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Green Building News

Waterfall precinct rebranded as Waterfall City

By: Darren Parker 3rd October 2022 The renowned 2 200-ha Waterfall precinct in Midrand, Gauteng, has officially been rebranded as Waterfall City. Waterfall Management Company CEO Willie Vos told Engineering News on a tour of the city on October 3 that the reason for the rebrand was, on the one hand, to consolidate the branding of... →

Govt, ASA launch ecolabelling system for the construction sector

By: Irma Venter 3rd October 2022 Agrément South Africa (ASA) has launched an ecolabelling system for building materials and products sold and used within the country, known as the ecoASA label. ASA is an entity of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) and was appointed as the competent body (and licensor) to... →

Local growth vital for export capabilities

By: Leah Shelene Asaram 30th September 2022 For South Africa to become a net exporter of aluminium, local growth must take precedence, says Aluminium Federation of South Africa (Afsa) CEO Muzi Manzi. This can be achieved by developing research and development communities that support local growth areas, innovation and design, as well as... →

INFINITE METAL Aluminium remains the only metal that is infinitely recyclable

Conference to map future role of aluminium

By: Leah Shelene Asaram 30th September 2022 This year’s International Aluminium Conference and Exhibition serves as a stepping-stone towards the vision of doubling local aluminium demand by 2030 by increasing local demand and exports of value-added products. The conference will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on... →

BRIDGET ZUMA-RUBAMBURA Focus on oxyfuel technology for the metallurgical industry

Prototype waste-to-fuel pilot plant designed

By: Halima Frost 30th September 2022 In its drive to become a leading global supplier of green value from waste solutions, local waste solutions provider Explorius has designed its first coal fines and waste-to-fuel pilot plant for the manufacture of briquettes and pellets from waste generated during industrial processes. The pilot... →

SA largest aluminium-producing country in Africa

By: Leah Shelene Asaram 30th September 2022 In 2021, South Africa produced about 720 000 t of refined aluminium, becoming the largest aluminium-producing country in Africa, says Aluminium Federation of South Africa (Afsa) CEO Muzi Manzi. “A large proportion of the primary metal produced is used in the local market as remelt ingots to... →

AUTOMATION Aluminium - the best metal for manufacturing electric vehicles and creating the necessary charging infrastructure

Contamination at source affecting recycling

By: Halima Frost 30th September 2022 A substantial portion of plastic waste is not recycled and ends up in landfills, contributing greatly to plastics being regarded as the biggest environmental threat, says industry body Plastics SA executive director Anton Hanekom. Forty-three percent of recyclable plastic waste in South Africa... →

A group of Bricks baled together made out of cement and polystyrene which makes them more cost effective, lightweight and insulated

Plastics SA executive director Anton Hanekom discusses the circular economy and how plastic must maintain its position in it instead of in the environment

Circular economy uptake addressed

By: Halima Frost 30th September 2022 The need for and uptake of the circular economy mindset by larger organisations locally and globally was addressed during a webinar hosted by the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) last month. The webinar, titled ESGS Webinar: Circular economy: Opportunities and Benefits,... →

A man wearing protective gloves holding a handful of shredded tires which have been broken down for recycling at the Unki Mine in Zaimbabwe owned by Anglo American Platinum

GETTING TIREDThe world does not have enough resources to cater to the growing population, forcing companies to take up the circular economy

IFC supports Redefine's maiden green bond

By: Schalk Burger 20th September 2022 Development finance institution the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is the anchor investor of real estate investment trust Redefine Properties' green bond, which aims to promote sustainability and climate-smart commercial real estate in South Africa. Redefine will use the bond’s proceeds... →

SA economy shrank in second quarter, hit by KZN floods, load-shedding

By: News24Wire 6th September 2022 South Africa’s economy shrank by 0.7% in the second quarter of 2022, Statistics SA said on Tuesday. This is slightly better than expected. The median expectation among economists polled by a Bloomberg survey was for a contraction of 0.8% in the second quarter. →

A photo of Toyota's Prospecton vehicle assembly plant

New Gauteng urban hub seeks to strike inclusivity, tech-savvy balance

By: Darren Parker 26th August 2022 The Lanseria smart city initiative, announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his 2020 State of the Nation Address, has steadily been gaining momentum over the past two years, despite setbacks caused by the outbreak of Covid-19.  The new urban economic hub is planned to become home to between... →

Building activity boosted by office conversions – economist

By: Irma Venter 19th August 2022 The first five months of the year have seen a “remarkable improvement” in the value of buildings completed in the metros and larger municipalities, with the category for additions and alterations coming out on top in terms of year-on-year growth rate, at “a whopping 92%”, says Optimum Investment... →

Graph of buildings completed in first five months of 2022 in South Africa

R16bn Harbour Arch development sees Tower 1 reach highest point

By: Irma Venter 18th August 2022 Tower 1 at Cape Town’s new Harbour Arch mixed-use precinct has topped out on the twenty-third floor, 95 m above ground – 30 months after breaking ground in January, 2020. “Reaching the highest point of Tower 1 at Harbour Arch represents a significant milestone in our construction journey,” says... →

Image of Tower 1 in the Harbour Arch development

OpenSpace launches ‘Google Street View’ for construction projects

By: Irma Venter 12th August 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... →

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

By: Irma Venter 29th 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... →

S&J industrial estate development aims to be greener

27th July 2022 Property developer Abland and its partners are well into developing the new S&J industrial estate, on the south eastern corridor of Johannesburg, which might become one of the first EcoDistricts-certified precincts outside of North America. Darren Parker tells us more. →

S&J industrial estate development aims to be greener

Lafarge launches ECOPact cement with as much as 100% less embodied carbon emissions

By: Donna Slater 19th July 2022 Following the successful take-up in markets where building materials company Holcim is present, local subsidiary Lafarge South Africa (SA) on July 18 launched its lower-carbon cement ECOPact to the domestic market. Compared with CEM I – Portland cement containing a maximum of 5% of other... →

Lafarge South Africa launches lower carbon emissions cement ECOPact in efforts to reduce construction industry’s environmental impact.

Afrimat Construction Index shows consolidation of recovery trend in first quarter

By: Irma Venter 15th July 2022 JSE-listed industrial minerals, commodities and construction material openpit mining company Afrimat has released the findings of the Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) for the first quarter of the year. The ACI is a composite index of the level of activity in the building and construction... →

Innovative tech for CO2 removal recognised

15th July 2022 Air capture technology specialist Climeworks has been awarded the Innovation in Vacuum Busch Award by global manufacturer Busch Vacuum Solutions for its advanced use of vacuum technology in its processes. Climeworks is the first company to use direct air capture technology to remove carbon... →

A group of colleagues form Cimeworks stood on the steps of the headquarters of Busch Vacuum Solutions in Maulburg, Germany holding their

CAPTIVATING TEAM The team from Climeworks accepted the Innovation in Vacuum Busch Award award ata small ceremony held at the the headquarters of Busch Vacuum Solutions in Maulburg, Germany

Renewable energy may boost Africa’s construction sector in tough 2022 – report

By: Irma Venter 12th July 2022 Turner & Townsend has released its International Construction Market Survey (ICMS) for 2022. The company is an independent professional services entity operating in the global real estate, infrastructure and natural resources sectors. The ICMS is the company’s largest and most in-depth report,... →

Private sector’s role key in the just transition – BLSA

By: Darren Parker 11th July 2022 Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso has emphasised the important role the private sector has to play in the just energy transition in terms of investment in infrastructure for greener production. “The opportunities are . . . abundant, stemming from the wider renewable energy... →

BLSA CEO Busi Mavuso

Mauritius office development receives 5-star green star rating

By: Schalk Burger 6th July 2022 The Precinct office development in Grand Baie, Mauritius, developed by real estate development company Gateway Real Estate Africa (GREA) has been awarded a 5-Star Green certified rating by industry association the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). The Precinct offers tenants... →

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... →

Image of 84 Harrison street building in Cape Town

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

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