TO BUILD Publication - Issue 3

To Build Handbook

issue 3

Issue 3 • July 2011

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FOREWORD

Issue 3 “The man that stops advertising to save money is like the man who stops the clock to save time” Thomas Jefferson To advertise your products and services to the correct targeted audience, won’t make you stop advertising because it is value added to your products and services. TO BUILD promises to deliver constant excellence in exposure to get our advertisers direct exposure to their targeted audiences. We are very thankful for our regular advertisers who see the value of advertising in TO BUILD. It is with great pleasure to announce that our new website was launched, which is more user friendly and will get our advertisers additional exposure at no extra cost www.mediaxpose.co.za I would like to once again thank all of our advertisers for their great support and we are looking forward to see all of you on board again, within the next issue which is due in November 2011.

Please note that all editorial content can be forwarded to our editor, Peter J Muller, for possible publication for future issues editor@petermuller.co.za Please visit us at our stand (Hall 3 – Stand D17) at Decorex Johannesburg, from 5 to 9 August, at the Gallagher Convention Centre.

I trust that you will enjoy reading this issue of TO BUILD.

Elroy

All the Best…

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Publishers

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Media XPOSE excellence in exposure Shaun Mays Elroy van Heerden Cell: +27 72 365 4877 elroy@mediaxpose.co.za Tel: +27 21 433 1348 / 2309 Fax: +27 86 516 7277 PO Box 27337, Rhine Road, 8050 Editor Peter Muller Cell: +27 76 155 1113 editor@petermuller.co.za Editorial Contributors Andrea Vinassa Nonhlanhla Mashego Lisa Taylor Mary Anne Constable Stephanie Forbes Daniel van der Merwe Lelanie Slater Warren Gray Rethabile Mogaki DESIGN & LAYOUT CDC Design Tel: +27 21 704 3319 cdcdesign@telkomsa.net ADVERTISING Rene van Heerden Miranda Makapela Tel: +27 21 433 1349 advertising@mediaxpose.co.za Content Co-ordinator Kaleigh Emin Tel: +27 21 433 1348 / 2309 Fax: +27 21 433 1349 artwork@mediaxpose.co.za Accounts Shaun Mays shaun@mediaxpose.co.za Melany Smith accounts@mediaxpose.co.za Printed by Tandym Print www.tandym.co.za Disclaimer: The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher or its agents. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information published, the publisher does not accept responsibility for any error or omission contained herein.

Consequently no person connected with the publication of this journal will be liable for any loss or damage sustained by any reader as a result of action following statement or opinions expressed herein. The publisher will give consideration to all material submitted but does not take responsibility for damage or its safe return.

COVER ART

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Issue 3 Foreword Editor’s Note News & Reviews Interview: Peter Stuchbury Project Focus: The Deepwater Woolshed Student Work: University of Johannesburg Out & About Advertisers’ Index

CONTENTS 2 8 10 16

Sustainable design principles

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The next frontier: individual environmental behaviour

32

Easy steps to a sustainable garden

44

Cost implication of sustainability

48

Durban Bridges, beautified and protected by Sika

64

23

Cool Roofs

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31 41 47

SIP: The fast way to build

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Using modeling and simulation to design better-lit spaces

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53 61 67 73 79 87 91 95

Alternative Energy Sources: Water

100

Training vital for paint industry to avoid C.P.A. breaches

124

Exterior colour selection

128

Going Green in the Kitchen

134

Biogas initiatives in rural areas

138

Quality is the NHBRC’S priority

148

Sustainable materials

150

New Robor Hybrid Steel Structure System saves time and money

157

Sustainable concrete

160

Benefits of sustainable design: Economy

166

Lafarge Gypsum creates a legacy for tomorrow

170

‘Green folds’: Green Design VS. Sustainable Design

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20 54 178 183

Divisions Architects Interior & Exterior Design & Décor Landscape Architects Quantity Surveyors Engineering: Consulting & Structural Flooring Roofing Walls Windows & Doors Bricks, Paving & Stone Shutters, Blinds & Awnings Ceilings & Partitioning Automation, Electrical, Lighting & Air Conditioning Security & Fencing Timber & Decking Fire Places & Braais Paint & Decorative Coatings Kitchens Bathrooms Furniture Construction & Contractors Steel Cement & Concrete Building Products & Services Green Building

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Features

99 109 113 117 121 131 137 143 147 155 159 165 173

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Editor’s Note “Earth is just the most perfect place in which to live: its continents and islands, oceans, lakes and rivers support an amazing abundance and variety of life. Our planet provides the ideal incubator and shelter for this to happen.”

Llwellyn Van Wyk 1

In this issue we focus on various aspects of sustainable design within the built environment. This is such a large field, ranging from site selection through to building maintenance, including materials, energy consumption and quality of the indoor environment.

In recent years the manufacturers within the built environment has moved their focus towards becoming a more sustainable industry, with companies investing vast amounts of money in developing materials and methods to reduce waste, decrease energy consumption and improve working environments. While the Green Building Council of South Africa and other similar organizations from around the world, focus on recognition the top sustainable/green buildings; Legislation is focusing on enforcing the minimum requirements, mostly regarding energy efficiency. Future plans are in place to develop similar legislation for water efficiency.

It remains the responsibility of each citizen of this planet to strive towards reducing the demands we place on its resources. The role of those involved in the built environment, must go further than just meeting the minimum requirements set by legislation but should aim to make a real change.

It is generally accepted that the built environment contribute approx 65% of the worlds solid waste, consume 39% of the total energy consumed and contribute 40% of the worlds CO2 emissions.2 Keeping this in mind, it is clear why the built environment was the industry earmarked as being able to make the biggest change the fastest. In doing our bid for the earth, we feature several articles addressing several areas covered by sustainability. We also include the first instalment in a series on the Benefits of Sustainability and a series on Alternative Energy Sources, and will continue with these in our next issues.

All of us at To Build trust the content in this issue will assist in raising awareness amongst all those involved within the built environment. Giving professionals, clients, developers and end users some background information and guidance on implementable sustainable principles within their respective fields.

We also include two new features in this issue, Out & About, a pictorial report on events happening within the built environment, and Student Work, where we feature works by students from South Africa’s architectural schools.

I hope you find the information in this issue both informative and interesting. If you feel there is a building we need to look at, or a person we need to interview or wish to contribute to our editorial content, send the information for consideration to editor@petermuller.co.za.

1 Van Wyk, L., (2005). An Architect’s Guide to Designing for Sustainability, A Joint Commonwealth Foundation and Commonwealth Association of Architects Developmental Study, CSIR, Pretoria 2 www.usgbc.org.

Peter Muller Editor

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News & Reviews SANS 10400 Update: With the new National Building Regulations (NBR) gazetted in 2008, it had to happen at some stage. The deemed to satisfy rules for the NBR have been published as mentioned in our previous issue of To Build. Most of the parts of the SANS 10400 series were published over the last couple of months, with only five parts remain outstanding. The South African Buro of Standards indicated in response to a query recently that two further parts of the remaining five have been approved for publication. Part XA and Part L should be published at the end of July, with the remaining three parts – all structural in nature - ready for the public comment stage. Part XA – Energy Efficiency, will see drastic changes to the way buildings are designed with varying requirements regarding fenestration, insulation and energy consumptions. Be on the lookout for this document as it will require a drastic change in approach from all in the built environment.

Part S of the regulations was published shortly after going to print of our previous issue of To Build. Several changes were made to the final document, that were not contained in the draft. This standard will also have a significant effect on how design is approached, especially in public buildings. The requirements for stairs, ramps, ablution facilities and parking changed the way accessibility is approached within the built environment. The disability sector believe there is still a huge amount of work to be done regarding this standard to ensure all disabilities are covered, and to allow equal access to buildings for all. The new standard remains a big improvement from the 1990 standard and is a good starting point for future work in this regard.

For more information or to purchase the SANS 10400 series of documents, visit www.sabs.co.za.

eVolo Winners:

winner

eVolo runs a yearly competition for skyscrapers. This year is no exception. Various designers enter this competition to show their design skills. The winners were announced in March, with first place awarded to Atelier CMJN (Julien Combes, Gaël Brulé) from France for their ‘LO2P Recycling Skyscraper’ in New Delhi, India. The project is designed as a large-scale wind turbine that filters polluted air with a series of particle collector membranes, elevated greenhouses, and mineralization baths.

For more on this exciting competition and the top 32 entries, visit http://www.evolo.us/category/2011/.

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News & Reviews Formica Colours Range: PG Bison recently launched their new exciting colours in the Formica & Melawood ranges. The launch was part of the March KSA associate evening held in Wynberg, Johannesburg. It was a glamorous event attended by various industry representatives.

Exciting new colours have been added to an already comprehensive range of colours, with colours such as lila, plum and crystal blue featured. They also included some textured changes to the range. Certain colours and textures in the range is only available in either Formica or Melawood and availability needs to be confirmed with PG Bison.

For more information visit www.pgbison.co.za.

Terrasafe launched: Terraforce, has been in the Concrete Retaining Block (CRB) industry for years.

With no specific SANS standard addressing CRB’s, they have been providing a comprehensive service, assisting clients with structural design and other services.

With this in mind, Terraforce contacted the International Council of Building Officials (ICBO) in California to prepare a comprehensive evaluation report in compliance with NCMA specifications. With several CBR retaining wall failures, Terraforce has launched Terrasafe.

Terrasafe provides first-class engineering, management, and specialist technical services to users of any of the Terraforce products. Through Terrasafe, Terraforce aim to set industry standards and make a significant contribution throughout South Africa and the world. Their new Quality Assurance system address all their activities from concept, right through to the maintenance phase of each project.

For more on Terraforce and Terrasafe, visit www.terraforce.com.

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News & Reviews Grundfos launches MGFlex motor optimised for solar power: GRUNDFOS South Africa recently launched its new state of the art solar driven booster pump, solar driven pool pump and MG Flex motors at a glittering event held at the Nelson Mandela bay stadium, where they hosted more than 180 guests.

Grundfos solar surface pumps provide the perfect sustainable, reliable and cost efficient alternative to irregular water supply solutions in remote locations, or for highly specific applications anywhere. These pumps provide individual solutions to water problems where conventional water supply systems fail or simply cannot reach. Although the initial investment including solar panel is higher, the operating cost is minimal with the payback time being over a relatively short period of time bearing in mind the increased rate of power in South Africa and with no end in sight.

For more information contact Grundfos (PTY) Ltd at 011 579 4800

New image for Van Dyck:

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CONTACT

Dr Mehran Zarrebini, CEO of Van Dyck, recently announced that it is time for change at Van Dyck. Launching a new logo, branding and corporate vision, that encompass the fast changing pace of their external environment. The new logo has a younger feel to it, that shows their energetic, yet experienced history. The new colours also reflect their commitment to the environment.

They also updated their vision with a focus towards the future. ‘To be a world-class manufacturer of soft floor coverings as defined by the customers we serve. It is an organisation that has in its DNA, honesty, integrity, hard work and is committed to enhancing society’s ability to build a sustainable future through environmentally and socially responsible practises,’ Says Dr Zarrebini in an internal press release.

For more information on Van Dyck carpets, visit www.vandyckcarpets.com.

Tel: 021 433 1349 / 2309 Fax: 086 516 7277 Mobile: 072 365 4877 Website: www.mediaxpose.co.za

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News & Reviews Green building conference: The fourth GBCSA Convention and Exhibition will be held at the CTICC in Cape Town between 26 and 28 October 2011. This annual event has become one of the highlights of the South African property and construction industry calendar. Cutting edge information in green building and sustainability are presented by highly acclaimed experts from around the world. This should inspire new thinking in green and sustainable building and design. This is not merely an event where high profile green building experts and key decision-makers in the industry gather, but an opportunity for like minds to make a real difference in the built environment. “Our goal is to inspire innovation and new ways of thinking,” says the Green Building Council of South Africa.

Amongst the confirmed speakers are Jason McLennan, Professor Gerhard Hauslauden, David Waldren, Dylan Brady, Elena Bondareva and Anthony De Francesco.

For more information on the Green Building Council of South Africa’s Convention and Exhibition, visit www.gbcsa-convention.org.za.

Decorex: Decorex Cape Town was a very exciting time for To Build. Our stall drew a lot of interest from passersby. We are very excited to announce that we will be exhibiting at Decorex Johannesburg in August again. A very exciting new stand design will be featured and we look forward to seeing all of you that can make it there.

For more information visit www.decorex.co.za.

NCS Colour Scan 2.0 Review NCS recently launched their Colour Scan 2.0, a lightweight powerful portable colour measurement tool.. If you ever found yourself in a situation where you had to match a colour or get the existing colour of a wall or something else. This is the toy for you.

This scanner has memory to store up to 100 colours and lets users add text or voice tags to each entry. It displays the colour’s translation in RGB, CMYK, etc. It provides lightness values. It also suggest similar colours to help create combinations right there and then.

Having had limited time play around with it, it was quite interesting and very accurate.

The NCS Colour Scan 2.0 is a bit on the expensive side, but if you work a lot with colour it is an amazing tool to have in your arsenal, not only to match existing colours accurately, but also to check if the right colour was used.

If you are interested in more information contact NCS South Africa at 011 486 3190 or www.ncscolour.co.za

Competition: We are giving away two NCS Exterior Colour Fans valued at R 775 each at Decorex Johannesburg. Come visit the To Build stand at Decorex and place your business card in the entry box and we will draw the lucky winner towards the end of Decorex!

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ADVERTORIAL

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Interview

Peter Stutchbury shares his insights with us

Bluescope Steel recently brought out award winning Australian architect, Peter Stutchbury, to present several talks on his work and recent achievements.

To Build had an opportunity to interview this acclaimed architect.

TB: Please give us a brief history about yourself and how long you have been involved in Architecture.

PS: I am Australian, born in Sydney, but spend a lot of time in the desert on our family property, as well as in the garage with my father, who was an engineer/maker of things. I have spend, a significant time in the landscape as a holiday maker, because holidays in Australia is generally holidays in the landscape. My holidays as a kid used to be in the landscape, but as a youth I would get in the car, with a surfboard on the roof, and drive up and down the coast. So we drive up and down the coast and find campsites that were selected for their comfort, that is climatic comfort. They were out of the wind, have a bit of sun in the winter and have quick access to the beach, and we would surf. What I am starting to understand, is how much my background is informed by the way I look at things. I think we all have that responsibility. In coming to do architecture, it had to be an architecture that understood where it was, because that is what I knew. It would be very irresponsible to start putting up architectural edifices that could be anywhere. I remember once driving across the Great Dividing Range – which is not a big mountain range – but it is our only bit of topography. Getting to the site and looking back and seeing this beautiful soft blue mountain range and just sitting back, and there was this huge rock outcrop and it did not look foreign.

It looked beautiful, and it looked beautiful because it belongs in that mountain range. If that piece of rock was anywhere else, it would look very odd. I thought to myself: “It’s not a difficult thing to make something belong. It’s just a comprehension of what is, and what is least offensive. Not least offensive, but what least offends that place and that in this case happens to be architecture, but it could be a bush track, a campsite or a work of art.”

TB: You are here as a guest of Blue Scope Steel and the South African Green Building Council, are you involved with the Green Building Council in Australia?

PS: I have deliberately remained outside the various environmental/lobby bodies for any particular cause, because I do not think that it is a wise move for a National/International thinker. I think It is much more important to express your views publically, than to be part of a specific group, that could incorrectly focus who you are.

TB: Your designs generally makes us of natural ventilation and specific materials, which makes your buildings more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Where did your passion for this come from?

PS: It is not a passion, it is common sense! What I think we need to do, as designers and designers are far reaching. We have to be incredible aware that we are guiding a lot of thinking. We are actually establishing new value systems all the time. And it is important to ensure that those new value systems are manageable and sustainable.

Once you understand landscape, and I do not mean it just in the generic physical term. I mean it in an emotional, physical and spiritual way. When you understand landscape, then you can make decision.

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Interview This then allows you to also make architecture with those decisions. I do not think that anything that is sustainable, is sustainable without beauty. I think that the human nature and human sustainability have a lot to do with beauty. Dare I say it – If you see a person walking down the street, who dresses without impression and has no care about himself or care about others, and adjacent to him you see a person who is elegant and dignified and beautifully managed. You would want to look. And it is the same in architecture.

When you see something that is obviously well thought about, you would want to know more about it.

TB: In your designs, you place a great focus on the ‘genius loci’ or the sense of place. Your designs always seem to capture that sense of place.

PS: You know if you get a client that comes to you with a site, that is a totally unique proposition. As architects, part of our sustainable understanding is doing buildings for people that last. Not just last physically, but spiritually. There is no point in doing a building that lasts 5 years and then sell it. That is the service industry.

A building has to sustain you from the day you commission it, till the day you die. It must be something you find enormous joy in going back to. Designing something for people is an art in itself. That is a gift. Designing something for a place is also a gift, but it is also an understanding, and requires a lot learning and attention. So does people to a degree, but people are more intuition. Like being able to go to a site, and work out the way it feels, and how it falls and where the patterns are. There is a lot of geographic understanding in that.

It is a connection with people and place. That makes our buildings last, and that is why our buildings are all different. They are not different for difference sake. You know what is very interesting. All our buildings that won the highest award in the country, have only won when the client were there for the jury presentation. I sm sure it is the client that connected the jury with the whole persona and logic and aesthetic of the place.

And suddenly the judges went, “there is the missing link.” And that is all about sustainability too, because my job is sustaining people, just as much as it is about sustaining the world. If you allow people to feel good about themselves, and good about where they live, like in the most interesting ways. If you provide them with an ordinary building, their lives are outside that building. The building means nothing in their lives other than being a shelter. If you provide someone with an aesthetic, a reason for going home, and a poetry and geometry, that they are trying to understand, their lives is just totally enhanced. And that is our job.

TB: Patrick Schoemacher, from the practice of Zaha Hadid, describes 2 types of Architects, Avant-Garde, or High Art Architects, and Commercial or Mainstream Architects. Which one would you classify yourself, as and why?

PS: Neither. He is making those definitions based on his experience. You know there is a seam, of architecture, which is about basic truth. Commercialism is a basic truth, it is survival and Avant-Gard eis also a basic truth, it is an Impressionism. I am sure I can design a beautiful building that does not understanding where it is, and it is a beautiful building. I just cannot do it. My best understanding of buildings is a farm shed, that is just a rectangular building with the side that opens, against the weather. The weather comes from the other side, it would be stupid to have the hay facing the rain. That is what I learned. I learned how to make a fence, and a gate, because the closest settlement is 2 hours away. I learned when you sail a boat, to trim the sail, and you learn to be efficient with the wind so that you go in or you do not. I did not learn sculpture. I was looking at one of Zaha Hadid’s buildings the other day, and it is a wonderful work of sculpture. For me sometimes, there is a lot of waste in that, practical waste. I would find it difficult to be subject to that kind of criticism. So I cannot do that.

TB: I have not seen any heritage work that you have been involved in. Heritage buildings are usually consumers of resources, not energy efficient and not sustainable, but they are protected by law. How do one bring sustainability into this?

PS: One of the best heritage projects I have seen is Castelvecchio Museum restored by Carlo Scarpa. It is a historic place that has not been restored methodically. They have been restored with the future in mind,

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Interview being restored to make you aware of what was and in some ways make you aware in what it can be, so they are insertions to a degree. I am sure that a lot of the historic building we preserve are not worth preserving.

I agree there is a great art in going into an old building and restoring it.

The one historic project I did was a homestead. We went in, and instead of trying to replicate what the building used to be, and I had the old drawings. I did not disrespect it. There was a little bakery, it was small room, it was only 4 by 4, but I made it a bathroom. It had the baking oven, you can still bake in it, all the brickwork and the brick floor, and we put the brick floor back in. Then I put this beautiful bath and shower, just sitting in there and a toilet and a basin. What was beautiful, and because it was a bathroom, you will stay there or while and suddenly you realise you bathing in a bakery. What it has made me aware of, is that sometimes, by giving the opportunity to reconsider the past in a new way, can be just as creative as doing a new building, as long as it is a composition.

I think that, we as architects are taught some very bad lessons about right and wrong. And I think we are taught that right is doing it this way and wrong is doing it that way. When often that is ridiculous, often doing a historic restoration might be a creative opportunity, that we missing by simply studying what sort of timber it used to be, what profile and trying to do the same profile. You know it has change. Buildings have gone through a number of variations, all of them might be more valuable that the original one. So why not make it a story book of time, with obvious traces and references to its specific historic originality, but also with this wonderful piece of eventual thinking that arrives at your solution that weaves it all together.

TB: Your buildings seem to have a lot of roof overhang. The roof features prominent in most of them.

You mentioned earlier that it should not just purely be practical but that it should be architecture. Does the roof automatically become that architecture or is there a focus on your side to address the environmental aspect?

PS: I have never thought of the roof as being the dominant element, until someone said to me that my architecture is characterised by their beautiful roofs. I never thought about it like that, because how I thought about it, is the roof is the unused opportunity. How many buildings that you know of, use the roof as their fifth facade, or like a façade at all. Then again the roof is what creates the space below, why wouldn’t the roof be like the most active element. It is not facing the street, so no one is looking at it. You can make the roof everything, it is the unused façade. It fascinates me that people think that I am revolutionising roofs, all I am doing is using them. Functionally and aesthetically, to make space underneath, and really important space.

I am not inheriting our traditional roofs and saying that it works. A lot of people do not think about roofs. It is the missed opportunity!

Look, let’s think about climate really logically, in Australia, and in the Highveld. If you were out in the desert in either of these countries, you stand there naked, what is the first thing you would want. Cover, so why not make it big. If it has to be, make it cover. Unless it has to be small. Let’s put cover on – you eliminate a lot of concerns, like weathering, waterproofing, light, if you want the light, do nt put it on, otherwise do.

The next you would want? Protection, even if you are in the shade, and the winds blowing, you still need some sort of personal protection. It can either be a lightweight skin, if you in an area that does not need any temperature management or it can be thermal mass, as thermal mass manage temperature. With thermal mass you can gather heat and let it go, or you can hold heat and let it go. It is a great thing, thermal mass. Like I said to the audience this morning, looking at the African boys and girls, the traditional buildings in this country were big rammed earth walls with light weight grass roofs over the top. Protection and thermal mass. Now, it’s not rocket science! Take those essential elements and build on them and you will have a comfortable house. Bring it down to the basic elements and work with them and understand that what we creating is the future for people.

I think it is Barrigan who said: “Architecture does not exist without quality of life.”

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PROJECT FOCUS

The Deepwater Woolshed With Peter Stutchbury giving several guest lectures in South Africa recently, we decided to feature one of his multi award winning buildings in this issue. The Deepwater Woolshed on The Bulls Run, near Wagga Wagga, in New South Wales, is a far cry from the traditional wool shearing shed that has previously been the norm in Australia.

When Stutchbury was approached by his client, Michael Darling, he was originally indifferent to the appointment. “He phoned up with this offer and I said, ‘I’ll have to see how I go’, but the second I hung up the phone I thought, ‘What am I doing? I should accept straight away’.” According to Stutchbury, the woolshed has not changed much over the past 150 years, because of its sensible, practical design. The Australian woolshed was originally based on the British shearing shed, which made allowance for approx 300 sheep to be sheared on any given day. The Australian sheep farming industry is a totally different industry, requiring approximately 1000 sheep to be sheared per day.

With this in mind, Stutchbury re-looked at the operational requirements, extreme local climate, as well as ‘siting’. Collaborating with Andrew King, the general manager of The Bulls Run, who has been involved in sheep shearing for around 40 years, they tackled the design requirements. The end result, a building which is not only contemporary in design, but also addresses the traditional requirements and technology, optimising the sheep shearing process. Stutchbury agreed to design an environmentally sensitive and sustainable shearing shed, which remains cool enough to work comfortably within it.

The resulting structure, a 900-square-meter elevated steel woolshed, is situated to utilise the wind movement around the hill nearby to contribute to the ventilation process.

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PROJECT FOCUS

The woolshed has been given an oversized roof, extending way past the end frames, and has been raised of the ground. This creates a large shaded area, where sheep can take shelter from the harsh climate of the region. During winter, the raised building serves as an apron, which captures the rising hot air from the sheep beneath. This warm air is then circulated through the building, heating it up, and creating a better working environment for the shearers.

The harsh climate can reach temperatures of up to 38 degrees Celsius outside, with up to 45 degrees Celsius within the shearing sheds. It was a specific request by the client, Mr Darling, that this be addressed, as the working conditions generally become very uncomfortable for the shearers. By incorporating 4 basic design principles, a turnaround of between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius has been achieved in the final design. These 4 principles are; Cross Ventilation – allowing natural air to circulate

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PROJECT FOCUS

throughout the building, preventing hot air from building up inside the building; Air Vents – sucking cool air in from the shaded area, created by the large roof and raised building, and circulating it through the building; Roof Sprinklers – spraying water onto the roof of the building, helping to keep the building cool; and Wet Mesh screens – providing a mesh as the walls of the building, similar to the old Australian classic, ‘the coolgardie safe’. This mesh is kept wet and the evaporation cools the building down further as air moves through it as part of the cross ventilation system. This temperature turnaround is achieved without any air-conditioning, and only through the use of these natural ventilation systems.

Utilising natural lighting as part of the design further reduces the buildings energy consumption. Raising the shearing board allows for wool to be passed to the classing table more quickly, which achieves a more efficient management of the process and increased productivity.

Brian Zulaikha, a jury member of the 2005 Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) New South Wales Architecture Awards, said the shed “demonstrates a contemporary concern for human and animal comfort that has altered this emblem of country Australia. This is an evocative and optimistic building that honestly and effectively provides for its users and at the same time transforms our traditional image of the historic shearing shed.”

The Woolshed has won several awards including the Blacket Award for regional architecture, the Colorbond Award, the Commercial Building Award and the Energy Efficient Award. Running off a diesel generator, it consumes approximately 70% less energy than the traditional shearing shed.

To end off, I’d like to quote an internet commentator: “It’s a good example of what architecture is all about – improving lives through design.” 1 1 http://kodadesign.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/stutchbury-environment-and-architecture/

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ARCHITECTS STRAPHEAD

ARCHITECTS

ARCHITECTS AMA ARCHITECTS

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EDITORIAL

Sustainable Design Principles Author: Rethabile Mogaki The effects of human activity on the built environment have played a substantial role in the damaging and degradation of this planet. The exploitation and depletion of resources during the life cycle of buildings, has had an extreme impact on the environment. It has therefore become necessary to educate and advise, not only the designer and the builder, but also the homeowner about improved strategies for achieving sustainable designs. This will encourage more responsible design decisions with a clearer understanding of the interaction and interrelationship between architecture and the greater environment.

Professionals in Environmental Conservation and the Built Environment have managed to formulate an integrated approach, consisting of several design strategies for sustainable architecture. This approach, divided into 3 categories, or rather, principles, serves to assist in the design of buildings that are cost effective, environmentally sensitive, and that meet their basic function of intended usage; i.e. through livability, comfort, safety and productivity. “Environmentally sensitive” in this case, referring to a building’s efforts to minimize or reduce its environmental impact.

The three principles to consider for a sustainable design include:

Economy of Resources, Building Life Cycle Design, and the Humane Approach.

Philosophy 1 ECONOMY OF RESOURCES This philosophy looks into reducing, re-using and recycling natural resources, in both the construction and general operation of the building. This applies right from the production and processing of the raw building materials, all the way through to the life cycle of the building. Throughout its existence, a building will have an in-flow of resources such as energy, water and raw materials, as well as an out-flow of general waste and some, potentially harmful, emissions – each, of course, having its own scale of environmental implications. New and newly-renovated buildings need to be accessible, secure, healthy and productive. They must achieve all this while still maintaining an overall reduced environmental impact.

Philosophy 2 BUILDING LIFE CYCLE The life cycle of a building can be divided into 3 phases: Pre-building-, Building- and Post-building phase.

• 1. Pre-building Phase: This phase deals with building design & process, from site selection & condition, to design and material production, ending just before actual construction. The building materials’ impact on the eco-system, extends from the production stage right throughout its existence in a building. When selecting materials for your design, consider the amount of energy that will go into processing and transporting them.

Factors to keep in mind when selecting a location for your building include annual climate, topography, planting density, and zoning of neighbourhood and if possible, existing construction on the site.

For general and economic reasons, renovating a building has proven to be a more sustainable option, in that it is far more cost effective with minimal environmental impact.

• 2. Building Phase: This phase deals with the physical construction & operation of the building and its overall impact on the environment. Again, choice of material is another important factor to consider. Some materials, like certain adhesives, release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) into the air, compromising both the construction workers’ and occupants’ health. Moreover, occupants spend a large amount of time indoors, at home & at work. These emissions can continue for years after a building’s completion, thus their health is even more at risk.

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EDITORIAL • 3. Post-building Phase: This phase looks into the reusing and recycling of buildings that have reached the end of their life span, having outlived their usefulness. At this stage the building can either be renovated or demolished to be replaced by completely new construction.

Philosophy 3 THE HUMANE APPROACH A sustainable design preserves (or attempts to preserve) the natural conditions of the site - aiming to adapt itself and improve what is existing, not harming or disturbing the eco-system, but rather co-existing within it.

Aside from reducing the environmental impact, a building still needs to fulfill and serve its intended function; creating an enclosed, sheltered working or living environment for its occupants. By enhancing the Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ), comfortable and healthier living/working spaces are created, resulting in optimised occupant productivity and health.

“Any building energy conserving strategy that annually reduces productivity by more than five hours per employee defeats its purpose. This is not to say that energy conservation can’t be financially beneficial, just that it should be kept in holistic perspective, taking other pertinant factors into account.”

design solutions Below are strategies as a guide on how to implement the different philosophies into designs and renovations.

1. Site selection • Select a site with topographical conditions that suit your design or adapt the design to the existing site.

• Avoid the use of oversized building equipment during site work and construction to avoid unnecessary site impact.

• Preserve natural conditions by avoiding unnecessary and excessive site re-designs and reconstructions.

Altering site conditions has dire implications on the local ecosystem and the environment at large.

2. Orientation • Used correctly, building orientation can optimise passive heating and cooling in a building. In the southern hemisphere, orientating the building to the north allows for direct solar heat gain into living spaces.

• For cross ventilation, having fenestrated facades oblique to the wind direction increases air movement through the building.

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EDITORIAL 3. Energy conservation Embodied energy is the calculation of the sum of energy or fossil fuel used in the production of any material - from the harvesting of resources necessary for the production of the material, through refinement in processing, and its transportation to the building site. All together, a large amount of energy goes into the construction of a building and throughout its general operation after completion.

• Choose materials with low embodied energy, as well as easily accessible local materials.

• When selecting materials for your design, consider the general availability of the material in the environment.

This refers to those materials or resources that are renewable and can be harvested at a rate exceeding that of human consumption. Materials like timber are renewable but harvesting of limited tree species like ‘Rosewood’, or overharvesting of any tree species for that matter, results in deforestation. Mining of mineral resources such as iron for steel or sand, gravel and limestone for concrete also has a negative impact on the environment. If the material is recyclable, then rather use it in its recycled form.

• Quality is another factor to consider. Choose materials that are long-lasting, requiring little to no maintenance.

Energy-conscious planning: • Take into account the natural condition of the site and its components, using it to the benefit of the overall design. Trees or vegetation on site, for example, can be used to control air movement thus providing cooling in summer and forming a protective shield against strong winds in winter.

Passive heating + cooling and Daylighting: • Solar radiation is, without question, the most significant source of energy, not only in nature but in the operating life cycle of buildings too. With the correct planning and application, it provides heating, lighting and energy needed for photosynthesis of vegetation on site.

• Open exposure and glazing of the north and east facades allows for solar heat gain (as well as light penetration) in summer. Control heat loss through glazing in colder seasons by using insulation in glazing as well as using walls for thermal massing.

• Depending on predominant wind direction at the location, correctly placed operable windows will allow for cross ventilation; thus providing natural cooling and better indoor, unconditioned, air quality.

• Natural light is the standard at which other man-made light sources are compared. Control light penetration through varied window sizes, room depth and shading devices.

• The higher the window, the deeper the penetration of light into the space. Windows set into deep recesses allow for glare and brightness contrast to be lessened.

• Overhangs, louvres, and external vegetation can be used to control both lighting and heating levels.

• Control light reflection and heat absorption through correct colour coordination of internal massing. Use bright, reflective colours on walls and ceilings to create luminous spaces. Dark colours on floors, on the other hand, will allow for absorption of heat and thus thermal storage.

Insulation • Use of insulation in walls, roofs, windows, etc. controls the rate of heat gain and loss. This, in turn, reduces energy consumption through artificial lighting and mechanical heating/cooling (HVAC).

• Aside from cost saving and reduced energy consumption, insulation also encourages more natural and comfortable indoor thermal environments without compromising occupant health.

Alternate sources of energy • “Natural” energy sources such as Solar, Wind and Geothermal systems have minimal environmental impact. The only drawback to these systems is that they cannot provide constant energy as they are dependent on the presence and availability of the source driving them (e.g. wind, water and/or sun).

• Consider the site location and climate before selecting an alternate energy source as these will greatly influence the outcome of energy.

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EDITORIAL Energy-efficient equipment and appliances • When selecting building equipment and appliances, consider the long term costs throughout the life-time operation of the building.

4. Water Conservation Aside from water used in construction, a large amount of water is used during operation for general purposes such as drinking, cooking, washing, cleaning, toilet flushing, etc. Treatment and delivery of this water is required for inflow and outflow through the building. Reusing and recycling water on site reduces costs and the overall environmental impact caused by municipal water treatments.

There are generally 4 “types” of water used in a building: Potable Water, Storm Water, Grey Water and Black Water.

• Potable Water: Water that’s free from pollution, harmful organisms and impurities. Basically water that’s safe enough to drink.

• Storm Water: Rain water runoff.

• Grey Water: Waste water generated from domestic activities such as dish and clothing washing, showering, etc. This water, as well as storm water, can be used for purposes such as irrigation and toilet flushing.

• Black Water: Water containing fecal matter and urine. This requires a large amount of energy for treatment, by municipal water treatment plants. Recycle Black Water by using waste water treatment systems such as bio-composting toilets and septic tanks for onsite sewage treatments.

• The combined recycling of Black Water and reuse of Grey and Storm waters reduces the impact on the eco-system by eliminating the need for high energy municipal treatments.

5. Reusing and Recycling building components Reusing and recycling components of a building allows it to become a resource for new construction, thus reducing energy consumption and environmental impacts by a substantial percentage.

• Components that can be reused and recycled in a building include materials like glass, aluminium, steel, timber and concrete ( which can be crushed and used as aggregate in new concrete mixes).

• Foundations and basements can also be preserved for new construction.

6. Human comfort Human comfort can be achieved by enhancing the IEQ. Indoor environments that are too cold or too hot, and have bad lighting, create discomfort, resulting in reduced productivity.

• Humans are a part of the eco-system and therefore require some level of interaction with nature. Provide a psychological connection by providing adequate visual access through glazing.

• Create privacy and acoustic comfort by insulating both external and internal walls.

• Health-wise, promote natural cross ventilation for fresh, unconditioned air. Operable glazing will also assist in controlling and achieving indoor comfort.

1 “Guiding Principles of Sustainable Design” - 1993 National Park Service document 2 “Sustainable Architecture Module: Introduction to Sustainable Design” - Jong-Jin Kim, Assistant Professor of Architecture, and Brenda Rigdon, Project Intern College of Architecture and Urban Planning, The University of Michigan

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STRAPHEAD

INTERIOR EXTERIOR DESIGN & DéCOR DESIGN

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INTERIOR & EXTERIOR DESIGN & DÉCOR CAPE CRAFT & DESIGN INSTITUTE

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EDITORIAL

The next frontier: individual environmental behaviour Author: Andrea Vinassa

Do you know your own personal carbon footprint?

Can you calculate the Return on Investment on an energy efficient appliance? Well, get with the “carbon generation” and sign your own personal Kyoto Protocol.

Most of us expect government and industry to take the lead in reducing our personal carbon footprint, but it is surprising how much individuals can do to safeguard the environment.

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While most of us agree that the planet’s resources are finite, individuals often feel that they are powerless to make a difference in lowering carbon emissions on the planet.

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EDITORIAL At a course presented by Global Carbon Exchange, I discovered that by eating less chocolate and cutting down on my meat intake, I could significantly reduce my personal carbon footprint. Then there was the matter of my ten cups of coffee per day, which contribute massively to the denigration of the planet. A little education goes a long way in creating awareness of how wasteful we are in our personal lives. It comes as no surprise to find out that providing hot water for those long candle-lit baths, runs up your electricity bill, but that your pool pump can guzzle a whopping 15% of your electricity per month is a little known fact.

There are three ways in which to achieve higher energy efficiency in your home: Firstly, behavioural changes, which does not involve any extra costs, but is geared towards awareness of wastage.

For example, switching off lights when not in the room and not letting the water run unnecessarily.

Secondly, operational changes do involve some costs, but are usually minimal. For example, taking out some bulbs from a chandelier or retrofitting a dimmer.

Lastly, technical changes involve a higher investment and can include installing a solar water heater and replacing bulbs with energy efficient bulbs, or even replacing an entire light fitting to make place for a low energy fitting.

These three ways can be summarised as follows: • Reduce your consumption of water and electricity; • Retrofit your home with energy efficient appliances and fittings; • Install renewable solutions.

Space heating: Though not the biggest guzzler of electricity, heating your home during winter adds zeros to your bill. Insulation is one of the best ways to ensure that heat stays in during winter and out during summer, so check for openings that will let air into your rooms, check the space under your doors, inside your closets and holes into the roof void, whether or not your windows close properly. Also cover or seal ventilation openings above windows and doors in older buildings. You can do this yourself or you can call in a residential eco-auditor because this involves climbing into the roof to inspect the roof insulation and the insulation around the pipes and geyser. These days you can purchase eco-friendly insulation that fits snugly around your pipes from hardware stores.

Hot water systems: On average, 40% of your electricity bill goes to giving you that lovely hot bath at night or in the morning. There are ways to ensure a more energy efficient hot water system, even if you have a normal geyser. Make sure your geyser is not switched on too high: 55 degrees is an ideal temperature. (Ed. A minimum temperature of 60 degrees is recommended to prevent legionella by the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering of the UK). You can switch your geyser off during the day or you can install a geyser meter which will automatically switch it on and off when you are not using it. Get a geyser blanket and insulate your pipes to retain heat. There is an argument for installing a heat pump for washing dishes – this provides instant hot water as it heats only on demand.

The course offers the beginner an introduction to renewable energy for the home: the point of this exercise is to prepare your home for installing renewable solutions, like solar photovoltaic panels, solar thermal panels and solar pool panels. Solar is an ideal solution in South Africa, considering the 6.5 kWh per square metre of sunlight that beats down on some parts of the country. In other words, a house could receive 52 kWh per day of sun, which is enough to run most middle-class homes. The biggest disadvantage of renewable are the high upfront capital costs, but the gap between your Eskom bill and the cost of a solar geyser is rapidly closing. However, there are finance options for those who want to pay off their installations over time.

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EDITORIAL Lighting: Time was when South African houses sported multiple incandescent light bulbs in multiple light fittings and we hardly noticed our electricity bills because Eskom supplied the cheapest electricity on the planet. Eskom charges are rocketing up the cost scale, and many of these houses, built in the 70s and 80s, still light up like a Christmas tree at night. Light sources, in the form of fluorescent, LED and halogen light bulbs, have seen incredible technical innovation since those houses were built.

Architects, lighting designers and interior decorators have a huge part to play in re-engineering the way we think of lighting our homes. For the ordinary homeowner there is much to learn in the arena of lighting.

The simplest way of saving on electricity for lighting is to exchange tungsten bulbs for their equivalent CFL or halogen light, but these sources do not give the same warm ambience as tungsten. So the next best solution is to change the light fitting itself to accommodate CFLs (compact fluorescent light), or halogen, bearing in mind that the more light bulbs you need, the more electricity you use. These light bulbs are more expensive to buy, but use a lower wattage for an equivalent amount of light and last a lot longer than tungsten. Some estimates suggest that 40,000 light-hours may be spoken of as the norm.

A trained residential eco-auditor from Global Carbon Exchange can be engaged to assist you to make the most cost-effective changes in lighting, or you can do the course and learn to do it yourself. After the course you will also have the knowledge to take homeowners through the steps of a residential eco-audit and help them make their home more energy efficient. The course will also teach you how to calculate the pay-back time on each change that you make, giving you measurable results. A few calculations can demonstrate that the return on investment in, say, a standard CFL, can be as little as 7 months.

Architects, lighting designers and interior decorators have a huge part to play in re-engineering the way we think of lighting our homes.

Make use of natural light where at all possible during the day – and if you have a dark house, you can install a skylight or a solar tube in the ceiling, swop solid doors for glass doors, frosted glass instead of curtains and cut back big trees outside windows. At night, use motion detectors and dimmers to automatically control the usage. Solar lighting for outside use is becoming popular too.

Appliances: Why should we be concerned about the energy use of our appliances? An increasing number of household gadgets, such as sound systems, cellphone chargers, computers and printers, have led to an enormous rise in electricity consumption in the past 20 years. Most of these gadgets are in “stand-by” mode, called “vampire charge” by the eco-conscious. Not only does this push our bill up in the long run, it also costs the planet in C02 emissions. Solutions for mitigating stand-by charges include an intelligent multi-plug and a trickle saver. In a new house a whole house controller makes sense. This is a single point, automated or manual, where all plugs, lights and gizmos can be switched on and off.

If ever there was an argument for getting new appliances, it is that older ones use a lot more electricity and generate more C02 emissions. So, don’t hold on to those old clunky computer monitors, TVs and fridges.

Ditch them for new, more energy-efficient ones. Just remember to dispose of them at your nearest e-waste drop-off! By weight, most appliances are 75 percent steel, which is crushed and recycled. However, the

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EDITORIAL disposal of CFCs from the cooling system of refrigerators poses a serious environmental risk. Air Products in Kempton Park, as a for instance, safely dispose of these dangerous chemicals through their innovative system.

If you think your current fridge is just fine, then check that there is no dirt on the cooling coils, that the seals are not loose, that the fridge is not too close to the wall and that the temperature is not too low.

Water Management: Households consume the vast bulk of water in cities and toilets are the biggest users of water in the home. It therefore makes sense to ensure your toilet does not leak: more than 20% of all toilets leak. The way to test for a leaking toilet is to squirt some food colouring into the cistern and wait to see if the colour runs into the toilet bowl. A newer, low-flush toilet and a grey-water system which re-uses water from the bath to flush the toilet, are other solutions.

Saving water is largely common sense, but most of us are unaware of how much water we waste with long showers, running the water while you brush your teeth or wash your face, running a washing machine or dishwasher without a full load or leaving the outside hose on.

Thousands of litres of water can be saved by simple changes in behaviour, but it is wise to test your pipes and taps for leaks. You can hire a professional to detect a water leak, but you can do it yourself by checking the water meter, waiting for an hour and taking a reading again. If it has moved, there is a leak.

More and more eco-conscious consumers are looking to themselves for solutions to climate change, and that education and awareness is key to changing the way we impact the planet.

A leaking tap can easily waste 2,000 litres of water in a year, which costs about R25, but this is not the point.

Water is a precious and a finite resource which we cannot afford to waste. There are countless ways to save water: retrofit your taps and showerheads with aerated fittings and flow restrictors, and never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it, such as watering a plant or cleaning.

Gardens also waste a lot of water, so don’t over water your lawn, don’t water the street or the drive way (use a broom), plant native or drought-tolerant shrubs and trees, install water-efficient sprinklers, micro and drip irrigation and soaker hoses, outfit your hose with a shut-off nozzle which can be adjusted down to a fine spray so that water flows only when needed. If you have a pool, get a new water-saving pool filter. And, if you wash your car, do it on the lawn!

You will save a lot of money with a pool cover – evaporation accounts for a lot of water loss.

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EDITORIAL Waste Management: Waste management is an important aspect of creating an energy efficient environment. Many municipalities are working on recycling strategies, and once this becomes mandatory, they will be forced to provide home owners with a recycling service. According to the 2005 Jo’burg City Waste Management Plan the “Waste Management Policy sets a number of policy objectives, which have to be achieved by the City. These include, waste minimisation and recycling, provision of quality, affordable and sustainable waste management collection services, environmentally sound management of special waste streams such as hazardous waste, construction waste, etc., waste treatment and disposal, “capacity”, education and awareness, and effective waste information management systems.”

sxc.hu

Particularly disturbing is the disposal of hazardous waste, which most of us merely toss into the bin. Think of batteries, paint, solvents, thinners, glues, CFL light bulbs, oil, pesticides, household cleaners, medicine and aerosol cans, which should not be disposed of in your regular garbage bin. Companies like Makro, Just PC and Ecycle are now accepting e-waste and old appliances, living the ethos of playing their social responsibility role and your end of the deal is to get it there.

While much waste can be recycled, ie. aluminium, plastic, paper, cardboard, glass and metal, there is a class of waste which is problematic, since it cannot be recycled. This includes cooked food, contaminated paper, carbon paper, rubber, foils, photographic paper and composite items like tetra packs made of plastic, paper and aluminium. It is wiser to avoid such products until a viable disposal solution is offered.

Organic or biodegradable waste should be diverted from the general waste stream, but people who live in apartments and small complexes don’t have this option. Part of municipalities’ strategy to dispose of this kind of waste is to create communal composting facilities where households can drop off their organic waste.

Again this requires individuals to take responsibility for their own actions and put in the effort.

Avoiding waste is the most cost effective waste management intervention; therefore municipalities place shared responsibility on waste generators and suppliers of packaging. This can involve elimination of waste in the production processes by modifying or changing the process, adopting new technologies or using another material as a substitute to prevent waste generation, teaching consumers to change their shopping behaviour by buying in bulk, choosing products with an appropriate lifespan in minimal packaging, refusing disposable carry bags, or bringing along their reusable shopping bags and forming industry and commercial waste minimisation clubs.

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EDITORIAL Ethos: More and more eco-conscious consumers are looking to themselves for solutions to climate change, and that education and awareness is key to changing the way we impact the planet. It is clear that our wasteful middle-class lifestyle is unsustainable. Even the simplest action, like choosing a vegetarian dish over a big steak makes a massive difference.

You will also notice the difference between effective eco-conscious consumers, also known as parents, who do more than pay a cursory attendance to the problem that is essentially all of ours; they make a point of explaining and educating their children about the impact they could make on the planet, simply by adhering to acceptable waste control norms.

Did you know?

• Laser printers use 90% more energy than an ink-jet equivalent; • Flat screen monitors use only 25% of the energy consumed by the big and older tube-based screen; • LED screens are the most efficient of all; • The environmental footprint created by the production of frozen food is so unacceptable it is actually silly.

Parents can further get kids onto the program and create an opportunity to follow an emerging employment opportunity, at best, and at worst, instil fundamental knowledge and disciplines in the generations to follow.

Global Carbon Exchange is one of those enlightened organisations, connected internationally, who has seen the value in playing a pro-active role in the very simplest of measures that can be implemented by you to reduce your carbon footprint and conversely, they have developed some very sophisticated programs that could lead to a new and exciting career for those with enough foresight to get involved. Take a look and make a difference!

sxc.hu

For more information on the various courses presented by Global Carbon Exchange visit www.globalcarbonexchange.com www.mediaxpose.co.za

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EDITORIAL

Easy steps to a sustainable garden Author: Lelanie Slater What is sustainable gardening? There is no technical definition to summarise it. Yet, sustainable gardening can be described as a school of thought that combines various concepts. Sustainable typically refers to the term self-sustaining. Thus, it’s the practice of using gardening practices that cause no harm to the earth and its inhabitants while attempting to enhance it. Sustainability is a holistic approach that has combined concepts from various disciplines, into a singular natural, earth-friendly approach to gardening.

Sustainability could also be said to have its roots in the Latin: “Primum non nocere”, a medical injunction from the Hippocratic Oath for medical practitioners, which means “First, do no harm.” By practicing sustainable gardening, you practice good environmental stewardship. Do no evil...

This loose leaf definition might sound somewhat contradictory. How can a garden be self-sustaining?

Surely, if a garden is left to sustain itself, it would revert back to its original, wild state. The truth is that a totally sustainable garden is somewhat of an idealists dream, because it will always require human assistance to keep it healthy and in check. However, there are ways of doing this in a manner that is as natural and as close to Mother Nature’s way as possible. The basis of this approach is minimalizing the use of external inputs like fertilizer and additional water. Instead ‘earth friendly’ practices can be used. These practices include improving the soil instead of fertilizing, including plants that support natural wildlife in your garden as opposed to using pesticides and making use of indigenous plants to reduce water consumption.

Sustainability in the garden does not have to be a complicated and bothersome chore. It can be done on a small budget by simply reusing what you already have. Once set up, it can be low maintenance.

Sustainable gardening is very pragmatic and abides by the ‘law’ of right plant, right place.

So how do you only do good in your garden and withhold the ‘evil’ of over the counter assistance. There are some tried and tested methods that have been around for centuries. Here are some for you to try in your own garden:

• Integrated pest management or IPM is the approach of ‘the simplest solution is often the best one’.

The idea is to start with the least toxic remedy and work your way up. The most important thing when applying

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EDITORIAL IPM is to monitor your garden effectively. When dealing with disease and insect problems, it is best to use a preventative measure first, such as good air circulation. Only take action once you have gathered information and found the plant to be endangered. Nontoxic methods include removing slugs by hand, horticultural oil for scale and mites and baking soda for black spot and powdery mildew. Always avoid broad spectrum insecticides. Weeding should be done by hand and a solution of 10% vinegar to 90% water can be used.

• Another sustainable practice is companion planting. Instead of using pesticides, a companion plant is planted in the garden to either confuse or repel pests. This technique is often used on wine estates when rose bushes are planted at the end of vineyards. The roses are much more appealing to pests, thus keeping the vines pest free. The companion plants can even attract beneficial insects into your garden.

For example ladybird beetles, which are great for removing plant lice. Dr Iain Paterson, entomologist and lecturer at Rhodes University says that “[g]ardening methods that promote beneficial organisms are effective, sustainable and more environmentally friendly than pesticides and herbicides.”

• In some cases, the beneficial insects “miss the call” from the companion plants and never make it to your Eden. In this case, you can purchase the insects required. Check with your local nursery for availability.

If they cannot assist, it is useful to try online sources. If these do not work, physical barriers can be used to keep pests out. For example: broken eggshells around the base of a plant to keep snails at bay or netting to keep birds away from your veggie patch.

• Composting is a great tool in sustainable gardening. Create your own with garden and kitchen waste in a back corner of your garden. If this does not produce enough compost, other organic sources can be used. Clippings and trimmings from the garden are useful. Using compost helps to retain moisture in the soil. It also protects plant roots from severe temperature fluctuations as seen during seasonal changes.

Apart from the obvious nutritional benefits, composting also has strong disease resistant properties.

• A good idea is mulching all uncovered soil. Mulching is simply the act of covering the soil with a variety of material. The material is spread or laid over the surface of the soil as a covering. The best mulching material is leaf compost, pine bark chips and cocoa hulls. Mulching aids water retention and it provides weed control and improves the soils structure.

Sustainability in the garden does not have to be a complicated and bothersome chore.

A crucial aspect of sustainable gardening is water quality and conservation. Evergreens can be used to stop winter winds from striping moisture from the ground and keep the summer sun from baking the earth dry. When watering, do so directly on the root zone, by hand or use drip irrigation, preferably in the morning.

Avoid sprinklers and always water according to the needs of the plants rather than a set schedule. Rather water infrequently, but deeply.

Other water conservation techniques are to group plants with similar watering needs together. Minimize bare soil and stabilize slopes by planting ground cover. Try reducing lawns, as they consume vast amounts of water. Minimize the use of impervious surfaces so rainwater can be filtered before reaching the storm water system and being lost to your garden. Choose drought-tolerant plants that require less water, and weed regularly, as weeds compete with plants for water. Lastly, don’t discount the internet. A simple search will reveal a treasure of resources on sustainable gardening. Some sites even include step by step videos.

The most important tip: enjoy it. A garden should be a source of pleasure and inspiration, have fun with it.

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QUANTITY SURVEYORS

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EDITORIAL

http://www.scenicreflections.com/

Cost implications of sustainability

When you talk about sustainable design or green design (called sustainable design for the rest of this article), everyone becomes very excited. It seems to be the latest trend amongst clients, architects and developers. One problem persists though, the cost of implementing the sustainable elements. There are some misconceptions when it comes to the costs involved in sustainable design. A large part of this is caused by professionals within the built environment, who lack the relevant knowledge about sustainable design, materials, construction methods and technology.

Clients and developers are very interested in developing sustainable buildings when they start off with plans for new developments. After receiving the brief from the client, the built environment professional starts with the design process. In a process to either impress the client, or to aim for a Green Star rated building, they include every possible sustainable material and method available to them. “This building will get six stars they think.” When the design is costed by the quantity surveyor, the budget has shot through the roof and the client’s excitement crushed. The estimated budget usually far exceeds the client’s budget in the above scenario. This is a generalized scenario, but happens very often.

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EDITORIAL A research report done by Davis Langdon on the Australian healthcare sector indicated that a building that complies with a the requirements of the Australian Green Star requirements for up to a 3 star rating, should not have any cost implications. The same study indicated that to achieve a 4 star rating, the cost would increase with between 0% and 3%. 5 Star between 3% and 6%, with 6 Star at approximately 10% and up. It is this 10% increase in the budgeted cost that usually make clients turn away from sustainable developments.1 The research document focused on the health care environment in Australia, but can serve as a general guide of the cost implications one could face when aiming for a Green Star rated building.

The benefits of a sustainable building far outweigh the extra costs during the development. Unfortunately developers and clients do not see it that way as yet. A lower capital outlay remains their first priority and therefore an increase to the budget is avoided as far as possible. With part XA of SANS 10400, the Application of the Building Regulations, Energy Efficiency about to be published, this legislation will go a reasonable distance to at least address development’s energy consumption.

During To Build’s recent interview with Peter Stutchbury from Australia, he said: “Sustainable design is common sense.” The problem remains, that without the relevant base knowledge regarding sustainability, the built environment professionals cannot incorporate basic sustainable principles into their design. Without this knowledge, the common sense, that Peter Stutchbury speak about, disappears.

It is the responsibility of all built environment professionals to design buildings that are as sustainable as possible, especially taking into consideration the current natural resources, energy and climate crisis we face.

There is a wide variety of sustainable design options available to the professionals. These range from options that would not incur any additional costs, to options that would break the bank, so to speak. The ability to apply these is totally dependent on the professional having the right reference framework and knowledge base. It is also dependent on the correct mindset and approach. Having the one without the other would achieve very little as far as sustainability is concerned, and would probably increase the project costs exponentially.

It is the responsibility of all built environment professionals to design buildings that are as sustainable as possible, especially taking into consideration the current natural resources, energy and climate crisis we face.

Basic design principles provide for a good start towards sustainable design. Windows in the northern and eastern façades allows for natural lighting and managable heat gain, which could also assist with thermal mass. This will cost less than huge glass windows with an HVAC plant, to achieve the same internal comfort. Orientation, natural ventilation, recycled materials, indigenous landscaping are but a few basic design principles that can be incorporated into the design of a new development, with very little increase to the original costs.

Built environment professionals should attempt to implement as many sustainable interventions as possible, without affecting the budget. A simple example of a sustainable intervention, is using high frequency ballast for fluorescent light fittings. These are now the standard ballast for fluorescent light fittings and therefore have no cost implication on the development.

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EDITORIAL Some sustainable design principles that can be implement and an indication of the potential cost implication are given here as a guide. The list is not exhaustive, and the cost implication is dependent on the design, site and application of the relevant intervention2.

No or low cost interventions include amongst others: Waste management during construction; Airtightness – to prevent heat loss; Wind catchers – to ventilate the building; Fluid dynamic analysis; Natural lighting; Site orientation; Low E glazing; Natural ventilation; External views; Internal noise control; Low VOC’s; Formaldehyde minimization; Destination control on lifts; Insulation; Parking kept to minimum requirement; Alternative traveling methods (bicycles and hybrid vehicles); Water efficient fixtures and flow restrictors; Building re-use; Sustainable timber; Topsoil protection; Re-use land; Indigenous landscaping; and Light pollution.

Medium cost interventions include amongst others: Commissioning of building systems; Building tuning; Individual comfort control; Solar heating; Thermal mass; Building management system; External shading; Energy sub-metering; Lighting zoning; Geo-thermal energy; Rainwater harvesting; Grey water recycling; Water metering; Recycling materials; Local sourcing of materials; Reducing ozone depleting chemicals; and Reducing watercourse pollution.

High cost interventions include amongst others: Double skin façade; Biomass; Black water recycling; Recycled steel content; Change ecological value of site; CO2 monitoring; Green power; Green roofs; and Green walls.

The benefits that sustainable buildings provide are numerous. Built environment professionals must stay up to date with the latest developments regarding sustainability. This will allow them to provide their client and the development with the most sustainable design options within an acceptable budget. Not only will this keep the client happy, but will ensure that the built environment professionals do their bid for society and the environment.

1. Lee Williams, Davis Langdon, Research Report, Health Care joins the Green Ratings era.

2. Brummer, Dr. G, Davis Langdon, Quick Guide to Emerging Green Design Attributes 2010.

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ENGINEERING: CONSULTING & STRUCTURAL

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EDITORIAL

Student Work: University of Johannesburg From this issue we will be featuring graphic works from the Architectural Schools in South Africa. We are starting with the University of Johannesburg. Here are some of the award winning designs produced by the students at the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture at UJ.

C & CI SUSTAINABLE DESIGN COMPETITION: 2010 THEME – THE CITY WINNER: Dirk Coetser

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EDITORIAL SHIFT HOUSING DESIGN COMPETITION: 2010 THEME – FORDSBURG WINNER: Brent Clark, Sibo Shabalala & Taswald Pillay

TRIPOD PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION: 2010 THEME – THE VISITOR WINNER: Kyle Pieterse

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EDITORIAL Reinterpretation and Re-imagination of Goethe Institute Boundary Wall Aldon Plaatjie, Aneli Steyn, Daniel Lyomga, Farhaad Hatia, Kyle Edmeades, Kyle Pieterse, Tshidi Tunguma, Lynette de Sousa

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EDITORIAL Further Projects: Studio of Light: Jessica Grobbelaar

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FLOORING

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FLOORING

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ADVERTORIAL

Durban Bridges, beautified and protected by Sika With the advent of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, and the eyes of the world focussed on South Africa, Durban’s eThekwini Municipality made the decision to renovate numerous inbound and outbound bridges in the city.

Covering a total of 27,200m2, this large contract was undertaken by two contractors due to time constraints.

John Cairns Construction renovated the Tollgate Bridge and Structural Maintenance Services was responsible for the various other bridges, inbound and outbound. Durban Municipality appointed Goba as the project manager for all the bridges.

The chosen Sika product for this project was Sikagard-550 W Elastic ZA Concrete Grey, a one-part, plasto-elastic coating based on UV-curing acrylic dispersion, with outstanding crack-bridging properties. Offering excellent resistance against weathering and ageing, and a reduced tendency to dirt pick- up and contamination, Sikagard-550 W Elastic ZA was the ideal choice not only as a short-term solution, but also for the long-term protection and enhancement of Durban’s bridges. This thixotropic liquid is permeable to water vapour, has a high diffusion resistance against CO2 and is solvent free, making it environmentally friendly.

The Tollgate Bridge project, encompassing a surface area of 3,000m2, called for the use of 95 x 20-litre containers of Sikagard-550 W Elastic ZA, while the remainder of the bridges, covering a surface of 24,200m2, called for 301 x 20 litre containers of Sikagard-550 W Elastic ZA. With the start of the World Cup less than two months away and the large number of bridges specified in this project, the challenge was to ensure that the entire project was finished on time, and to the client’s specifications. The contractors had no hesitation in choosing Sika’s airless spray method to apply Sikagard550 W Elastic ZA, as opposed to the regular brush or roll-on methods, which would have been more labour intensive and time consuming.

Besides the Tollgate Bridge, the following bridges were also renovated: road over rail bridge in Walter Gilbert Road at the Moses Mabhida Station; Ellis Brown Viaduct; Athlone Bridge; Battery Road Bridge over the M4; Steibel Place Bridge; Northway Bridge over the Umgeni River; Argyle Bridge over NMR Avenue; pedestrian bridge behind Natal Command; Riverside Road Bridge and off-ramp; as well as the rail bridges at Goble, Argyle, and Leopold Roads.

Due to this globally renowned, high quality Sika product being the unanimous choice for their beautification program, Durban’s eThekwini Municipality can be confident of the smart appearance and long lasting renovation of the city’s bridges.

For further information on Sika products and systems, visit www.sika.co.za

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ROOFS

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EDITORIAL

Cool Roofs: The roof of any building is the primary element creating a shelter. It is also the one element that must withstand the worst mother nature can throw at it. In smaller buildings, the impact that a well designed roof can make on the sustainability of a building can be huge. While in high rise buildings, the roof becomes a reasonably small part of the building envelope. Within the ambit of sustainability, there are various approaches to creating a sustainable roof. These include green roofs, photo-voltaic roofs and cool roofs, to name a few. As soft roofs are more prominent in smaller buildings, we will be looking at a simple solution called Cool Roofs, their function and design.

The roof generally plays a large role in providing insulation for the building envelope, reducing heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter. Cool Roofs can play a significant role in this, especially in reducing heat gain in summer.

What is a Cool Roof: The Cool Roof Rating Council of America defines a cool roof as: “A cool roof is one that reflects the sun’s heat and emits absorbed radiation back into the atmosphere. The roof literally stays cooler and reduces the amount of heat transferred to the building below, keeping the building a cooler and more constant temperature.” Research into colour, has shown that the roof does not necessarily need to be white to be an effective reflectant. SANS 204 includes a table that indicate the typical absorptance values for various roof colours.

Direct Benefits of Cool Roofs: • HVAC is reduced, reducing energy consumption • Occupant comfort is increased • HVAC size is reduced, and it’s life is prolonged.

• Roof maintenance is reduced • Roof life is extended • Urban Heat Island Effect is reduced within the community • Improve thermal efficiency of roof insulation Several indirect benefits should also be noted, such as reduced CO2 emissions as less energy is consumed. Less strain on non-renewable resources, such as steel, due to extended roof lifespan. Less costs incurred due to illness (improved indoor environment) and maintenance.

In summary, a cool roof can significantly reduce a building’s energy consumption and increase the internal comfort levels. It should be noted that a cool roof in cooler climates does not have the same benefits. The roof remains one area that very few people consider when they are looking at making their buildings more sustainable. Turning your roof into a Cool Roof, could be as simple as repainting it in a lighter and more reflective colour.

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Design Stainless Products

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EDITORIAL

SIP –

The fast way to build

SIP or Structural Insulated Panels have been in use in other countries for many years. Development of SIPs locally started recently. With the new SANS 10177 testing regime for fire resistance, focusing on fire spread and smoke emissions, the testing and using of SIPs needs to go through vigorous tests.

Veneertech, commenced with the development of such panels, testing various combinations of materials.

Following large investments in equipment, they were able to create SIP combinations ranging from 30mm to 81mm. The Veneertech SIP panels, known as E-lite, is still in the final development stages and should make its appearance on the market in the near future.

A typical SIP that has been around, is an insulated steel sheeting system, where two steel sheets are laminated onto an insulation core. The AcelorMittal Protea system is one such a system, which is being developed for the low cost housing market.

Structural Insulated Panels are made up of an inner skin, which could be almost any material, which is laminated through a patented system to an insulated core. These cores can be made from an expanded polyurethane, polystyrene and even honeycomb cardboard construction. The outer skin is usually a composite providing fire, water and insect proofing.

Materials used for the inner and outer skin usually consist of MDF, OSB, MGO or metal panels, or a combination of these. All depending on the specific application of the SIP will be used for. Constructing buildings with SIPs, is a much faster process than conventional building methods. It is also a dry construction process, providing faster project delivery times.

Expected benefits from SIP structures is dependent on the specific type of panel used, but are generally given as: Very good thermal performance Structural Insulated Panels provide excellent thermal performance, which will last the life span of the building, due to the internal insulation layer. This layer could consist of expanded polyurethane or a honeycomb structure, depending on the type of panel used.

Low U-value walls and roof Structural Insulated Panels offer high thermal performance, the insulating core and composite internal and external panels, make for significant savings on your annual heating costs.

Integral insulation As the insulation is integral to the Structural Insulated Panels, it eliminates the need and cost for cavity insulation.

Habitable roof space Depending on the SIP system you use, they perform as structural members, which means, you can get away without roof trusses, providing you with an additional habitable room in the roof.

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EDITORIAL Extra floor space Due to the thickness of the panels, compared to the thickness of masonry walls, you get additional floor space for the same footprint.

Environmental sustainability A SIP building is environmentally friendly for various reasons. The Structural Insulated Panels are mostly made from timber, which is a renewable resource. The other materials used, including glues should comply with relevant sustainable requirements, which contribute to the environment, as well as indoor environmental quality.

Constructing buildings with SIPs, is a much faster process than conventional building methods. It is also a dry construction process, providing faster project delivery times.

Low wastage Structural Insulated Panels are manufactured to size in the factory, meaning there is less wastage.

Fast construction method By using Structural Insulated Panels, the on-site construction time can be reduced by almost 50% as it is a dry process and the building is erected with less workforce, due to the lighter weight of the panels..

Improved scheduling & programme control The various trades can follow faster, due to the dry construction process. This enables easier planning, faster erection and more accurate predicted completion times.

Design flexibility Using specialist designers, the Structural Insulated Panels can be designed to accommodate a wide variety of building applications.

Air-tightness Depending on the type of panels used, and the construction method, an SIP constructed building should give better air tightness, reducing heat loss, and therefore the costs involved in heating up the building, in conjunction with the better insulating properties, this provides huge savings on utility bills.

Limited cold bridging Panels are mostly fixed to each other through a system that does not provide cold bridging. Reducing heat loss through these systems.

Rigid surface for fixings Depending on the specific system used, the SIPs should provide a rigid finish for the fixing of various equipment and appliances. This needs to be confirmed by the manufacturers.

The above lists only the general benefits. There are more benefits, but they are dependent on the specific Structural Insulated Panel composition used.

SIP construction is still reasonably new in South Africa and it would be in anyone considering to use such a system’s best interest to obtain all the necessary test results to ensure that the panels comply with all the regulatory requirements. Such as fire, energy efficiency, structural integrity and waterproofing to mention but a few.

For more information on Structural Insulated Panels, visit www.e-lite.co.za or http://www.arcelormittal.com (under construction section) www.mediaxpose.co.za

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STRAPHEAD

WINDOWS DOORS

WINDOWS DOORS

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EDITORIAL

Using modeling and simulation to design better-lit spaces Two of the most significant impacts on passive building design were the advent of air-conditioning and artificial light.

These developments were analogous in their impact on building design. No longer were building fabric and geometry required to provide optimum occupant indoor environmental quality. Brute force in the form of air-conditioning and electric lighting appeared to bridge the shortfall left by designs that were developed with the knowledge that active systems could be relied on down the line. Recent developments saw the increasing cost of energy and the realization that passive thermal comfort and natural light, provided better indoor environmental quality for occupants. There has been a subsequent reactionary move against an over-reliance on active means to deliver these amenities as a result of the codification of various market forces, including the demand for green building ratings, national energy regulation, resource scarcity and associated price increases.

This time around, however, we are better equipped to face the challenge of using passive means to deliver adequate light levels. No longer are we only equipped with rules of thumb and heuristics to arrive at good passive design. Advances in computational methods and simulation have enabled us to move toward comparative virtual appraisals of a wide range of design options and their associated impact on natural light levels and light distribution. Change, however, has come slowly. How long it will be until simulation is a design tool that even a double-digit percentage of the userbase will even take advantage of, is unknown.

Recent developments saw the increasing cost of energy and the realization that passive thermal comfort and natural light, provides better indoor environmental quality for occupants.

Author: Warren Gray

Contemporary light simulation software uses a technique called backwards ray-tracing to calculate light levels in a space. This works by tracing a light beam back from its point of termination – usually on a horizontal plane – and bounces it back to its point of origin. From there, it can calculate in reverse the contribution that light from the sky made to a point in the space after a number of reflections. This method is closely aligned with our physical understanding of how light as a wave works. Thus, it can be described as physically accurate. The challenge is in asking meaningful questions of the software available to us. Comparative tests have shown

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EDITORIAL lighting software to be incredibly accurate when correctly set up with the right conditions entered into the simulation.

The first step is to realise that natural light does not represent an unalloyed good; the metric that should be used in appraising good passive lighting design are the distribution of appropriate levels of natural light and daylight autonomy (the amount of time that artificial light is not needed); and their associated maximization. The easiest metric to use in comparing different natural light design options is the distribution of light above a threshold. This can be measured as the percentage of the usable area that is above a given lux level. For practical purposes, it is recommended that the threshold of 250 lux be used for office environments, because it is the one that is used in South Africa’s Green Star rating system, and as such evaluation of lighting levels can be simultaneously achieved for the purpose of a green building rating.

... “at what depth and aspect ratio of floorplate does increasing glazing ratios offer diminishing returns?� Images 1 through 3 show one such a floorplate...

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A powerful tool that is available in the design of buildings that aim to achieve a great daylight result is that of parametric simulation. This refers to setting up a host of design parameters and testing every permutation into which they may be combined. Computers can quickly appraise the daylight levels at high granularity over a floor plate. Given that we know that we want to maximize the distribution of daylight and daylight autonomy, we can change a host of chosen variables, such as glazing ratio, glass visible light transmittance (VLT) and a discrete set of shading strategies (such as louvres, overhangs etc). Running every combination of these variables will arrive at a result for natural light levels for each of them. Each new parameter that is introduced adds exponential complexity to the simulation run times. A computer cannot be left to make the final choice, however. What it can do is rank the combinations presented to it, in order of natural light distribution. The skill involved in setting up meaningful parametric simulations is that of choosing the correct set of initial variables, and then selecting from the combinations that are shown to be the best.

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EDITORIAL One can then take a step further and appraise the “winning combinations” in terms of energy and glare. It becomes difficult to compare a design on the basis of energy and then natural light. No direct comparison can be made, and the designer must make a judgment call.

Something else to consider is a preference for direct or diffuse light. Broadly speaking, natural light brings in less heat for the equivalent amount of light in comparison to electric lighting. Thus, natural light is always favourable from an energy point of view as a lighting solution. It is, nonetheless, far more difficult to control.

Problems with excessive solar gains arise when direct sunlight into the space results in very high lux levels and associated heat gains. Direct light can achieve a better throw of light into the space, but it is usually present in the form of lux levels far higher than required.

Roof glazing or skylights are very effective at bringing in high levels of natural light, to the extent that they are almost always oversized. If natural light simulation is only to be used to aid the design of one aspect of the natural lighting solution, roof glazing should be it – if only to show that most roof glazing is most likely double or triple the required size, and achieving lux levels far higher than needed, resulting in glare.

... natural light brings in less heat for the equivalent amount of light in comparison to electric lighting.

A well-distributed shard of schoolyard wisdom can be found in the idea that the floor plate is a far more significant determinant of natural light distribution than the glazing ratio. Increasing glazing ratios does little to significantly improve the throw of light into a space in a building with a large floor plate. Modern buildings are not highly glazed to achieve good levels of natural light; they are so because of external views and contemporary aesthetics as perceived from the outside. Even in cold climates, fully glazed buildings are cooled at times during winter if direct sunlight is present, suggesting that from an energy perspective, unshaded high glazing ratios represent a problem in sunny climates. For deep floorplates, the increase in natural light owed to high glazing ratios is significantly outweighed by the increased energy requirement in removing heat from the space. An interesting question to ask is “at what depth and aspect ratio of floorplate does increasing glazing ratios offer diminishing returns?” Images 1 through 3 show one such a floorplate, a 30 metre square, where the tipping point occurs. Buildings larger than this will show increasingly marginal improvements in light distribution, with increased glazing ratios. At this size, more glass correlates linearly with improvements in natural light distribution. By implication, narrower floorplates will show very good returns on daylight distribution with increased glazing ratios.

There is no question about it; using simulation tools for natural lighting design adds time and cost to the design process, and the opportunity cost of spending that money in other ways needs to be considered.

When buildings are pursuing a Green Star rating, however, then natural light modeling is required for some credits. It then makes sense to use it not only as a compliance tool, but also as a powerful tool by whoever, as the rudder of the natural light design process.

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STRAPHEAD

BRICKS & PAVING

BRICKS & PAVING

BRICKS & PAVING

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PAVER CONNECTION

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POWER PAVE

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HIRSCH’S PAVING CO cc t/a

Power Pave We Pave – You Save!

Contact:

Tel: 011 8946340 Fax: 011 8943661 Cell: 079 788 1732 E-mail: powerpave@gmail.com Website: www.powerpave.co.za

Industrial and Domestinc Paving in Gauteng by Power Pave Paving specialists.

Paving of Roads ■ Paving of Housing Estates ■ Paving of Golf Estates Forecourts pavers ■ Car parks brick driveways Commercial business parks pave contractors Retail shopping Centres ■ Paver for Container Depots Transport Depots ■ Installer of Sports surfaces ■ Playgrounds Kerbs ■ Soft and Hard Landscaping ■ Driveways ■ Pathways ■ Retainer Walls

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STRAPHEAD

BLINDS AWNINGS SCREENS & SHUTTERS

BLINDS AWNINGS SCREENS &BLINDS, AWNINGS, SHUTTERS SCREENS & SHUTTERS www.tobuild.co.za STORM BLINDS

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We supply and install blinds and shutters for the domestic, industrial and commercial markets.

Blinds: Aluminium venetians, wood venetians, vertical blinds, block-out rollers, solar film rollers, patio rollers, romans and bamboo. Service and repair all blinds.

Shutters: Aluminium security shutters, Plantation wood and PVC shutters.

Contact us: Cape Town: Tel: 021-702 4887 Email: info@srblinds.co.za Gauteng: Tel: 021- 452 9363 Email: Sharon@srblinds.co.za Website: www.srblinds.co.za

ST

STRAPHEA

CEILINGS PARTITIONING CEILINGS & PARTITIONING CDS CEILINGS

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ISOBOARD

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Ceilings & Drywall Supplies We stock all leading brands ceiling and partitioning systems for your H-strip, plastered and suspended ceilings as well as the complete range of drywall requirements such as gypsum boards, galvanised studs and tracks, all aluminium accessories and DAS cornices.

CONTACT Email: sales@cdsupplies.co.za Marketing: marketing@cdsupplies.co.za Postal Address: P.O. Box 1909 Garsfontein East, Pretoria 0060

Centurion Branch: Tel: 012 653 8710 Address: 141 Edison Crescent Hennopspark Centurion

Pretoria Branch: Tel: 012 333 8070 / 5954 Address: 14 Eland Street Koedoespoort Pretoria

Bloemfontein Branch: Dave Hedenskog: Cell: 087 809 3626 Fax: 086 694 1812 Email: bloemfontein@cdsupplies.co.za Address: Unit 3, 228 Church street Hamilton Bloemfontein

Looking forward to supply you with great products at low prices and even better service.

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ELECTRICAL LIGHTING

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CIVIC AUTOMATION

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EDITORIAL

Alternative Energy Sources: Water

Author: Mary Anne Constable

Water is one of earth’s most precious commodities. It possesses the essence of life and harnesses the power to destroy it. There is no alternative resource to water. About 70% of the earth’s surface is covered in water. The ocean holds 96.5% of the earth’s water. Water is also held in lakes, rivers, glaciers, in the soil and in the air (as water vapour). The human body is made up of 60% water. What’s more, when water moves it can do so with formidable force. A tsunami wave can move up to 900 kilometres per hour in the open ocean which is comparable to the speed of a Jet plane; more than 168, 000 cubic metres of water fall over the crest line of the Niagra falls every minute; a falling avalanche can reach a speed of 130 kilometres per hour in about 5 seconds. Why all of these facts? Water holds kinetic energy that we can use. It does not pollute, it does not produce wastage and it does not deplete valuable fossil fuels. Of course water cannot replace all types of energy but there are surprisingly many ways that the power of water can be used to produce the types of energy that we require. It seems ironic that water would be considered an “alternative” energy source, when it is one of the earth’s most abundant elements.

Hydropower: Hydropower is created by the effects of gravity on falling or flowing water. Hydropower is not a new idea.

Most of us would recognise its historical use in windmills and waterwheels. Hydropower is most commonly used to generate electricity. The potential kinetic energy in the water is converted to electrical energy as the water moves or falls. A hydroelectric plant consists of a dammed water source that is used to drive a turbine and a generator. The higher the fall, the greater the amount of energy that can be harnessed. Because it is clean and effective, it is a fairly widely used alternative energy source.

We cannot stop at just thinking about finding alternative kinds of bulk power to use, we have to start rethinking the way that we live and the way we build.

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EDITORIAL

Tidal power: Some hydro plants are constructed within a tidal basin. Tides are predictable and can be relied upon to generate power when required. The energy in a tide is created by the gravitational effects of the earth’s interaction with the sun and moon. Thus it is considered an effective alternative energy source because its renewable. Historically, tide mills (wheels) were used to create power. A tidal stream generator makes use of the moving of the water to generate power, whereas a tidal barrage makes use of the difference in height between low and high tides. A tidal generator works optimally on the continental shelf, thus tidal power is not always an option. Other concerns regarding tidal generators are the obstruction to shipping routes and the possible harmful impact on marine eco systems. Other than these concerns it is very clean. Tidal power has great potential to create a huge amount of energy that has been largely untapped.

Wave power: Wave power is not to be confused with tidal power. It is in fact a different process all together. As opposed to using the internal embodied energy within the water, it relies on the surface kinetic energy of the waves as they form and break. Waves gain their kinetic energy from the wind that flows over the surface. Thus wave power is less predictable than hydro and tidal power (and therefore less widely used) because it is

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EDITORIAL influenced by several external factors: wind speed, wind volume, depth and topography of the sea floor.

In deep ocean water, waves propagate and gain energy faster, therefore it is more practical to harvest them further out from shore. The Wave dragon, in Denmark, is a large offshore floating platform that converts wave power into usable energy. It is the world’s first of a kind. The waves are directed up onto the platform and collected temporarily in a reservoir below. The water then transfers back into the ocean through turbines that harness the energy created by their flow. A lot of innovative technologies are being developed to harness wave power in other different ways.

What now?

There are many innovative ways that water can be used to create energy, even on a micro scale at home.

For example, using the energy used from washing your hands at the basin, to power the light switch. This may seem like a lot of effort for not much but anything must be possible right? It is difficult to fathom the immediate personal benefits from such large scale energy production systems, especially since many of them are not currently used as alternatives to coal fired power and fossil fuels. We cannot stop at just thinking about finding alternative kinds of bulk power to use, we have to start rethinking the way that we live and the way we build. Perhaps we can be inspired by the fact that clues to the answers already exist, and that they can be found in the very air we breathe!

“Ed. This is the first in a series of articles on alternative energy sources, which will follow in future issues of To Build. “

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STRAPHEAD

SECURITY &SECURITY FENCING FENCING MUTUAL SAFE

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SECURITRONICS SAFETY SOLUTIONS

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TIMBER DECKING STRAPHEAD

TIMBER DECKING

TIMBER & DECKING

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TIMBERMAX ISSUE 2 | TO BUILD

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MERENSKY

KIWI TIMBER DECKING

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Solid timber decks that exude style & elegance

Professional installation • Quality decking guaranteed

Beautiful decking & flooring & total peace of mind Chris Griffin 011 477-4000 • 27 082 560 1824 info@timberdecking.co.za

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FIREPLACES & BRAAIS

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SYAM DISTRIBUTORS

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STRAPHEAD

PAINT & DECORATIVE COATINGS

PAINT & DECORATIVE COATINGS

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COTECT INDUSTRIAL PAINTS

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Durable & sustainable paints & coatings that are tested by internationally acclaimed laboratories, and in the harsh South Africa climate * PROVED AS: Low VOC / HAP’s Nearly odoursless Breathing membranes Waterproofing qualities Colourfast and flexable Resistant to diverse weathering Highly penetrating membranes Scrubable and hard wearing

Contact: E-mail: info@b-earth.co.za Tel: 012 819 1409

www.b-earth.co.za Cell: 082 895 3817

* Tested: Paint Research Authority (UK). CSIRO,

CETEC, UNSW (Aus); CSIR / SABS / Thales (SA).

We proud ourselves in field tests and service.

Proud Supplier to the:

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Advertorial

Training vital for paint industry to avoid C.P.A. breaches High Court Advocate Louis Nel, a specialist on the new Consumer Protection Act, recently briefed SAPMA members on the intricate implications of the new legislation. He is pictured (centre) with from left: SAPMA joint chairpersons Aggi Argyrou and Sanjeev Bhatt; chairperson Terry Ashmore, and executive director, Deryck Spence.

“The introduction of the Consumer Protection Act has catapulted training in the South African paint industry to top priority,” says Deryck Spence, executive director of the SA Paint Manufacturing Association (SAPMA).

Spence has warned that all members of the paint and coatings’ supply chain – including raw material suppliers, producers, retailers and applicators – could now face prosecution for breaches of the Consumer Protection Act. “For example, if untrained retailing staff issue wrong advice and directives to a consumer - who consequently incurs losses to his or her property - the blame could snowball right through the supply chain. It is therefore vital for paint producers to put pressure on their stockists, to ensure that retailing staff is properly trained,” he added. “The reputation – and coffers – of producers and applicators could in future end up at the mercy of retail salesmen.”

Spence also urged specifiers and other professionals, involved in decision-making regarding coatings and paints, to consider training and qualification in their specifications. SAPMA is now, through its training arm, the SA Paint Industry Training Institute (SAPITI), presenting a new Basic Decorative Application course aimed at sales staff, applicators, DIY specialists and non-technical staff of all relevant companies.

Mandy Linossi, SAPITI course co-ordinator, says that the new training has been designed for candidates without a scientific background. “Subjects to be covered in the five one-day modules include: function of paints, paint terminology, substrates and their uses, choosing the right product, decorating, problem solving, health and safety, and ‘frequently asked questions’, with practical demonstrations provided for all the modules,” she states.

Certificates of competence will be issued to candidates who successfully pass the five modules. SAPITI plans to present the course three times a year. SAPMA has also announced that, in a major breakthrough for training in the South African coatings industry, the British Coatings Federation (BCF) has granted SAPMA access to 45 of its internationally-respected training modules.

SAPMA’s training arm, SA Paint Industry Training Institute, now has access to basic as well as advanced BCF courses, while BCF in return has access to the pioneering retail training introduced by SAPMA in South Africa.

For more information on training, phone 011 455 2503, email sapiti@sapma.org.za or visit www.sapma.org.za

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EDITORIAL

Exterior Colour Selection Choosing Exterior Colours External colouring is a process that needs both inspiration and knowledge. Vast numbers of variables can affect the outcome of a project. Yet, with the right decisions, the results can be incredible, creating beautiful aesthetic visions to lift not only the project itself but also its surrounding area.

A Synthesis of Research The NCS Exterior Collection of colours, are those that we have selected specifically as being most suited to the exterior environment. Each colour has been chosen to fulfil the exterior criteria by NCS and its team of leading international colour experts. Popular South African colour included!

Colouring the outdoor world Countless hours of study have been invested into the variables that affect the way we view and use colour in our built environment together with intensive analysing of historical and contemporary exterior colours and pigments internationally. Social responsibility, environmental concerns, colour fastness, inherent and perceived colour, materials, availability of pigments and surfaces have all been taken into deep consideration while developing the colours in NCS Exterior.

Analysing with NCS NCS documents and plots (using the logic and power of the NCS System) external colours used internationally in today’s market and those used historically. This database of colour information is used to track trends, changes in colour use and, as a result, identifies the most common colours and colour areas used externally.

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EDITORIAL Outdoor Colours Change The research also reveals that, when a colour is used outside, its appearance to a viewer often changes – due to the inherent and perceived properties of colour. Often a colour will appear much brighter and more chromatic when viewed in the exterior environment in comparison to a small colour sample. We therefore recommend choosing a slightly darker colour to allow for this change and therefore achieve your desired result. The entire NCS Exterior Collection has been chosen so that each colour will not appear too and aggressive when used.

NCS Exterior Environmental impact is at the forefront of modern colouring. Each of the colours in NCS Exterior have been selected as they can be reproduced using readily available pigments which produce inexpensive, longlasting, durable colours which will not fade over time.

Separated into easily identifiable groupings for specific uses and material applications, NCS Exterior is the working tool for the modern professional working in the exterior colouring industry.

Often a colour will appear much brighter and more chromatic when viewed in the exterior environment in comparison to a small colour sample.

Groupings Classic colours (224) are usable on all types of external colouring projects.

Deep colours (28) are based on pigments which are harder to create using render and plaster but still easy to apply as a paint coating.

Dark and Details (70) is a group of colours, for fittings and detailing.

About NCS NCS is the understandable international colour order system for colour selection, specification, communication and control of colour in design, architecture, research, marketing and manufacturing and is entirely based on how the human being sees colour.

This logical colour notation system builds on how the human being sees colour; a notation represents a specific colour precept and describes the colour visually. It is not dependant on the limitations caused by pigments, light rays or nerve signals.

The Swedish Government took the initiative in the matter of colour determination and classification in the 1950’s and what has evolved over time is what is now know as the Natural Colour System® and has become the international standard for colour classification. South Africa is fully compliant as the South African Standard (SANS 1091) was enabled in 2004 and adopts NCS. For additional information about NCS or training courses in the use of the colour order system visit www.ncscolour.co.za

For more information on the NCS Exterior range, contact Lisa Taylor, NCS South Africa, 011 486 3190 lisa@ncscolour.co.za www.mediaxpose.co.za

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STRAPHE

KITCHENS

KITCHENS SMEG

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EDITORIAL

Going Green in the Kitchen

Author: Stephanie Forbes

Environmental issues are becoming more of a concern and we are frequently asked what people can do to make their new kitchen more environmentally friendly.

Bamboo Kitchen by Cabinet Works, Cape Town

Green Companies: Look for companies with an environmental policy and ensure their suppliers are eco friendly too. If every company, in the chain of supply of your kitchen, has taken an environmental stand, the carbon footprint of your kitchen will be substantially reduced.

Green Design: By optimising natural light in the kitchen, the designer can cut back on the amount of lighting you will require.

Look to place key work areas like sinks and stove near a source of natural light. Ensure lighting is low voltage or uses energy saving bulbs. Include practical recycling bins that will allow you to separate your recyclable waste easily. Look to include a waste disposal system or green bin for biodegradable waist that can be turned into compost.

Green materials: Specify that you wish your carcasses to be made of “A” rated or “E1” rated board. This will be slightly more expensive, but is manufactured in a ‘greener’ process and contains less formaldehyde than other boards.

MDF is the board of choice when it comes to doors and drawer fronts and is not known as an environmental product. There is a new range of MDF which is produced to a specification called ‘CARB 2’, which has harsher formaldehyde and hazardous emissions limitations than the current ‘E1’ emission standard. This MDF is considered a green product.

If you are looking for a paint finish or ‘duco’ door ensure the paint used is water based and environmentally friendly. There have been huge strides in the manufacturing process of PVC, if opting for a wrap door. Many studies view PVC as an eco-friendly plastic with huge sustainability, due to its durability and long life cycle.

Bamboo has multiple uses. It is grown in commercial plantations using sustainable forestry practices. The

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EDITORIAL plants require no fertilizers or pesticides. Unlike other hardwoods, the bamboo tree is not killed when it is harvested. The plant has multiple stems and only the mature stems are harvested, leaving the plant alive to grow further stems. A bamboo plant absorbs more CO2 during its growth than is released during the manufacturing process of bamboo boards and flooring. This means that bamboo products actually have a net positive carbon footprint.

Choose an eco friendly top. Engineered stone is a composite of stone fragments and resin and is considered a recycled material. In Europe and the United States, there is also a paper based material available which is made from post-consumer waste, recycled paper and propriety, and petroleum free resin. This has been used very successfully in a work top application and should be available in South Africa soon.

If you wish to stick with a laminated top then look for a ‘hollow core’ top. This is a top that has a hollow core which is strengthened with recycled paper product. It is light weight and durable, and uses far less raw material to manufacture.

Green Appliances: Appliances are the largest consumer of electricity and water in your kitchen. All appliances are given an energy rating, based on their energy and water consumption.

Save electricity on your hob by matching the pan to the element size, this could stop you loosing over 40% of the heat generated by the element. Look into new cooking technology like the induction hob, which by creating a magnetic field between hob and pan, is faster and more energy efficient than other options.

A convection oven usually saves more energy than a conventional oven, as the fan reduces the temperature required and cooking time by about 20%.

Appliances are the largest consumer of electricity and water in your kitchen.

Recycled paper top by Paperstone

With dishwashers, look for the most water-efficient and that offer a no-heat drying cycle. Side by side fridge/ freezers use more energy than similar sized models with the freezer on top. Ice makers and through the door bars also add to the units energy consumption. Always check your fridge’s door seals. If this is not sealing properly you will be losing cold air, which will mean the unit’s compressor will have to work overtime to maintain the temperature inside.

In general, front loading washing machines use less energy and water than top loading ones. Some new designs in top loaders, which have a facility to spray the clothes from above, are more energy conscious than the older designs.

Green living: Look after the kitchen to ensure its longevity. Recycle, turn off appliances at the wall and switch off your kitchen lights when you are not in the kitchen. Being green may cost a little more in the beginning and demand a little more effort in your day to day routine, but in the long run it will save you time, money and will leave us with a healthier planet.

With thanks to the following KSA members for their contributions: Grass, Larson Industries, PG Bison, Lansdowne Boards, Smeg SA, Whirlpool South Africa, Roco Fittings, Panda Bamboo and Renolit.

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BATHROOMS

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GEBERIT SA

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http://www.tradeplusaid.co.za

EDITORIAL

Biogas Initiatives in Rural Areas Biogas is one of the untapped resources within the sustainable field in South Africa. Major research and several pilot projects are currently underway in South Africa. Recently Acrona South Africa was launched in Rosebank by Trade Plus Africa and the Switzerland embasy. This initiative in conjunction with Acrona Switzerland is looking at the implementation of biogas systems, in conjunction with Acrona’s Capstone low emission turbine generator, on a larger scale within the commercial farming sector. The initiative follows on earlier work done in rural areas by Trade Plus Africa.

Through a process called Anaerobic Digestion, a bio-digester produces Biogas. The digester uses a wide variety of organic material and waste that are freely available to produce the Biogas. These include sewage sludge, animal manure, municipal/industrial organic waste, crop residues and specially grown energy crops.

They are simple to operate and is an environmentally friendly alternative energy source. As it operates on recycled waste from natural processes, it uses totally renewable resources and its carbon footprint is determined only by the manufacturing process of the materials to construct the digester.

Energy contained naturally within animal and kitchen waste is taken advantage of through the Anaerobic Digestion process. This waste is broken down during the natural decomposition process. During this process, whether in a landfill, compost heap or bio-digester, releases rich methane biogas. Methane has been classified as a dangerous greenhouse gas and also contribute to ozone depletion, more so than CO2.

Instead of this gas being released into the atmosphere while waste is decomposing in a compost heap or landfill, it is trapped and stored in a bio-digester. As the methane gas is burned and not released into the atmosphere, it reduces the effect the methane would have on the atmosphere. It is further claimed that the bio-digester is effectively carbon neutral.

The trapped methane gas provides a sustainable substitute for various other fuels used during the cooking and heating process in rural areas. Some of the fuel types that can be substituted are propane, kerosene, wood and electricity. This not only contribute to a reduction in energy required from traditional electricity suppliers, but also reduce deforestation. The implementation of these bio-digester on a large scale would significantly contribute to reducing deforestation, as it is estimated that approximately 3 tons of wood fuel is used per annum for cooking and heating. This wood is harvested from where it is available within the rural areas and not from a sustainable timber source. As the biogas appliances do not require time to warm up, it also reduce cooking time and effectively increase the efficiency of the processes.

A further benefit of the bio-digester is the provision of high quality, organic fertilizer (bio-slurry). During the biological process in the bio-digester, the waste is sterilized and odour is eliminated. The bio-slurry that

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EDITORIAL leaves the bio-digester contains higher nutritional value than the raw waste that is put into it, according to various studies. The bio-slurry, if applied correctly to household food crops increases the production, as it closes the nutrient cycle. It further checks soil degradation and reduces erosion, as plants grow better, and adds to the ground quality. This further reduces the requirement to purchase expensive chemical fertilizers that can be detrimental to the environment.

A macro-economic benefit through the implementation of biogas systems would be the development of local business, within rural areas, that would build and maintain bio-digesters and methane operated appliances, serving not only as a financial injection into these areas, but also lead to job creation.

Biogas technology has been used in rural areas several other countries, with a reported 25 million units installed. Countries like China, India and Nepal have implemented biogas technology on a large scale.

These countries have proven that biogas as an alternative energy system, is particularly suited to meeting small scale needs across rural areas in southern Africa.

Trade Plus Africa has implemented 11 domestic bio-digesters through funding obtained from the United Nation Development Program (UNDP) in rural areas in the Richmond area of Kwa-Zulu Natal. This program has been implemented very successful.

To further extend the program, Trade Plus Africa envisage a 6m3 system for an average rural household.

The solid waste from the kitchen (food trimmings) and animal dung, is emptied into the digester manually, while the waste from sewer system would be added to the digester through a normal sewage pipe system.

Grey water is added to the system. This is all that is required by the bio-digester.

After the bio-digestion process has commenced, biogas is released into the fixed dome area, and directed through pipe work to the cooking and heating appliances. The bio-digester is an airtight system which does not allow the gas to escape, except through the relevant gas pipe system. The effluent leaving the bio-digester has gone through a process whereby the majority of pathogens have been removed by the digestion process.

http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Anaerobic_digestion

The Anaerobic Digestion process takes place when three primary sets of bacteria action on organic matter, causing the water, organic wastes, animal waste and/or manures and urine, to biologically breakdown.

Biogas technology also plays an important role in improving the quality of life in rural households, as it removes the need for women and children to collect wood for cooking and heating, which is a laborious task and can be dangerous at times. It reduces indoor air pollution, as the methane produces less carbon dioxide than wood burning systems. Animal dung is better managed as it is required in the bio-digester, meaning livestock stables are cleaned on a daily basis.

For more information on bio-digesters and its application in rural areas, visit http://www.tradeplusaid.co.za.

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advertorial

Quality is the NHBRC’S priority The National Home Builders Registration Council’s (NHBRC) mandate is guided by the Housing Consumers Measures Act, 1998 (Act No. 95 of 1988) (as amended) whose objectives, inter alia, are to regulate the home building industry, provide protection to housing consumers in respect of the failure of home builders to comply with their obligations in terms of the Act, to provide warranty cover against defined structural defects in new homes, to establish and promote ethical, quality and technical standards in the home building industry and in so doing protect the interests of housing consumers.

Home builders need to be registered In terms of the Act, any person in the business of building homes must register with the NHBRC. Registration with the NHBRC provides a licence and a right to build homes. To qualify as a registered NHBRC home builder, applicants are assessed on their technical, construction, management and financial capability.

By law all new home builds have to be registered with the NHBRC irrespective of the value of the planned house development. This ensures that the home build has warranty cover against defined defects and that through the comprehensive NHBRC inspection process, the construction is structurally sound and meets NHBRC technical standards.

In instances where builders do not meet their obligations (as stipulated by the Act) and where poor workmanship has been uncovered, the NHBRC has a complaint and remedial procedure to resolve such cases.

Home consumer protection The NHBRC may suspend a home builder’s registration and/or right to enrol homes where it has information that the builder has failed to rectify reported defects by either the consumer or the NHBRC inspector and/or where the NHBRC considers that immediate intervention is in the best interest of the home consumer.

Subsidy housing At the onset, the mandate of the NHBRC did not cover the low cost housing (subsidy) sector. Unregulated, a number of builds in this sector did not meet technical and industry standards. In some instances the product delivered was of a substandard technical quality, inferior materials were used and substandard building practices were employed. Currently the majority of the houses that are to be demolished or are undergoing major repair were built pre 2002.

In February 2002 the Honourable Minister of Housing announced that the NHBRC Warranty Scheme will apply in the housing subsidy sector.

In the subsidy sector, the NHBRC has initiated remedial works of housing subsidy failures. The organisation enrols new housing builds, conducts geotechnical, civil and structural assessments required, inspects the builds and materials used and through its builder training programs empowers builders in respect of product and technical knowledge.

In partnership with the building industry Improving the lives of the South African people through the provision of quality homes is a collective responsibility.

The NHBRC is in continuous engagement and consultation with provincial governments to sensitize them on the risks of utilizing unregistered builders. And partnerships with the private sector remains crucial to ensure that rules and regulations are followed, and standards in the building industry is maintained.

For more information, please contact the NHBRC: 0800 200 824 (Toll free) Or your provincial or satellite office nearest to you, or www.nhbrc.org.za for more information

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EDITORIAL

Sustainable Materials

Sustainable development focus on a variety of topics. The cost of sustainable buildings seem to be a major deterrent when decisions about implementing it needs to be made. Clients might be open to incorporate sustainable materials in their projects, contributing to sustainability without increasing the project costs.

Some clients might ask what are sustainable materials. Or why they have to use sustainable materials.

While selecting these materials is mostly done by the industry professionals.

One of the biggest problems faced by the specifier is ensuring that a product is really green. There is currently no reliable organization that would certify a product as green in South Africa. As a built environment and Green Star Accredited professional, it is fascinating when product representatives meet you and explain how green their product is, and that it has been approved by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). While the GBCSA makes it explicitly clear that they do not certify or endorse any product.

This is called greenwashing. Something that many companies seem to be doing, sometimes in total ignorance, and at other times on purpose. An example is manufacturers that would join a green organization and them claim they are green, or their products are green by virtue of their membership. The Business Ethics website of Canada defines Greenwashing as: “Greenwashing,” a pejorative term derived from the term “whitewashing,” was coined by environmental activists to describe efforts by corporations to portray themselves as environmentally responsible in order to mask environmental wrongdoings. The term “greenwashing” was originally confined to describing misleading instances of environmental advertising, but as corporations’ efforts to portray themselves as environmentally virtuous have diversified and proliferated, so have charges of greenwashing. The term is now used to refer to a wider range or corporate activities, including, but not limited to, certain instances of environmental reporting, event sponsorship, the distribution of educational materials, and the creation of “front groups.” However, regardless of the strategy employed, the main objective of greenwashing is to give consumers and policy makers the impression that the company is taking the necessary steps to manage its ecological footprint.

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EDITORIAL When dealing with products, care must be taken to ensure that products are what they claim to be. This will ensure that the development do make a difference to the environment.

What are sustainable building materials?

Sustainable materials take on a variety of forms and features. One of the best examples of a sustainable material is Bamboo. It is a natural product, with very little by products and processes needed to utilize it, it also grows very fast, which means it is renewable. For us in South Africa, however, we need to consider the transportation of Bamboo from the east, as this makes it less environmentally friendly than one is lead to believe. These facts all need to be checked to determine just how sustainable material is.

To further illustrate what constitute sustainable materials, here is a list of potential characteristics attributed for such materials: Recycled; 100% Renewable; Non-Toxic; Carbon Neutral; PVC Free; Biodegradable; Locally Sourced; Organic; FSC Timber; Low VOC; Durable; Zero Waste; 100% Natural; and Recyclable.

Some products might claim one of these attributes and it would make it a sustainable material, for example Bamboo, which as mentioned earlier, is totally renewable. The opposite is also true, whereas, a product could claim one of the attributes, and be as far from sustainable as you can get, for example Oil. The responsibility lies with each person to do the required research and study to determine if a product is really sustainable, and not just take the marketing at face value.

Why use sustainable building materials?

It is essential that we understand why we use sustainable materials. The state of our environment, climate and natural resources is dire. Starting to use sustainable materials, will reduce the affect we have on these three crisis areas. The use of sustainable materials will also reduce the waste and energy consumption when we develop buildings.

How to select sustainable building materials?

Selecting sustainable materials and products is probably one of the more difficult things to do, during the development process. With all the false claims of sustainable materials we mentioned earlier, it is very easy to choose the wrong material. Finishes and materials should have low VOC, formaldehyde and other toxicity levels, to improve the indoor air quality. Energy efficient products and materials reduce

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EDITORIAL the amount of consumed energy, and reduces the carbon emissions involved in the production process of energy. The use of recycled products contribute to conserving natural resources, as it reduces the requirements to mine for more raw materials. Sustainable harvested products, such as using timber that is FSC certified, helps to protect the natural ecosystems.

Sustainable materials all focus on the same goals – stewardship of energy, water, materials, site/landscape and internal environment quality. To make the selection of materials easier, several other countries introduced third party certification systems. Locally, we will recognize things like “EnergyStar” and “FSC.” With various others available. South African carpets, for example, is tested against the Australian standard for VOC’s as there is no local recognized test.

By looking for international recognized certification on products, and doing research into product, the built environment professional should be able to find sustainable products. Items to look out for when assessing the sustainability of any material are: Renewability - Are the products made from material that is rapidly renewable such as cork or bamboo?

Recycled Content - Using material with recycled content not only reduces strain on our landfills, but reduces the need for raw material.

Reusability and Recyclability - Many products, such as metals, can be recycled after their useable life.

Durability - Choose products that will stand the test of time and require little maintenance.

Embodied Energy - This is the energy used to produce, transport and install a product or material in the place where it will be used.

Air Quality - Products like carpet, cabinetry, plywood and paint can contain petroleum products or formaldehyde and off gas VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).

Waste Reduction - Choose material that does not create a lot of waste and can be used efficiently.

Life cycle costing - Shows what happens to a product from raw material to product and through waste/ recycling stream.

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ADVERTORIAL

New Robor Hybrid Steel structure system saves time and money Robor, a leader in steel tube and pipe manufacturing, introduced the Hybrid Steel Structure system with the fabrication and erection of a Eureka DIY factory in Stormill. With a footprint of 148.4m × 79.5m × 8.8m high eaves and a structural steel weight of 147.8t, the Eureka factory demonstrates the Hybrid Steel Structure system’s unique benefits.

“The Hybrid Steel Structure’s design has taken ecological impact into consideration, allowing a 50% reduction in its carbon footprint,” says Andrew Bull, Entity Engineering.

Robor, in conjunction with Entity Engineering, developed the new Hybrid Steel Structure system as an alternative to traditional systems that rely on structural steel roofing and is used for mini-factories, factories, warehousing, shopping centres and other types of buildings.

It also offers construction professionals the freedom to customise their products and solutions for a wider range of services, as well as providing them with the opportunity to save up to 40% in mass. The system decreases project delivery times, minimises transport and labour costs, and allows for lower maintenance requirements. In addition, corrosion protection cost is reduced as half the structure is made from high-strength, lightweight, pre-galvanised steel.

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CONTACT

To Advertise Tel: 021 433 1349 / 2309 Fax: 086 516 7277 Mobile: 072 365 4877 Website: www.mediaxpose.co.za

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STRAPHEAD

CEMENT & CONCRETE

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EDITORIAL

Sustainable concrete

Author: Daniel van der Merwe

Concrete continues to play a pivotal role in overall economic growth both locally and globally.

Concrete is the most commonly used building material on the planet and most of the infrastructure for modern civilization has been built using concrete in some form or other.

Making structures and buildings sustainable is good practice and has always been good architecture, but now far more consideration has to be given to environmental issues (primarily energy consumption and the depletion of natural resources) and social issues (the effect the building or structure has on the community) both during and after construction. A report from the Athena Institute showed that a building’s operating energy consumption over its lifetime is between 87% and 97% of the total energy requirement, while the embodied energy only accounts for between 3% and 13% of the total energy.

Cement: The cement industry is active in reducing energy consumption and in particular in reducing the amount of non-renewable fossil fuels through the introduction of modern technology and equipment. This includes the use of alternative fuels and resources. The introduction of waste tyres in current kilns will also address the sustainable management of used tyres.

Cement extenders: Cement extenders have a dramatic effect on reducing the CO2e per ton of cement, as well as adding benefits ranging from better workability of fresh concrete through to more durable, impermeable concrete. These materials are generally secondary products which end up in landfills if not used by the concrete industry.

Aggregates: Aggregates are high-volume, low-cost materials. It is energy efficient and sustainable to extract them close to communities and industries where they are to be used. The use of recycled concrete as an aggregate will further reduce the CO2e of the concrete and at the same time reduce the depletion of natural resources and the dumping of old concrete at landfill sites.

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EDITORIAL Admixtures: Although the proportion of admixture in a concrete mix is tiny compared to other raw materials, recent developments in admixture technology now allow admixtures to be used to control properties of concrete very precisely. Although the negative impact on the environment is minimal, admixtures have a major positive effect on sustainability.

Water: The average value for water is 1kg CO2e per ton. Concrete ready-mix plants are recycling wash and waste water, saving costs and reducing consumption of this precious resource.

Local material: All the primary materials used in concrete, with the possible exception of some sophisticated admixtures, are produced locally. The extenders and slag aggregates used are secondary products and would otherwise be dumped, if not used by the cement and concrete industry.

Labour intensive construction: Concrete and concrete products lend themselves, in most cases, to labour-intensive construction, whether this is the small-scale manufacture of concrete products or the use of concrete in various forms of construction.

Design flexibility: As concrete products and elements can be constructed into any shape and can be cast in various ways, including in situ, precast, etc. This offers the designer a large amount of flexibility. The fact that concrete can be constructed in situ or by precasting, or using a hybrid of the two methods, provides the designer a large degree of flexibility.

Variety of finishes: There are unlimited possibilities for finishes when concrete is used. The use of concrete as a final finish means no other finishing activities such as painting, tiling or coating are required.

Cost-effectiveness: The initial costs of well-engineered designs for appropriate products constructed with concrete as the major material should be equally or more cost effective than designs using other materials.

Life-cycle cost analyses show that, because of concrete’s durability, the whole life cost of many projects is lower when concrete is used as the major construction material.

Structural integrity: The structural design and construction of concrete elements in buildings (including insitu reinforced concrete, precast concrete, tilt-up, hybrid construction and post-tensioned concrete elements) is well understood by architects, structural engineers and contractors.

Fire resistance: Concrete does not burn and does not emit any toxic fumes when subjected to fire. It will not produce smoke or drip molten particles. During a fire, the concrete cover will protect the reinforcement from buckling or yielding. Concrete’s inherent fire resistance can restrict smoke from spreading, and will largely maintain the building’s strength during a fire.

Durability: Concrete is one of the most durable materials on earth. Well-designed, well-constructed concrete offers exceptional durability and long life in any structure. Concrete structures built over 100 years ago (some as long ago as Roman times) are still in active service today. Such extended life span results not only in less expenditure of energy in building new homes, infrastructure, etc. but also in less maintenance and impact on the use of finite resources.

Energy efficiency: The use of local materials in the production of concrete minimises fuel requirements for handling and transportation. Once in place, concrete offers significant energy savings over the lifetime of the structure.

Thermal mass: Thermal mass (also called thermal capacitance or heat capacity) is the ability of a body to store heat. Thermal mass can make a significant contribution to reducing energy consumption and green house gas emissions, while maintaining occupancy comfort during the life of the building.

Harnessing the effect of concrete’s high thermal mass has positive implications in terms of energy usage

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EDITORIAL during the building’s entire life cycle. Using heat or cold absorbed by exposed thermal masses gives an increased time-lag between peak heating/cooling loads and outside temperatures, allowing the use of offpeak energy as a top-up instead of the primary source.

Low maintenance: Because of its inherent durability, stiffness and strength, maintenance requirements are reduced, which reduces costs, user inconvenience and the use of finite resources.

Acoustic performance: Excessive noise has an adverse effect on personal health and wellbeing, ability to perform quiet tasks and productivity. In general, increasing the mass of a wall or floor improves the sound insulation of a room; hence concrete offers a good barrier to airborne sound. Impact sound can be controlled with appropriate floor and ceiling finishes.

CO2 absorption: As has been shown earlier, the production of cement results in CO2 emissions into the environment. However, concrete carbonates during its life and absorbs CO2 from the environment.

Research from the Nordic Innovation Centre has indicated that as much as 57% of the CO2 emitted due to the calcination process in the manufacture of the cement (60% of the total) will be reabsorbed by the concrete over 100 years.

Construction flexibility: Concrete structures offer a huge amount of flexibility in the ways and methods in which they can be constructed. Self-compacting concrete offers further flexibility in placing concrete and the achievement of excellent off-shutter finishes.

Concrete has an advantage over other materials in that the concrete elements (walls, columns, beams, trusses and slabs) can be constructed in situ on site, or precast on site. A further additional benefit of concrete is that all of the above options can be combined on one project.

Recycling: A demolished concrete structure provides a potentially rich source of recycled aggregate for a range of applications. Recycled concrete can be used as an aggregate for building products, such as bricks and blocks, in road construction for layerworks, or for land reclamation, thereby reducing the amount of material sent to landfills.

Retrofitting and reuse: Often, precast components from structures may be reused in new buildings rather than demolishing and recycling the concrete. Structures using precast elements can be designed for such reuse. Concrete buildings can often be adapted fairly easily for new uses, e.g. unused office space in buildings can be retrofitted for use as residential accommodation.

Concrete’s role: Concrete continues to play a pivotal role in overall economic growth both locally and globally. In order to improve the sustainability of all concrete structures, there is a need to understand the interactive effect of the many issues from ‘cradle to grave’ in the design phase, during construction and endof-life and, most importantly, the energy savings achievable during the use phase. This article is an attempt to summarise the role which concrete can play in contributing to the sustainability of our infrastructure.

For more detailed information visit our website: www.cnci.org.za

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BUILDING PRODUCTS & BUILDING SERVICES PRODUCTS & BUILDING PRODUCTSSERVICES & SERVICES AQUA EARTH

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EDITORIAL

Benefits of sustainable design: Economy When the benefits of sustainable design are addressed, the Triple Bottom Line is always mentioned. The triple bottom line refers to the three main groups of benefits as it affects us all. These are Economic benefits, Social benefits and Environmental benefits. In this article we will be focusing on the Economic benefits, with Social and Environmental benefits following in the next two issues of To Build.

Within these three areas there are various parties that benefit from the design of sustainable developments.

The main benefactors are the developers/facility owners, employees/occupants, local government, local community/economy and the public at large. The public at large includes societal and environmental benefits, as an improved environment makes for a better world to live in for us all.

During the design process several of the benefits are not considered, as they are not seen as direct benefits to the developers/facility owners, who prefer to consider their own bottom line. Considering the short and long term economic benefits sustainable design provide, the bottom line is worth reconsidering.

Economy

Bearable

Viable

Sustainable Environment

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EDITORIAL Economic benefits include: Developers/facility owners can benefit from proper site selection and usage, which reduces the potential costs of site preparation and the development in a whole. Orientation upon the site reduces operational costs by reduced energy consumption. Utilizing alternative transport options, reduces capital outlay required for parking areas. Indigenous landscaping reduces maintenance costs and stormwater management. Reducing light pollution will reduce energy consumption and therefore utility bills. Proper space planning will reduce energy consumption through natural lighting and ventilation.

This also lead to reduced mechanical systems and increased productivity, which increase potential income. Renewable energy could increase capital outlay, but reduces the energy consumption through utility companies and therefore the utility bills in the long run. Waste management during construction and operation can reduce the waste disposal costs. Waste prevention through use of correct material and equipment decreases operational cost by using more durable materials, which will require less replacement. Improving the Indoor Environmental Quality, leads to improved productivity, lower workman’s compensation, disability, health and liability insurance costs. A decent building management system will lead to reduced operational costs. Ensuring equipment is maintained and running optimal, will reduce operational costs, equipment downtime and replacement – lower lifecycle replacement costs. Lastly, through a sustainable housekeeping regime, water consumption could be reduced as well as preventing “sick building syndrome” which will lead to reduced absenteeism and therefore increased productivity.

Local government benefits from sustainable design as lower infrastructure development costs will be required when reusing brownfields. Stormwater management leads to reduced cleanup downstream.

Recycling water reduces the infrastructure development in providing water treatment plants. All the items ensuring reduced energy consumption require less energy from the “grid,” and therefore reduces energy generation from utility companies, which reduces infrastructure development, including transmission and distribution costs. Waste management reduces landfill construction costs and reduced waste treatment plants.

Local economy benefits include reduced tourism lost due to natural environment remaining intact.

Renewable energy sources and waste recycling provide opportunities for local business to develop and increase job creation. Utilizing local materials contribute to the success of local business. Rapidly renewable materials, such as bamboo, can lead to the development and success of different local businesses.

Employees benefit from alternative transport systems, by reduced transportation costs and fuel consumption through the use of public transport, bicycles and hybrid vehicles. Improved working environment through improved air quality and sustainable maintenance methods contribute to lower health care costs of employee/occupants.

The above list is extensive in providing potential economic benefits, but may not be comprehensive. As sustainable design develops, more and more benefits will be discovered as we live and work in sustainable buildings.

In our next issue we will focus on the Social Benefits that sustainable design provide.

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advertorial

Lafarge Gypsum creates a legacy for tomorrow

“Lafarge wants to create a legacy for tomorrow and as such, all our initiatives are geared in that direction,” says Jean-Paul Croze, Managing Director of Lafarge Gypsum. “Quality and environmental awareness are paramount priorities for Lafarge. We scout the world for trends in sustainable development to lead product innovation that is compliant with world-class building standards,” Croze says Lafarge Gypsum is a leading supplier of interior finishing solutions that are founded on superior quality, consistency and innovative design methods.

Lafarge Gypsum’s products are also all fully recyclable, notwithstanding the fact that they use much less energy in the building process than some more traditional means of construction.

The implementation of SANS 204 has generated greater awareness of the country’s energy efficiency requirements for buildings and Lafarge’s objective is to provide solutions as close to specification requirements as possible allowing architects and interior designers the flexibility to adapt design concepts without compromising the environment.

Lafarge Gypsum is an ISO 9001 – 2008 accredited company and its product is manufactured in accordance to SANS 266: Gypsum Plasterboard. “Our products are innovative, profiled for the future by bridging the divide between architectural lessons of the past and the most advanced technology,” Croze comments. “We aim to become the benchmark for plasterboard systems in South Africa, offering the best sustainable and pioneering solutions for our customers.”

Croze says their plasterboard solutions are already taking more space in the South African partitioning market, for commercial as well as residential applications. The international expertise of Lafarge Gypsum

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advertorial enables the company to develop, adapt and test new systems to address customer needs.

“We have developed the quality of our plasterboards to a level where Lafarge can offer a superior product that is much lighter than the product of our competitors. This puts our products ahead in terms of environmental and sustainable development, using less raw material and energy to produce our products, and less fuel to transport products because we can fit more square metres on a truck.”

Lafarge skimming plasters have also been developed so that they can be applied in thinner layers, enabling optimal surface coverage per bag.

Finally, Lafarge has improved its Cove Cornices to be stronger than its competitors, generating fewer damages, breakages and losses.

“Our customers have clearly seen the difference,” Croze confirms. Lafarge Gypsum is strongly focused on full system offerings and guaranteeing high technical properties with globally cheaper solutions for end users.

“We are currently addressing competitive solutions for low cost housing, Croze said. “Lafarge Gypsum is one of only two local producers which generate the full system –plasterboards, ceiling tiles, plasters, Cove Cornices, suspended steel ceiling grids, and stud and track steel partitioning.”

Croze says the challenge ahead is the evolution of customer behaviour and expectations. While architects take the lead in the design and specification of ‘intelligent’ environments, Croze is of the belief that it is the responsibility of the manufacturer to communicate the benefits of compliant product ranges. “We need to educate people in order that they can get the full benefit of our products,” Croze says.

The comprehensive range of Lafarge systems are designed to offer architects, specifiers and designers the possibility of translating existing visual concepts into actual on-site reality. These systems meet the practical and performance needs of both new and refurbishment projects – from entry-level to prestigious high-end buildings. Specific systems can also be evaluated with regard to acoustic properties and designed to meet the needs and requirements of project specifics.

Lafarge was ranked 6th in the “Carbon Disclosure Project” and entered the global “Dow Jones Sustainability Index” in 2010 in recognition of its sustainable development actions. With the world’s leading building materials research facility, Lafarge places innovation at the heart of its priorities, working for sustainable construction and architectural creativity.

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GREEN BUILDING

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EDITORIAL

‘Green folds’: Green Design VS. Sustainable Design

Author: N Mashego

In the past few years there has been an increasing interest in Green and Sustainable design. These terms have come to infiltrate every aspect of our lives, so much so, that even though they are different things, the lines between them have been blurred into one big green blindfold, and that, is all we see. However, these are the words that define and through proper application and implementation, will probably govern our continued existence on this earth.

Having now mentioned the Earth, it is in quite a deplorable state and hanging on by the threads of whatever is left of its ecosystems. The obsession with the end of the world is not unfounded. The human race has caused adverse damage to the environment, we are fast running out of resources and the carbon emissions are beating the bleeding earth into a comatose state. In an attempt to alleviate the environmental distress we have enlisted Green and Sustainable design as a means to heal and to preserve the Earth’s resources.

According to the Green building council of South Africa, the built environment is responsible for 40% to 50% of the use of the world‘s energy.

The issue at hand is what green and sustainable design is and which is better? Many describe Green design as a micro movement and sustainable design as a macro movement. Scientists at a UN conference say that the objectives of sustainability is to preserve the environment and to make sure future generations have a world to live in, but also making sure that we are able to use the resources in order to meet our needs. It tackles socio economic and environmental issues as one. Sustainable building interventions put the following into their design considerations: to make the human as comfortable as possible and to reduce any harm whatsoever that may be caused to both the people involved in the construction as well as the occupants; the site becomes very important, in fact the site’s natural land, water and energy should be the driving force in the design and development. It is all about marrying place making and continuity through the integration of natural systems and human patterns. Sustainability is driven by energy efficiency, waste

It seems that the world has finally come together and is sharing in illness. We have gathered and collectively put on our ‘green folds’. A new race is born: a race that will not let the sustainable train pass it by, all aboard, and the mission; to paint the universe green.

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EDITORIAL management, eco labeling, buying local, air quality, fair trade and the reduction of the carbon footprint. Green design or green architecture zooms in and tackles the issue of pollution. It is about resource and energy efficiency, about water conservation and affordability. Green design materials promote the conservation of nonrenewable resources and it helps reduce environmental impacts associated with extraction, transport, processing, and fabrication, installation, reusing and recycling.

Consumer industries are aware of the attraction that Green Design pulls and are exploiting the buzz; they have attached the word green to their products which attaches environmental concern to the product. Many people are now concerned about the Green products and it is all becoming a consumerism gimmick.

It is to be noted that Green products are not necessarily Sustainable. One example of a green product that keeps popping up is an I-Pod. An I-pod is classified as “green” because it causes no pollution, however, the shipment and the extraction of the materials may not.

24 Richefond Circle is an office building that recently got awarded a four star rating by The Green Building Council of South Africa. While there are many initiatives put in place, The Shepstone and Wylie development scored particularly high on water usage, energy and their intervention on the indoor environment quality.

The building has managed to save 49% on the energy use side and there are means in place to help with carbon emissions and waste. It is both a Green and a Sustainable building and it is a stepping stone for South Africa in achieving sustainability. Without taking away any credit due, questions like these beg to be asked: How were the materials used in the building, extracted from the earth, did their manufacture and transport cause damage to the environment, what were the cost implications, did the construction or will the operation of the building tackle any social issues? These types of questions should be asked every time a building is put on paper.

So Green vs. Sustainable design. Since these work hand in hand they should, perhaps not be separated.

All the confusion as to which is what is justified, they have a common goal and one cannot think of the one without the other. To move beyond ‘green washing’ we should collectively peel off our proverbial green folds and take a closer look at what both Green and Sustainable mean and see how we want to preserve our Earth.

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PICTORIAL

Out & About Commencing in this issue we will be including pictures from various events taking place within the Built Environment. If you are hosting an event, we would like to cover it in pictures. Three events we were involved with in various forms are covered in this our first pictorial Out & About feature.

Send your event information to editor@petermuller.co.za for consideration.

LAUNCH OF THE GRUNDFOS NEW SOLAR BOOSTER AND POOL PUMP, PORT ELIZABETH

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PICTORIAL THE KITCHEN SPECIALIST ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE PRODUCT EVENING, JOHANNESBURG

CNCI SPONSORED EVENTS

Above: CNCI Capet Town Gala Evening Left: CNCI Masterclass 2011

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Paver Connection.......................88 Perspex SA...................................182 Polyflor.........................................62 Power Pave....................................90 Progress Group.......................119 Pro Group........................................5 ROBOR............................................157 Rocon Building..........................151 Ronan Agencies...........................97 SA Fence and Gate..................... 111 SA Wallbeds................................144 SAFAL STEEL..................................156 SAISC...............................................180 SAPMA.............................................125 SAPY................................................158 SARMA.............................................163 Securitronics Safety Solutions.....................................112 Show Cupboards.......................136 SIKA...................................................65 Silk by Design...............................42 SMEG.......................................132, 133 Solent Trading..........................103 Southern Right...........................94 Speed Heat.....................................66 Storm Blinds.................................92 Summer Sun.................................169 Swartland Windows and Doors................................84, 85 SYAM DISTRIBUTORS....................118 Technicrete..................................89

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

Able..................................................78 AMA Architects............................25 Ambiente Luce............................105 Aqua Earth..................................167 Arcelor Mittal.............................60 Arona Roofing (Pty) Ltd...........69 Arup..................................................55 ASPASA............................................172 BCH Design School.....................40 B-Earth..........................................122 Beau Ideal......................................75 Blue Scope Steel (Pty) Ltd......19 Cape Craft & Design Institute.........................................34 CDS Ceilings..................................96 Cement & Concrete Institute.......................................161 Civic Automation.......................101 Copper Development Association...............................1, 15 Cotect Industrial Paints.....................................126, 127 Craft Steel Furniture & Interiors...................................146 Cupric Tectonics........................72 De Leeuw Group...........................49 De Wet Enviro...............................46 Decorex . .......................................14 Desert Pots..................................37 Design Stainless Products.......................................74 Diva Luce Lighting.....................108 Durowin - Como............................83 Eco Log Homes...........................153 Enumerate Consulting.............51 Fire and Gas Lifestyle............120 GBT Grand Solar...............106, 107 Geberit SA....................................139 Isca.................................................142 Isoboard........................................98 Kiwi Timber Decking..................116 Medal Paints...............................123 Merensky.....................................115 Mutual Safe................................110 NHBC...............................................184 Nicholas Plewman Architects.....................................29 Obbligato.........................................3 Osmond Lange Architects.....................................27 PALRAM.............................................71 Patio Warehouse.......................145

Terraforce...................................43 TIASA ..................................................9 Tile Africa .......................................7 Timbermax....................................114 Turf- Ag.........................................175 Van Dyck Carpets.......................63 Veneertech SA...........................177 Versus Paint...............................130 Vital engineering........................57 Vrede Textiles.............................93 We Fix It Frameless Glass...............................................81 Wirquin..........................................141 Witch Rooms...............................149 WRT Roofing..................................68

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