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Green Building News

Frank discussion needed about 30% local procurement rule – Macpherson

By: Irma Venter 19th November 2024 The country must have a frank discussion about the 30% local procurement rule, which has been abused by the so-called construction mafia, says Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson. Macpherson spoke at the National Construction Summit on Crime-Free Construction Sites, held in... →

Construction mafia remains a major problem, warns MBA North

By: Irma Venter 15th November 2024 The problem posed by the construction mafia on the ground remains a major stumbling block in the recovery of the construction industry, and especially its ability to create more jobs, says Master Builders Association (MBA) North executive director Mohau Mphomela. “The construction mafia remains... →

FNB's 5-Star Green rated Portside building hosts Earthshot Awards 2024

By: Schalk Burger 7th November 2024 Financial services firm FNB's 5-Star Green rated Portside building, which is the tallest building in Cape Town, hosted sustainability awards the Earthshot Prize Awards 2024 from November 4 to 7. "Our Portside building is a visual representation of sustainability, climate impact and social... →

RMB, REdimension Capital, GBCSA release ESG proptech report

By: Darren Parker 4th November 2024 Financial institution Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) has, in partnership with REdimension Capital and the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA), released an environmental, social and governance (ESG) property technology (proptech) report. The report, titled ‘Building the Future’, explores the... →

Construction mafia remains a major problem, warns MBA North

By: Irma Venter 31st October 2024 The problem posed by the construction mafia on the ground remains a major stumbling block in the recovery of the construction industry, and especially its ability to create more jobs, says Master Builders Association (MBA) North executive director Mohau Mphomela. “The construction mafia remains... →

Balwin Properties achieves its tenth 6 Star Green Star Design rating

By: Creamer Media Reporter 24th October 2024 Residential property developer Balwin Properties has secured its tenth 6 Star Green Star Design rating on a lifestyle centre for the Thaba Eco-Village Lifestyle Centre and Montessori School, located within the Thaba Eco-Village residential estate, in Gauteng. The recognition, awarded by the Green... →

The Thaba Eco-Village Lifestyle Centre

Firm launches 100%- renewable-powered site

18th October 2024 Multinational chemical and consumer goods manufacturer Henkel has achieved what it reports as a ground-breaking sustainability milestone, with its manufacturing site in Nairobi, Kenya, now fully powered by renewable energy. This accomplishment marks a significant step forward for Henkel's... →

An Aerial image of Henkel in Nairobi with soar panels on its roof

MAKING STRIDES The Nairobi branch of Henkel in Kenya has made great strides in being 100% power self sufficient

Event an opportunity to source new tech

By: Halima Frost 18th October 2024 Waterjet cutting service provider MAXJET will attend this year’s Manufacturing Indaba – to be held at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg, on October 22 and 23 – to scout new technologies and network with relevant industry players. It aims to engage with several of its current clients... →

A MAXJET Waterjet cutter cutting into a piece of metal

MAXIMUM EFFICACY MAXJET Global maintains embracing new technologies is crucial to ensuring its processes and products meet its clients exacting requirement

Afrimat Construction Index bounces back in second quarter

By: Irma Venter 4th October 2024 The Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) has managed to bounce back in the second quarter of this year. The ACI is a composite index of the level of activity within the building and construction sectors and is compiled by economist Dr Roelof Botha on behalf of the JSE-listed midtier mining and... →

We all feel a lot better about South Africa, says construction group WBHO boss

By: Irma Venter 27th September 2024 Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) is currently in “a good space”, says CEO Wolfgang Neff. “We all feel a whole lot better about South Africa.” →

Chemicals company unpacks carbon neutrality roadmap

27th September 2024 Multinational chemicals company BASF Performance Materials, the largest chemical producer globally, in August released its strategic roadmap toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and highlighted key milestones on its route toward a circular economy. With that in mind, the division, which... →

A Photo of the BASF Chemicals processing plant at dusk

LOFTY AMBITIONS BASF Performance Materials is well on the way to reaching carbon neutrality by 2050

Gas-to-methanol plant to provide industrial feedstock

27th September 2024 Pan-African development finance institution Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has announced that it is arranging a project development facility to support Africa’s largest gas-to-methanol plant, with the aim of significantly reducing CO2 emissions by offsetting flaring of natural gas and instead... →

Two men in PPE standing on top of a building looking away and pointing to the horizon

LOOKING AHEAD Plans to offset the flaring of natural gas and instead turning it into a valuable chemical for solvents are underway at Africa’s largest gas-to-methanol plant

7 Parks Boulevard earns Green Star 6 star rating

By: Schalk Burger 13th September 2024 Office development 7 Parks Boulevard, built by construction company Concor, has earned a Green Star 6 star rating in terms of the Green Building Council of South Africa’s Green Star-rating system. The office on the corner of Parks Boulevard and Eastwood Road in the Oxford Park precinct of... →

7 Parks Boulevard in Rosebank

Transparent solar glass for generating power from building facades launched in South Africa

By: Darren Parker 13th September 2024 Through a collaboration between Australian glass solar technology developer ClearVue and local technology distributor Concept Business Solutions, a novel transparent glass solar panel technology for use in building facades has been launched in South Africa. Concept Business Solutions will be the... →

Afrimat Construction Index bounces back in second quarter

By: Irma Venter 12th September 2024 The Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) has managed to bounce back in the second quarter of this year. The ACI is a composite index of the level of activity within the building and construction sectors and is compiled by economist Dr Roelof Botha on behalf of the JSE-listed midtier mining and... →

We all feel a lot better about South Africa, says WBHO boss

By: Irma Venter 11th September 2024 Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) is currently in “a good space”, says CEO Wolfgang Neff. “We all feel a whole lot better about South Africa.” →

Wolfgang Neff

Investment company on track to meet net-zero energy goals

By: Nadine Ramdass 6th September 2024 As part of its ambition to achieve Landlord Scope 1 and 2 Net-Zero Carbon by 2030 as well as implement sustainable practices, property investment company Liberty Two Degrees (L2D) has successfully implemented portfolio-wide energy management improvements, says sustainability lead specialist Brian... →

An image of solar panels at the Eastgate Shopping Centre

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS L2D produced 6 517 MWh through solar energy in 2023, savings of over R11.8-million in electricity costs.

De Beers’ Jhb rough diamond sorting, sales building receives green star rating

By: Darren Parker 22nd July 2024 Diamond miner De Beers’ new rough diamond sorting, valuation and sales building Sky Park, in Johannesburg, has received a five-star interior green rating and two four-star green building ratings from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). The ratings were awarded for the sustainable... →

Sky Park under construction

Cape Town’s Atlantis SEZ aiming to become green-industry heartland

By: Rebecca Campbell 19th July 2024 This month, July, will see the Greentech-focused Atlantis Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) mark two milestones, namely the breaking of ground for the first new factory to be built there, and the start of refurbishment of the site’s one pre-existing factory (which is owned by the ASEZ company). Civil... →

Consistent pipeline all that is needed to resuscitate SA construction

By: Schalk Burger 5th July 2024 A consistent and predictable pipeline of construction and infrastructure development projects, which must be underpinned by political support and leadership, is all that is necessary to accelerate construction and development in South Africa. Once there is sufficient clarity on projects, the... →

Index continues to show value of green buildings in South Africa

By: Schalk Burger 27th June 2024 Investment services and advisory company MSCI’s South Africa Green Annual Property Index for 2023 shows that green-certified prime and A-grade offices produced a total return of 5.8%, which was 150 basis points above that of non-certified office assets of a similar quality during the year. The... →

GBCSA head of technical Georgina Smit.

Already green V&A Waterfront eyes starting up desalination plant, building second seawater cooling plant

By: Irma Venter 21st June 2024 Since embarking on its sustainability journey in 2008, the V&A Waterfront (V&A) in Cape Town has reduced its energy use by 40%, with 2 MW of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels generating 1 640 000 kWh of clean energy a year. The precinct has also diverted 62% of its waste from landfills. This... →

Eastern Cape road projects planned

21st June 2024 The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) announced in March that it expected to inject close to R2-billion into the Dr AB Xuma local municipality, in the Eastern Cape, when it implements its road maintenance projects over the next three years. The roads agency said it will... →

A road in Africa taken from a lower angle with a yellow line painted through it and a Cats Eye reflector in the tar

FORWARD MOMENTUM Sanral is investing heavily in projects that will completely change the roads in the Eastern Cape

Mixed-use project completed

21st June 2024 Privately owned construction company GVK-Siya Zama has worked “around the clock” to complete the redevelopment of Cape Town Station, in the Western Cape, into a mixed-use residential and retail space. This despite experiencing one of Cape Town’s wettest winters in ten years last year, which... →

A photo of the new Cape Town Station which has been re-imagined to house over 3 000 students and has sports grounds, a shopping centre and cinemas

CENTRE OF ATTENTION The former Cape Town Train Station has been developed into a central hub for students and shoppers

V&A Waterfront pilots ‘aesthetically pleasing’ small-scale wind turbines

By: Terence Creamer 3rd June 2024 Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront is pioneering the integration of small, low-noise vertical-axis wind turbines into its green electricity supply mix, following the installation of four 1-kW units within the mixed-use property’s Silo District and another 3-kW turbine near to the complex’s Breakwater... →

LS Double Helix turbines at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town

A video of the LS Double Helix turbines in action at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town

Contractors, subcontractors battling as late payments worsen – MBA North

By: Irma Venter 31st May 2024 The construction industry value chain is at risk of collapsing as shrinking margins, unfair practices and payment issues continue to undermine the sector. This is according to members of the Master Builders Association (MBA) North, who warn that “urgent dialogue and change” are needed to address... →

Wood pushed as viable construction material

By: Halima Frost 24th May 2024 Engineered wood has emerged as a viable alternative to concrete and steel in the construction industry, owing to its low-carbon footprint and technical performance as a structural material, says tertiary education institution University of Pretoria’s (UP’s) Graduate School of Technology... →

A cardboard cut out of the design of a modular building with a hand hovering over it

PROMOTING ALTERNATIVES The use of engineered wood as an alternative to concrete and steel in the construction sector is being promoted by the University of Pretoria

Algae offers new carbon emissions solution

By: Halima Frost 24th May 2024 Based on the concept that algae are a carbon-capture powerhouse, Austin, Texas biotech company Reactive Surfaces has invested over $2-million in the research and development of an algae-infused paint and surface area treatment, to not only capture but also sequester carbon emissions. Lichen is a... →

A microscope view of a lichen spore which is a complex life form comprising a symbiotic partnership of two separate organisms; a fungus and an algae

GROWING INTEREST The lichen life form has piqued the interest of paint manufacturers after Reactive Surfaces introduced it to paint to allow for carbon capture

Smart metering to drive energy efficiency

24th May 2024 The age-old practice of monthly meter readings is drawing to a close in the face of the modern world’s dynamic and fluctuating energy demands says utility metering management solutions provider Remote Metering Solutions (RMS) chief commercial officer Frikkie Malan. He explains that traditional... →

Remote Metering Solutions (RMS) chief commercial officer Frikkie Malan

FRIKKIE MALAN Traditional methods of capturing information on energy consumption need to move to smarter technologies and metering

Contractors, sub-contractors battling as late payments accelerate – MBA North

By: Irma Venter 13th May 2024 The construction industry value-chain is at risk of collapsing as shrinking margins, unfair practices and payment issues continue to undermine the sector. This is according to members of the Master Builders Association (MBA) North, who warn that “urgent dialogue and change” are needed to address... →

Organisers expect record attendance at event

By: Halima Frost 10th May 2024 With ballooning foot traffic, demonstrated by an increase in attendance of 81% from 2022 to 2023, the organisers of this year’s Enlit Africa anticipate a “bumper event that will be attended by global dignitaries and industry leaders”. The Enlit Africa 2024 will be held at the Cape Town... →

A man standing on a podium at last years Enlit Africa Event

TAKING TO THE FUTURE This years Enlit Africa theme – Less Talk, More Action – aims to encourage attendees and speakers to move away from talk in favour of action and implementatio

Conditions still challenging, but contractors report noticeable uptick – MBA North

By: Irma Venter 10th May 2024 Last year was one of the most challenging years the Master Builders Association (MBA) North has ever experienced, with many of its long-standing members entering business rescue or closing their doors, says MBA North executive director Mohau Mphomela. The 120-year-old employers’ body serves the... →

Novare partners with IFC to advance green building, retail decarbonisation

By: Marleny Arnoldi 22nd April 2024 Real estate investment firm Novare Equity Partners has partnered with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on its Greening Real Estate Investment Portfolios (Grips) programme, which affords Novare access to a comprehensive suite of advisory and investment services. The strategic alliance... →

Wind energy poses increased fall risks

By: Halima Frost 12th April 2024 As the demand for greener energy helps drive the increased uptake of wind energy, the dangers that face workers in the sector are becoming even more evident. As reported by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration in a report named ‘Green Job Hazards’, workers in the wind energy... →

Two men wearing PPE and safety harnesses working on teh turbines of a wind turbine stack

TALL ORDER Maintaining safety standards especially in the wind turbine installation and maintenance sector has come to the fore as the development of green energy gains impetus

Concor stresses green building practices in its new Rosebank project

By: Rebecca Campbell 10th April 2024 South African construction group Concor has highlighted progress at its Green Star V2-rated Oxford Parks Block 2A Phase 1 project, in the Johannesburg suburb of Rosebank. Work started in February and the project is scheduled to take 17 months, with completion targeted for September next year.... →

Photo by Concor
Work under way on Oxford Parks Block 2A Phase 1

Global alliance set to bridge ESG gaps between finance, real estate sectors

By: Sabrina Jardim 5th April 2024 Global green building certification bodies the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in the UK, the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) have formed a global green building alliance to create global cohesion in green building standards. This is... →

Attacq's Nexus 1 building achieves EDGE, Green Star certification

By: Schalk Burger 25th March 2024 Real estate investment trust Attacq's Nexus 1 building, in Waterfall City, which also serves as its headquarters, has received Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) certification. Nexus 1 has become the first Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) Green Star-certified... →

The Nexus 1 building

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