Engineering News | Construction | Green Building

https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Advertise on this page? Click Here to Learn More

Green Building News

Steel a sustainable choice for building addition

6th July 2018 Knysna-based light steel frame (LSF) construction company Rancor has completed the addition of a 570 m2 second floor to the Kaap Agri building in Paarl, Western Cape. The requirements for the new structure were clear; it had to be cost-effective, comply with building regulations, be acoustically... →

Products facilitate cleaner, safer environments

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 6th July 2018 With dust legislation encouraging awareness of dust repercussions, chemical solutions provider Chryso Southern Africa (Chryso) and its subsidiary a.b.e are providing a range of dust suppression technologies to help reduce the effects of dust, Chryso CEO Norman Seymore tells Engineering News. “We... →

EAT MY DUST Chryso’s Eco Dust range comprises liquid products for dust suppression to seal dirt roads

Energy efficiency a priority in air conditioning

6th July 2018 Multinational electronics conglomerate Samsung has designed an energy efficient air conditioning system with the aim of helping to alleviate the pressure placed on South Africa’s strained natural resources. Since the recording of global temperatures began in 1951, the 17 warmest years were within... →

GLOBAL TEMPERATURES INCREASE Samsung reports that the 17 warmest years in recorded history were within the past 18 years

Environment-friendly design for art gallery

By: Schalk Burger 6th July 2018 The Norval Foundation art gallery, established by the Norval family and which opened in Steenberg, in Cape Town, in April, hosts works by a range of South African artists and has architectural and civil engineering features aimed at promoting environment-friendliness and sustainability, the... →

Photo by Dave Southwood
NORVAL FOUNDATION ART GALLERY The gallery has rooftop solar photovoltaic panels, a building management system, water-saving measures, a grey-water purification system and stormwater return to the wetland

With universal access in sight, SA’s electrification drive takes on new dimensions

By: Schalk Burger 29th June 2018 The integrated national electrification programme (INEP) of the Department of Energy (DoE) is set to change in scope and character as it nears its initial goals of electrifying most communities in South Africa that were not connected to the national grid. Energy Deputy Minister Thembisile Majola... →

NGOs rate South Africa’s transition to a green economy at five out of ten

By: Nadine James 21st June 2018 Nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) on Thursday released the findings of new research, which describes South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon, sustainable and inclusive future as “stuck in first gear”, with ambitious policies but slow implementation. The ‘South Africa Green Economy... →

Swiss place efficiency at heart of post-nuclear energy strategy

By: Terence Creamer 18th June 2018 Residents taking occupation of apartments at a new mixed-use property development on the site of a decommissioned paper mill in southern Zurich, Switzerland, are all encouraged to download a neighbourhood App to their mobile devices. The social media component, which allows Greencity residents... →

Photo by Empa
Testing new building innovations at the Empa NEST

Agrément South Africa officially launched as a Public Works entity

By: Marleny Arnoldi 15th June 2018 Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi on Friday launched technical agency Agrément South Africa as a fully-fledged legal entity of the Department of Public Works (DPW). →

Entrenched player furthers green building

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 15th June 2018 Leading construction materials company AfriSam believes that it is important for all industry roleplayers to play an active role in furthering green sustainability initiatives in the built environment, and the company is pursuing this through partnerships and relationships with stakeholders, says... →

EVERGREEN AfriSam has sponsored a number of awards to recognise notable achievements and work in sustainable building

Green awareness facilitates product uptake

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 15th June 2018 There has been an increase in the number of green projects in the country, which is an indication that South Africans are becoming more conscious of sustainability for the future, says sealant technology provider Den Braven Sealants national sales and marketing manager Michael Berg. He posits... →

MICHAEL BERG Den Braven believes in providing the best solutions and products that contribute to a healthier and greener environment

Sustainable construction championed for building industry

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 15th June 2018 Sustainable construction should be pursued instead of green building, and using concrete can help achieve this, as it is quite a sustainable material, advances technical services provider for concrete The Concrete Institute (TCI) MD Bryan Perrie. TCI is well poised and equipped to promote this,... →

Photo by Bloomberg
VERSATILE Concrete is a sustainable material, with design flexibility, as it can be constructed into any shape, design and finish

Green building requires holistic approach

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 15th June 2018 With the current water shortage in the Western Cape having encouraged efficient water use and proactive ways of saving water, building industry representative the Joint Building Contacts Committee (JBCC) CEO Uwe Putlitz says a similar attitude should be pursued regarding green building in the... →

COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING Green building should not be regarded as a separate entity from the rest of a building project but rather as an integral part of the entire project

Proposed amendment to legislation set to eliminate lead in paint

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 15th June 2018 Paint industry representative the South African Paint Manufacturing Association (Sapma) has achieved a “great victory”, with the announcement last month of the government notice of intention to amend the Hazardous Substance Act of 2009, which will eliminate lead in paint, executive director... →

TAKING THE LEAD The proposed amendment to the Hazardous Substance Act of 2009 will reduce the amount of lead in paint to 90 parts per million

Good corporate citizenship in a post-State-capture South Africa

By: Kim Cloete 8th June 2018 A string of corporate governance failures and climate change challenges have cranked up the pressure on companies to become better corporate citizens and take care of the environment they are operating in. The renewed emphasis on governance and sustainability is not limited to the private sector,... →

Rics, GBCSA sign MoU for collaboration on sustainable development

By: Marleny Arnoldi 31st May 2018 The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) has signed a landmark memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). With smart urbanism and sustainability the overall theme at this year’s Rics Summit Africa, the MoU represents a commitment by both... →

Rics president John Hughes signs a memorandum of understanding with GBCSA nonexecutive deputy chairperson Nkosinathi Manzana

New company focuses on sustainability

By: Paige Müller 25th May 2018 Wadeville-based perlite and vermiculite manufacturer and distributor, Sun Silicates, has established a sister company, CemteQ Building Solutions, which specialises in developing value-add products for the building and construction industries. CemteQ Building Solutions has been established to... →

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING The construction industry is experiencing mounting pressure to improve real sustainability in building from design to material use

R3bn Rosslyn Hub to create 160 000 jobs

By: Nadine James 16th May 2018 The R3-billion mixed-use Rosslyn Hub development was launched at the African Smart Cities Summit, co-located with the African Construction and Totally Concrete Expo, at the Gallagher Convention Centre, in Johannesburg, on Wednesday. The Rosslyn Hub is a crucial step towards the creation of the... →

AfriSam anchor sponsor for Fulton Awards

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 11th May 2018 Leading concrete materials supplier AfriSam is the anchor sponsor for the 2019 biennial Fulton Awards, hosted by nonprofit organisation the Concrete Society of Southern Africa (CSSA). According to AfriSam, the event recognises the possibilities that concrete structures create for society and,... →

INNOVATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE The Fulton Awards is an event that honours excellence and innovation in the design and use of concrete

Equites reports strong FY18 distribution growth

By: Marleny Arnoldi 10th May 2018 Real estate investment trust (Reit) Equites Property achieved 12.2% year-on-year growth in distributions a share to R1.23 for the financial year ended February 28 – cementing the company’s record of strong distribution that exceeds full year guidance. →

Equites Property CEO Andrea Taverna-Turisan

Redefine, Abland launch mixed-use Loftus Park precinct

By: Marleny Arnoldi 4th May 2018 City of Tshwane executive mayor Solly Msimanga this week officially launched Loftus Park – a new mixed-use green precinct, in Pretoria. →

Loftus Park ribbon-cutting ceremony

Four South African cities strive to make all new buildings zero-carbon

By: Simone Liedtke 16th April 2018 Residents and businesses moving into new buildings in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Tshwane will soon enjoy lower energy bills, and will generate fewer greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions, reducing their climate change impact. High-efficiency energy performance requirements are being developed... →

Efficiency certification achieved for new project

6th April 2018 Multidisciplinary engineering consultancy WSP Africa has achieved an EDGE Preliminary Certification for the new Balwin Properties residential apartments project - The Polo Fields; setting a benchmark for sustainable residential developments of the future in the country, and the continent. The... →

Photo by LYT Architects
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The Polo Fields is a massive development of 1 512 apartment units that will be located in the Waterfall precinct, in Midrand

Phase 1 of Loftus Park mixed-use development nears completion

By: Schalk Burger 14th March 2018 Phase one of the mixed-use Loftus Park precinct being developed by JSE-listed Redefine Properties and built by construction firm Abland will include 34 000 m2 of office space, a gym, an open-air piazza with restaurants and a convenience retail offering, as well as a new 152-room hotel by... →

Growthpoint starts excavation work for Rosebank office development

By: Marleny Arnoldi 7th March 2018 JSE-listed Growthpoint Properties has started the excavation process for the 35 000 m2 144 Oxford premium-grade office development in Rosebank, Gauteng, with the project expected to be completed in October 2019. →

Growthpoint Properties' 144 Oxford office development

Built environment summit in May

By: Donna Slater 2nd March 2018 The Africa Summit of London-based Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) – which has entrenched itself as a noteworthy yearly event – will reconvene for the fourth consecutive year at Sun International’s Maslow Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, from May 30 to 31. →

Over 20 000 visitors expected at event

By: Simone Liedtke 2nd March 2018 With more than 20 000 international and local visitors from 72 countries expected to attend bauma CONEXPO AFRICA 2018, international exhibition company Messe München South Africa CEO Elaine Crewe says the event aims to present an opportunity for stakeholders to showcase new innovative products... →

2018 EDITION The third iteration of the event in Africa will be held from March 13 to 16

Pros of on-site solar PV systems

By: Schalk Burger 2nd March 2018 On-site solar photovoltaic (PV) renewable-energy systems serve as effective and cost-effective ways for companies to become familiar with the correct application of renewable generation to reduce energy costs, says South African information and communication technology company Sizwe IT Group... →

HVAC&R event breaks records

23rd February 2018 The international Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) set six all-time records, including more than 72 000 attendees and 49 995 registered visitors. The 70th edition of the world’s largest heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) marketplace... →

EXPO EXTRAVAGANZA More than 72 000 people attended the AHR Expo

Discovery headquarters nears completion

By: Marleny Arnoldi 16th February 2018 With the construction of health insurance and financial services provider Discovery’s head office set for completion at the end of this month, construction consultancy Aurecon believes that the building is set to become a pioneering green precinct concept, owing to its size and the way in which... →

Photo by WBHO
VISIONARY CONSTRUCTION The vision for the Discovery building extends beyond providing indoor environmental quality for the occupants, to the integration of a building into a healthier, more desirable surrounding precinct

Drones offer inspection and maintenance benefits for built environment

By: Donna Slater 16th February 2018 Remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPASes) offer a cost-effective and safe mechanism, with significant benefits, for the built environment sector, especially in terms of inspection and maintenance, according to enterprise applications company Softworx MD Jane Thomson. →

JANE THOMSON Remotely piloted aircraft systems can lower costs, enhance general visibility and improve personnel safety

Companies urged to ‘proactively’ reduce their carbon footprint as second Draft Carbon Tax Bill is released for comment

By: Nadine James 9th February 2018 In light of National Treasury’s publishing the second Draft Carbon Tax Bill for public comment in December, systems integration specialists Jasco Group’s CEO Pete da Silva suggests that companies proactively determine their carbon footprint and implement measures to mitigate the eventual effects... →

World-class speakers confirmed for exhibition

2nd February 2018 Africa’s only dedicated heating, energy, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration trade exhibition FRIGAIR expo will fly in three world-class American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) speakers to present topical short courses during the show. The... →

KNOWLEDGE CORNER Courses at FRIGAIR expo can benefit engineers, architects, contractors and designers

Conference to focus on innovation

2nd February 2018 Information and communication technology (ICT) experts and decision-makers from both the public and private sectors and from academia are gathering at the Technology Innovation Conference hosted by the Gauteng provincial government (GPG) to analyse the wave of digital and technological innovation... →

Photo by Bloomberg
TECHNOLOGY TAKEOVER The Technology Innovation Conference is reflecting on progress made in creating connectedness among government entities, citizens and businesses

Need for more energy increases demand for solar power

By: Victor Moolman 26th January 2018 With electricity demand in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region increasing, Stellenbosch University Faculty of Engineering’s Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies senior researcher Karin Kritzinger believes that solar water heaters can be one of the major... →

Photo by Duane Daws
WIDESPREAD POWER There are several solar farms across the member countries of the Southern African Development Community

Solar energy can reduce tariff hike strain on consumers

26th January 2018 With the ruling of the Constitutional Court having allowed power utility Eskom to retrospectively ask the National Energy Regulator of South Africa to claw back additional tariffs from consumers, solar energy equipment supplier Energy Partners Home Solutions believes that this could lead to... →

Three-year project reaches completion

By: Victor Moolman 26th January 2018 Technology solutions provider Jasco has completed its three-year solar farm project, which has reduced its maximum electricity demand by 27% and its reliance on State-owned power utility Eskom by 33%. “Phase 1 of the project – which started in April 2015 – resulted in the installation of 53 kWp... →

School installs solar system at boarding house

26th January 2018 The South African College High School (SACS), in Cape Town, made a commitment to clean energy by installing a solar system at its Rosedale Boarding House. The solar system was installed in November by Energy Partners Home Solutions, part of the PSG group of companies. SACS deputy headmaster Barry... →

About

Engineering News is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Mining Weekly
Research Channel Africa
Polity

Newsletters

Sign up for our FREE daily email newsletter

Receive daily sector news alerts

More

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on Engineering News is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options

Subscribe