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Green Building News

Afrimat, Hemporium build world’s tallest hemp-product building

By: Irma Venter 4th July 2022 In a global first, 84 Harrington Street is the world’s tallest building being constructed using hempcrete blocks and hemp building materials, says the partnership between two Cape Town-based companies, Hemporium and Afrimat Hemp. The joint venture believes the project is “setting the benchmark on... →

Consulting engineering sector faces skills depletion

By: Mandisa Nyathi 1st July 2022 The Covid-19 pandemic has led to increased retrenchments and job losses in the consulting engineering industry, which, in turn, has led to a skills drain in the sector, temporary works consultant Waco Engineering Services MD Otto Botha says. →

OTTO BOTHA Government projects are important because engineers gain the required skills and create job opportunities for community members, adding that the Sanral’s decision to cancel R17.47-billion in tenders will lead to delays in executing projects

DPWI undertaking bulk infrastructure installation at new mixed-use development

By: Donna Slater 29th June 2022 The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) is building and installing bulk and internal infrastructure at the Salvokop Precinct Development – a mixed-use precinct project, which forms part of the greater Tshwane Inner City Regeneration Programme. Located in close proximity to the... →

An image of sod-turning at the Salvokop Precinct Development

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia de Lille (middle-left) is joined by Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Mostoaledi (middle-right) and Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu (second-right) at a sod-turning ceremony of the Salvokop Precinct Development.

GBCSA piloting industrial property rating tool development, calls for data from industry

By: Schalk Burger 24th June 2022 Sustainable building industry organisation the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) has developed a customised pilot version of its Existing Building Performance (EBP) Tool to enable industrial properties to rate their buildings' performance according its Green Star Certification and... →

Green ratings offer benefits during economic crunch

By: Cameron Mackay 24th June 2022 Premium and Grade-A offices that are Green Star-certified provide an average one-year income return of 8.4, compared to an average of 8.3 for non-Green Star-certified Prime and Grade-A offices, according to the MSCI South Africa 2021 Green Annual Property Index. Further, vacancy rates – based on... →

Image of Redefine Properties chief sustainability officer Anelisa Keke

ANELISA KEKE Redefine has been instrumental in selecting appropriate buildings for certification and recertification, in consultation with our external advisers

Economic strain, building ratings drive green buildings demand

By: Cameron Mackay 24th June 2022 The economic impact of Covid-19 and the introduction of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in South Africa are some of the factors driving the growth of the green buildings sector, states consulting engineers WSP Africa building services regional director Alison Groves. The local market has... →

Image of WSP Africa building services regional director Alison Groves

ALISON GROVES Refurbishment takes existing buildings and gives them a new function, rather than tearing them down and starting again, which is the least environment-friendly approach

Afrimat Construction Index shows first quarter decline

By: Irma Venter 23rd June 2022 Although the Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) has marginally outperformed South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate during the first quarter of 2022 on a year-on-year basis, the index has returned to a trend of declining between each year’s fourth quarter and the first quarter of... →

S&J Industrial Estate development applies for EcoDistricts certification

By: Darren Parker 22nd June 2022 The new S&J Industrial Estate, situated on the south-eastern corridor of Johannesburg, has applied to become the first EcoDistricts-certified precinct outside of North America. EcoDistricts promotes new models of urban development to empower just, sustainable and resilient neighbourhoods.... →

Hyve Group opens Johannesburg office

By: Donna Slater 21st June 2022 International exhibition and conference organiser Hyve Group has opened a Johannesburg office as a means to enhance its presence in South Africa and expand opportunities for South African citizens.  Hyve Group, which employs over 650 people in 12 offices globally, organises over 50 trade... →

OpenSpace launches ‘Google Street View’ for construction projects

By: Irma Venter 10th June 2022 Stellenbosch-based Agile Business Technology (ABT) has partnered with US group OpenSpace to launch its 360° capture and artificial intelligence (AI) platform for construction projects in South Africa. By using the 360° images generated in OpenSpace to document an evolving jobsite, teams can... →

Jaco Barnard

At least 50% of Lanseria smart city’s housing will need to be subsidised

By: Darren Parker 9th June 2022 At least 50% of the housing planned for the Lanseria smart city initiative will need to be subsidised or cross subsidised to maximise inclusion, Gauteng Department of Economic Development deputy DG Jak Koseff said at the African Smart City Summit, in Midrand, on June 8. He said the development of... →

Lanseria smart city plans

Calls for 250 buildings, five SMMEs to participate in EPC project

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 2nd June 2022 To accelerate the uptake of energy performance certificates (EPCs) in South Africa, the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) and the Carbon Trust are calling for 250 building owners and five small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) to participate in an EPC project funded by UK... →

Saice launches jobs portal after pandemic impacts civil engineering market

By: Donna Slater 2nd June 2022 The South African Institute of Civil Engineering (Saice) launched an online platform for employment- and mentorship-seeking members, called Saice Connect, on June 1. The portal is aimed at assisting corporates with recruiting personnel for vacant positions and with finding Saice members... →

Versatile bolted column connections in demand

By: Tracy Hancock 27th May 2022 Construction products and solutions specialist Peikko South Africa’s bolted column connections are helping to fast-track the development of a large residential project in Ferndale, Gauteng. The development involves the construction of a seven-storey building consisting of 204 apartments, says... →

DANIEL PETROV Everyone is looking to optimise their designs and find new methods that can reduce costs and add value, considering the globally depressed construction market

Green Building Council relocates to new building in Cape Town

By: Donna Slater 25th May 2022 The Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) will be moving to a new 330 m3 green office at Growthpoint Properties’ River Park facility, in Mowbray, in Cape Town, on June 1 under a three-year lease. River Park recently improved its green rating to a GBCSA 5-Star Green Star SA – Existing... →

An image of Green Building Council South Africa's new Cape Town offices

The Green Building Council South Africa's new Cape Town offices

New infrastructure vulnerable to climate change owing to mismanagement, corruption

By: Darren Parker 10th May 2022 New infrastructure was just as vulnerable to climate change as ageing infrastructure, said South African Local Government Association (Salga) senior climate change adviser Slindile Maphumulo on May 10. She explained that, while ageing infrastructure was vulnerable to being damaged or destroyed... →

Warehouse demand growth boosts Equites’ full-year results

By: Darren Parker 4th May 2022 Intensifying demand for modern and future-proof warehousing solutions contributed to a strong financial year for real estate investment trust (Reit) Equites Property Fund. “Logistics properties globally continue to outperform, supported by sustained demand in the tenant and investor markets. →

Equites CEO Andrea Taverna-Turisan

IFC supports Business Partners to expand green building financing in South Africa

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 26th April 2022 To support the construction of green buildings in South Africa, global development institution the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has announced a financing package for Business Partners to help fund environment-friendly industrial and retail sites for the use of small and medium-sized... →

Quantity surveyors body hails police unit dedicated to tackling construction mafia

By: Irma Venter 22nd April 2022 The Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) says it welcomes the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that a special police unit is being set up to deal with “the construction mafia that has been disrupting businesses in the country for years”. The association says it has... →

RIB sponsors free-to-use tool to help make buildings more sustainable

By: Schalk Burger 19th April 2022 Architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) technology multinational RIB has partnered with nonprofit organisation Building Transparency, which developed and provides a free and open-access tool targeted at reducing the impact of embodied carbon and making the AEC industry more efficient and... →

RIB CCS celebrates 40 years of construction software

By: Schalk Burger 7th April 2022 Engineering and construction software company RIB CCS celebrated its fortieth anniversary on April 7 and outgoing CEO Andrew Skudder says the company remains strongly focused on supporting the core needs of the construction industry, which it was founded to serve. The company intimately... →

RIB CCS VP Peter Damhuis

Emira’s Knightsbridge Block A receives net-zero, energy performance certifications

By: Schalk Burger 4th April 2022 JSE-listed property company Emira Property Fund has received an Energy Performance Certification (EPC) for one of its buildings – Block A in the Knightsbridge office park, in Bryanston. Knightsbridge Block A is the first of 54 mandated commercial buildings in the Emira portfolio the company plans... →

Emira Property Fund COO Ulana van Biljon

Joburg can create more than 200 000 green jobs in infrastructure and climate adaptation

By: Schalk Burger 30th March 2022 Investment by the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) in rail infrastructure would create 76 000 jobs, while prioritising environment-friendly construction in city projects would create 143 000 green jobs by 2030, CoJ Environment and Infrastructure Services mayoral committee member Michael Sun has said,... →

Beckman Coulter moves premises to Growthpoint’s Centralpoint

By: Darren Parker 28th March 2022 JSE-listed Growthpoint Properties has assisted long-standing tenant biomedical products manufacturer Beckman Coulter to relocate from Growthpoint Business Park in Midrand, Johannesburg, to a new bespoke 5 750 m2 premises in the Centralpoint Innovation District, in Samrand, Johannesburg. The... →

Beckman Coulter's new premises in the Centralpoint Innovation District in Samrand, Johannesburg

Challenging six months ahead as WBHO exits Australia – Neff

By: Irma Venter 18th March 2022 It will be a challenging six months ahead as Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) “navigates the consequences” of exiting the Australian construction market, says CEO Wolfgang Neff. “We’ll be dealing with some pressure to manage our Australian exposure.” →

Concor builds Ikusasa office block in Rosebank to 6-star green rating standards

By: Schalk Burger 16th March 2022 Infrastructure and buildings services company Concor has completed the Ikusasa office block in Rosebank’s Oxford Parks precinct to six-star Green Star South Africa Office green standards, with 70% of demolition and construction waste re-used or recycled, Portland cement use reduced by 30% and 60%... →

The Ikusasa office block in Rosebank, Gauteng

Fujifilm's new head office in Sandton to also serve as Fujifilm Technology Centre Africa

By: Schalk Burger 15th March 2022 Technology multinational Fujifilm South Africa has turned the first sod, marking the start of construction of a new head office in Sandton, which forms part of Fujifilm’s ongoing commitment to the country, following its tenth year in the country and the opening of a new office and repair centre... →

An artist's impression of the new Fujifilm South Africa head office

Afrimat Construction Index muted by slow infrastructure rollout

By: Irma Venter 15th March 2022 The Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) has staged a swift recovery from the Covid-19 induced slump that occurred during the second quarter of 2020, increasing by 74% within only two quarters. Since then, however, progress has been muted, owing mainly to the sedate rollout of government’s... →

FNB/BER Building Confidence Index reaches four-year high

By: Darren Parker 15th March 2022 The First National Bank (FNB)/Bureau for Economic Research (BER) Building Confidence Index (BCI) gained six points to 40 in the first quarter of this year, compared with 34 in the fourth quarter of 2021 – indicating a four-year high in building confidence in South Africa. The FNB/BER BCI reveals... →

AfricaGoGreen Fund receives $31.5m to promote private sector efficiency investments

By: Schalk Burger 11th March 2022 Development finance institution the African Development Bank (AfDB) and its Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) have approved a combined-equity investment of $20-million in the AfricaGoGreen Fund (AGGF) debt fund, which was established to promote private investments in energy-efficient... →

New Netcare hospital to feature green technologies

By: Darren Parker 3rd March 2022 Healthcare provider Netcare’s new Alberton Hospital, which will open its doors in April, will feature several green technologies, including solar power, advanced energy, water and waste management systems, integral building design elements and sustainable materials. “Developing the large 427-bed... →

The new Netcare Alberton Hospital will open its doors in April

Challenging six months ahead as WBHO exits Australia – Neff

By: Irma Venter 2nd March 2022 It will be a challenging six months ahead as Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) “navigates the consequences” of exiting the Australian construction market, says CEO Wolfgang Neff. “We’ll be dealing with some pressure to manage our Australian exposure.” →

Wolfgang Neff

Sector key in economic recovery

18th February 2022 National construction industry body Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) acting CEO Bongani Dlala says the construction sector can lead South Africa’s recovery as the country emerges into a post-Covid-19 economy, but only if emerging contractors are empowered. This was the consensus... →

DBSA calls for applications for Green Fund financing

By: Schalk Burger 10th February 2022 Development finance institution the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has announced the availability of funding towards green economy development projects and programmes under the Green Fund. The Green Fund has been set up to contribute towards a range of goals in transitioning to a... →

GBCSA appoints new chairperson

By: Darren Parker 26th January 2022 The Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) board has appointed property investment firm Liberty Two Degrees (L2D) asset management executive Brian Unsted as its new chairperson. Unsted has 28 years of experience in the South African property industry and is the sustainability champion for... →

New GBCSA chairperson Brian Unsted

Schneider Electric launches green-focused business software suite

By: Donna Slater 24th January 2022 Energy management and automation company Schneider Electric is introducing an integrated solutions suite tailored to creating smart, green infrastructure. The Infrastructure of the Future suite offers a holistic approach to power tomorrow’s businesses and economies, while tackling the challenges... →

Building owners have one year left to obtain energy performance certificates

By: Simone Liedtke 14th December 2021 Owners of buildings in South Africa have one year left to obtain and prominently display an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or risk a fine of R5-million, five years imprisonment or both. The regulations, under the National Energy Act, were gazetted a year ago and apply until December 7,... →

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