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Green Building News

Heritage building facelift under way

By: Darren Parker 12th February 2021 Construction contractor Icon Group is conducting bulk earthworks and demolitions in the Johannesburg central business district as part of a construction project aimed at developing a new Title Deeds Office for the City of Johannesburg. The project, a partnership between the city and the... →

Hyde Park Corner rolls out solar panel project

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 9th February 2021 Shopping centre Hyde Park Corner has installed a 384 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system on its two office block roofs and carports on the North Eastern parking deck to lower its carbon footprint. The system, rolled out by specialist solar PV company Solareff, comprises 900 430 W half cut Mono... →

Hyde Park Corner solar panel project

29 construction-sector bodies unite under one umbrella

By: Irma Venter 5th February 2021 South Africa’s construction industry has united to form a single umbrella body, Construction Alliance South Africa (CASA), which is made up of 29 professional, contractor, supplier and other bodies within the industry. Industry stalwart John Matthews has been appointed as CASA chairperson. →

Construction bodies unite into single alliance

By: Irma Venter 21st January 2021 Twenty-nine of South Africa's professional, contractor, supplier and other bodies within the construction industry have united to form a single umbrella organisation, called the Construction Alliance South Africa (CASA). Industry stalwart John Matthews has been appointed as CASA chairperson. →

Company ready for larger-scale projects

By: Darren Parker 15th January 2021 With the global trend of microgrid hybrid power solutions, solar solutions company Vert Energy was presented with a unique opportunity by property development company O’Nit Developments, whose strategic intent was to develop a power management solution that optimised the available energy sources... →

FULL CONTROL The installation, with remote monitoring and remote access, ensures that the client has full control over the system remotely

Afrimat Construction Index shows recovery in Q3

By: Irma Venter 10th December 2020 Following a sharp decline in construction activity during the second quarter of the year, induced by Covid-19 lockdown regulations, the Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) has staged a strong comeback in the third quarter, moving back to above the 100-mark level of the base period (the first quarter... →

Roelof Botha

Digitalisation will boost efficiency in construction sector

By: Schalk Burger 4th December 2020 The construction industry – one of the least digitalised industries globally – can improve its efficiency and productivity, and regain its competitiveness, if it digitalises, says construction and engineering software solutions firm RIB CCS CEO Andrew Skudder. “The Covid-19 crisis is leading to a... →

ANDREW SKUDDER Data is the key to improving the construction sector, better managing pain points, improve outcomes and enable companies to be more competitive without sacrificing profitability and sustainability

Fall in energy efficiency investment threatens climate goals – IEA

By: Creamer Media Reporter 3rd December 2020 Investment in energy efficiency worldwide is on course to fall by 9% in 2020, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts, warning that the Covid-induced slump threatens international climate goals. The agency’s ‘Energy Efficiency 2020’ report estimates that global primary energy intensity... →

Record number of companies disclosing sustainability impacts

By: Donna Slater 1st December 2020 The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has welcomed KPMG research that shows a record number of companies, spanning many sectors and geographic regions, are voluntarily disclosing their sustainability impacts – with the GRI Standards the most widely used for reporting. GRI is an independent,... →

GRI chairperson Eric Hespenheide

WBHO sees plunge in profit as pandemic, lossmaking projects take toll

By: Irma Venter 27th November 2020 Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) last week reported a massive turnaround in fortunes from 12 months ago when it boasted R513-million in operating profit for the year ended June 30, to a position where it suffered an operating loss of R585-million. The group cited as the main reasons for the... →

Panel on EIPs to feature at Indaba

By: Darren Parker 27th November 2020 The National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA) will host a panel at this year’s Manufacturing Indaba on industrial parks, the potential to transform them into eco-industrial parks (EIPs) and leveraging them for accelerated development. This year, the NCPC-SA, United Nations... →

HENRY NUWARINDA The Global Eco-Industrial Park Programme will ensure an added level of quality control and cost-efficiency

Stefanutti Stocks stays in the red as it reports R101m loss

By: Irma Venter 26th November 2020 The impact of Covid-19, as well as an adverse market, saw Stefanutti Stocks report an operating loss of R101-million for the six months ended August 31, compared with a R865-million loss in the same period last year. Contract revenue from continuing operations declined from R2.9-billion to... →

WBHO sees plunge in profit as Covid-19, loss-making projects take toll

By: Irma Venter 17th November 2020 Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) on Tuesday reported a massive turnaround in fortunes from 12 months ago when it boasted R513-million in operating profit for the year ended June 30, to a position where it suffered an operating loss of R585-million. Group CEO Wolfgang Neff cited the main reasons... →

Structural integrity aids building life cycle

13th November 2020 Asset management company Collaborit has successfully started penetrating the mining and industrial sectors, providing expert solutions and services into the sustainable, proactive management of structural assets such as steel, concrete and masonry. →

THE END IS ALWAYS CERTAIN Every structure has a limited design life and adequate budgeting must be allowed for to ensure regular maintenance is done to ensure this design life is reached

Hard-hit construction sector pins recovery hopes on infrastructure plan

By: Natasha Odendaal 13th November 2020 South Africa’s construction industry ground to a halt on March 27, as the nation entered a hard lockdown that would last weeks, in response to the global Covid-19 pandemic which spurred governments worldwide to impose emergency restrictions. Six months later, the industry is starting to get back... →

Covid-19 accelerates domestic sustainable finance market – Standard Bank

By: Donna Slater 4th November 2020 The Covid-19 pandemic has heightened the focus on climate change and financial instruments that promote sustainable economic development, Standard Bank group CEO Sim Tshabalala noted in the latest episode of the ClimateBiz podcast series hosted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). In... →

Entries now open for 2021 GreenPitch Challenge

By: Simone Liedtke 4th November 2020 Innovators and entrepreneurs with “economically viable" green economy innovation business ideas have been invited by nonprofit organisation GreenCape, to enter and participate in the Invest Cape Town Business Hub GreenPitch Challenge 2021. Entries are open from November 4 and will close on... →

Growthpoint receives green building certification for Exxaro head office

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 29th October 2020 Coal miner Exxaro’s new head office building, in Centurion, Gauteng, developed and owned by property developer Growthpoint, has achieved a 6-Star green rating from the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) under the Green Star New Build certification system. Green building certification... →

Exxaro exterior

Sustainable financing imperative to sustainable future, says JSE’s Soobramoney

By: Simone Liedtke 29th October 2020 Finance has a significant role to play in a sustainable future, which comprises economic, environmental, social and governance responsibilities, JSE chief sustainability officer Shameela Soobramoney said during this year’s virtual Green Building Convention on October 29. Sustainability emerged as... →

Nature must be brought back into cities, says regenerative design expert

By: Simone Liedtke 29th October 2020 The construction and built environment industries need to strongly consider creative solutions, like integrating regenerative design principles, when designing and building facilities, global consulting company Mott MacDonald regenerative design head Amanda Sturgeon has said. Regenerative design... →

Contractors risk ruin owing to contract fine print, payment delays, says MBA

By: Irma Venter 19th October 2020 The Master Builders Association (MBA) North says contractors, particularly small and mid-sized contractors, face growing business risk when embarking on new projects. This is a result of a range of issues, such as contracts that are amended to favour large contractors or clients, unclear delivery... →

GVK-Siya Zama launches dedicated civils unit

By: Irma Venter 9th October 2020 Construction company GVK-Siya Zama has added a dedicated civils unit to its operational offering. Through this unit, the company aims to create jobs and improve society by filling the void left by many companies in the construction industry that had to close their doors. →

Afrimat Construction Index tanks in Q2, but ‘strong performance’ in second half predicted

By: Irma Venter 2nd October 2020 The second-quarter (Q2) Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) has dropped sharply on the back of the national lockdown regulations imposed between April and June to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. JSE-listed openpit miner Afrimat produces industrial minerals, bulk commodities and construction materials. →

Safety during wind turbine upgrades offered

25th September 2020 Specialist design and manufacturing company Power Curve ApS has forged a strategic partnership with working at height specialists Dangle Rope Access, to help deliver specialist installation services for wind turbine performance upgrades across the UK's wind farm sector. Announced in July, the... →

DANGLING IN THE WIND Dangle will offer rope access services to the upgrade and maintenance of UK's wind farms in partnership with Power Curve ApS

Call for improved enforcement as construction transport accidents run up R352m tab

By: Irma Venter 22nd September 2020 Statistics provided by the Federated Employers Mutual Assurance Company (FEM) – the workmen’s compensation insurer for the building industry – indicate that there were 929 motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) in 2018 involving people working within the construction industry. “While this may seem low,... →

Economic pinch puts spotlight on green building

By: Simone Liedtke 21st September 2020 South Africa’s construction industry continues to suffer the effects of the national lockdown, a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. Unexpected delays and disruptions have resulted in increasing construction costs, which have had a knock-on effect for both developers and end-users, says student... →

HVACR industry at a turning point

By: Mamaili Mamaila 18th September 2020 The heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) industry is at a turning point and it is up to all the innovators in the industry to take the lead and set a new standard for South Africa, multinational air-conditioning manufacturing company Daikin South Africa MD Koen Van... →

KOEN VAN WYNENDAELE Before the Covid-19 outbreak, the industry in general was under pressure owing to a sluggish economy with limited to no growth, a difficult political climate and a tough investment climate

Afrimat Construction Index tanks in Q2, but predicts ‘strong performance’ ahead

By: Irma Venter 10th September 2020 The second-quarter (Q2) Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) has dropped sharply on the back of the national lockdown regulations imposed between April and June to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. JSE-listed openpit miner Afrimat produces industrial minerals, bulk commodities and construction materials. →

SANEDI continues roll-out of cool roofs solution

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 7th September 2020 While South Africa’s energy supply continues to fall short, government organisation the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) says it looks forward to continuing its roll out of an energy efficient cooling solution – known as ‘cool roofs’. Cool roofing involves the coating... →

FNB cuts the carbon footprint of its branches by 50% over five years

By: Donna Slater 1st September 2020 After the adoption of carbon-cutting measures to drive energy efficiency across a network of more than 600 branches in South Africa, financial services provider First National Bank (FNB) FNB has reduced the carbon dioxide (CO2) footprint in its branches by nearly 50% over a period of five years.... →

Architecture firm presents equal opportunities

28th August 2020 Architecture firm Paragon Group is perhaps “unique in the industry” for employing an equal number of men and women, with the latter ranging from student architects to senior management. “I love the fact we have so many talented, audacious women in our company in different stages of their... →

Certified green offices held value in tough rental market, property index suggests

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 19th August 2020 The MSCI South Africa Green Annual Property Index shows that, for the year ended December 31, 2019, the green-certified office sample delivered a return of 7.6% versus the 5.1% of the noncertified sample. Now in its fourth year, the index provides an independent and consistent comparative return... →

PPP legislation being reviewed to ‘make it more workable’, says De Lille

By: Irma Venter 18th August 2020 South Africa’s public-private partnership (PPP) legislation is undergoing a review, says Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Patricia de Lille. “I can confirm that there is a review at the moment.” →

Patricia de Lille

Steel awards go virtual

By: Darren Parker 14th August 2020 The South African Institute for Steel Construction’s (SAISC’s) yearly Steel Awards will be judged and hosted virtually through a dedicated application (app) this year. This comes on the back of efforts to mitigate restrictions on social gatherings and take advantage of the digital marketing... →

VIRTUOSITY ASSESSED Small teams of judges attend sites physically, observing Covid-19 health and safety protocols, while others attend site visits virtually

Steely resolve, innovation continue despite lockdown

By: Darren Parker 31st July 2020 Although production came to a halt over the past two months, light-steel-frame building materials supplier Etex South Africa – formerly known as Marley Building Systems – continued planning and innovating throughout the Covid-19 lockdown so that it would be well positioned to take advantage of... →

MULTIPLE USES Light-steel-frame buildings can be repurposed, modified or moved to a new location with relative ease

Hempcrete advantageous for construction

By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 31st July 2020 Hempcrete provides several advantages when used for the construction of a building, says Cape Town-based architecture firm Wolf and Wolf Architecture founder and principal Wolf Wolf. Hempcrete is a fully biodegradable material that comprises hemp hurds – the woody core removed during processing... →

Photo by Wolf
SUPERIOR BENEFITS Hemp boasts several characteristics that make it superior from an ecological and economic perspective

Covid-19 forces changes to standard construction contracts, says MDA

By: Irma Venter 28th July 2020 Specialists in construction law MDA Attorneys say disruptions to business and operations owing to Covid-19 are no longer unanticipated, which means that all new contract negotiations have to take the possibility of this happening into account. “Initially, force majeure notices were being issued... →

Barry Herholdt

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