upper Vaal WMA) with a deficit of 764 MCM. While these numbers are disturbing—more so because they have been known to the water resource management fraternity of professionals for a long time —they are only true under the Business as Usual scenario. The truly good news is twofold. Firstly, the average South African produces around 100 litres of waste every day. This is sent to the 824 waste

water treatment works (WWTW) we have across the entire country. With a national population in excess of 50 million, this means that we have 5 billion litres of water currently discarded as sewage. This is too big a number for a water constrained economy to ignore, which leads us to the second piece of good news. Technological advancement now means that it is entirely safe to recover clean water from almost anything. It is therefore possible, at least in purely technical terms, to recover 5 billion litres of water every day. The cherry on the cake comes in the form of a new technology capable of producing chemically pure phosphate from sewage. The convergence of these two factors makes a business case for converting our 824 WWTW to water recovery plants paid for by the sale of chemically pure phosphate and nitrate, both key elements of the fertiliser needed to feed a growing global population. Ah, I immediately hear the nay-sayers claiming this is impossible. The public will never accept drinking sewage water. Let us examine the facts.

In Singapore, sewage is successfully recycled into what has been cleverly branded “New Water”. But one can argue that Singapore is only a city state, so it is not scalable to a larger national economy, so let’s look further. In Windhoek sewage has been successfully recycled back into drinking water since the 1980s. The technology was developed by the CSIR and has proven robust over four decades of constant use. In Perth, Western Australia the Water Utilities Corporation has been trialling the latest desalination technology to recover 120 megalitres (million litres) of water from sewage daily. The clever aspect of this application is that the recovered water is then stored in deep underground aquifers, safe from the ravages of evaporation. This is a major technological leap forward, because two persistent water resource management problem have been solved in one go: the recovery of safe water from waste; and storage in a system that has no losses to evaporation. Sewage that used to be discharged into the ocean from the Durban South WWTW located at

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CRISES SOLUTION

Next generation sewage management package plant capable of recovering high quality water whiel treating domestic waste in an odourless way

Orange and Limpopo River basins. This means that the city is upstream of its drinking water. Stated differently, all of the sewage from Gauteng flows downhill into dams that are the source for drinking water. While the idea is disgusting for most, the good news is that this configuration is ideal for recovery purposes. By investing into just a few large WWTWs, sufficient â&#x20AC;&#x153;New Waterâ&#x20AC;? can be created to allow job creation through reasonable economic growth over time. I, therefore, see a bright future for South Africa. Policy reform will have to incentivise the investment of vast sums of money into next-generation technology. From this we will reconfigure every sewage works into a water recovery plant, generating revenue streams from the sale of chemically pure phosphate and nitrate, with steady streams of safe, clean water as a by-product. This same policy reform will need to encourage a range of technologies, including: the desalination of seawater for cities along the coast; the desalination of acid mine drainage (AMD) in the goldfields of Gauteng, Free State and North West, and coal production areas of Mpumalanga, KZN and Limpopo provinces; and the desalination of sewage wherever it is available in quantities sufficient to sustain the business model. This shifts the emphasis to policy reform. The government, already in crisis over state capture, is likely to become invigorated once the painful process of charging and sentencing the perpetrators has run its legal course. Once that has been successfully completed, full attention can be given to the reform needed to incentivise technology and capital providers to come to the party. This is a good news story, because the doom and gloom associated with Business as Usual need not necessarily be the fate of our country. All it needs is credible, visionary leadership that embraces technically competent teams to unlock the latent potential of technology.

The United Nations has declared waste water as the new resource for a water constrained planet. Amanzimtoti has been successfully turned into industrial process water and sold on a long-term contract to two bulk users, a paper mill and a petroleum refinery. This means that these two bulk users of water have gone off grid, so to speak, alleviating pressure on potable water. In the Cape Town, area-treated sewage effluent from the Potsdam WWTW is being reticulated into a commercial centre where it is used for landscape irrigation. Not convinced? Now for the really good news. Gauteng contributes around 65% to our national economy and sustains 45% of our population. Through a quirk of development, the main population density is concentrated along a 120km conurbation straddling the continental watershed divide between the

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Wonthaggi Desalination plant

AFRICAN CAPITAL CITIES

Mayors’ commit to sustainable change By: Greg Penfold

ey challenges threatening growth and development in African include rapid urbanisation, energy and water access and stresses, sanitation, the global economic slowdown, rising unemployment and social inequities, trade facilitation, connectivity, land and biodiversity degradation, amongst others, and on top of this, the significant and growing impacts of climate change.

Capital cities have a unique role in providing leadership for other local authorities within country borders. Partnerships and collaborative efforts have an important role to play in the implementation of sustainability, especially collaboration between the national, local and other levels of the government to align and, thus, more effectively address sustainable development challenges. The increasing rate of urbanisation in African cities especially calls for the proactive design and implementation of sustainable urban development solutions. The African Capital Cities Sustainability Forum (ACCSF) was formed in recognition of these facts, with the intention of creating a network for the mayors of capital cities across the continent to achieve the sustainable development goals that are common to all and, in the words of Solly Msimanga, Executive Mayor of Tshwane, “to establish commonalities and challenges faced by major cities in Africa while showcasing and sharing successful initiatives towards the emergence of truly African, original and appropriate answers in addressing the sustainability imperative at the urban scale.” On 13 June this year, the third instalment of the ACCSF was held at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Tshwane, South Africa’s capital city. The success of the event is positive proof that the network is growing steadily towards achieving its purpose, with a lively exchange of ideas from the 60+ representatives from 32 African capital cities in attendance, and a firm commitment to a concrete course of action for the future. Addressing the plenary, Executive Mayor Msimanga began by outlining the milestones Tshwane has achieved on its sustainable development journey, citing projects such as Bio2Watt, an example of private-sector collaboration with BMW as the off-taker for biogas derived energy, and a Bus Rapid Transit system that includes compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, among others, adding that Tshwane is a leading city in the green building space, with the many major

certified green buildings including the recently occupied Tshwane House, the City of Tshwane’s new R2bn headquarters and a five-star graded green building. Msimanga went on to note that the impacts of climate change are likely to have a disproportionately greater impact on developing countries, particularly in Africa, which have limited resources and infrastructure to adequately protect themselves and insufficient means to recover. Most at risk are local governments: “It is at the local level where livelihoods are lost, water security and food security are impacted and where infrastructure is destroyed.” At the same time, local government is also best placed “to take rapid action now and prepare for and adapt to the impacts of climate chang”.

“To establish commonalities and challenges faced by major cities in Africa while showcasing and sharing successful initiatives towards the emergence of truly African, original and appropriate answers in addressing the sustainability imperative on the urban scale.” With regard to the city of Tshwane’s own roadmap for sustainable development, Msimanga cited the adoption of the Tshwane Declaration 2015, which sets out a number of undertakings including the establishment of a collective think

tank of common initiatives that were presented at COP22 in Marrakesh in December 2016; the measurement of the city’s carbon emissions and the establishment of a baseline Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory; engagement with development agencies and other international partners concerned with local government in order to garner support for climate resilience programmes; and the convening of a platform “conducive for technical engagements and to develop a clear implementation programme for our cities, focusing primarily on the Sustainable Development Goals by making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. Key to achieving these goals is addressing urban poverty. Msimanga noted: “One billion people worldwide currently live in slums without access to basic services like clean water, electricity, or health services. “If urban areas do not plan for this unprecedented growth, they will not only fall short of their full economic potential, but also exacerbate poverty in already vulnerable communities in large cities.” Echoing these sentiments was the following speaker, Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, South African Department of International Relations and Co-operation, who framed the conversation around sustainable development within the context of the narrative of South Africa’s historical struggle for freedom from apartheid, noting that the parents of many in the room would never have been able to sit as members of an August plenary. In this way, the Minister reminded the audience that any sustainable development policy must acknowledge an implicit

Mr Pravin Gordhan, Member of Parliament, Republic of South Africa

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AFRICAN CAPITAL CITIES

political dimension, namely the aspirations of present and future generations to prosper as free citizens of South Africa. Next to speak was the President of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) network, Councillor Parks Tau, who spoke on “the role of African cities in implementing the new global agenda for local governments”. Reminding the audience that the conversation had started three years previously, on the occasion of the adoption of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, Tau affirmed that this progress has been further supported by the UCLG’s 2016 endorsement of three pillars essential for the advancement of the local government agenda, namely: ensuring organisational consolidation and renewal, to enable cities and local and regional governments to speak with one voice; facilitating collaborative and connected local governance by way of using technological innovation to modernise local governance; and “locating local government at the centre of a changing world”. Unpacking the third pillar, Tau outlined “the necessity for political leadership to inspire the potential of municipalities across the African continent … to play a much greater developmental role in achieving our social and economic growth objectives”. It is the local government sphere that will determine the success of the Sustainable Development Goals—“the fulcrum of employment creation, poverty alleviation, inclusive economic growth and environmental sustainability.” The local government, however, cannot fulfil its mandate without responsible leadership, said former Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, speaking after Tau. Without responsible leadership, service delivery and investment are flatly unthinkable—or so says Gordhan. “There’s a crisis brewing in the world and Africa,” he said. “Growing alienation between business and political leaders on the one hand, and citizens on the other, is being caused by growing inequality, and a growing perception that the elite enjoy what others don’t.” Gordhan continued by saying that responsible leadership demands that leaders take cognisance

of this unfolding reality and recognise that this alienation is harmful. Already it has resulted in political upheaval in the Western world, with alienated citizens making political choices of great concern (Trump, Brexit, the “coalition of chaos” in the UK). “From our point of view, governance in a local government context is extremely important,” Gordhan emphasised. “Cities, towns and villages are becoming magnets for people to assemble around. Cities are seen as points where economic opportunity and enterprise are concentrated: people are hopeful of a better future in a city. In some instances, however, where we are not offering the right kind of vision and planning, cities have become centres of disappointment and despair.”

“Local government are also best placed to take rapid action now and prepare for and adapt to the impacts of climate change” A better organised city offers more economic opportunities, particularly to the young, and hope for a better quality of life. South Africa’s badly planned cities, with their apartheid spatial planning legacy, have to be turned around—and it is local government’s responsibility to make this happen. Gordhan also touched on the scourge of corruption. “Corruption is a societal disease,” said Gordhan. “The public is very alive to the fact that corruption exists. To turn it around, we want good governance with ethics and integrity. So we need to set our own standards.” From an investment point of view, said Gordhan, investors want to see leaders with clear vision, planning capability, competent basic service delivery, and service continuity. “If we can guarantee those things, we will attract investors from across Africa and the world. We don’t have enough capital to invest so we need to attract them,” he said. Inspired by these messages, the collective representatives of 32 African capital cities went on to enjoy a number of expert presentations addressed at solving specific technical challenges at a local government level, complemented by a Mayors’

African Capital cities Mayors

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Round Table, facilitated by Kobie Brand of ICLEI, in which mayors shared insights and best practices from their experience in implementing sustainable development programmes. These proceedings culminated in an official, comprehensive 12-point declaration in which the assembled dignitaries undertook to take the lead in advancing sustainable development initiatives at a local government level, and to advance their collaboration during the course of the year ahead of ACCSF 2018.

The commitment: 1. Locally appropriate and ambitious actions in each of our capital cities in accordance with international, regional and national development frameworks and our local development priorities, strategies and plans; 2. Strengthened collaboration and partnerships with each other and with our other levels of government, entities and institutions to advance the goals of sustainable development in our cities; 3. Enhanced and cohesive advocacy and participation in national, regional and international fora, platforms and processes in recognition of the pivotal contribution of cities towards sustainable development; 4. The enhancement of infrastructure in our capitals to allow for connectivity and ease of doing business within the African continent; 5. Full utilisation and investment in our most precious resource—our people, in implementing sustainability projects; 6. Focus on the Food-Water-Energy nexus and climate resilience to effectively address the developmental challenges posed by this nexus; 7. Investment and focus on sustainable transport and connectivity to allow for freedom of movement within urban and rural spaces, especially to centres of economic activity; 8. Joint leverage on mechanisms for sustainability financing to ensure that investments in urban infrastructure secures sustainable economic growth within the carrying capacity of the planet’s systems and resources; 9. Prioritisation of reduction of informal settlements, which are a visible sign of urban poverty by improving access to basic services like clean water, electricity, health services, sanitation and urban food production programmes; 10. Transition our cities towards a green economy that will ensure the provision of basic services, secure local economic development while preserving natural resources, stimulating employment creation and industrial activity; 11. Increased focus on waste management programmes through reduction, reuse, recovery, recycling and waste-to-energy solutions. 12. The horizontal integration and vertical alignment—coupled with increased accessing to finance and\ other required resources—to enable the accelerated contribution of our cities towards sustainable development.

Electric Bikes by www.bhsouthafrica.co.za BH Easy Motion e-Bikes • Powered by Bosch electric motors and Panasonic batteries • Pedal-assisted electric power • Maximum speeds of up to 45 km/h with a range of up to 125 km • Battery lifespan of 30 000 km or 500 charges (20% max deterioration) • Choose between dual suspension or hard tail CONTACT Email: sales@bhsouthafrica.co.za Tel: 021 715 7182

WHY - WHEN THERE IS EWIZZ?

Zero emission personal transport How are you and your teams delivering packages, commuting to work and running errands? The chances are you are still relying mostly on an old technology solution, the noisy, polluting and expensive fossil-fuel based internal combustion engine (ICE). Why? Perhaps because this seems to be the only viable option. But there is EWIZZ? Andy Le May CEO and founder

his technology is so incredibly efficient that, for the price of one month’s fuel for a typical 1.6 petrol car, you can do the same inner-city journey on an EWIZZ electric scooter over three years. If you spend around R 3000 a month on car fuel, that adds up to R108,000 in three years. The EWIZZ electric scooter will cost you R3000 in electric fuel to do the same journeys for that three years, and you will save R105 000. That’s just for starters. Compared to an equivalent ICE scooter, the time around is one year. There is one moving part in the drive train and long-life lithium batteries so very little maintenance is required. You can treat the batteries like your cell phone so you can plug in anywhere and part/opportunity charge with no memory effect. Typically, the batteries will last the life of the bike. There are no belts or chains, filters or spark plugs and no hot exhaust or engine to burn yourself on. If fact, there is almost no oil in an EWIZZ, just a little used in the suspension. With top speeds of up to 120km/h, EWIZZ electric scooters are not slow and they are quite happy to maintain that speed with no noise or stress on the engine. They have very good acceleration and no gears or clutches to worry about. It’s as easy as twist and go and they are also able to reverse. Top speed and power is also configurable to suit your needs. Range depends on the amount of batteries in the model chosen and on driving style, but typically, they are around 35km for the entry level Spark 3 N to 150km for the top of the range Lightning 9 NX. The regenerative braking feature means that when slowing down, energy goes back into the batteries, increasing the range and life of the brake pads.

Typically, users just recharge their bikes once a day at home, or at work, from any normal 15A 3 pin plug point. The charger is built into an EWIZZ electric scooter so you always have it with you and can plug it in anywhere. A very conservative estimate on the amount of plug points is SA would mean there are around 100 million potential recharge points available today.

“For the price of one months fuel for a car, you can do the same town journeys on an EWIZZ electric scooter for three years”

to walk about unencumbered. If you need more storage space a top-box can be added on the back rack. EWIZZ electric scooters even allow you to charge your cell phone under the seat. All in all, the latest EWIZZ electric scooters are great fun to ride, incredibly inexpensive to run and beautifully quiet and smooth. Nothing is faster than a scooter in traffic jams. It is the super smart way to get around in the city and is both time efficient and liberating. With all the stresses of modern life riding a zero emission, super smooth EWIZZ electric scooter is both calming and ticks so many boxes— saving fuel and lessening pollution. www.ewizz.co.za

With the batteries and the motor being nice and low on the bikes, the centre of gravity is low and, therefore, the bikes are easy to handle for anyone. Parking is very easy too, ( because of the reverse function), which is ideal for manoeuvring on the hills, slippery surfaces and odd cambers. Also, finding parking is easy with bikes and it is usually for free. There’s a secure space to store a helmet and other bits under the seat, leaving you free

Highlights • 360 km/l in energy efficiency equivalent, 5c a km for fuel • Super low maintenance • Long 10 000 km service intervals • Zero emissions • Recharge from any normal plug point • Long-life Lithium batteries

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South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First Custom Industrial 6 Green Star Rating

Belgotex Floors is now recognised as a world leader in sustainable carpet manufacture, after receiving a prestigious 6 Green Star Rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa.

www.belgotexfloors.co.za

PRODUCTIVITY

A sustainable workplace Green offices that keep staff healthy and happy are improving productivity & boosting businesses’ bottom line, finds WorldGBC report

mployers, building owners, designers and developers throughout the world are showing that it pays to invest in greener offices that keep their occupants healthy and happy, a report from the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) reveals. Building the business case: health, wellbeing and productivity in green offices, which was released October last year, highlights the global momentum behind healthy and green office design and operation, and showcases over 15 buildings that are leading the way. Simple steps such as improving air quality, increasing natural light and introducing greenery —those which typically have environmental benefits such as using less energy—can also have a dramatic impact on the bottom line by improving employee productivity and reducing absenteeism, staff turnover and medical costs. The report is the latest to be released under WorldGBC’s Better Places for People campaign, which focuses on healthy green buildings. Terri Wills, CEO of the World Green Building Council, said: “While our earlier work presented the overwhelming evidence between office design and improved health and wellbeing of workers, this report breaks new ground by demonstrating tangible action businesses are taking to improve their workspaces. The results are clear—putting both health and wellbeing, and the environment, at the heart of buildings, is a no brainer for businesses’ employees and the bottom line.” The report identifies eight key factors in creating healthier and greener offices which can impact on the bottom line: 1. indoor air quality and ventilation—a well-ventilated office can double cognitive ability; 2. Thermal comfort—staff performance can fall 6% if offices are too hot and 4% if they are too cold. 3. Daylighting and lighting—a study found workers in offices with windows got 46 minutes more sleep a night than workers without them. 4. Noise and acoustics—noise distractions led to 66% drop in performance and concentration; 5. Interior layout and design—flexible working helps staff feel more in control of workload and encourages loyalty.

6. Biophilia and views—processing time at one call centre improved by 7-12% when the staff had a view of nature. 7. Look and feel—visual appeal is a major factor in workplace satisfaction. 8. Location and access to amenities – a Dutch cycle to work scheme saved €27m in absenteeism. (All of the sources referenced above can be found on pages 14 and 15 of the report) The World Green Building Council has developed a simple framework to help companies take action. It calls on them to assess key environmental factors, which affect health and wellbeing, survey employees to find out how they experience them, and measure the economic factors they influence, such as productivity, absenteeism and medical costs.

has a fitness centre, 1.3 miles of walking trails for its 800 staff, more than 100 collaborative workspaces, including some outdoors, and 92% of offices have outdoor views. Call centre staff doubled their productivity after moving in, with a 97% increase in sales-generated leads and 101% increase in leads per call.

Key case studies in the report include: New healthy workplace valued at $47 million over 20 years—Delta Development Group and Heerema, Amsterdam, Netherlands (Green building rating: BREEAM-NL ‘Excellent’) Delta Development Group’s new 12-story global headquarters for Heerema significantly raised the satisfaction of its 1100 employees by improving air quality, increasing thermal comfort and maximising daylight. The marine contractors expect to realise a net present value of €42 million ($47 million) over 20 years in productivity, staff retention and reduced absenteeism, based on a study by KPMG.

Building developers and owners are also discovering that it is a smart business move to invest in healthy buildings. In a survey of 200 Canadian building owners, 30% said investment in healthier buildings had a positive impact on the building’s value, 46% said they were easier to lease and 28% said they commanded premium rents. Brian Wilkinson, CEO of the GBCSA said: “The business case for healthy, sustainable buildings is being proven over and over. Various reports have shown unequivocally that green buildings cost less to build than expected and yield a higher return on investment. Now, this research confirms what we have always believed—that green buildings have a hugely positive impact on the health and productivity of their inhabitants.” The Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) is one of over twenty national Green Building Councils around the world that are championing the cause of healthy green buildings, through certification and rating tools, research and stakeholder engagement to show how organisations all over the world are profiting from increasing the health and wellbeing of the people in their green buildings. Research from organisations such as the International Well Building Institute and Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, supported by United Technologies (UTC), is transforming the way we understand the interaction between human health and wellbeing and the green workplace.

Cutting sick days by two thirds—Skanska’s Northern England Hub, Doncaster, UK (Green building rating: BREEAM-UK ‘Outstanding’) After Skanska rebuilt its new Northern England hub in Doncaster, UK, it saw 3.5 times fewer building-related sick days than other UK offices, saving the company £28 000 in staff costs in 2015. Improvements to layout and noise, indoor air quality, and a central light well bringing more daylight into the building saw staff satisfaction with their office jump from 58% to 78%. Doubling call centre productivity – SaintGobain, Malvern, PA, US (Green building rating: LEED Platinum) Saint-Gobain’s new North American headquarters

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More collaboration and less absenteeism— Medibank, Melbourne, Australia (Green building rating: Six-Star Green Star) Medibank’s new plant-filled office includes 26 types of workspaces, from tranquil areas to collaborative hubs, fireplaces on every floor, edible gardens and sports facilities. Two in three staff members feel healthier, 80% are working more collaboratively and absenteeism is down 5%.

SMART TECH FOR LIFE

Start-ups inspire, empower and re- Create

Melissa Baird stepped out of her comfort zone and attended the Pioneers17 Top 50 Start-up event in Vienna Austria to discover how artificial intelligence (AI) and smart tech start-ups are changing the world one app at a time and at a rapid eye movement pace

he venue was Vienna’s Hofburg palace; an astounding architectural masterpiece (and relic) of the grand Austro – Hungarian empire replete with ornate frescoes on its ceilings, wide staircases and thick marble columns in enormous halls lit by glossy chandeliers and whispering ballrooms that spoke of a glamorous past, and survival in the face of the destruction of war. There were five stages showcasing the best in tech and inspiration, infotainment and empowerment; masterclasses to help start-ups pitch their product to investors—and the media—and inspiring interviews with the likes of Virgin Galactic (yes, they are going to the moon) Google discussing their AI assistant (you can ask it anything and it will search your files for the answer and the entire Internet too). I listened to start up pitches as the inventors took the challenge to present their ideas to investors. They included BeeAnd.me—smart monitoring for bees that enables apiarists to monitor changes in hive behaviour and develop scientific knowledge about the habits of the world’s most precious and productive pollinating resource. Another included using artificial intelligence (AI) to enable doctors to make better diagnoses and have access to the latest research—who on earth can read 150 000 research papers and still have a life or enable it in a patient? No problem—AI can do it and give feedback. Sen wants to ‘consumerise space’ by recording videos and capturing space data to send it back to earth—what is out there can soon be ‘brought’ to you by a famous brand. Their aim is to share information ‘universally’ so what happens on earth is also taken out there for there to the Moon and Mars (missions planned) “as the space economy and activities expand in these worlds”—yes other than earth. That was just within the first few hours and, while I was taking lots of deep breaths as I processed the information overload, I met a robot named Pepper that responds to human touch through mechanical undulation and murmurs sweetly like a cat would purr. Smart homes are the homes of tomorrow. They are energy efficient and can control temperatures for better living conditions. I interviewed Morten Bremild, co-founder of Anyware Connected Living. They have created a smart device that

acts as both an energy regulator and intrusion detector in your home. The device looks like a light bulb, is as easy to install and what will be of interest to South Africans is its one-system sensors that can detect intrusions, turn lights on and off while you are away and regulate the temperature of your home. The indoor climate monitoring sensor detects humidity levels and if above 75% humidity, the sensor alerts you. Their aim is to make smart homes simpler and Morten is very keen to find partners in the energy utility and insurance industry in this country. Currently, smart homes are in the realm of the early adopters of technology (16% of the overall market) and their target is for the early majority market who want a meaningful smart home experience so the product is easy enough for anyone to install and there is valuable data for insurance companies and energy companies to give back to the customer in terms of health and safety. You can pre-order a device at this link but only for the next few weeks. https://igg.me/at/Go-Anyware/x/14273983 The device was a great success at the largest consumer expo in the US and the product will also be available via Amazon.com. From an energy

perspective, a household can save 5-7% per degree Celsius—over a year if temperatures are regulated correctly. There is an app to help you develop your happiness muscle—HIMoment that I have been trying out. The ‘happiness industry’ is massive (USD 60 billion) but this is not about encouraging more social media narcissism, rather it is a personal timeline of sorts but complete with videos, images and voice recordings. A good ‘get out blue’ use for your phone. I rely on my memory and pictures for that but I could see its point and purpose. On the music is front an amazing speaker from Zylia.com that can record all the instruments in a room making sound engineering unnecessary and helping musicians record top quality clips without having to spend fortunes on sound studios. In sport, there is a fabric (SUPA.AI) that records your biorhythms and reports on fitness levels. Capitalising—or aiming to—on the legal cannabis growing industry is a start-up called Leaf that has created their own fridge, which is a grow room and monitoring system all-in one, so medical cannabis can be grown free of pesticides and by individuals who require the prescription.

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SMART TECH FOR LIFE

The developer calls it the ultimate gardening and health tool. But it’s artificial intelligence that is making the biggest impact on our present and—ergo—our future. James Lovelock, in his ‘Rough Guide to the Future’ speaks of this as being the single most disruptive technology event ever. It will impact how we manage our home life, investments, diagnose illness, have sex and work. If you are stuck on any question or need to speak a different language—just ask Babel or Google’s assistant (being engineered to outsmart Apple’s Siri). The live demonstrations of the capabilities of these interventions were astounding. This gathering of new economy CEOs was like a fashion shoot for the world’s top hipsters and they were well supported by engineers, musicians, doctors, scientists and investors. This reinvention space shows a snapshot of how the world is changing and at a pace that most won’t keep up with. But what really grabbed my attention was the concept of impact investing. Silicone Valley is the home of the start-up and Ela MAdel, who is the founder of Fifty Years, an impact investment fund that is there to solve the world’s biggest problems, spoke clearly about the fact that all business is being called to understand the finite resources of the planet and to adapt. The venture capital market has never been held accountable for the impacts of the investment itself; what it does to the planet, does it help solve climate change, social inequality and injustice? Technology and capital need to be in service of the planet—not purely for profit. Research shows that most MBA students would take a cut in salary to align their

Image courtesy of Anyware Solutions work to the personal values they espouse. There is a new generation of business leaders emerging who see the solutions need to come from business as well as consumers who have more developed intrinsic values. What was alarming is that AI already makes high-level investment decisions and will do so more in the future. But you can’t transfer your values to a piece of software that is programmed to seek out profit above anything else. “More and more aspects of the economy are not being run

Seth Bannon and Ela Madel - investing to fix the world

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by humans” she said and therefore, we need impact investing. Charl Kleissner of Impact Assets—also Silicone Valley based—agreed and he said the human face of investing the ‘consciousness’ is what is needed above just great algorithms. Consider the impacts of industrial agriculture on water and animals and the dystopian future is already here. In the future, all meat will be farmed outside of mass animal farming—in laboratories “cellular agriculture” as animals no longer can be efficiently farmed for their meat and by products. In 1931, Winston Churchill predicted laboratory meat and this turns out to be the most resource efficient (and ethical) way of eating meat. You can do whatever you want with animal cells without hurting the animal or taking away valuable water resources used for industrial abattoirs and factory farming. Impact investing throws away the Keynesian perspective that business is above humanity and success is measured by profit alone. Now, more than ever before, the global corporations are being called upon to solve the world’s problems and not capitalise on them. But what about sex? There is an app for that too and the intimacy problems that are resulting from a disconnected world—sex robots exist, sex toys exist but what of an intelligent sex toy? One that reads your body and your pleasures? Is this a sexual revolution that doesn’t involve people? I was asked the question what happens to start ups when they grow up? I reckon they just might offer astounding solutions to some of the problems this world is facing. Technology is replacing people and helping them too—but what is the balance and where will it be found?

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Going full circle

SA is following a linear economic model in which we extract, use, and waste resources in products designed to have shorter and shorter life-spans. The result is millions of tonnes of waste in our landfills, pollution, accelerating climate change and rapidly depleting resources. But is there any other way of doing things? The wonderful answer is yes—and it has a multitude of benefits… By Natalie Mayer

ur world today is obsessed with growth, particularly the growth of GDP and company profits. Although progress has been made in finding more holistic measures of success, GDP and corporate profit remain the most highly-anticipated figures. The problem is that having these figures as our primary means of measurement means that our focus has become ‘growth at any cost’. We are ignoring the ‘externalities’, an economic term for all the unquantifiable by-products of our current economic system—including the harm done to people and planet, and our ability to regenerate. What’s the problem? We are following a linear economic model in which we extract, use, and waste resources in making products with ‘built-in obsolescence’. According to Richard Girling’s book Rubbish! published in

2005, 80% of products made get thrown away within the first six months of their ‘life’. The result is millions of tonnes of waste in our landfills and the resultant air, water and land pollution; accelerating climate change due to the excessive amount of non-renewable energy used; and rapidly depleting resources, as extraction is happening at a much faster rate than renewal. People are working longer and longer hours to spend a significant portion of their earnings on items they will toss out in just half a year, diverting money away from things that will make their lives better or happier in the longer term: savings, investments in health and career, lifestyle experiences, and giving. The circular economy Unlike our current linear economy, nature’s ‘economy’ functions in a circular pattern where waste is not dumped but reused as a resource, and the

environment is regenerated through the process rather than harmed. A circular economy mirrors nature, in that it follows a cyclical, zero-waste process, which is also restorative. Resources are kept in use in the cycle for as long as possible, extracting the maximum value from them whilst in use, then products and materials are recovered and regenerated at the end of their service life. But the circular economy goes beyond recycling in a closed loop system: it designs waste out completely through smart product design or process intention. All energy used in the system is renewable. Consumers become predominantly users of goods, paying for access to a product or service rather than owning and maintaining it themselves. What’s the difference to the green economy? While their ultimate goals are often similar, the major and recent difference between the two

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY

terms is that the green economy is based on greening a linear model. The approach is completely different with the circular economy, which is about changing the system paradigm altogether. Circular economy is neither about recycling in the first place, nor about corporate social responsibility. It is about our economy and its redesign. South Africa to benefit Currently, South Africa extracts precious resources and sells them to overseas multi-nationals, which transform them into valuable products. We then buy these materials back, contained in high-end products at a significantly higher price than what we sold them for. Yet, the higher value of South African resources could last for generations to come in a circular economy, because they could be kept in circulation for much longer. A circular economy is able to shift consumption patterns towards a more responsible society without changing the demand for product performance. Products are made to last longer, with services as the preferred means of access to goods. Alex Lemille, founder and CEO of Wizeimpact, is one of SA’s leading thinkers about the circular economy. He has received international recognition for his work, including a “Highly Commended” recognition by the World Economic Forum (WEF) at The Circulars 2016— the world’s premier Circular Economy award

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“Given that manpower is considered an unlimited energy, SMEs in the space of repairing goods, maintaining your park or home appliances, managing your energy consumption-as-a-service or granting you access to the garden tool that you will only use once, will flourish.” programme—for leading the debates on the circular economy. Lemille notes that the business model of providing access to goods per usage will allow more South Africans to afford the use of appliances, rather than buying upfront in cash, or worse, via credit. Payment to access a product would either be made on a monthly basis or upon use of the devices, in a pay-asyou-go system. This type of payment and ownership system would help both the consumer and corporate behaviour to become more responsible. “The ownership of the goods you use is kept with the producers, and [it is in] their best interest is to make sure that they are durable, and professionally maintained on a regular basis. New kinds of skilled and unskilled jobs such as repurposing and remarketing, repair at a much larger scale and will flourish. Circulating goods from one household to the next will also reduce material consumption dramatically and, therefore, CO2 emissions,” says Lemille. Lemille explains that the circular economy provides numerous opportunities for SMEs. “Given that manpower is considered an unlimited energy, SMEs in the space of repairing goods, maintaining your park or home appliances, managing your energy consumption-as-a-service or granting you access to the garden tool that you will only use once, will flourish.” Any goods produced in SA or imported into the country will have to be maintained as long as physically possible, thus creating thousands of jobs in the SME space to support our network of shops offering goods as a service. “Even our mining industries could benefit from such a model by maintaining our stock of metals and raw materials wisely, as experts, reducing the needs to dig even further into the earth,” he says. Lemille concludes: “We do not have precise figures of what it means for the market right now, but at GDP equivalence, i.e. a $630 billion in European material savings in an advanced CE scenario could translate in R170 billion savings yearly to the local economy.” If South Africa is serious about economic transformation and job creation, pursuing a circular economy certainly warrants further investigation.

ADVERTORIAL

Maintaining product integrity with smart temperature controlled solutions

by Kamogelo Mmutlana, CEO at Barloworld Logistics

ithin the vast field of logistics and supply chain management, perishable food products make up a large and important part of the country’s supply chain. It is critical, within this sphere of supply chain management, to ensure that effective and specialised temperature controlled solutions are in place. For logistics service providers, the primary challenge is that the product integrity needs to be maintained across the entire value chain—from source to consumption. A deviation at any point will impact on the integrity of the product. This means, for example, that if the specific temperature regime (frozen, chilled or ambient) for a product is not maintained, the product will deteriorate—impacting on the quality, shelf life and usability. In addition, there is an element of protecting the physical integrity of the product (packaging, etc) from damages that always needs to be taken into account. One of the major complexities is that there are multiple entities involved (usually not the same service provider) and, hence, multiple handover points. This makes determining the root cause (i.e. accountability) for a deviation problematic. Finding the right solution For the product integrity to be maintained across the entire value chain, the different temperature regimes (frozen, chilled and ambient) need to be catered for separately with regards to storage, staging and distribution. Added to this, the products need to be actively monitored and maintained at all times —with appropriate reporting and tracking technology. As the handover points introduce the highest risk for non-conformance, appropriate operating processes and methodologies need to be strictly adhered to in order to mitigate this risk. Specialised expertise When designing the right supply chain solutions for customers, it is essential to take into account the food safety regulations around temperaturecontrolled products. There is rigorous legislation that must be complied with. Indeed, every product

Kamogelo Mmutlana, CEO at Barloworld Logistics has specific requirements developed to maximise its integrity. In the long term, dedicated expertise will ensure that the consumer expectations are met. With regards to food, this includes the quality and freshness of the product as well as the longevity (shelf-life). This also results in less waste and improved sales numbers for customers. Technology fuelled innovation Looking ahead, there are a number of innovations and technology platforms in the pipeline that will benefit supply chain specialists and their customers with regards to perishable foods. Current innovations include live temperature monitoring in vehicles and facilities, temperature probing at handover points and thermal dividers in vehicles (multi-temperature).

In the next few years, we also expect to see a lot more progress being made with regards to 3D temperature monitoring, individual temperature monitoring devices (i.e. the ability to track temperatures per item) and in finding alternative energy solutions to maintain temperature. About Barloworld Logistics: Over 70% of potential savings and service enhancements in a supply chain come from the re-engineering and integration of logistics processes. Barloworld Logistics is South Africa’s leading integrated logistics and supply chain Management Company, and a fast-growing global player. They create strategic advantage for their clients by optimising and integrating the client’s logistics processes and information flows, thereby radically reducing their costs and increasing their service levels. Log onto www.barloworld-logistics.com for more information.

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OIL ADVERTORIAL

The ROSE Foundation (Recycling Oil Saves the Environment)

Bubele Nyiba - CEO

he ROSE Foundation promotes and encourages the environmentally responsible management of used oils and related waste in South Africa. Bubele Nyiba, CEO, shares the importance of sustainable recycling and his goals for the company. Please could you tell us more about the history and establishment of the foundation and the importance of its role? The foundations were first laid in April 1994 after the government withdrew support for the used oil re-refining industry. Previously, lubricants were taxed to subsidise the re-refining of used oil back into lubricating oil. When this subsidy was removed, the major lubricant companies operating in South Africa took it upon themselves to help protect the environment. So they formed the ROSE Foundation to prevent the irresponsible dumping and burning of used lubricating oil. ROSEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primary objective is to collect as much used lubricating oil as possible and to add as much value to this oil within the strictest environmental standards. Our stated objective is to encourage cleaner production before waste reduction and waste minimisation. What is the foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission, vision and strategic principles and objectives? Vision Ensure that all available used lubricating oil and related waste is collected, recycled and managed in an environmentally responsible manner. Mission We promote and encourage environmentally responsible management of used lubricating oils and related waste in South Africa. Strategic positioning: Our primary role is to add value through the fulfilment of three primary roles in the Used Lubricating Oil recycling value chain: Inform: Be the lubricating oil industry voice in the ongoing promotion of responsible recycling Incentivise: Manage the channelling of funds from our member organisations to the recycling value chain roleplayers in the form of incentives and investments Improve: Provide the necessary support through audits, advice and skills development, to improve the performance and compliance of roleplayers in the recycling value chain

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OIL ADVERTORIAL

Why is sustainable recycling so crucial in South Africa? Used lubricating oil is collected from workshops, mines, backyard mechanics, farms, construction sites and other collection points. We call these the ‘generators’ of used lubricating oil. The collectors generally buy the oil from the generators and transport the oil to processing plants who will buy it from them. The processing plants then take the oil and subject it to a re-refining process of distillation and hydrogenation (recycling it by changing its chemical composition into different products). An alternatively technology to distillation is called centrifugation. Recycling the used oil prevents it from being dumped, thereby polluting land and water resources. By recycling it, we generate value out of something that could be classified as waste and thrown away. What is lubricating-based oils and how does used oil damage the environment? Lubricating oil is made of up of base oil and additives. The additives are used to enhance the qualities of the oil to enhance performance of the equipment to which it is applied. Unfortunately, the additives break down during the use of the oil and change the colour of the oil from gold to black. As the additives break down, the oil loses its effectiveness in protecting the equipment. This is why the oil needs to be changed periodically. The used oil can be very dangerous to the land and water, and to the air if burnt. One litre of oil can contaminate one million litres of water. Used oil is classified as ‘“Hazardous Waste”. The term refers to any waste that contains organic or inorganic elements of compounds that may, owing to the inherent physical, chemical or toxicological characteristics of that waste, have a detrimental impact on health and the environment. The ROSE Foundation believes strongly in social responsibility—what are some of the issues the foundation has been highlighting across the country, what are some of the tools and techniques you have used to do so and what has the outcome been? We spend a lot of time and money on informing the public about the responsible handling of used oil. We have advertising campaigns through radio, magazines, newsletters, billboards, and events. In partnership with Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), we also run the Used Oil Project. The aim of the project is to address the illegal and harmful dumping of used vehicle oil by educating learners about the importance of disposing of used oil correctly, which should be taken to accredited processing facilities located throughout the country. Our efforts at responsible handling oil have been recognised by government as a leading practice in the waste industry.

What would you regard as some the foundation’s most notable successes? Since its inception in 1994, the ROSE Foundation has championed the collection of over one-billion litres of used lubricating oil. There are eight licensed processing plants in the country, 10 transfer stations, and over 150 collectors. In 2016 alone, we collected over 300 tonnes of used oil cans and plastics bottles from service stations across the country. We have also established oil drop-off facilities at various garden refuse locations throughout the country. The public is encouraged to contact us or go to our website to find out where they could dispose of their used lubricating oil. What do you think is the key to a sustainable and compliant waste industry? The low levels of the crude oil price are bad news for collectors as they get very low prices when the price of crude is low. If the collectors get low prices, it makes compliance very difficult and nearly unaffordable. As ROSE, we assist as much as possible in terms of training, auditing, protective clothing, insurance, etc. But we can’t be involved with pricing. I think the government can assist a lot by cracking the whip, particularly on non-compliant processors. Ideally speaking, all processors should be licensed waste managers. We know that the government doesn’t have the resources to police the waste industry as should be the case, and as a result, you see a lot players processing used oil illegally. What goals do you have for ROSE in the short and long term? In the short term, I would like to put a lot of energy towards getting the ROSE Foundation to work with the majority of oil collectors and processors in the country. I want to substantially increase the used oil we can account for. This means that I should know who all the roleplayers are and have conversations about how we could work together. Coupled with that, we should get all lubricant marketers, manufacturers and importers to become part of ROSE. There should be no free-riders in protecting the environment. I also want to see all major industry associations that have used lubricating as a waste stream to come on board to work with the ROSE Foundation. I would like to see a ROSE Foundation that is a formidable brand in the waste management sector. When people see used lubricating oil, they must immediately think ROSE. These are obviously long-term goals. Can you tell us about the National Oil Recycling Association of South Africa? On 23 November 2005, the National Oil Recycling Association of South Africa (NORA-SA) was

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formed to create a body for the environmental management of the collection, transportation, storage, recycling and utilisation of used oil. ROSE, Africa together with a core group of key stakeholders facilitated the formation of NORA-SA. The ROSE Foundation coordinates and funds all the activities of NORA-SA. Please provide us with an overview of your early life, education and what set you on your current career path, prior to being appointed CEO? My history in the oil industry started when I joined Engen Petroleum Ltd on 1 August 2001. I started out as an HR Practitioner, first as a Training and Development Consultant and as later as a Human Resource Development Manager. l joined the retail department in 2008. In 2009, I because the Regional Manager for the Eastern Cape, looking after a network of 98 service stations, covering a wide area from Stilbaai in the Western Cape to Kokstad in KwaZulu-Natal. In 2010, I was promoted to become the National Sales Manager (Coastal) looking after 501 service stations in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Northern Cape, and Lesotho. When I left, I was the Retail Capabilities Manager, responsible for the training of service station franchises and employees. I had a wonderful 15 years with Engen, but like with most things, I needed a change, and the ROSE Foundation provided a perfect opportunity and fortunately for me, I am still operating within the oil industry. Naturally, it’s a different value chain completely, but it assists a great deal to have worked for a major industry player. This background enables me to anticipate better what the member companies expect of the ROSE Foundation. I hold the following academic qualifications: BA; HDE; B.ED, from the University of the Western Cape, and (Executive) MBA from the University of Cape Town. Between 2005 and 2008, I served as a Board Member with the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (Chieta) representing the petroleum industry. Please tell us more about your role, how do you effectively carry out your? I am fortunate to lead a dedicated team of professionals and service providers that know exactly what they need to do. Mine is to give guidance and encouragement when it is required. In addition, I work with the Board of Directors and they give me all the support that I need to carry out my job effectively. This is very important because the relationship between non-executives and the executive director is critical for continued success of any organisation.

ENERGY ADVERTORIAL

PELE GREEN ENERGY

36MW CPV 1 Western Cape

Business Overview Pele Green Energy (â&#x20AC;&#x153;PGEâ&#x20AC;?) is an independent power producer that develops, owns and operates renewable energy power generation plants and solutions. Through PGE, we aim to deliver electrical power to households and industry that is clean and safe. PGE is also invested in creating off-grid solutions that can be delivered to geographically remote communities at affordable prices. PGE owns and operates 895MW of renewable energy power plants, including wind, solar PV and CSP technology PGE was one of the first 28 preferred bidders in the first round of the REIPPP alongside Soitec on the 36MW Solar CPV project. In October 2013, PGE together with a Italian Utility were selected as a Preferred Bidder on the 88MW Nojoli Wind farm, as well as on the 60MW Tomburke Solar and 75MW Paleishuiwel Solar plant as the EPC and O&M contractor

alongside its partner Terni Energia. In December 2014, PGE together with ACWA were selected as a Preferred Bidder on the 100MW Redstone Solar CSP plant. In April 2015 PGE was selected as a Preferred Bidder on the 140MW Karusa Wind farm and 140MW Nxuba Wind farm and the 101MW Copperton WInd Farm. PGE develops embedded generation projects for different segments including JSE listed entities, property developers, municipalities and farmers. PGE is also proud to make a contribution to rural development, having built the 54kW solar plant on behalf of Accenture and the University of Notre Dame for a farming co-operative in Jozini, Northern KwaZulu-Natal. In April 2015, PGE was selected as a Prefered Bidder on 140MW Karusa Wind Farm and 140MW Nxuba Wind Farm.

88MW Wind Farm Eastern Cape 54kW Solar PV plant, Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal

Contact Details: 3 Centex Close, Brooklyn Place, Eastgate Kramerville, Sandton info@pelegreenenergy.com www.pelegreeneenergy.com

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GREEN BUILDING

Building blocks for economic and energy benefits S

outh Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s glaring resource constraints, electricity shortages and escalating utility prices and, most recently, the drought, have only increased the advantages of green buildings. This country now has the highest green building share in the world, more than countries such as the UK and the US, China, Singapore, Germany, and the historical green building market leader, Australia. The city that at the forefront of green building technology, is Tshwane; not only has its new headquarters received a five-Star Green Star SA certification, but its one of only four international cities to participate in a new partnership between the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and the World Resources Instituteled Building Efficiency Accelerator (BEA), in a bid to double the rate of energy efficiency in buildings by 2030. Tshwane also hosted the annual Green Building Conference on 14 June, under the auspices of Sustainability Week 2017. The payback periods of energy and water saving initiatives are becoming markedly shorter, as a result of increasing utility costs and the wider availability of more affordable green building technology. Waste will soon become a great opportunity for cost savings in green buildings with an imminent increase in waste removal costs as landfill sites start to run out of airspace.

Menlyn Maine, Pretoria

Green Star SA rated buildings cite energy savings of between 25% and 50% compared to a building designed to regular SANS 204 standards. Green buildings offer higher returns on assets. Extensive studies in the US and Australia have shown rental rates in green buildings to be approximately 6% and 5% higher, respectively. Employees and tenants

No.1 Silo, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

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often remain with a company as a result of increased comfort and occupant satisfaction, and more flexible spaces. With lease terms in South Africa typically ranging between three and five years, churn (tenant changeover) can lead to significant costs, which can be reduced in green buildings where tenants stay longer. Green buildings also result in increased property values as a result of decreased operating costs, higher lease premiums and more competitive, less risky, future-proofed buildings. This has been empirically proven in the US and Australia with 11% and 12% valuation premiums, respectively, and is mainly due to increased desirability - tenants want to be in green buildings, especially corporates or governments with sustainability targets to meet. We are beginning to see this trend in the South African property market. Green buildings are future-proofed against increases in utility costs, potential energy and water supply problems, tightening legislation, carbon taxes and the impact of mandatory energy efficiency disclosure, as well as costly retrofits to ensure they are not at a competitive disadvantage in the future. Improved internal environment quality (IEQ) from increased ventilation, temperature and lighting control, as well as day-lighting and the absence of toxic materials, results in the improved health, comfort and wellbeing of building occupants. This has been shown to lead to increased productivityâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;an important area of focus due to its significant, potential impact on the profitability of a business. Studies show resulting improvements in productivity of up

GREEN BUILDING

Century City, Cape Town

to 20%—easily covering the premium, which may be paid for by the higher quality green space. Employees and younger graduates who are increasingly aware of environmental and health issues, are making this part of their decision-making process when applying for work or staying with the same socially and environmentally responsible companies. Besides being more cost-effective to operate and maintain, the environmental benefits

of green buildings are beyond dispute. With the construction and on-going operation of building consuming 40% of total energy usage worldwide and generating one-third of all carbon emissions, green building is a major part of the solution to addressing climate change and resource scarcity. A smart business move “In the local property industry,” says GBCSA CEO Dorah Modise, “the question that is now being

asked is: ‘What is the price of not building a green building?’ With higher running and operational costs as resources become depleted and space a premium, asset managers, property developers and owners need to seriously consider the long-term benefits of building resource-efficient buildings—not to mention the greater paybacks and payoffs of developing a ‘green’ building.” “A certified green building creates a differentiated product in the market, which is viewed as technologically advanced and environmentally and socially responsible, where these claims have been independently verified. These attributes can be positively linked to the company brand and image of the owner and/or the tenant.” Modise explains that green precinct developments are also taking place, for example Menlyn Maine in Pretoria, Waterfall Estate in Midrand as well as V&A Waterfront and Century City in Cape Town Commercial properties are being certified at a rapid rate. “This means one thing: that green building is growing exponentially in South Africa,” concludes Modise. According to the Green Building Council’s Green Building In South Africa report, the average cost premium of building green over and above the cost of conventional construction was just 5.0% at the end of 2014—and is likely to drop further in the future.

STATE-OF-THE-ART SIKALASTIC-560 PROVES ITS WORTH

he first commercial application in South Africa of the Sikalastic-560 roofing system, an innovative waterproofing membrane based on Sika’s Co-elastic Technology (CET), was completed on a residential roofing project in Gauteng.

Combining the high performance of polyurethane dispersion with the familiar properties of an acrylic, Co-elastic Technology offers an unsurpassed performance compared to conventional acrylic dispersion; higher elastic and crack-bridging properties, faster drying times, higher UV resistance resulting in better colour stability and durability, as well as being environmentally friendly with very low odour and VOC free. GCF Projects was contracted for a private residence project in

Morning Hill, Johannesburg. The one component, liquid applied waterproofing membrane, Sikalastic-560 was used to seal an existing concrete flat roof. Sikalastic-560 provides excellent adhesion on both porous and nonporous substrates as well as on bituminous

products, and since it is a completely seamless, fully bonded system, the risk of leaks due to overlap failures, is totally negated. Sikalastic-560 is water vapour permeable and rain-resistant after only four hours. Based on Sik a Co - elastic Technology, S i k a l a s t i c - 5 6 0 p rov i d e s a n economical, eco-friendly roof waterproofing solution for both new construction and refurbishment projects while its reflective coating (when coated in white) enhances energy efficiency by reducing cooling costs. Sikalastic-560 fulfills the requirements of many international standards, and is proving to be a product in a class of its own. For more information on Sika products and systems, visit www. sika.co.za

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Used lubricating oil is hazardous. It contains harmful compounds. Irresponsible disposal of used oil pollutes our rivers, wetlands and the environment. Use ROSE approved collectors and recyclers to dispose of your used oil. For more information call the ROSE Foundation on 021 448 7492, e-mail usedoil@iafrica.com or visit www.rosefoundation.org.za

RECYCLING OIL SAVES THE ENVIRONMENT

Funded by: