When deciding where to retire, South Africans may consider a number of factors, from security and proximity to healthcare services to recreation options. 

While all of these are a crucial part in ensuring comfort and safety, in recent years another trend is playing a more significant role – that of sustainability.

Sustainability research, commissioned this year by Mastercard, found that 98% of South African adults are willing to take action to combat environmental and sustainability issues. An 81% majority of the respondents said they are mindful of their impact on the environment. And over half of the study’s respondents admitted that they will consider the sustainability policies of a company when it comes to their purchasing decisions.

“This trend towards a more ‘eco-aware lifestyle’ is evident in the retirement property space. A growing number of retirees are considering sustainability when looking for a retirement home,” says Gus van der Spek, owner of upmarket Cape Town-based retirement lifestyle village, Wytham Estate. 

“A major driver behind the trend to ‘go green’ is the need to invest in renewable power and reduce the reliance on government supplied services such as electricity and water. It’s important for retirement developers to cater to this requirement by putting renewable energy systems (and other eco-measures) in place.”

Green solutions reduce reliance on the grid and may cut home expenses

The climbing cost of utilities such as water and electricity in South Africa, as well as the high incidence of loadshedding, are increasingly prompting retirees to seek out homes that are equipped with green and off-grid solutions. “This enables them to reduce both their eco-footprint and their home expenses – a critical initiative for retirees who are trying to preserve their pension savings,” van der Spek elaborates. 

He also points to CSIR data, which finds that in the first half of this year, loadshedding accounts for more than 90% of that recorded for the whole of 2021. “It’s not surprising that homes with eco-friendly features that also reduce grid-reliance, fetch a higher price and might even sell more quickly,” adds van der Spek. 

Sustainable Living Checklist: What to look for in a retirement home  

According to van der Spek, the following items make a home more eco-friendly and cost-efficient, in support of sustainable living:

• Energy-saving appliances.
• Gas stove and/or oven.
• LED and energy-saving lighting.
• Water-saving solutions like water-saving shower heads or rainwater collection systems.
• Community recycling services or proximity to a recycling facility.

Sustainability and resilience go hand-in-hand

When it comes to reducing one’s environmental impact and reliance on the national grid, van der Spek takes a practical approach. “While our sustainability measures protect the environment, they go hand-in-hand with our efforts to ensure that residents will have access to alternative power and water supply,” he explains. “We understand what our customers’ requirements are and we’ve committed to delivering a technologically advanced, sustainable development”.

To this end, Wytham Estate has invested in solar power and has fitted the residential units with energy-saving appliances and gas stoves. These amenities not only reduce the Estate’s electricity consumption but also combat loadshedding. 

The Estate is also implementing up-cycling of water, providing residents with water security. The construction of an on-site water treatment plant, likewise, will ensure that groundwater sourced from the Estate’s boreholes remains safe for drinking and irrigation purposes. Noting the recent publication of the 2022 Blue Drop report (from the Department of Water and Sanitation) which documents the decline in the country’s water quality, this measure is fast becoming an essential consideration for South Africans. 

“Our philosophy is that retirement should be enjoyed. It’s only fitting then, that Wytham Estate caters to the demands of a modern retiree, who believes in sustainable living for a sustainable lifestyle,” concludes van der Spek.