Smart Green Homes 28

Issue 28 R29.00 incl VAT 9 ISSN 2223-540X

772223 540014 10028

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Timber Frame Construction

Smart Integrated Solar PV

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A word from thE EDITOR

EDITOR Gordon Brown gbrown@alive2green.com SUB EDITOR Nicole Cameron cameron.nicoler@gmail.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Shannon Manuel LAYOUT & DESIGN CDC Design carla@cdcdesign.co.za PROJECT MANAGER Vania Reynek vania.reyneke@alive2green.com MEDIA SALES Thandiswa Mbijane Farai Maunga SALES EXECUTIVES Jacques Gerber Zaida Yon Tanya Duthie Zaneque Smit Esther Kabaso CLIENT LIAISON OFFICER Linda Tom linda.tom@alive2green.com PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Shanice Daniels PROOFREADER Monique Jacobs Vania Reynek EDITORIAL DIRECTORS Gordon Brown Lloyd Macfarlane Andrew Fehrsen ACCOUNTS & ADMINISTRATION Avril Arndese avril.arendse@alive2green.com WEBSITE www.alive2green.com www.greenhomemagazine.co.za

Dear Reader, Welcome to the 1st edition of ‘Smart’ Green Home Magazine.

We added the word ‘Smart’ after long deliberations around how to emphasise the ‘smart’ and ‘tech-savvy’ nature of many green homes, and believe that this simple addition achieves just that.

In accordance with this sharpened editorial focus, we bring you a stunning house from St James in Cape Town, intelligently and beautifully designed by Elemental Studio. The smart passive design is aimed at enhancing the property’s position on the mountain slope overlooking False Bay, and in creating amazing spaces, naturally lit and ventilated. Feast your eyes from page 8.

On page 17 we bring you a breathtaking super low impact wood frame house and a smart residential development is revealed on page 22, we provide real insights into building tech with smart integrated solar PV from page 18.

The benefits of smart and complimentary lifestyle choices such as ebikes are discussed on page 28 and the super clever hanging veggie gardens, enhancing buildings, spaces, and lifestyles on page 27.

If you wish to comment on this content, contribute, or otherwise engage please don’t hesitate to drop me an email.

Gordon gbrown@alive2green.com

PHYSICAL ADDRESS Cape Media House, 28 Main Road, Rondebosch Tel: 021 447 4733 Fax: 086 694 7443 COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER 2006/206388/23 VAT NUMBER 4130252432

R29.00 incl VAT 772223 540014

ISSN 2223-540X 10028

IMAGES & DIAGRAMS Space limitations and source format have affected the size of certain published images and/or diagrams in this publication. For larger PDF versions of these images please contact the Publisher.

Cover image Cranked House, St James

Issue 28 9

PUBLISHER First Published July 2011 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any way or in any form without the prior written consent of the publisher.

The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editor.

All editorial contributions are accepted on the under­standing that the contributor either owns or has obtained all necessary copyrights and permissions. Publishers do not endorse claims by advertisers.

Smart Green Home

timber Frame ConStruCtion

Smart inteGrated Solar PV

VeG GardenS & ebikeS

Image by Matt Pretorius & Stuart Thompson

Use of Sustainable Paper Alive2green is committed to using sustainable paper and printing products and services, and to this end Alive2green prints with a black woman-owned printer, FA Print. FA Print prints alive2green publications on paper supplied to it by an FSC certified supplier. FA Print is taking steps to become FSC certified at which point this publication will become entitled to carry the FSC logo.

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Edward MacDonald distribution@alive2green.com ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES sales@alive2green.com PRINTER FA Print

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ENVIRONMENTAL Rejects heat from sunlight in summer and retains indoor heat in winter

DECORATIVE Provides privacy and can replace curtains or blinds

PROTECTIVE Provides shatterproof protection against accidental damage or attack Green Home 28 CDC2.indd 6

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Oct/Nov/Dec2017

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CONTENTS TheSPRINGissue

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Cranked House, St James

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Luxury timber construction for Helderberg wine farm

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The future OF SOLAR is batteries Fourleaf Estate has the edge

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27

Midrand’s new property development inspired by nature

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Vertical Gardens: Small space, large impact Electric Bicycles (Ebikes)

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Smart Green Home 2017

Cranked House,

St James Architects Elemental Studio, Matt Pretorius & Stuart Thompson Main Contractor Revcon Words and photos Matt Pretorius & Stuart Thompson

Location

The House is situated on a long narrow steep site in St James on the north side of a watershed ravine. Like most properties in this neighbourhood its down-slope orientation is due South East towards the sea views across False bay with steep mountains behind to the North West. The mountains overshadow the property blocking the sun early – making for cool summers and chilly winters. The steep north-slope makes it difficult for houses in the area to create north facing courtyards that are wind protected from the prevailing South Easter.

Orientation

The main body of the old house was maintained and recycled. The old roof was removed and the existing two storeys were repurposed with a completely new open plan kitchen-dining-living level built on top requiring minimal expansion of the new build off the old footprint. To add to the already challenging existing orientation the original house was cranked further southwards towards the views of Simonstown harbor.

The orientation of the new upper level was therefore cranked back to South East – off grid to the existing floors below – to line up with the site boundaries and to pull the SE facade back to maintain the adjacent neighbor’s oblique views across to Simonstown and Kalk Bay Harbour.

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Form, light & ventilation This crank has a ripple effect on the building, finding its expression on the undulating facades and the roofscape and is most noticeable at the central atrium where the filtered afternoon sun and the clash of geometries come together at the floating staircase. At one end of the house the study cantilevers out into the stone cedars giving it a distinctly suspended “birds nest” feel, while at the other end of the house the balconies slice off the main geometry and float off into the sea views. The crank also made the vertical reticulation of services very challenging as these could only occur where the main walls crossed over each other and continuous vertical routes could be located. Following the cranked plan, a contemporary architectural language enabled the design to be opened up extensively to natural light and ventilation and views, providing each bedroom with breathtaking vistas of False Bay from Hangklip to Simonstown. Flat concrete roofs keep the profile long and low while pop up roofs bring light deeper into the living room and cloakroom. Looking down on the house, a bird’s eye view of the interplay of these roofs becomes the fifth elevation. The low roofs keep the new profile within the zoning height restriction and have been designed to be

Elemental Studio, Matt Pretorius & Stuart Thompson Elemental Studio, an architectural workshop co-founded by Matt Pretorius and Stuart Thompson, is a studio collective focussing on contemporary design excellence in architecture.

Located in the South Peninsula, the studio is involved in a number of residential, commercial and mixed-use projects in Cape Town and further afield.

Conservation and leveraging sustainability within the local context and the pursuit of a greener building practice are core pillars of the Studio’s design ethos, coupled with fresh thinking approaches to providing affordable and site specific solutions tailored to the client’s brief. The team is passionate about building design, seeking innovation and the delivery of an elegant contemporary solution.

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planted, with Astroturf laid in the interim as protection of the waterproofing. Site depressions and cavities existed in the slope behind the old house which provided pockets of space which were exploited, with minimal cut and fill, to create the elusive north-facing pool court and the central light well that brings north light and ventilation down to the second storey bedrooms and the ground floor flat through the floating stair in the central atrium. From the new wind protected north court the pool and braai activities can live through the house to False Bay beyond.

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Repurposing In addition to repurposing the existing floors and minimizing extension of the old house’s footprint, existing materials were recycled wherever possible and the staff living quarters were maintained throughout construction. The lam-beams from the old lounge roof were cut and used as the wood posts alongside the existing stair on the bedroom level. All the old wood doors were re-used in the ground floor flat and all the new stone retaining walls were cut from site quarried stone. Wherever possible the cut was retained for fill, which was challenging at times and constrained the site operations.

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Smart Green Home 2017

Energy Modeling

The energy modeling of the house on certified software ensures that the thermal performance of the structure in conjunction with its orientation and the nature of its openings is such that it complies with the energy efficiency requirements of the National Building Regulations, SANS 10400 part XA. The actual building is modeled and compared to a reference building “on the basis of annual energy consumption and maximum energy demand. This comparison is made on the basis of the energy required to maintain a set temperature range in both the actual and the reference buildings. In order to facilitate this comparison, both buildings are simulated as being air-conditioned spaces, with a controlled temperature range of 19-25°C. If the energy intensity (annual energy consumption per square meter) values for the actual building are below those of the reference building, the building is deemed to be compliant.”

The electrical load on the house is reduced with the use of gas cooking, a heat pump to augment the hot water supply, biomass ducted heating, extensive natural lighting with low energy LED lighting throughout the house. The main electrical distribution board is also wired to be Solar PV ready. Once the house’s annual consumption is assessed phase 2 is to retro fit a solar photovoltaic panel array on the garage roof with the inverter and battery storage in the garage. The new concrete roof has rigid foam insulation between the slab and screed, the popup roof and all dry walls have fibrous

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insulation and all external brick walls have a cavity. Together with the optimal solar orientation for this site, roof overhangs and the additional fixed screens and shutters the house has an energy intensity of 71,42 (KWh/m2) which is just lower than the reference model. This energy efficient performance was also achieved using single glazing and aluminium frames, which indicates that good early planning and considered design can generate a simple but smart green home.

Passive heating and cooling

Passive warming of the house is facilitated by opening up to the rising sun in the mornings and then as the day progresses – controlling penetration of the afternoon sun into the light well with cranked overhangs, fixed screens and sliding screens while blocking the chilly South Easter as it picks up into the afternoon. Night time heating is by biomass via a high output closed combustion wood burning fireplace in the main living area that is ducted to the bedrooms below - all insulated with wood flooring. Passive cooling in summer is achieved through opening the house up on both sides at the upper level providing extensive cross ventilation and warm air discharge. Typically from Kalk Bay to St. James in summer, under certain conditions the South Easter can be howling whereas locally a positive pressure cell forms and resulting contour winds can blow offshore from the mountainside, across the pool to cool the house.

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Smart Green Home 2017

Rainwater Harvesting

The house sits midway between the upper and lower landscaped gardens – both terraced with old and new stone walls cut from the same stone on site and planted with indigenous water wise local species.

All aliens were removed and the old growth established decades ago was protected throughout construction. Hairpin paths weave their way in between terraces and come to rest on small platforms with views out from between the flora. Rainwater for this enchanted garden is harvested from all decks and roofs and reticulated off to concealed water tanks which are positioned on a platform above the lower garden. From here water is pumped up to a second set of tanks on the uppermost section of the upper garden above the house. The two respective gardens are then irrigated from these tanks across the steep slope with gravity providing pressure.

Extra upper level tanks are planned to gravity feed rainwater directly into the low usage cisterns for flushing and to the laundry for clothes washing. The staff and self contained flat on the lower level has the grey water from basins and showers reticulated to discharge directly into the garden via a linear soak away.

Hot water supply

The domestic hot water supply is to comply with the requirements of SANS 10400XA

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section 4.1 where at least 50% of the annual average domestic hot water must be provided by heat pumps or solar collectors.

The original thinking was to try and improve on this with the supply of hot water via a solar thermal system, but upon investigation it was found that the overshadowing of the mountain peak meant the solar gain would be compromised in summer and minimal in winter – making the solar panels on such a system redundant. In addition the owner’s usage patterns are to occupy the house mainly during summer with peak family activity in December and January which meant that a heat pump system would be better suited to the low solar environment and to a usage pattern with quiet periods without water flow in the system. To boost functionality the hot water is reticulated by an pumpedring main insulated with 25mm polyurethane foam and fitted to the underside of the slab on the middle level – making for short runs that tee off to the various bathrooms with minimal wastage of “red” water (cold water typically wasted before the hot runs). The most efficient hot water arrangement for the house layout and usage was to have one large 7.8kw heat pump supplying two insulated 200L hot water cylinders linked in series. These were placed out of site in the garage undercroft where they could be grouped and easily serviced and the heat pump is open to the surrounding air.

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Hidden Valley Wine Farm’s brief to Rustic Homes, leaders in timber frame construction, was to build two luxury wooden cabins, including a deck and pool area connecting the two, above the farm’s olive groves.

Luxury timber construction for

Helderberg wine farm Timber frame construction was an ideal solution to the challenges posed by the sloping, hard-to-reach site. Thanks to its lightweight properties and ease of prefabrication off site, the structural components could be transported to site and erected with minimal impact on the surroundings. The turnaround time was also relatively brief, as compared with traditional building methods.

The exterior of the cabins is cladded in hard-wearing and weather-resistant Eucalyptus marginata, or jarrah as it is more commonly known, as are the sliding screens shielding west-facing windows and doors from the afternoon sun. Jarrah also finds a home on the interior floors as well as in accents around the cabins.

Untreated balau (Shorea laevis) timber was used for the decking component of the project and has been left untreated so as to weather to an attractive natural silvery grey. Stainless steel cable railings complete the deck area, exposed timber roof trusses lend airy volume to the interior, and rafters extending from the inside out contribute a sense of simple continuity to the project.

Surrounded by vineyards and olive groves resting on ancient soils, the lodge and cottage at Hidden Valley Wine Farm represent a gentle and well-considered nod to their surrounds, not only by means of a light environmental footprint, but an exterior in harmony with its environs.

The case for timber construction Timber boasts many properties that make it particularly well suited to the homeowner, builder or property developer looking for a building option that is kinder to the environment, not just during its useful life, but across its entire lifecycle.

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Timber is unique in that, unlike other carbon-emitting building materials, during its ‘manufacturing’ process, it takes up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releases oxygen. Furthermore, since wood as a resource is grown and not finite, it remains the only truly renewable building material available to us.

SA Pine, predominantly used in timber frame construction in South Africa, has the propensity to take up and store between 600kgs to 1 ton of carbon from the atmosphere per cubic metre of wood. Timber is arguably the only building material that starts out having removed carbon from the atmosphere before its working life, which means it has a head start on mitigating the activities that will later make up its embodied energy by the time it gets to site, and the potential to contribute to a structure with an effective net zero carbon footprint.

Timber as a construction material also adds value from the very start of its journey. Not only does it fix carbon from the atmosphere as it grows, it supports employment in sectors up- and downstream, it is lighter than other ‘traditional’ building materials and therefore more energy efficient and less costly to transport, and it can take on generous insulation in its walls, floors and roof, making for a comfortable interior climate with far lower operational energy costs. A timber structure built to national standards is strong, durable, long-lasting, has good fire ratings and is an excellent option for building on eco-sensitive and hard-to-reach sites.

With good planning, sourcing of responsibly grown timber, adherence to legislation governing energy efficiency and usage, timber as a construction material is poised to be at the forefront of energy efficient and sustainable design and construction in South Africa.

Architect Francois du Toit Builder Rustic Homes Location Hidden Valley Wine Farm

For more information, visit www.rustichomes.co.za.

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The solar future is batteries

Humanity’s most important resource is energy, and the ultimate source is solar energy; how to harness and store this abundant and inexhaustible source, is the holy grail.

Until a few years ago solar panels were a rare sight in South Africa, largely limited to the roofs of a few affluent households.

This is changing rapidly. Concerns about power reliability and possible load-shedding have persuaded an increasing number of consumers to opt for solar power. This peace of mind, combined with cost-effective pricing and ease of use, particularly when compared to noisy diesel or petrol-powered generators, only increases when hedged against seemingly inevitable electricity price rises. The reduced impact on the environment is a bonus.

Solar PV should be considered in tandem with energy saving initiatives around the home. Such as replacing energy inefficient lighting and other appliances. Most energy companies provide an advisory service today and energy saving may be incorporated into the brief. Some energy companies will also offer a full audit service for a modest fee.

The 3 main components of a hybrid Solar PV system are the solar panels, the inverter and the battery. Whilst there are on-going improvements in the solar panels and new developments in inverter technology, the excitement in the industry is around battery technology.

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The Solar PV industry and the electric vehicle industry are essentially searching for the same thing. They both need advanced batteries to create more efficient, sustainable products that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

As electric vehicles become more popular, more companies are dedicating significant research and development funds to developing batteries, and they’re expanding into the energy storage business. Tesla is the first mainstream example (with their Powerwall battery), but Mercedes-Benz and BMW are also bringing standalone batteries to the market soon. South Africa has its own player in this field with the Freedom won Lithium Ion batteries.

Batteries SA has seen a major step up in battery storage technology in recent months. The prevalence of power outages and uncertainty with regard to load shedding has exposed the major drawback of grid tied solar pv.

Off grid and Hybrid solar pv systems are therefore very attractive for the South African market and fortunately battery technology is advancing rapidly. As mentioned above one

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of the world’s more memorable advances recently was the launch of the Tesla Powerwall. The Tesla Powerwall is a lithiumion (Li-ion) based technology. Lithium Ion batteries have been around for many years powering cell-phones, lap-top computers and electric cars.

Freedom Won V Tesla The Freedom Lite is also a lithium-ion battery and has been developed specifically for Africa’s tough conditions where the electrical supply is poor to non-existent, long power outages are experienced and a sustained high power output is required. At present the Powerwall cannot be connected to operate simultaneously in parallel with other units and it is not suitable for operating off grid. Also the Powerwall’s power output capability is too low to suit most residential needs. In comparison the similar capacity Freedom Lite Home 5/4 model is capable of delivering more than double the power output compared to the Powerwall (this difference increases for larger model Lites).

Another fantastic product on the market is the off grid ‘plug and play’ Treetops Sunplug.

It is a competitively priced and simple off-grid solar energy solution that delivers enough power to run essential home appliances such as LED lights, TVs, radios, small microwaves, induction motor fridges, kettles, stoves and washing machines. All components are contained in one box and the panels simply need to be plugged in.

Choosing your Battery Batteries used in home energy storage typically are made with one of three chemical compositions: lead acid, lithium ion, and saltwater.

Lead acid batteries are the most affordable in terms of upfront costs however over a 20 year period they cost more than lithium-ion because they will

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need to replaced more often than lithiumion batteries. Lead acid batteries are also much more temperamental then lithium-ion batteries and they are also more difficult to maintain.

Saltwater batteries sound attractive in that they don’t contain heavy metals, relying instead on saltwater electrolytes. However they are big, heavy and have low capacity.

Facts About Lithium Vs. Lead Acid Batteries Lead Acid has been the standard in batteries for decades. Why should you consider a lithium battery conversion?

Here are seven features explaining the disparity between lead acid and lithium-ion batteries.

1) Weight: Lithium-ion batteries are onethird the weight of lead acid batteries.

2) Efficiency: Lithium-ion batteries are nearly 100% efficient in both charge and discharge, allowing for the same amp hours both in and out. Lead acid batteries’ inefficiency leads to a loss of 15 amps while charging and rapid discharging drops voltage quickly and reduces the batteries’ capacity.

3) Discharge: Lithium-ion batteries are discharged 100% versus less than 80% for lead acid. Most lead acid batteries do not recommend more than 50% depth of discharge.

4) Cycle Life: Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries cycle 5000 times or more compared to just 400-500 cycles in lead acid. Cycle life is greatly affected by higher levels of discharge in lead acid, versus only slightly affected in lithium-ion batteries.

5) Voltage: Lithium-ion batteries maintain their voltage throughout the entire discharge cycle. This allows for greater and longerlasting efficiency of electrical components.

Lead acid voltage drops consistently throughout the discharge cycle.

There are essentially 3 types of solar PV systems: 1 G rid-Tied Solar Systems: A solar PV system that is connected to the utility power grid.

There is no battery and they only generate power when the utility power grid is available.

2 Off-Grid Solar Systems: An off-grid solar PV system allows you to store your solar power in batteries for use when the power grid goes down or if you are not on the grid.

3 Hybrid Solar Systems: Hybrid solar systems combine the best from grid-tied and off-grid solar systems.

Hybrid systems can provide the flexibility of being able to store the energy you generate during the day and keep a grid connection to your property.

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6) C ost: Despite the higher upfront cost of lithium-ion batteries, the true cost of ownership is far less than lead acid when considering life span and performance.

7) Environmental Impact: Lithium-ion batteries are a much cleaner technology and are safer for the environment.

Lithium batteries deliver higher-quality performance in a safer, longer-lasting package, they are the current best option and many solar companies now only install lithium-ion batteries. (http://www.relionbattery.com/blog/7-factsand-figures-comparing-lithium-ion-vs.-lead-acidbatteries)

Product Specifications As you consider your battery options, you will come across a lot of complicated product specifications, but the most important considerations are the following; 1) Capacity & power Capacity is the total amount of electricity that a solar battery can store, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Most home solar batteries are designed to be “stackable,” which means that you can include multiple batteries to get extra capacity.

While capacity tells you how big your battery is, it doesn’t tell you how much electricity it can provide at a given moment. To get the full picture, you also need to consider the battery’s power rating. In the context of solar batteries, a power rating is the amount of electricity that a battery can deliver at one time. It is measured in kilowatts (kW).

A battery with a high capacity and a low power rating would deliver a low amount of electricity (enough to run a few crucial appliances) for a long time. A battery with low capacity and a high power rating could run your entire home, but only for a few hours.

2) Depth of discharge (DoD) Most solar batteries need to retain some charge at all times due to their chemical composition. If you use 100 percent of a battery’s charge, its useful life will be significantly shortened.

The depth of discharge (DoD) of a battery refers to the amount of a battery’s capacity that has been used. Most manufacturers will specify a maximum DoD for optimal performance. For example, if a 10 kWh battery has a DoD of 90 percent, you shouldn’t use more than 9 kWh of the battery before recharging it. Generally speaking, a higher DoD means you will be able to utilize more of your battery’s capacity.

3) Round-trip efficiency A battery’s round-trip efficiency represents the amount of energy that can be used as a percentage of the amount of energy that it took to store it. For example, if you feed five kWh of electricity into your battery and can only get four kWh of useful electricity back, the battery has 80 percent round-trip

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efficiency (4 kWh / 5 kWh = 80%). Generally speaking, a higher round-trip efficiency means you will get more economic value out of your battery.

4) Battery life & warranty For most uses of home energy storage, your battery will “cycle” (charge and drain) daily.

The battery’s ability to hold a charge will gradually decrease the more you use it. Just like the battery in your cell phone.

Your solar battery will have a warranty that guarantees a certain number of cycles and/or years of useful life. Because battery performance naturally degrades over time, most manufacturers will also guarantee that the battery keeps a certain amount of its capacity over the course of the warranty.

Manufacturer Many different types of organizations are developing and manufacturing solar battery products, from automotive companies to tech startups. While a major automotive company entering the energy storage market likely has a longer history of product manufacturing, they may not offer the most revolutionary technology. By contrast, a tech startup might have a brand-new highperforming technology, but less of a track record to prove the battery’s long-term functionality. (energysage.com)

Eskom supply is most under pressure in the morning and the evening, this high demand could be shifted by setting timers to reduce the load at the peak times and allow certain appliances such as hot water cylinders to operate towards the middle of the day. A key element effectively changing this is to use one of the new energy efficient battery technologies to shift the load and reduce demand on the Eskom supply. The price per kWh for cycling the Lithium ion based technologies has already dipped below the high domestic tariff. There is also the possibility of the introduction of timeof-day billing (or ‘smart-metering’) which will further increase costs. Eskom is in the process of installing smart meters that will effectively boost the price of electricity at peak times. With the lowest rates being charged in the middle of the night (when demand is low) and high rates in the morning and early evening (when demand is at its peak). It will make increasing economic sense to store energy in batteries in off-peak times and consume it in peak times.

Solar PV is an investment in your future or an insurance policy against future electricity price rises. Grid tied Solar PV systems currently have a 4 to 6 year payback and battery systems have an 8 to 10 year payback with sufficient savings from electricity to pay for the financing thereof. It makes sense, both economic and environmental, to invest in solar with storage energy.

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www.blueskysolar.co.za

082 354 1269

Providing quality Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems for domestic and commercial clients in South Africa since 2014.

PV systems range from small, rooftop mounted systems that supply power to an individual household, to large utility-scale power stations.

Offering grid tied systems connected to the electrical grid and off-grid systems with batteries storage to supply power after sunset.

We aim to keep solar simple.

In addition to Solar PV, we offer Smart Metering installations and conduct Energy Audits.

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Fourleaf Estate has the edge

Based in Port Elizabeth, this development is the first residential project in Africa to meet the EDGE resourceefficiency standard and receive EDGE final certification.

Led by property development and marketing company, Similan, funded by the Housing Impact Fund of South Africa (HIFSA) and managed by the Development Impact Funds team within Old Mutual Alternative Investments, Fourleaf Estate

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boasts a number of efficiencies compared to traditional developments. It is up to 29% more energy efficient, up to 25% more water efficient and up to 43% less energy has been used to make construction materials.

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These significant energy savings are delivered to residents through practical solutions such as heat pumps for hot water, low-flow taps (which reduce hot water consumption through aeration), and the installation of water-efficient fittings such as low-flow showerheads and dual-flush toilets.

Reduced window-to-wall ratios and roof insulation ensure optimal energy efficiency.

When operated by residents in the way intended, this combination of factors will translate into annual utility bill savings of around R1280 per unit.

These savings, along with the embodied energy (which refers to the amount of energy expended and greenhouse gas emissions generated in the extraction, production, transport and installation of materials used for construction) are all measured with the EDGE App. The App uses sophisticated global data, localised to the South African context, to predict the embodied energy associated with the major construction specifications on a build.

Fourleaf was able to achieve 34% and 43% savings respectively in each of the unit types by using cored bricks, cellulose roof insulation and clay roofing tiles on timber rafters, and other initiatives.

As the fund manager for this project, Old Mutual is delighted to be at the forefront of green housing developments by bringing

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the first EDGE-certified residential project to the market in Africa. “Sustainability is high on the agenda of our clients. As fund managers, we can provide a tangible indicator of green environmental performance by encouraging EDGE certification on our housing developments,” says Lenore Cairncross, who has been leading the EDGE certification process for HIFSA’s new housing developments.

HIFSA has a pipeline of between 2 500 and 3 000 new housing units over the next two to three years that will be designed to meet the EDGE standard and achieve certification. HIFSA aims to deliver a marketrelated, risk-adjusted return to investors and create new affordable housing stock to address the housing shortage. Old Mutual Life Assurance Company South Africa is coinvested in HIFSA alongside the Government Employees Pension Fund (managed by the Public Investment Corporation), the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the Eskom Pension Fund.

EDGE is a measurable way for residential developers to optimise the performance of their building design and be rewarded for resource efficiency through certification.

Optimising performance, rewarding efficiency EDGE (“Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies”) is a green building certification system for emerging markets created by IFC, a member of the World Bank Group.

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By using the EDGE App, annual savings of 123 230 kWH of electricity and more than 7 500 Kl of water have been projected for the Fourleaf project.

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EDGE is a measurable way for residential developers to optimise the performance of their building design and be rewarded for resource efficiency through certification. The Green Building Council of South Africa is the exclusive certification services provider for IFC within the country.

The EDGE rating requires achieving savings of 20% in each of the three categories: operational energy and water usage and a reduction in the embodied energy of materials used in the project’s construction.

Grahame Cruickshanks, Managing Executive: Residential at the GBCSA, says that awarding the first EDGE final certification in South Africa is a significant milestone, not just for the GBCSA and its partners in the programme, but for the South African residential property sector and its journey towards becoming more sustainable. “What sets EDGE apart is that it is comparatively simple to use and certification is affordable, making it invaluable to developers looking for smart and effective ways to differentiate their product in a tough economic climate. EDGE offers occupants utility cost savings, whilst also tackling important environmental issues.”

Ecolution Consulting, the EDGE auditors for the Fourleaf project, ensured that all criteria were met in order to achieve certification. “We believe that EDGE will transform the residential market by embedding sustainability at its core,”

says André Harms, director of Ecolution Consulting and an EDGE Expert. “We are proud to have played a vital role in the first EDGE final certification in Africa.”

According to Similan, Fourleaf is predicted to realise annual savings of R414 000 by applying EDGE-certified energy and water efficiency measures. “By using the EDGE App, annual savings of 123 230 kWH of electricity and more than 7 500 Kl of water have been projected for the Fourleaf project,” explains Pieter du Toit, Development Manager at Similan. The current market motivates Similan to continually look for ways that will result in immediate and future cost savings for home owners, so designing sustainable homes is one of their key goals.

By adding small technologies such as lowflow faucets and showerheads, Similan is able to make a big difference in the lives of their customers.

Located in the Parsonsvlei suburb of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape, the first phase of the Fourleaf Estate residential development brings 125 two and threebedroom green homes to the South Africa property market, which range in size from 47m² to 90m².

Globally, IFC’s aim is to transform 20% of new residential and commercial building in rapidly-industrialising countries by 2020, driven by local green building councils and global certification providers. In South Africa this 20% target translates to approximately 50 000 homes by 2020, an ambitious goal which GBCSA is actively pursuing.

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Find your place in the sun at Solinti

Midrand’s new property development inspired by nature Solinti is the new residential property development currently underway by Osho Property Holdings that offers secure, energetic living in the heart of Midrand.

Sprawling across eight hectares of gorgeous greenery and communal space, the 552-apartment and 24-villa estate brings nature and urban living together.

The estate is designed with a focus on comfort, durability, utility, economy and energy efficiency. The development consists of a variety of sporting and recreational facilities catering to all age groups. The homes are spacious and come standard with a plunge pool, an en-suite staff accommodation, a separate laundrycum-scullery area, a guest toilet and an automated semi-basement garage. In certain cases even store rooms have been provided. The 1st and 2nd residences, as well as villa owners, can enjoy private roof gardens. Plunge pools are provided in all the apartments and a jacuzzi with a lap pool in the villas. Bedrooms have their own open-to-sky balconies or covered patios that make the apartments bright and 90% day-lit.

Each home is equipped with sleek modern finishes, white cementitious terrazzo flooring, Upvc windows, instant gas geysers, gas hobs, LED lighting, the latest fittings and fixtures, prepaid electricity metering and an energy-efficient built-in oven. The open-plan master bedrooms feature “his” and “her” wardrobes, a double vanity as well as a frameless shower and bath.

Fast fibre Internet connectivity is available in every residence, complete with interresidence phone connectivity. A three-tier access control biometric system makes the home intruder-proof, giving one peace of mind.

Certain buildings have an entrance foyer and every building has an enclosed refuse room for safety and cleanliness.

Outside the residences, Solinti offers beautiful relaxation and entertainment areas with something for every member of the family; from trampoline parks and mini sports fields through to tennis, volley ball

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and squash courts as well as a lawn bowl and reflexology park. The club house is fully equipped with everything from a spa and salon through to a fully equipped gym and swimming pool.

There are Wi-Fi hotspots in the estate, so residents can answer emails and chat when on the move. The pedestrian and vehicular lanes within the development allow for uninterrupted pedestrian and vehicular movement. Take a stroll around the estate without worrying about cars on the road.

The residences range from R2.2 million excluding VAT for a 224.31 square meter 3 bed 2 Bath residence with its own garage, staff accommodation, plunge pool, guest toilet, study and roof terrace garden to R5.8 million excluding VAT for a 524 square meter triplex villa that includes a garage, an office, staff accommodation, surrounding gardens, study, kitchen with scullery, laundry deck and party area.

Solinti is located a mere 10km from Sandton, 30km from Pretoria, 40km from OR Tambo International Airport and only 7km from the Midrand Gautrain Station.

The serene estate overlooks the Rietspruit River, yet gives easy access to South Africa’s largest shopping mall, The Mall of Africa, and other convenient urban facilities.

For more information, call our contact centre agents on 087 550 8182 or send an email to info@solinti.co.za; alternatively do a live chat on our website, www.solinti.co.za.

Clients can visit our sales and information centre at the Blue Hills Shopping Centre where they can experience 360˚ Virtual Tour of the residences. All the above options are available 7 days a week.

A home is a secure sanctuary for you and your family, but it is also the building block of community life. Within Solinti, you’ll find a living space that gives you innovative technology and comfortable living within a sustainable, renewable environment. Your home’s interior spaces are comfortable and convenient, yet tasteful and modern.

Sumit Agrawal, CEO of Osho Property Holdings

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Vertical Gardens:

Small space, large impact The rise in popularity of vertical gardens is no tall story. Green walls are transforming spaces in inner-city apartments and smaller homes.

Vertical panels are used for growing herbs and other food plants in limited spaces, they come in standard or custom sizes to fit any space. The fabric used is a tough and durable geotextile which has the feel of felt and backed with a thick plastic to protect the surface behind it.

The panels feature pockets that are large and roomy so root systems can get established – for healthier plants. This makes the panels are easy to fill and plant up, and make harvesting more accessible.

The pockets are simple to replant, will last many years, and can be cleaned with a gentle brushing of soap and water.

Differently-abled individuals find vertical veg pocket panels very accessible as it no longer requires bending down to garden, and they are within easy reach even from a wheel chair.

As the plants are at eye level, any pests and diseases on the plants are noticed early on.

Vertical Veg (Pty) Ltd is a Cape Townbased SME, specialised in manufacturing vertical gardening panels. As a truly South African product the components are all

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locally sourced and the panels are hand made by our diligent staff.

With several years’ experience, Vertical Veg have built up solid base of happy clients through transforming spaces with green walls. Offering tiny projects of just a single panel to great retaining walls containing 60 of our largest pocket panels.

Starting in Cape Town, from alleyways in Woodstock and courtyards in Observatory, to fabulous mansions in Camps Bay and Llandudno, Vertical Veg have been the backdrop for an award-winning chef at the Durban Good Food and Wine Show, and taken part in Decorex Cape Town and Johannesburg, and Homemakers shows.

As actively part of the Green Cape Forum we exhibit regularly to the sector, and, have completed a fully-irrigated wall for a Wellness Centre in a courtyard on the first floor of a building, covered upcycled containers with panels (which help insulate and keep them cooler) as well as watertanks which are popping up all over the Western Cape.

Vertical Veg products are sold at The Old Biscuit Mill and in the weekly Neighbourgoods Market and are available online at Yuppiechef and Tanya Visser.

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Bicycles (Ebikes)

Electric 28

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WORDS Hiten Parmar Albert Einstein once said: “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” What would he have to say about the eBike?

Besides the need for the bike to keep moving, the battery must also be kept charged and looked after, or else you will lose your easy ride and end up having to peddle yourself up the steep hills of life.

So utilize the opportunities given to you in life, just like a battery to help you climb the hill with an eBike. But with it, comes the energy needed and responsibility to keep the battery charged. Also, don't blame the hill, the battery or the bike if you get stuck half way up a steep incline of life. Ensure you were prepared and occasionally when there are the unexpected turns on an uphill journey, you might just have to “help my trap”.

It was in 31 December 1895 that Ogden Bolton Jr. was granted a U.S. Patent for a battery-powered bicycle with a “direct current (DC) hub motor mounted in the rear wheel.” With the increase in global urbanization in the 20th century, the use of eBikes has experienced rapid growth in both European countries and developing nations such as China and India. China is the world's leading producer of eBikes and there are roughly 200 million in use in China, and sales are expanding rapidly in Brazil, India, the United States of America, and in European countries like the Netherlands and Switzerland. eBikes consist of a bicycle frame with pedals that include an electric motor, usually in the form of a hub motor, connected to the rear or front wheel, where a bike without pedals would be considered as scooters.

The eBike allows a rider to either pedal the bike and leverage assisted power from the motor drive system, or the rider may use the twist grip accelerator placed on the handle bars to run on pure electric drive.

The benefits of eBikes are many and often go unrealized, some of which include: • No drivers license or insurance required to ride. However some countries limit the maximum speed the bike is allowed to achieve. In South Africa the legal maximum speed is 25 km/h • Less expensive to run than fuel-powered vehicles with no exhaust emissions • The eBike is quieter and safer to run when compared to conventional fuel powered motorbikes. However, some cities have put restrictions on their use due to them being used by courier services in cities such as New York to “zip” through traffic and cause problems at pedestrian intersections • eBikes can be used to avoid and skip through congested traffic areas and modern eBikes can achieve up to 140 km on one charge • Efficiency with affordable parking options, where eBikes can fit on any normal bike rack or railing. However, charge points for eBikes would have to be considered in places where they are used regularly • In many countries, the city’s public transportation systems like trams, trains and subways have dedicated carriages that accommodate bikes or eBikes for long distance commuting. These can be also used to commute workers quietly without exhaust fumes within large warehouses or factories.

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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

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Flexible and powerfull control for room comfort functions Improve safety and lower energy costs Smart homes that connect appliances, safety, security systems and home energy equipment are a burgeoning trend.

C-Bus eDLT and Network Automation Controller deliver intuitive, flexible and comprehensive room control integrated in a sleek, modern design.

Many functions can be activated with a hand gesture, with the interface recognizing the direction of movement as either horizontal or vertical.

Thermostats, light, blinds and more can easily be controlled.

The C-Bus Network Automation Controller offers the same control functions.

Room setup changes can be accommodated via software.

Either of the C-Bus interface products makes it possible to improve safety and lower energy costs. Those are the two main reasons cited by consumers as motivation to buy a smart home device.

These interface products are part of the connected technologies we create that reshape industries, transform cities and enrich lives.

www.schneider-electric.co.za

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