Company Announcement - The Quantity Surveying profession is a key component of the construction supply chain - but all supply chain members have to share commitment and combine forces to make sustainable building more acceptable in South Africa, says Danie Hoffman, a professional member of the Association of SA Quantity Surveyors. Hoffman, the Progamme Leader of Quantity Surveying at the University of Pretoria's Department of Construction Economics,  is currently  leading a study by ASAQS  of the true cost of 'green building' for the Green Building Council of SA (GBCSA). The study - which is well advanced - involves comparative costing of around 55 Green Star SA office buildings certified by the GBCSA between 2008 and 2014.

According to Hoffman, one of the greatest challenges facing green building in South Africa is fear of the unknown, particularly costing. He says green building techniques are often perceived as expensive and challenging to execute - but this need not be the case, particularly when full life-cycle costing of building is added to the equation.

"Life-cycle costing covers all the financial implications of building: from concept to end-of-life, and incorporates the costs of construction, materials, design, engineering, water and electricity tariffs, heating and cooling, repair costs, and eventual disposal cost, or residual value. Quantity Surveyors, as cost consultants, will play an increasingly important role to inform decision makers on green building. However, the responsibility for cost-effective  green building  solutions will have to be shared between Quantity Surveyors and the entire supply chain: developers, designers, contractors, and end-users.

"Quantity Surveyors are essential links in the supply chain as they are involved from initial design stage to the conclusion of construction processes, and can advise on the specification of construction materials, prepare and control budgets as well expenditure," Hoffman explains.
He believes educational institutions also have an important role to play to promote the cause of sustainable construction by informing the entire industry of the availability of sustainable materials and technologies, and the benefits of best practice.