Green Building Conference 2007
The Green Building Conference and Exhibition provided insight through expert local and international speakers, examined case studies and brought together decision makers from the construction industry and government .
KERRY HAGGARD attended the Green Building Convention at the CSIR from the 8th-10th November 2007, hosted by alive2green.
THE Green Building Convention, the first of its kind in SA in ten years, was attended by more than 500 delegates from various disciplines within the built environment, and was addressed by local and international speakers.
While the focus was on commercial and industrial buildings, one of the most telling statistics to emerge was the fact that the number of plans for residential properties submitted for approval far exceed those submitted for commercial buildings.
The global construction industry accounts for 100-million jobs, 10% of global gross domestic product, uses 50% of all resources, 45% of all energy used, and 40% of all water used.
The overriding message was clear: as an industry, construction, and the products it creates, is responsible in no small way for carbon emissions and their contribution to global warming.
Everyone involved in the built environment needs to take responsibility for their role right now.
Charles Kibbert, a speaker from the US said even if we stopped everything we do that affects global warming now, the momentum of what we have done will carry on for another 50 years before a difference can be felt.
What emerged from the various discussion groups, and from some of the presentations, was that the construction industry is a silo one, fragmented at every turn, with egos and greed frequently getting in the way of the greater good namely, a comprehensive design process that involved all the disciplines from the beginning.
While they may not be needed in the construction of ordinary suburban homes, structural, electrical and even mechanical engineers often need to give their input in the more upscale, expensive developments, and rather than only consult them once the project has been created. All present agreed that they should be involved from the very beginning along with the finance experts and consultants well versed in every aspect of greening a building.
Llewellyn van Wyk of the CSIR and editor of the South African Journal of Green Building suggested a new framework for the building industry and many of these elements need to be considered by those paying for the construction of homes and the erection of commercial buildings.
Everyone involved in a project needs to work on a number of scales, extending into city planning, to achieve sustainable consumption and production patterns.
They need to drive a technology innovation agenda, to promote cleaner supply chains. The promotion of concurrent engineering and the integration of the design process is key, as is the establishment of baseline standards and benchmarking.
The integration of the value chain is key, as is the calculation and evaluation of lifecycle cost analyses.
Designers need to find their voices, and need to develop the courage to stand up for their convictions even if it means walking away from a project.
One of the key gaps in the market that was highlighted was the need for professional practices that are well versed in all matters green.
While there are several professionals that have worked on a few green projects, there is no one that is the first to mind when considering a green development.
In a nation of jacks-of-all-trades, it is time for a few committed individuals to spend the time specialising, in order to become gurus on the subject.
As Dr Elsa du Toit of the minerals and energy department said, energy efficiency pays for itself. It is like being given a free lunch and then being paid to eat it. The government has published a strategy on energy efficiency for SA, and is leading the way by retrofitting all of its 1600 buildings, with a target of reducing energy consumption in SA by 12% by 2015 a challenging target in light of the electrification of many areas previously kept in the dark.
On the residential side, du Toit pointed out a number of broad initiatives undertaken by her department, Eskom and the National Energy Efficiency Agency, all with the goal of changing behaviour. It is as simple as telling your children to open the fridge door, have a look, and then close it while they’re deciding what to raid from it. she said. Even the smallest changes in behaviour can make an impact. So, consider the energy savings if you retrofitted your home to be completely energy efficient?
