E NVIRONMENTAL
BUILDING OUR FUTURE
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY CONSTRUCTION IN SOUTH AFRICA By Maxine Volker
In the last decade, South Africa’s construction industry has taken substantial steps towards going green. November 2011 saw new energy-efficient building regulations come into place, boosting a growing trend of cutting-edge green architecture throughout the country. The implementation of these regulations included a strict set of rules which construction companies had to follow. New buildings are now required to use solar water heaters, heat pumps or similar technologies. It is also now compulsory for walls, ceilings and windows to meet the minimum requirements in insulation in order to minimise heating in winter and cooling in summer. These are just a few of the parameters which have been set out in recent years. They are laid out in the South African Bureau of Standards and are enforceable in terms of the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act. The regulations apply to all future energy-consuming structures, both residential and commercial. Local authorities are now responsible for the administration of the regulations as well as on-site inspections.
Currently, South Africa is one of the global
with World Bank Group member, the
leaders in green building, implementing a
International Finance Corporation (IFC).
number of sustainable practices, methods,
The primary aim of EDGE is to facilitate
materials and technologies.
a transformation of the property sector in rapidly urbanising countries through
If we look at environmentally friendly
influencing design considerations. To
construction as a pyramid, sustainable
achieve the EDGE standard, minimum
practices essentially from the base of the
savings of 20% energy, water, and
structure. The way these practices are put
embodied energy in materials must be
into place set the tone for the eventual
met. EDGE has been adapted for the
outcome. The practice of green building
local South African context, especially in
in South Africa is overseen by The Green
light of the SANS 10400 Part XA energy
Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA)
efficiency building code. This code was
which was launched 2007 and works
promulgated for all new buildings in 2011.
with its membership community in an
The total number of green-construction
effort to encourage a built environment in
projects certified by the GBCSA has
which both people and planet thrive. The
increased by 121% since 2009.
GBCSA has developed Green Star SA rating tools, an initiative aimed at providing
When it comes to going green within
the property industry with an objective
the construction industry, the methods
measurement for green buildings and
and materials used are a vital element.
to recognise and reward environmental
As we move toward efficiency and
leadership in the property industry. Each
sustainability, industry experts are utilising
Green Star SA rating tool reflects a
new, innovative materials as well as a
different market sector. These include
resurgence in certain age-old materials
retail, office, multi-unit and residential.
which have naturally environmentally friendly properties. These days, the list of
September 2014 saw the launch of the
eco-friendly building materials is extensive
EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater
and ever-growing. Environmentally
Efficiencies) rating system. EDGE
friendly or sustainable building materials
has been implemented in South Africa
refer to those that are reused or natural,
thanks to the GBCSA and its partnership
minimising environmental impact.
