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Green Building News

System gaining traction in building conversion projects

By: Mamaili Mamaila 22nd May 2020 Alternative building technology solutions provider SanteQ Liteweight Building Technology’s bespoke Plaswall building technology provides for simple and rapid installation using unsophisticated skills. →

Timber suitable to help address Covid-19 housing requirement

By: Donna Slater 19th May 2020 In response to government investigating alternative housing solutions for densely populated informal settlements during the Covid-19 pandemic, Sawmilling South Africa (SSA) and the Institute for Timber Construction South Africa (ITC-SA) have approached government with a proposal that timber be... →

Construction industry operating at 10%, 15% of capacity, says Metelerkamp

By: Irma Venter 19th May 2020 Despite certain sections of the construction industry returning to work under Alert Level 4 of the national lockdown, the industry is currently only working at between 10% and 15% of its capacity, says Industry Insight senior economist David Metelerkamp. Construction on public projects, such as... →

Entrepreneurs urged to document business development from early stage to attract investors

By: Donna Slater 14th May 2020 Entrepreneurs that have started a business or are looking to start a business, especially in the green economy, should start, as soon as possible, with documenting their business development process to ensure they have that information available for when they start looking for investors, YWaste... →

YWaste Solutions MD Emile Fourie discusses how entrepreneurs can navigate starting businesses in the green economy.

Westend Building C secures Green Stars rating

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 13th May 2020 Westend Building C, which is part of the modern Westend office development in Centurion, received its 4-Star Green Star SA Design certification from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA), just weeks before South Africa went into lockdown. With a useable area of 6 214 m2, Building C... →

Westend Building C

Local energy not managed efficiently

By: Tracy Hancock 8th May 2020 South Africa is not using its world-class renewable energy resources to drive energy efficiency, says independent conservation organisation World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA) urban futures project manager Louise Scholtz. “If we were, South Africa’s Integrated Resources Plan 2019... →

TRANSFORMATIVE DEVELOPMENTS The decreasing cost of renewable-energy technologies, such as rooftop solar photovoltaic, are one of the developments transforming South Africa’s energy market

GBCSA appoints Reynolds CEO

By: Marleny Arnoldi 7th May 2020 The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) has appointed sustainability expert Lisa Reynolds CEO, effective June 1. Reynolds co-founded the Green Building Design Group and previously served as executive of sustainable development at Saint-Gobain and chaired the South African National... →

The startup disrupting the construction tender process

By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 6th May 2020 TenderPoint SA aims to introduce effective and efficient e-procurement in the construction industry both from procurement entities such as government and property development organisations, as well as between contractors themselves. TenderPoint SA is an online construction procurement platform... →

Deadline for AfriSam-SAIA Sustainable Design Award entries extended

By: Donna Slater 23rd April 2020 Entries for the yearly AfriSam-SAIA Sustainable Design Award have been extended to July 3, as a result of the disruption brought about as a result of Covid-19. Cement, aggregate and readymix concrete producer AfriSam points out that strict lockdown measures in most countries around the world... →

Cape Town extends deadline for carbon-neutral development proposals

By: Irma Venter 16th April 2020 Given the current lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19, the City of Cape Town has extended the date for submissions for four underutilised city-owned sites that have been made available for carbon-neutral, mixed-use development. The four sites are available to interested and affected parties,... →

Construction sector faces cash crunch as lockdown is extended

By: Irma Venter 15th April 2020 The Master Builders Association (MBA) North warns that the current Covid-19 lockdown and its aftermath are set “to raise all sorts of issues” for an industry that is already in trouble. “The fact that all construction work has been put on hold for the lockdown period has caused an immediate cash... →

Ground-breaking R488m fund seeks to catalyse green-economy SMMEs

By: Terence Creamer 7th April 2020 An innovative new fund has been launched in South Africa to incentivise fund managers to invest in small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) that are able to generate verifiable green outcomes and jobs in the energy, water, waste, infrastructure and land-management sectors. The... →

World Green Building Council collaborates with BBC StoryWorks on buildings series

By: Marleny Arnoldi 6th April 2020 The World Green Building Council (WGBC) has partnered with filmmaker BBC StoryWorks to deliver a landmark film series. The series will air on the BBC television network between September and December →

GBCSA to launch home green rating system next year

By: Marleny Arnoldi 3rd April 2020 The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) has motivated South Africans to get a certified green rating for their homes. The council explains that the Green Home Rating System for existing buildings will look to shift South Africa’s homes to align with the United Nation’s Sustainable... →

Building for sustainability promotes valuable returns

3rd April 2020 There is a direct link between the stability of an economy and ongoing development, says consulting engineers firm WSP Africa structures regional director Johan Piekaar. Currently, the local construction and property industries are experiencing a lull owing to reduced expenditure by government on... →

Photo by Creamer Media
CONSTRUCTIVE BUILDING Implementing a sustainable building philosophy provides value-add throughout the value chain

Collaboration needed in electrical sector

By: Tracy Hancock 20th March 2020 South Africa’s entire electrical sector needs a “shake up” and a lot more collaboration, Electrical Conformance Board of South Africa (ECBSA) MD Peter Pedrick has learnt since taking up his position in May last year. Historically, South Africa was internationally recognised for its effective... →

FIRE STARTER There has been a significant rise in fire damage in South Africa over the past ten years amid a lack of regulation policing and governance

Cape Town commercial building showcases pioneering use of ecobricks

By: Kim Cloete 19th March 2020 A new building under construction at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront has become among the first commercial buildings in the world to use ecobrick technology. Recycled beverage bottles, including the typical ‘Coke’ 2 litre bottles, are being used as ecobricks in the construction of The Ridge, a... →

Civils sector lifts its head after sharp contraction

By: Irma Venter 17th March 2020 Collectively, in nominal terms, the nine listed contractors on the JSE have lost “a staggering” 80% of their value since before the start of the financial crisis, says construction market intelligence firm Industry Insight senior economist David Metelerkamp. “This is absolute destruction of an... →

Balwin, Absa partner to launch South Africa’s first green home loan

By: Marleny Arnoldi 12th March 2020 JSE-listed real estate investment trust Balwin Properties, together with Absa, has launched South Africa’s first green home loan – the Absa Eco Home Loan. The home loan will come with features and benefits that will appeal to customers looking to live green. →

Balwin CEO Steve Brookes

Green Building Council seeks new leader

By: Marleny Arnoldi 12th March 2020 The Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) has invited applications for its CEO position. The council said in a statement on Wednesday that it was looking for a dynamic leader to take it to the next level in its mission of accelerating the property industry towards sustainability. →

Construction sector sheds jobs as it faces late payments, community mafias

By: Irma Venter 11th March 2020 Around 90 000 formal jobs have been lost in the South African construction industry from June 2018 to September 2019, says construction market intelligence firm Industry Insight. Employment in the sector now stands at around 600 000 people, says CEO Elsie Snyman. →

Deloitte’s new consolidated headquarters to be operational from April

By: Marleny Arnoldi 4th March 2020 The new African head office of professional services firm Deloitte is set to formally start operating in April, says property development, asset management and real estate investment trust Atterbury. The 44 000 m2 building, in Waterfall, Midrand, will initially accommodate 3 500 staff members,... →

Deloitte Africa's new head office, in Midrand

WBHO (almost) shakes off nightmare Aussie roads project

By: Irma Venter 3rd March 2020 Wilson Bayley Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) saw a strong recovery in the six months ended December 31, as it turned a R2-million profit for the comparative period in 2018 into a R264-million profit. It seems the construction group is shaking off the effect of a botched roads project in Melbourne,... →

Flooring company to start green project

By: Halima Frost 28th February 2020 Flooring contractor KBAC Flooring will handle a 1 400 m2 external raised paving installation project in Centurion for M&T Development, set to start in April 2020. The project is believed to be the first of its kind in Africa using a unique locally manufactured product. KBAC Flooring will... →

UPLIFTING Raised flooring allows for increased aesthetic appeal and accesses to hidden building services

Local steel industry still holds much potential

By: Mamaili Mamaila 28th February 2020 The current capacity and capabilities of the local steel industry are still largely understated, says export trade promotion agency the International Steel Fabricators (ISF). →

International Steel Fabricators CEO Neels van Niekerk discusses the South African steel sector. Camerawork: Creamer Media’s Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Creamer Media’s Nicholas Boyd. Recorded: 30.01.2020

Skills shortage plagues natural refrigerant sector

By: Darren Parker 14th February 2020 One of the most pertinent issues facing the local heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC-R) industry is the lack of specialised skills needed for the systematic adoption of natural refrigerants in place of traditional synthetic refrigerants. Heightened pressure on... →

SNEAKY LEAKS Refrigeration systems charged with odourless CO2 need to be monitored with sensors to ensure leaks do not compromise air quality in enclosed spaces

Sanral’s new standard contract exposes contractors to higher risks, says MDA

By: Irma Venter 4th February 2020 Amendments to the South African National Roads Agency Limited’s (Sanral’s) standard contract have made it significantly more difficult for contractors to deal with disruptions related to the construction mafia, warns construction and technology law specialist MDA Attorneys. The term ‘construction... →

UK pledges new aid to help build green cities across Africa

By: African News Agency 15th January 2020 The United Kingdom has pledged new aid towards building green cities across Africa with quality infrastructure to help the continent reach its economic potential. The announcement from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) came as its secretary Alok Sharma visited Kenya ahead of... →

New Oxford-Glenhove buildings aim for 4-star green ratings

By: Schalk Burger 13th December 2019 The two newest buildings to be built on the intersection of Oxford and Glenhove roads – OxGlen Block 3 and Block 4 – will aim to achieve 4-Star Green Star SA Office Design rating from the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA), engineering consultancy Solid Green Consulting senior... →

Cool coatings can help make living in low-cost buildings more bearable

By: Schalk Burger 6th December 2019 Cool coating technologies, also known as cool surfaces, can play a key role in making human settlements more energy efficient and sustainable, and buildings more habitable, says research institution South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) energy efficiency cool surfaces... →

!KHEIS COATING Local youth cover a roof in cool coating in Groblershoop, in the !Kheis municipality in the Northern Cape

Retail expansion an attainable goal

By: Theresa Bhowan 22nd November 2019 Listed as an overarching strategic focus, Sasol’s Retail division forms an integral part of the Sasol Groups’ investment strategy. Sasol Energy Retail and Corporate Affairs VP Mohamed Carrim, says that the organisation aims to substantially grow its market share in the foreseeable future as it... →

Photo by Sasol
FILL ‘ER UP Sasol has 409 Sasol Convenience Centres nationally each consisting of a forecourt, a convenience store, and a bakery

Barloworld Automotive and Logistics' head office obtains Green Star rating

21st November 2019 The new head office of Barloworld Automotive and Logistics – the first building to be completed in the mixed-use Irene Link precinct, in Centurion – has been awarded a 5-Star Green Star SA Design Rating. Owned by property developer Abland, in partnership with fellow property developers Giflo... →

Green SanteQ lightweight walling system in heavy demand

By: Tracy Hancock 8th November 2019 Discussions are under way with developers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana and Botswana for the supply of the ‘green’, locally produced SanteQ lightweight walling system, as well as for potential partnerships and projects in Sri Lanka, the UK and Australia. Introduced early this year,... →

Presidential Climate Change Commission to be just-transition crucible – Creecy

By: Terence Creamer 7th October 2019 Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy has confirmed that the Presidential Climate Change Commission, which was proposed as part of agreements reached at the 2018 Jobs Summit, will be established and will become a key platform for facilitating South Africa’s ‘just transition’... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Dylan Slater
Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy

SANEDI receives $100 000 grant for cool roofs challenge

By: Schalk Burger 2nd October 2019 The State-owned South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) has received a $100 000 grant from the 1-Million Cool Roofs Challenge to deploy solar reflective coatings and/or materials between August this year and December 2020, the institute announced in a statement on Wednesday.... →

Cool surfaces in Groblershoop, Northern Cape

Upcycling initiative creates employment opportunities

By: Theresa Bhowan 27th September 2019 Through research, innovation, skills development and corporate contribution, carbon tax training and consulting services expert 5inc is well placed to create jobs and skills development opportunities through projects based on waste collection and upcycling. →

YASMINE MIEMIEC 5inc turns corporate waste into new and reusable products

Solar heating pilot seeks to demonstrate viability of large-scale applications

By: Donna Slater 27th September 2019 The first solar district heating system was launched in South Africa by Austrian Ambassador to South Africa Dr Johann Brieger on May 15 at the University of the Witwatersrand’s (Wits’) Junction student residences in Parktown, Johannesburg, through a partnership facilitated by the South African... →

Topics In These Articles

Africa Business Health Manufacturing supply-chain Technology Transnet Coal Energy Financial Gas Generators Projects Renewable Energy Resources SECURITY Solar Storage transport Construction Housing Rental Sustainable Roads Building Compressors Design Efficiency Electrical Fabrication ... more

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