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Green Building

Rainwater harvesting helps municipalities

By: Donna Slater 14th August 2015 Harvesting rainwater can enable industrial companies with sufficient roof space to dramatically reduce their use of potable water for nonpotable applications, easing the strain on municipalities that have to provide ever-increasing volumes of potable water, says specialist precast concrete... →

Vehicle OEM improves efficiency, cuts energy use

By: Donna Slater 14th August 2015 Vehicle manufacturer Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) has introduced a wide range of energy-efficient technologies at its Silverton assembly plant, in Pretoria, reducing its energy consumption and demand on the national grid, while also bringing about commensurate cost savings. →

FORD RANGER New high-capacity air compressors were installed at a Ford assembly plant where the Ranger is manufactured

Paints industry spearheads lead-removal mission

By: Donna Slater 14th August 2015 Local paints industry representative organisation the South African Paint Manufacturers Association (Sapma) will meet with the Department of Health (DoH) this month to propose that the South African paints industry is aligned with US and UK legislation regarding lead-containing paints, says Sapma... →

MAKING PAINT SAFE The quantities of lead used to manufacture some pigmented paints is insignificant

New emissions regulations impact industry

By: Donna Slater 14th August 2015 Proposed emissions-reduction regulations, which are not yet in effect but will be enforced through mandatory reporting, carbon taxes and industry-specific ‘carbon budgets’, will act as a behavioural mechanism to force greenhouse-gas (GHG) emitters to reduce their emissions and energy use, as part... →

Photo by Bloomberg
REDUCING GREENHOUSE GASES South Africa has pledged to contribute towards a low-carbon economy

Utility costs, refurbishment contribute to green building

By: David Oliveira 3rd April 2015 Increasing utility costs and office building owners having to differentiate their service offering to secure tenants during the current tough economic climate will promote growth in the green building sector of South Africa, particularly in the green refurbishment of existing buildings, says the... →

MITIGATING A NATION'S CHALLENGES Green building initiatives address many of South Africa’s environmental and energy challenges, such as electricity and water shortages

New green building completed in heart of Joburg

By: David Oliveira 3rd April 2015 The World Wide Fund for Nature-South Africa (WWF-SA) will next month officially launch its new green premises, on the corner of Melle and De Korte streets in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, following the conclusion of the 14-month-long refurbishment of an existing building in January. WWF-SA business... →

WWF BUILDING, BRAAMFONTEIN Except for the façade, the original WWF building was deconstructed brick by brick, with every brick being used in the construction of the new building

Developer exceeds project’s recycled material targets

3rd April 2015 Construction and engineering company Murray & Roberts exceeded State-owned freight logistics company Transnet’s recycled material target for the revamp of the City Deep container terminal, in Johannesburg, having processed more than 35 000 m2 of the terminal’s old concrete and almost 65 000 m2 of... →

Retailer continues sustainability drive

By: David Oliveira 3rd April 2015 South African retailer Massmart is continuing to improve the operating efficiency of its stores by adopting more sustainable technologies, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and daylight harvesting cells for lighting, rainwater harvesting for water supply and evaporative cooling technology for... →

South African retailer Massmart group sustainability manager Alexander Haw discusses the group’s sustainability initiatives.

GBCSA adopts green-product certification scheme

By: David Oliveira 2nd April 2015 Sustainable product certification provider Global GreenTag’s green-product rating and certification system, Green Tag, which is used internationally to assess the environmental attributes of products, has been acknowledged by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) as a valuable... →

Skills development essential for REIPPPP

By: Jonathan Rodin 12th December 2014 Although already late in reaching financial close, Round 3 projects of the South African government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) have been further delayed and Round 4 announcements are uncertain, owing to grid constraints and State-owned utility... →

Photo by Bloomberg
PERFECT TIMING The insecurity of stable supply and the appropriate load profiles means that rooftop photovoltaic (PV) is in the perfect position for tremendous growth

Specialised equipment used for wind turbine transportation

By: Jonathan Rodin 12th December 2014 Heavy transportation and lifting provider ALE is playing a vital role in South Africa’s renewable energy sector, owing to the development of smarter solutions that are mitigating the challenges created by the increasing size and weight of wind turbines and the associated components. ALE was... →

Construction started on hydro project

12th December 2014 Hydropower developer NuPlanet Project Development achieved financial close and started construction last month on the 4.5 MW Stortemelk hydro project near Clarens, in the Free State. The project, which was awarded preferred bidder status under bid window two of the government’s Renewable Energy... →

Renewable power a major energy growth source

By: Jonathan Rodin 12th December 2014 According to autonomous organisation the International Energy Agency (IEA), gas and renewable power are expected to be the major sources of energy growth on the African continent in the coming years. More than 620-million people, or two-thirds of the continent’s population, in sub-Saharan Africa... →

Increased demand for solar PV rooftop solution expected

By: Mia Breytenbach 15th August 2014 Power protection and management solutions provider Powermode expects a significant increase in demand for solar photovoltaic (PV) rooftop solutions for local industry within the next nine to 18 months, owing to their efficiency in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and a business’s carbon... →

Photo by Duane Daws
POWER INCREASE Powermode expects that electricity price increases will drive demand for solar photovoltaic solutions

Fleet management reduces carbon footprint

By: Mia Breytenbach 15th August 2014 Owing to a carbon tax, expected to come into force by 2016, a key focus of global fleet and mobile asset management solutions provider MiX Telematics is to encourage industry to become more efficient in their fleet management, thereby reducing its carbon footprint. “While about 17% to 18% of... →

GREEN BENEFIT Effective and green fleet management provides several advantages, such as a reduced carbon footprint and reduced fuel consumption

Local pilot carbon offset trade to show carbon tax relief measures

By: Mia Breytenbach 15th August 2014 Carbon advisory firm Promethium Carbon aims to conduct a pilot carbon offset trade by the end of this year. This pilot trade is in preparation for a future local carbon offset trading programme, says Promethium Carbon director and carbon adviser Harmke Immink. →

REDUCTION NEED Most of South Africa’s carbon dioxide emissions, which currently comprise an inventory of about 500-million tonnes, are associated with energy

Greening projects encouraging industry to adopt circular economy

By: Mia Breytenbach 15th August 2014 Local industry is starting to implement projects using the principles associated with the ‘circular economy’ with a specific focus on developing a greener industry, says consulting engineering firm Royal HaskoningDHV. A circular economy entails industry transitioning to a restorative perspective... →

INDUSTRY INITIATIVE Local industry can use waste energy to generate heat for its own processes

Industry needs to expand resource efficiency areas

By: Mia Breytenbach 15th August 2014 Although there is significant focus currently on energy efficiency in industry, there is an increasing need for industry to expand its participation in the green space beyond just energy, government programme National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa (NCPC-SA) tells Engineering News. The... →

FOCUS AREA National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa believes industry needs to embrace the idea of resource efficiency in waste and water areas

LSFB reduces energy wastage

By: Mia Breytenbach 15th August 2014 Light steel frame building (LSFB) offers the construction industry and its clients the opportunity to reduce energy wastage by using the high performance alternative building solutions offered by construction group Silverline Group. “It not only produces only 2% of waste during construction... →

Project manager and co-owner of the Silverline Group franchise Robbie Meyer discusses the ‘green’ benefits of light steel frame building.

Going green is now mainstream for building design

By: Jonathan Rodin 4th April 2014 While there may have been initial uncertainty in the construction industry in terms of making buildings more sustainable – in line with the Green Star South Africa ratings – the practice of doing so has become “business as usual”, says consulting engineers WSP Group commercial director Simon Berry. →

Mind shift needed for sustained energy efficiency

By: Jonathan Rodin 4th April 2014 To alleviate the constant pressures of environmental consideration, US technology group Johnson Controls has developed a seven-step process for Central Plant Optimisation (CPO), which can deliver sustained energy savings of up to 60%. →

Management systems to ‘green’ buildings

By: Jonathan Rodin 4th April 2014 Energy management is being considered an integral part of any organisation and an important consideration to any corporate budget if implemented correctly into a company’s business strategy, says facilities management provider Servest South Africa and Africa COO Steve Wallbanks. →

Companies should not forget benefits of going green

By: Sashnee Moodley 16th August 2013 Energy efficiency has become an important focus worldwide and green tax is currently a popular topic, particularly in South Africa, with National Treasury hoping to introduce a carbon tax on January 1, 2015, says audit, tax and advisory services firm KPMG. →

Sustainable practices important for successful green industries

By: Sashnee Moodley 16th August 2013 If South Africa is to have a sustainable and economically viable green industries future, energy-intensive industries need to ensure that they do not harm the environment, by using methods, strategies and tools that aim to decouple economic growth from increased resource use and aggravated... →

National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa (NCPC-SA) national operations manager Reuben Kadalie discusses a model for increased profitability through greener production.

Green building lighting installations to soon be complete

By: Sashnee Moodley 16th August 2013 Light-emitting diode (LED) lighting solutions manufacturer LED Lighting South Africa (SA) will soon complete its supply of almost 7 000 light fittings and LED units for what will soon be Cape Town’s tallest skyscraper, the Portside building. →

Solar technologies brighten up rural areas

By: Sashnee Moodley 16th August 2013 Electronics manufacturer Samsung Electronics Africa has developed a range of solar-powered technologies that have been adapted for African conditions and is suitable for use in rural villages and urban residential areas. →

Property company pushes green-building agenda

By: Ilan Solomons 5th April 2013 The trend towards green building and the concept of greening existing buildings have been slow to take off in South Africa, as it is a voluntary exercise, says property investment holding company Growthpoint Properties, utilities Essop Basha. “There is not a massive demand for green space and,... →

Green alternative should gain significant market share

By: Ilan Solomons 5th April 2013 The polyvinyl chloride (PVC) range of fence droppers from PVC and high-density polyethylene water reticulation, drainage pipe and fitting systems expert DPI Plastics is expected to gain measurable market share during 2013. "DPI Plastics has developed a strong reputation over the decades as a... →

R1.15m Phase 2 under way at Cato Manor

By: Ilan Solomons 5th April 2013 Phase 2 of the Cato Manor retrofit project, which was launched in Durban, will result in 26 low-income houses being retrofitted and it aims to illustrate the benefits of low-emission developments, including the socioeconimic benefits to the community, says Australian High Commission in South... →

Firm identifies sustainability megaforces that will affect business

By: Zandile Mavuso 17th August 2012 Business has, over the past 20 years, recognised how it impacts on the world, but only recently has it become evident how the world affects the way in which companies do business, reports professional services firm KPMG. →

Organisation says efficiency initiatives a success

By: Zandile Mavuso 17th August 2012 The National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa (NCPC-SA) reports that its Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production (RECP) programme and the Industrial Energy Efficiency Improvement (IEE) project have achieved some successes since their inception. →

Company seeks further carbon footprint reduction technologies

By: Zandile Mavuso 17th August 2012 Mailstream company Pitney Bowes South Africa is engaging with its overseas partners to find more ways in which its products can contribute to the reduction of its customers’ carbon footprints. →

Solar project well under way

By: Zandile Mavuso 17th August 2012 The completion of the construction of the single-roof photovoltaic solar array at telecommunications group Vodacom’s Century City building, in Cape Town, is well under way but with some expected delays as a result of adverse weather. “The completion of the project has been slightly delayed... →

Company strives to make sustainability an extension of its values

By: Zandile Mavuso 17th August 2012 Almost 40 years ago, diversified technology company 3M recognised that doing business in new, smarter ways would be essential in order to reduce the impact of its manufacturing processes on the environment. →

Audit in place to ensure quality environment-friendly construction projects

By: Zandile Mavuso 17th August 2012 To ensure the quality and environmental benefits of member products, the South African Readymix Association (Sarma) continues to monitor its members through yearly Shreq audits, which focus on the safety, health, road transport, environmental and quality aspects of materials used in the... →

Green building industry sees increase in existing building retrofits

By: Leandi Kolver 6th April 2012 As green building techniques become pervasive and grow to be standard practice, the benefits that can be realised from revitalising and retrofitting ageing building stock will encourage more refurbishments of existing buildings using green building principles. →

Green building conference now conducted on a modular basis

By: Leandi Kolver 6th April 2012 This year, media and events company Alive2green’s Green Building Conference, taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre on July 25 and 26, will have four modules, each with a distinct focus, director Gordon Brown tells Engineering News. →

Phase 2 of green street project to be undertaken

By: Leandi Kolver 6th April 2012 Following the successful completion of the first phase of South Africa’s first green street retrofit project in Cato Manor, in Durban, a second phase will now be undertaken, reports Green Building Council of South Africa socioeconomic & advocacy consultant Sarah Rushmere. →

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