Contents
of October 2009
Comment
Environmental contribution considered
Letters
Melrose
Arch becomes photo-friendly
Upfront
What
is new and happening?
GREEN BUILDINGS
Lessons
from New York
Solaire
points the way for ‘green building’ in South Africa
Green building briefs
CITY VISIT
Density
doubled at Thorntree View
Urban
place-making is the key to double space
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING & DESIGN
Joane Pim
celebrated
South
Africa’s first landscape architect was remarkable
WASTE & POLLUTION MANAGEMENT
Wetlands
questioned
Wetlands
in the treatment of stormwater and greywater
Waste and pollution management
briefs
Inspiration
Two
Johannesburg parks present picture-book playgrounds
Insult
Depressing
highways
Viewpoint
Carbon
neutrality affords competitive advantage
__________
COMMENT
Environmental
contribution considered
Environmental
impact assessments focus on negative consequences of development while ‘green
building’ rating tools reward positive interventions.
Shouldn’t these two approaches be married?
In
terms of environmental impact, property development and infrastructure projects are,
mostly, considered necessarily evils. While the benefits of these projects, in terms of
convenience, ease of business and growth of the economy, are unquestionable, they are,
generally, viewed as detrimental to the environment. An entire industry in South Africa,
therefore, focuses on determining and
mitigating the negative impacts of these projects. Dictated by legislation, many projects
have to undergo an environmental impact assessment (EIA) before the first sod is turned.
But,
perhaps, a paradigm shift is required in terms of property development and infrastructure
projects?
Would
the environment not be the ultimate beneficiary if we changed our attitudes to assume that
these projects offer the ideal opportunity to improve the environment rather than limit
negative impacts?
What
I have in mind is that the departure point of EIAs, in some ways, is flawed. This is
particularly the case in the urban environment where sites are already disturbed and, in
no way, ecologically pristine. An EIA, or preliminary scoping exercise, in this case, may
find that a proposed development would not have a negative impact on an already degraded
site. However I would argue that there is an opportunity to make a significant
contribution to the improvement of the urban ecology. The focus should not only be on
preventing negative impacts but on creating positive interventions. In this way,
biodiversity could be enhanced and sites developed holistically with the broader ecology
in mind.
Apart
from the EIA process, another environmental measuring tool used in South Africa is “green
building” – the CSIR’s sustainable building-assessment tool and the Green
Building Council of South Africa’s Green Star rating system spring to mind. These
tools are completely different to the EIA approach in that they reward positive
interventions rather than highlighting negative impacts. With green-building tools, the
emphasis is on scoring as many points as possible.
However
this positive approach also has its pitfalls.
While
a project may score many points in some categories – for instance, energy efficiency
within a building – other aspects of the project may be detrimental to the
environment.
The
problem is that the tools do not penalise projects for negative impacts but rather award a
zero score. It would, therefore, be possible to achieve a high green-building rating while
making some serious environmental mistakes.
For
argument sake, one could plant alien invasive species on site and score zero in terms of
biodiversity and site development whereas the project should be penalised by losing points
(receiving a negative score).
Is
it not time to marry the philosophies underpinning the EIA process and green-building
tools? Should projects not be evaluated in terms of positive ecological contribution and
negative environmental impacts? One way or another, it will require stakeholders to run
the risk of producing a skewed result, I believe.
__________
LETTERS
Photography
‘about turn’ at Melrose
Arch
Security
guards at Melrose Arch will no longer apprehend visitors taking photographs of this
impressive city precinct, Urban Green File
has been assured.
We
read your column (“Insult: Not in public please” on page 47 of Urban
Green File June 2009)
with great interest and take the point you raised as important feedback. Melrose Arch is
often used as a “location venue” for advertising and film shoots, and it is
these photographers and videographers that require authorisation and accreditation –
in the same way, a filming permit is required in almost every city in the world. Resulting
from your input, we have addressed the issue with our security company, especially in
terms of their interaction with the public. We have counseled them to first evaluate
whether or not the photography is for a professional film shoot as opposed to a visitor
taking personal photographs. We are always delighted when someone is so inspired by
Melrose Arch that they wish to take personal photographs as a memory of their visit. Thank
you for your comments.
Ulana van Biljon, general manager, Melrose Arch
__________
UPFRONT
15
years ALREADY!
Newtown
Landscape Architects celebrated its 15th anniversary early in September with a cocktail
function at Moyo Zoo Lake in Johannesburg. To mark the occasion, the company has produced
an electronic book of the many projects it has undertaken in a decade and a half.
Carbon
farming assessed
Could
farming with trees offer an economically viable solution for carbon reduction? Or would
the impact on water resources outweigh the carbon benefits?
Research
into the benefits of carbon farming, through planting trees to offset carbon emissions, is
being undertaken by Monash University’s Australian Centre for Biodiversity. Making
use of the 2,4-million ha Goulburn Broken catchment near Shepparton, the study is
assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of carbon farming in terms of providing
environmental benefits when compared to traditional farming, particularly during times of
drought. According to project leader, Dr Ross Thompson, there is concern that the carbon
accrual and biodiversity benefits of revegetation may be counteracted by reductions in
water yield. “The project will, therefore, forecast the effects of increasing
reforestation on the Goulburn Broken catchment by quantifying the water use, carbon
storage and biodiversity values of different land uses, and understanding how increases in
native vegetation affect those processes,” he tells Urban Green File.
Thompson
adds: “We will measure the exchange of carbon and water fluxes among soil, water,
plants and the atmosphere, and the impact this exchange will have on biodiversity values.
Our sites will be situated within an agricultural zone, which is most likely to be
converted to carbon farming. Carbon farming is looming as an important new land use in
Australia and internationally.
Our
research will identify the costs and benefits of tree planting for carbon accrual. It is
essential information to allow land managers and landholders to make informed decisions,
particularly in the face of the economic and social forces occurring as a result of the
current drought”.
Car
rental offsets Emissions
Since
October 2007, Avis South Africa has been measuring its carbon footprint; focusing
specifically on CO2 emissions generated by fuel consumption in non-customer vehicles and
electricity consumption on all its sites. At the same time, Avis has been working with The
Carbon Neutral Company to reduce its emissions, measured at 11 000 t CO2, to net zero
through carbon offsetting.
The
company has chosen two offset projects - the Hufu waste heat recovery project in China,
which recovers waste heat from a cement plant for the production of clean electricity, and
the Govindapuram wind-power plant in Tamil Nadu, India, where wind power is used to
produce “clean” electricity.
As
of September 2009, Avis has also introduced customer rental carbon offset opportunities.
Avis
invoices are now reflecting carbon emissions for each rental.
In
another sustainability initiative, Avis has already invested R1,9-million in
water-recycling plants at its three new main depot car-wash facilities in Johannesburg,
Durban and Cape Town.
Together,
these plants save and recycle 95-million t of water every year, the company claims. In
addition, the new Cape Town facility boasts a 180 000 lunderground water reservoir to
catch and redistribute rain water.
‘New
ruralism’ mooted for Eastern Cape
A
“new ruralism” development is envisioned for the Crossways and Sunnyvale farms
near Port Elizabeth.
Urban
Green File
can disclose that a R3,4-billion development bordering the Van Stadens Wild Flower Reserve
is being planned and designed by Dr Chris Mulder of CMAI.
According
to Mulder, the proposed development will create a new, vibrant and sustainable rural node
comprising interspersed intensive fruit, vegetable and dairy farming, as well as housing.
“The proposed project fits in perfectly with government’s stated objective of
rural development.
It
should not only help stem the flow of people from the country to the nearby towns and
cities but might also entice, especially, young families to come and share in a rural
lifestyle in an idyllic location. The concept of upmarket golf estates belongs to the
past. The priorities for the future are water and food. Instead of surrendering valuable
agricultural land to residential development, the planned farming activities on Crossways
and Sunnyvale will double agricultural output.”
__________
GREEN BUILDINGS
Lessons from NEW
YORK
As
a remarkable residential development in New York, could Solaire point the way for ‘green’
buildings in South Africa?
Once
a site of shipping piers on the Hudson River, Battery Park City in New York is an
innovative, planned community built on an erstwhile landfill site. It is located astride
the river at the southern tip of densely-populated Manhattan, and is overseen by the
Battery Park City Authority (BPCA). Originally approved as a public benefit corporation by
the New York State legislature in 1968, the BPCA strives to balance development with
quality of life and environmental responsibility.
In
2000, the BPCA established a set of guidelines for new residential developments in Battery
Park City in concert with the US Green Building Council (USGBC). These guidelines were
similar to the voluntary standards set by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED). One fundamental difference, though, between the requirements set by the BPCA and
LEED were aesthetics.
At
Battery Park City, only certain materials, such as bricks could be used, and developers
were required to comply with form and height restrictions. Susan Kaplan, director of
sustainable development at the BPCA, was a major player in the sustainable guidelines
team. With a background in landscape architecture and environmental science, she was
suitably poised to establish a process for the creation of environmentally responsible
residential buildings. At a presentation given to a team of realtors interested in selling
space at Battery Park City, Kaplan noted that the BPCA sought to “require and inspire”.
In so doing, the BPCA unleashed a fury of innovation.
First
LEED certified ‘green’ residential high-rise
One
innovative project entailed the Albanese Organisation’s Solaire development. This
“developer-with-a-conscience” won the bid to build the first “green”
residential high-rise on Site 18A. Despite a brief construction hiatus caused by the
terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre in 2001, the building was completed in 2003 to
be widely acclaimed as the first LEED-certified residential high-rise development in the
US. In 2004, it also received first place in the American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Committee on the Environment’s Top Ten Green Projects programme.
It
was recognised for its brilliant advances in sustainable development.
6
categories of‘green’
innovation
Solaire
had to achieve at least 60 out of 100 points in order to achieve gold LEED status. The
points had to be distributed over six categories but how did the developers manage to
comply with the criteria set for each category?
1
Water conservation
Designed
by Alliance Environmental in New Jersey, the water-conservation system includes a “green
roof” and storm-water retention system. According to Ed Clerico of Alliance
Environmental, the water-treatment and recycling system captures wastewater from all
sources in the building and treats the effluent in a multi-stage process. The treated
water is redistributed to flush toilets and for cooling-tower purposes. The building also
boasts a separate system to capture and treat storm-water for irrigation.
The
water-treatment system includes anoxic treatment, an aerobic tank, a membrane filtration
tank and membrane filters. It is also disinfected by ultraviolet light and ozone. As a
result, Clerico tests revealed that the Solaire uses approximately 50% less water than
similar buildings. However it is also true that the costs of this system are higher than
those of other buildings within New York City.
2
Sustainable sites
In terms of site selection and location, Solaire is considered
“responsible” as its residents have access to public transport, including bus
and metro lines, taxi cabs and on demand car rental. In addition, the building has plenty
of space for bicycle storage and has set aside space for recharging electric vehicles.
3
Energy conservation
The
National Resources Defence Council reports that Solaire’s energy demand has been
reduced by 35% through the use of automatic-dimming fluorescent lights, high-performance
windows and day-lighting, among other strategies. Also incorporated into the building is a
building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system.
Designed
by altPOWER, the BIPV system provides roughly 5% of the building’s electricity.
However this is the only renewable energy technology used at Solaire. Several other
factors contribute to energy conservation, including occupancy and daylight sensors as
well as a building-management system that monitors the centralized heating, ventilation
and air-conditioning (HVAC) system.
4
Materials and resources
As
much as 66,79% of the building materials (by cost) were manufactured within an 804,7 km
radius of the building, claims the AIA. In addition, an effort was made to ensure 50% of
the building resources contained raw materials from the local area. This applied to
concrete masonry blocks, recycled-content gypsum board, locally-manufactured brick, stone,
slate, granite and ceramic tiles, among others.
5
Indoor environmental quality
In
addition to the materials being free of harmful chemicals, indoor air is filtered,
humidified and conditioned through a central HVAC system. Residents have the ability to
choose whether or not they prefer to use fresh air or conditioned air.
Monitors
in the parking lot also ensure that carbon-monoxide levels remain at manageable levels.
The ceilings are tall and the windows are large to ensure that plenty of natural light is
available while light-coloured flooring and glazing reduce solar heat gain.
6
Innovation and design strategy
One
challenge for developers in the pre-design and design process, apart from having to meet
stringent BPCA, LEED and New York State Green Building Tax Credit requirements, was that
“many advertised products were not yet available”, the AIA tells Urban Green
File.
Another
challenge presented in the form of the exterior envelope. AIA
claims that “the design intention of weaving the
photovoltaics through a brick-and-glass exterior wall to achieve full integration, while
optimising traditional brick-and-block wall performance, required input from product
manufacturers, wind-tunnel tests, computer simulations and contractors to assess
electrical coordination issues. Nevertheless the entire construction and design team
worked closely together in support of the common aim to produce an aesthetically beautiful
and stellar building.
Many
lessons learned
During
a presentation for the National Building Museum, Rafael Palli says that heating and
cooling a building, while reducing energy costs, is deeply challenging.
This is especially true in a residential building. At the same time, the AIA claims that
“local labour practice and construction methodology are as critical to sustainable
design implementation as proper design and available technology”. But, in the case of
Verdesian and Visionaire, these challenges have been overcome to produce even greener
developments. In addition to taking the first plunge forward, the Solaire designers are
paving the way for future developers to produce sustainable buildings without some of the
heartache of being the first. The question that comes to mind, however, is whether or not
green development is financially feasible.
A
costly exercise
Although
most of the funding for Solaire came from private loan guarantees and equity, the New York
State Green Buildings Tax Credit produced a saving of US$2,8-million over five years. The
New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) provided US$100 000
for LEED design assistance and energy modelling, US$319 079 for interventions that reduce
electricity use and US$119 000 for commissioning. The NYSERDA also contributed US$90 000
for photovoltaic panels and, finally, the United States Department of Energy (DOE)
provided US$100 000 for commissioning the building. The project cost totalled
approximately US$114,5-million (without land) while greening costs amounted to almost
US$17,3-million.
According to the National Resources Defence Council, the photovoltaic system has a
four-year payback period, the low-e windows, which cost US$1,5-million, have a seven-year
payback period and the lighting-control system a four-year payback period.
The payback periods have come to an end and Solaire is running at a handsome profit: the
monthly rent for a three-bedroom apartment is as much as US$8 000 and the building has 250
units. Michael Gubbins of the Albanese Organisation notes that the occupants “want to
be part of the solution; not part of the problem.”
Perhaps this is why occupants are willing to pay the high costs of green, urban living
though critics will note that these rental rates are not widely accessible.
Private-sector
and government commitment required
Nevertheless that green development is now an explosive,
profitable reality could be largely attributed to the work done by the USGBC and its
founder, David Gottfried, who established the intent to nourish the green-development
movement, in 1993, by providing valuable education and support to industry members.
Gottfried and Michael Italiano developed this organisation to involve players from every
corner of the building industry. Starting with only a handful of diehards, at least 10 000
member organisations now belong to the USGBC, according to their member website, with a
chapter in every state of the US.
The USGBC released the first LEED ratings tool in 1998 although it has gone through
several transmutations since then. The number of LEED-certified projects has risen from 41
registered in 2000 to 5 000 in 2007, according to Dr Jeff York of the University of
Virginia. He has studied the relationship between green building and government incentives
and published his findings recently. He notes that “it is not certain that LEED would
have succeeded without support from government”. Government can provide important
financial incentives and “when uncertainty undermines the efficiency of a voluntary
certification standard, the state may play a role in establishing the standard”.
SA
can sidestep US learning curve
Gottfried
also founded the World Green Building Council (WGBC) in 1998 – the Green Building
Council of South Africa (GBCSA) has become the 13th full member.
Even though seeds sown by the USGBC only began to take root after 14 years of struggling
against the status quo of building, South African developers have the benefit of
sidestepping the US learning curve albeit in the context of its own exigencies. South
Africa is a developing country and, therefore, doesn’t have the same kind of access
to facilities and materials that are available to the US market.
However
there is no question that, with the support of the GBCSA and further development of the
series of Green Star SA ratings tools, creative solutions to South Africa’s
development challenges will arise. Phenomenal strides have, certainly, been made already
with the establishment of the Green Star v1 ratings tool for offices as the most
important.
‘Green
building’ beacon for South Africa
The
success of America’s first LEED accredited high-rise, Solaire, along with other
pioneers in the sustainable-development era, should be a beacon for members of the GBCSA
and South African developers seeking to integrate the locally developed Green Star SA
rating tools.
Although
there will be fits and starts, and although funding is currently low, government support
and concerted industry cooperation could put South Africa in an excellent position to
embrace the green development era.
__________
GREEN BUILDING BRIEFS
Bank
introduces recycling at source
Waste
reduction at source, when it involves corporate business, remains the most effective way
for a city to reduce its volume of waste sent to landfill. In Johannesburg, thousands of
businesses contribute to the city’s waste load by sending recyclables such as paper,
cardboard, plastic and beverage cans to the city’s landfills. While the efforts of
one corporate alone may not make a sizable dent in the city’s waste load, a concerted
effort by business could make a significant difference.
At the same time, businesses could achieve significant savings by reducing, for example,
consumption of paper. A company that is taking a lead in this regard is Nedbank. Between
January and July 2009, Nedbank claims that its retail division saved as much as
R1,3-million through its paper reduction programme. This is according to Nina Wellsted,
Nedbank Retail sustainability manager, who ascribes the achievement to educating staff
about paper use. This involves changing mindsets in terms of what is really necessary to
print and the format used for reports – using less paper by printing on both sides,
for instance. Other initiatives involve the use of in-house DVDs, communicating
electronically with staff members, hosting an informative “green” intranet site,
encouraging paper “champions” and including paper-reduction targets as part of
the management scorecards.
A plan is also afoot to switch from printing client statements on paper to electronic
format. The bank’s recycling and landfill programme is overseen by Fabio Francis,
facilities manager in Group Property Services. He has rolled out as many as 683 waste and
recycling bins across the bank’s 13 campus sites, which cover more than 320 000 m²
of office space.
The recycling-at-source system involves a four-bin set-up in every pause area for mixed
paper waste, glass and tin, plastic and polystyrene and, lastly, biodegradable “wet
waste”. The latter is sent to landfill as it is deemed unfit for recycling. In
addition, staff members are encouraged to bring old light bulbs to the office where they
can be discarded properly while the bank has also introduced a printer cartridge- and
battery-recycling project. “From the beginning of 2009, we started measuring our
landfill waste in kilograms rather than cubic metres to make it more meaningful to our
staff,” Francis tells Urban Green File. “To reduce our landfill waste, we
are looking into better recycling and reuse processes.
For example, we are looking at a partnership with a recycling company that recycles paper
hand towels.” Nedbank has entered into partnerships with Remade, Nampak and Waste
Paper Recovery for the implementation of its recycling initiative.
Cleaning
cleaned up
In
an effort to minimise its pollution stream, Nedbank has switched to biodegradable cleaning
products for its facilities, Chris Crainger, facilities project manager for the bank,
informs Urban Green File.
Developed by a Canadian company, Innu-Science, the range of cleaning products is derived
from dirt-consuming bacteria harvested from pristine indigenous forests. These “green”
cleaning products, sourced from Hychem in South Africa, rely on good bacteria to do the
cleaning, are non-toxic and biodegradable within 14 to 28 days, says Crainger. “The
conversion to green chemicals has cost us only 1% more than our former hard-chemicals
system.”
Hotel
opts for solar
Water
at the Southern Sun StayEasy Emalahleni Hotel is heated by a combination of a 6 000 l
solar hot-water system and a 6 000 l heat-pump system.
“The solar water-heating system has reduced the peak electricity load needed for the
provision of hot water in the hotel by 70 kVA,” claims Dylan Tudor-Jones of Solar
Heat Exchangers.
The heat-pump system is a practical solution for “topping up” the hot-water
system when no solar contribution is available, adds Gavin Pereira of GK Pereira
Consulting. As, roughly, 40% of the total energy consumption in hospitality facilities can
be attributed to water heating, the choice of a solar system was easy to make, says Mark
Boyd of Southern Sun.
Insurers
go solar
As
many as 40% of all geysers – equating to 240 000 units – are installed in South
Africa annually as a result of insurance claims for the replacement of faulty or burst
equipment. This is according to Marie Roux of the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE).
In order to lower reliance on coal-fired electricity in South Africa, the DPE is
exploiting the opportunity to ensure that all insurance replacement geysers are
solar-powered. The DPE and the South African Insurance Association agreed on this
arrangement as of September 2009. Eskom rebates for these installations will be paid
directly to insurance companies. In this way, insurers will be able to accrue carbon
credits that they can sell on the carbon market.
JO’BURG
cleans up
At
Pikitup’s recent Clean City Summit, Johannesburg executive mayor, Amos Masondo,
listed some of the city’s programmes for the promotion of waste reduction:
·
facilitation
of the establishment of buy-back centres in strategic areas;
·
issuing
of new waste licences and renewals to all waste operators;
·
promotion
of public and industry education on best practice in terms of waste handling and impacts;
·
roll-out
of recycling interventions during major events;
·
compliance
monitoring at waste-handling facilities, landfill sites and community buy-back centres;
·
facilitation
of by-law enforcement through the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department and the
environmental health department;
·
introduction
of underground waste bins, and support of environment forums and community clean-ups; and
·
reviewing
waste by-laws and the integrated waste management plan for the city in line with the new
Waste Act.
Panel
building system launched
Fox
Hornibrook has introduced its licensed Q-Panel building system to South Africa. According
to Pregasan Chetty, CEO of Fox Hornibrook South Africa, the embodied energy of Q-Panels is
25% less than that of cement bricks as electricity is not used to cure the panels.
This is in contrast to the condensation needed for the manufacture of cement blocks or the
energy consumed when baking clay bricks. Urban Green File has learned that Fox
Hornibrook South Africa does not intend to operate as a supplier of Q-Panels but intends
to partner with Construction Industry Development Board Level 7 contractors in
developments. The panels will be manufactured at a factory in the province of Mpumalanga.
Apart from lower embodied energy, the panels, reportedly, also offer good insulation;
saving energy used in heating, air-conditioning and ventilation within a building. Fox
Hornibrook is building two houses using Q-Panels – a 320 m² home at the Blue Valley
Golf & Country Estate in Gauteng and a 400 m² house at Pinnacle Point Beach &
Golf Resort on the Garden Route. An in-depth feature article on the Q-Panel building
system appears in the October 2009 print edition of Urban Green File’s sister
magazine, Building Africa.
Passive
ventilation
A
new “green” building is being built on the East London campus of the University
of Fort Hare. Designed by Ngonyama Okpanum Associates in association with Native
Architecture, the R56-million building incorporates features to conserve energy,
alternative energy sources and harvesting of rainwater.
Most significant in terms of energy efficiency is that the building will be ventilated
passively.
According to Greg Bradford of Grinaker-LTA Building Cape, mechanical air-conditioning will
not be installed. The north façades will be ventilated by hollow “trombe wall”
sections instead. As the sun heats these sections, the rising air within will pull cooler
air behind it; leading to displacement ventilation.
The roof structure will also assist the ventilation by pulling the warm air up through the
sections due to its aerodynamically-designed shape as well as its purpose-made wing
structure. Cool air will be drawn into a Wintec pre-cast concrete access floor through the
vertically-planted south façade and it will be distributed to rooms through floor mounted
diffusers.
Apparently, the ventilated access-floor system will reduce the amount of concrete used by
47%. Bradford claims that the building is thus rendered “demountable and accessible”.
Another sustainable element of this building involves rainwater collection. The water will
be filtered and pumped to a header tank in the roof from where it will be gravity-fed for
the bathrooms, kitchens and irrigation of the vertically-planted façade.
The building’s green performance will be monitored by the CSIR through computer fluid
dynamic modelling. Data sourced from an on-site weather station will be analysed to
ascertain the building’s performance relative to the theoretical model. Located in
the East London CBD, it is hoped that this new building will act as a catalyst for urban
renewal.
Water
consumption reduced
Over
a two-year period, the use of water-saving shower roses at North West University (NWU) has
reduced water consumption by 35%, Thomas Matern, CEO of RST tells Urban Green File.
In that period, RST monitored 3 000 water-saving shower roses in nine hostels across three
campuses. The consumption of hot water was reduced in line with the consumption of
electricity. According to Matern, 16% less energy was used. Considering that the price of
water and electricity has also increased significantly in this period, the cost saving for
the university is significant.
Arno de Beer, project manager responsible for hot-water systems, energy management,
electrical control and monitoring of electrical distribution across the three NWU
campuses, collected over two years of auditable data from pressure, kilowatt and water
meters, for the study.
According to De Beer, domestic consumption of water by 5 000 students accounts for 75% of
the NWU’s water use. The water and electricity savings achieved by the water-saving
shower roses are, therefore, significant.
Contractor’s
‘GREEN’ investment
The
uptake of the “green building” concept by the South African property and
building industry is clear in Group Five’s acquisition of a majority stake (51%) in
Kayema Energy Solutions.
Group Five tells Urban Green File that Kayema will operate as a renewable energy
supplier in South Africa; focusing on providing viable and reliable solar- and wind-energy
solutions.
Kayema will act as a portal for the provision of ideal solar water geysers and other
technologies to Group Five’s green building projects.
It will provide a similar service, already in place, which gives the group control over
the supply chain for construction projects.
As
many as 40% of all geysers – equating to 240 000 units – are installed in South
Africa annually as a result of insurance claims for the replacement of faulty or burst
equipment. This is according to Marie Roux of the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE).
In order to lower reliance on coal-fired electricity in South Africa, the DPE is
exploiting the opportunity to ensure that all insurance replacement geysers are
solar-powered. The DPE and the South African Insurance Association agreed on this
arrangement as of September 2009. Eskom rebates for these installations will be paid
directly to insurance companies. In this way, insurers will be able to accrue carbon
credits that they can sell on the carbon market.
__________
CITY VISIT
Of density & PLACE - MAKING
A design
framework for Thorntree View in Soshanguve sets out to double the density of housing while
establishing positive urban spaces.
Could this point the way towards the establishment of sustainable human settlements?
Northwest
of Pretoria, Soshanguve is one of the largest suburbs in the urbanised province of
Gauteng.
Within
the jurisdiction of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, a new integrated
housing initiative in Soshanguve is Thorntree View – a joint venture between Safrich
and the city’s housing department. Thorntree View follows an earlier, failed attempt
by another developer to provide high-density housing on the city’s urban fringe. In
1994, the private developer bought the land and initiated a Reconstruction &
Development Programme (RDP) housing project in line with the housing-subsidy scheme. The
project focused on the development of 25 m² houses on 250 m² stands at a cost of R15 000
each. With the focus predominantly on housing, little provision was made for amenities or
mixed use – apart from sites for a clinic, schools, churches and open spaces. The
result was, inevitably, similar to dormitory townships that characterised South African
cities during apartheid albeit, ironically, built under the guise of RDP housing in the
“new” South Africa.
Sustainability
the target
Perhaps
it should not be surprising that the original development stalled as the dormitory
township offered little in terms of quality of life. However a new initiative could bring
change to Thorntree View. Safrich bought the land in 2005 and entered into partnership
with the City of Tshwane’s housing department. While Safrich has retained ownership
of the land, it is implementing the housing development on behalf of the City of Tshwane.
In effect, the City of Tshwane is the developer of the subsidised housing component
comprising about 35% of the total housing project.
Realising
the need for a completely new vision and design for Thorntree View, Safrich has appointed
Gary White & Associates (known as GWA Studio) to look at the area holistically in
order to prepare an urban-design framework. The Thorntree View framework has lofty
ambitions in terms of urban place-making and the establishment of a sustainable community.
Density
doubled
The
vision for Thorntree View is radically different from that of the previous, failed
project. Significantly, the planned density has been increased from 17 000 units to 30 000
units. At the same time, Safrich and the City of Tshwane have decided to develop a
mixed-use township in line with Breaking New Ground (BNG) principles of the Department of
Human Settlements.
Implementing
this new vision is no simple task. By the time that Safrich had bought the land, 5 000
houses were already built on the site while half the bulk infrastructure, based on the old
layout, had been installed. The new design framework has to incorporate the existing
houses and infrastructure while accommodating increased densities and amenities as well as
a variety of housing options.
Settlement
patterns studied
Before undertaking the new layout, GWA Studio studied many
African settlement patterns, including the adjacent Winterveld, Alexandra in Johannesburg,
Cabinda in Angola, and Delft in Cape Town, as well as villages in Ethiopia.
These
provided clues as to how people relate to the landscape and use the landscape to sustain
themselves. “Bringing it closer to home, we also looked at how people have
transformed RDP housing over time and how they have incorporated many ideas to upgrade the
standard RDP offering,” comments Bouwer Serfontein of GWA Studio.
As
a result, Safrich and the City of Tshwane’s housing department have recognized that
it would be unsustainable to develop houses on individual stands of 250 m² each. The
proposed design is based on “African new urbanism” instead; taking new urbanist
principles and relating them to the local context to create appropriate African urban
space.
Radical
departure from the usual
It
is clear that GWA Studio’s vision for Thorntree View is a radical departure from the
usual approach to housing projects – the provision of little boxes in straight rows.
In this case, the focus is on the establishment of spaces and places that would,
effectively, form the fabric of community life. Some of the design principles include:
·
Streets
and public spaces are tree-lined and pedestrian-friendly. Safety is ensured by careful
positioning of buildings and windows to facilitate constant surveillance.
·
Buildings
are positioned to form the edges of public spaces and streets.
·
Buildings
and spaces respond to the human scale.
·
The
street pattern and design are not determined by vehicular requirements but by pedestrian
movement.
·
A
variety of housing types are all situated within 400 m of community and public transport
facilities.
·
At
least 40 units/ha is required to ensure the feasibility of a public-transport system.
However
the Thorntree View design framework is not informed by innovative principles alone as it
also has to take into account many engineering challenges. As a result the block, street
and space pattern is determined by the requirement for 90 m intervals between sewer
manholes and the need for dwellings to be within 45 m of a refuse-collection route. Blocks
are, therefore, 90 m x 90 m, on average, in size and houses or buildings are positioned in
a compact pattern; close to the street edge to maximise resources and land use.
Many
positive attributes
Although
located on the urban edge, Thorntree View is relatively close to the Rosslyn
industrial area – home to BMW, Nissan, SAB Miller and Simba, among others. It has
easy access to the Mabopane and Platinum highways, and a railway station provides a link
to Mabopane and Pretoria. Thorntree View falls within the priority node for service
delivery identified by the City of Tshwane’s mayor and the Minister of Human
Settlements.
The surrounding area of Soshanguve boasts many different styles of architecture, including
igloo-type accommodation and informal settlements, as well as primary and secondary
schools built with Dutch donor funding, vibrant “spaza” shops and taverns.
The area is serviced by a large, newly-built and well-maintained clinic and boasts a
railway station with adjacent taxi rank and informal trading market although the latter is
not in use. Among the existing housing developments, there are more than 25 church sites
– a study of their architecture would make interesting reading!
Despite prolific dumping of rubbish and litter, the overriding sense is one of hope –
a landscape in transformation with construction projects of various scales scattered
throughout the place. Most houses are occupied and only two or three have suffered
vandalism. “We’re very lucky,” observes Theo Peters, town planner for
Safrich. “Over the past 10 years, there have, probably, been only about four
incidents of violent crime on site.”
Hierarchy
of movement networks introduced
Movement is distinctly organised into a hierarchy of primary, secondary and tertiary
(pedestrian and cycling) networks. Primary routes run along the perimeter of Thorntree
View and have wider road reserves. Secondary routes serve as collectors of traffic while
tertiary roads serve a semi-private purpose; providing access to groups of houses for
instance. Secondary roads double up as the refuse collection route; designed to
accommodate the turning circle of refuse trucks.
An
“activity spine” runs throughout Thorntree View with the purpose of providing
the area with a distinct identity. In turn, a secondary structure distributes activities
throughout the area.
‘Green’
framework of spaces established
Another shaping aspect of Thorntree View is its “green” framework that links
smaller semi-private green spaces to green paths and onto larger open spaces.
According
to Serfontein, green space is integrated into the development as a network of interrelated
spaces and facilities while a “blue” framework accommodates flood lines and
natural water courses.
The
aim is to protect and maintain vulnerable ecological systems within the Soshanguve area.
Importantly,
open spaces within Thorntree View are not treated as “spaces left over after planning
has been done” but as positive elements within the precinct.
The
Thorntree View Urban Design Framework, prepared by GWA Studio in 2009, elaborates on the
merits of the green framework: “the green structure allows for a more productive
landscape.
This
is introduced in the concept of urban agriculture. The growing of food creates employment
and builds skills and self sufficiency along with food security”.
‘Special
places’ generate activities
A
series of “special places” generates activities in Thorntree View:
·
bus
and taxi stops, including a market area for informal traders;
·
a
mixed-use zone on either side of activity spines within the node;
·
a
central square situated on pedestrian routes – to be used as a meeting and social
gathering place;
·
a
local open-space network, framed by trees, caters for leisure activity within the
precinct;
·
smaller,
multi-functional squares can be used as places to gather for worship or as “tot-lot
parks” for children; and
·
multi-functional
spaces act as play lots or parking areas within residential streets and could also
accommodate urban agriculture.
Community
assets
shared
The
Thorntree View plan incorporates schools as centres of lifelong learning.
Planning
and education standards dictate a total of 33 schools for a community of 30 000 houses
with a maximum walking distance of 800 m (a 10-minute walk) to each school.
However,
rather than the traditional school concept of an island-style building set in a sea of
sports fields, schools at Thorntree View are designed as community hubs. In order to
accommodate scarcity of resources and land, the shared-space principle allows schools to
double up as communal sports facilities and public places.
Similar
to the precedent set at Cosmo City in Johannesburg, schools in Thorntree View will share
the use and cost of administration buildings, assembly space, multi-purpose halls, as well
as sports and recreation facilities.
Design
principles
Following
a more natural approach, the designers of Thorntree View were led by humanist principles
and needs – “in this way, we are trying to achieve a balance of the built form
and nature,” says Bouwer Serfontein of GWA Studio. The principles included:
Create
places for people:
the
distinctive nature, variety and choice of Thorntree View afford opportunities for meeting
people and creating good living environments.
Enrich
the existing:
the
new development enriches the qualities of the existing context.
Make
connections:
careful
consideration is given to pedestrianisation, cycling and public transport in order for the
development to be accessible and integrated.
Work
with the landscape:
the
development aims to strike a balance between the natural and man-made environment, and
strives to utilise the site’s natural resources such as climate, land form, landscape
and ecology in order to minimise energy consumption while ensuring the availability of
quality amenities.
Mix
uses and forms:
by
meeting the demands of users, amenities and social groups, the different building forms,
uses, tenures and densities are woven together.
Manage
the investment:
understanding
the market considerations of developers, ensuring long-term commitment from the community
and the local authority, and defining appropriate delivery mechanisms
Community
life:
to
assist the establishment of a successful community, a full range of services and
facilities, including commercial, educational, health, spiritual and civic uses are being
developed. These are conveniently sited and connected to residential areas by safe routes.
Places and spaces, where a variety of activities can take place, form the backbone of the
development.
Higher
densities:
the
benefits of seeking higher density in overall terms are well-recognised. The aim is to
generate a critical mass of people able to support urban services. are all part of the
design process.
Many
housing typologies
Housing
at scale
As
the primary objective of the development is to provide housing at scale for the City of
Tshwane, while also meeting BNG goals, Thorntree View is geared at the three markets
identified by inclusionary housing policies. These are bonded units, “gap” units
and fully-subsidised RDP units. A small portion of rental stock will be built and either
retained by the municipality or sold to rental property companies and financial
institutions as part of their Financial Services Charter commitments. Two existing
informal settlements in Soshanguve will be allocated RDP housing within Thorntree View.
New typologies for housing, put forward by the designers and engineers, are being
considered by the city.
These
include two- to three-storey “walkups” as rental stock, gap and RDP houses and
semi-detached units, as well as row housing built around private courtyards.
In
this way, architectural design will help create a community spirit while encouraging
individuality.
Sustainability
achieved?
While
the Thorntree View design framework achieves a lot in terms of sustainable city
development, many challenges need to be overcome before success can be claimed.
Achievements
1
More services in less space
“By
increasing densities and redesigning the bulk services, more people will now receive a
high standard of service within the same amount of space,” says De Villiers Strauss
of Bigen Africa. This was achieved by pushing the boundaries in terms of service
standards. For example, road reserves were narrowed and sewer connections placed on the
street side of the units rather than at the rear.
2
Urban agriculture encouraged
Urban
agriculture is promoted through the provision of appropriate spaces, including a
peripheral hinterland for food production and keyhole gardens.
2
Sufficient public space
The
development boasts ample open space, acting as “green lungs”, areas of natural
conservation and spaces for recreation; thereby facilitating high-density living.
3
Public-transport systems made viable
Densities
ensure a critical mass of people for the viability of public transport such as the bus
rapid transit system.
4
Investment maximised
Housing
is being delivered at scale through increased density; ensuring maximum use of the
investment, the land, services, amenity and public-transportation systems.
5
Economic opportunities unlocked
Not
only does the design of Thorntree View focus on mixed use, a hierarchy of land use and
density is encouraged; thereby ensuring spaces for economic opportunity within retail,
residential and recreational places. The design boasts pockets of economic opportunity
scattered throughout – each with a catchment radius of no more than 800 m.
6
Variety achieved
Housing
has been designed to allow for different typologies. Positive aspect, optimal overhangs,
private façades that allow for individual addition and alteration all encourage identity
and individuality while ensuring a mix of visual form and use.
7
Local skills developed
As
much as 70% to 80% of the labour used for construction and the new retail stores is
sourced locally and involves a skills-transfer process.
CHALLENGES
1
Urban agriculture supported?
The
success of urban agriculture does not only depend on the allocation of space during the
planning stages but also on appropriate urban management and support of micro businesses.
Innovative infrastructural solutions may also be needed to provide affordable water for
irrigation. Recycling of greywater and harvesting of stormwater could make a difference in
this regard.
2
Urban fringe problematic
As
Thorntree View is located on the urban edge, a significant challenge involves settling
people at scale while also connecting them with the surrounding context and city. Apart
from the provision of outward connections, the design also focuses inward to connect
people with economic opportunities such as urban agriculture. However the distance from
job opportunities outside of Rosslyn results in high transportation costs and remains
problematic.
3
Absence of trees
Trees are glaringly absent in Soshanguve. Only a few have
survived the development process and constant search for fuel. Although Thorntree View
will boast a tree-lined green framework, tree planting must be addressed in the rest of
Soshanguve, especially as existing RDP developments within Soshanguve do not include
tarred roads and thus result in excessively muddy or dusty conditions.
The
condition of roads in the rainy season is problematic.
4
No refuse-collection system
According
to Peters, Thorntree View does not yet have a fully-operational refuse-removal system and
this has led to dumping of rubbish and building rubble in the streets, on vacant sites,
along the railway line and at the rear of houses. This urban-management and potential
health problem obviously requires urgent attention!
5
Poor communication within government
Another
concern is the perceived lack of communication between various departments within
provincial and local government.
Despite
the fact that the city’s housing department and Safrich are delivering housing at
scale, and the development has been in existence for a number of years, there is still no
buy-in or support from various departments to provide amenities such as schools, police
stations, additional clinics and community facilities.
The
two existing parks are in a sorry state of disrepair while, of the 33 sites allocated for
schools, only three have been developed in a decade. The two schools, built with donor
funding, are full to capacity with bus loads of children transported to schools in
surrounding areas. Apart from spaza shops, there are no retail facilities although Safrich
is constructing a new retail centre at the entrance to Soshanguve. Another regional retail
development is planned for Soshanguve South.
6
Gap remains in housing delivery
As
is the case with other inclusionary housing developments, gap housing is problematic at
Thorntree View. It is supposed to “fill the gap” between fully-subsidised and
bonded housing.
These
houses should accommodate people who earn more than the RDP bracket allows but not enough
to qualify for a bond from a bank. The idea is for a candidate to receive a portion of the
subsidy and to finance the remainder of the cost by means of a bond.
“In
reality, though, the administration of the subsidy portion is costing more than the
subsidy provided by the Department of Human Settlements or the municipality,” Peters
tells Urban Green File. The developer cannot administer or allocate the subsidy
portion but it needs to deliver housing. As a result, Safrich is developing slightly
cheaper units that it intends to sell fully-bonded with the gap market in mind.
7
Lack of urban management
A
recurring challenge in terms of urban development involves urban management or, rather,
the lack thereof. Soshanguve is no different. It experiences a lack of urban management in
its broadest and most detailed sense.
Once
Thorntree View is complete, it will be handed over to the City of Tshwane. Ongoing
maintenance and management of bulk infrastructure and open spaces will be required, as
well as services such as refuse removal, by-law enforcement, land-use control, and the
operation of taxi ranks and informal trading markets.
And,
as positive as green open spaces are in a sense, they need to be maintained vigilantly and
patrolled to prevent misuse, crime and the possibility of becoming repositories for
illegal dumping and squatting.
According
to Serfontein, the design will allow and encourage as much community management as
possible, which should go part of the way to making urban management sustainable within
the development.
8
Strategic vision lacking
It
seems as if the City of Tshwane lacks strategic thinking for Soshanguve. This is obvious
from the excessive time it takes for new applications involving higher densities and
different servicing standards to be processed.
Urban
Green File
finds that departments within the city council seem to communicate poorly with one
another. An example is the installation of amended bulk service layouts. Engineers have
ensured that the infrastructure system can service a higher density of development
efficiently yet the council seems determined not to budge from its regimental engineering
standards.
9
The devil is in the detail
The
urban-design framework for Thorntree View is, unquestionably, based on the correct
principles. However the existence of this framework is, in no way, a guarantee for
success.
Much
more design, implementation and management involvement will be needed. Specifically in the
case of green and blue spaces where the expertise of landscape architects would be
essential. The allocation of this space on a framework is not enough to ensure that the
spaces operate functionally and ecologically. Maintenance of these spaces is an even
greater challenge.
With
no visibly operational refuse-collection system in the area, the City of Tshwane has a lot
of work to do!
__________
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING & DESIGN
Iconic
landscape architect celebrated
The
lives and careers of three iconic South African landscape architects were celebrated at
the 2009 Institute for Landscape Architecture in South Africa (ILASA) Awards of Excellence
dinner.
“Together,
and individually, their life’s work has reached beyond the field of landscape
architecture,” ILASA stated. “They have changed South African society and the
environment for the better. They are Joane Pim, Professor Willem van Riet and Dr Chris
Mulder.”
In
this edition, Urban Green File features an edited extract of the audio-visual presentation
on Pim, written by the magazine’s editor, Gerald Garner. The December 2009 edition
will include an extract on Prof Willem van Riet while February 2010 will focus on the
third icon, Dr Chris Mulder.
South
Africa’s first landscape architect
It
is clear that, as South Africa’s first landscape architect, the work of Joane Pim
will continue to inspire many generations of future landscape architects. Her life’s
work included designs for the Oppenheimer’s Brenthurst gardens in Johannesburg,
landscaping of the mining town of Welkom for Anglo American and many designs for Harmony
Gold Mining Company, the municipality of Kimberley and the gardens of Mauritzfontein
– the Oppenheimer stud farm near Kimberley.
Between
1947 and 1974, Pim’s many landscape designs set the trend for landscape architecture
in South Africa. However she became well-known for her endeavours in establishing the
first university course in landscape architecture in South Africa.
Books
provide insight
For
those wanting to know more about this remarkable woman, two books provide delightful
insight – Beauty is necessary, written by Pim, and the biography on Pim by Esmé
Moseley Wiesmeyer – Joane Pim, South Africa’s landscape pioneer – published
as recently as 2007 by the Horticultural Society. A third source of knowledge on Pim’s
life is the Joane Pim Papers. Housed in the historical papers section of the Wits William
Cullen Library, this collection contains 35 boxes with 13 000 of her personal documents.
Youthful
inspiration
Born
in Johannesburg in 1904, perhaps Pim’s interest in landscape architecture was first
sparked in her youth spent at Timewell – a stately Herbert Baker designed house and
garden in Parktown; neighbouring the Oppenheimer’s Brenthurst estate. There she was
exposed to the best of architectural and landscape design as Baker’s vision for
Timewell was inspired by the style he had learned from the famous plantswoman, Getrude
Jekyll.
The
detail of this splendid design did not escape young Pim’s eyes.
It was,
therefore, not surprising that the grown-up Pim – after studying music and French in
Paris, and several years ofleisurely enjoyment in Johannesburg – became
interested in horticulture and the maintenance of gardens.
To
expand her knowledge of garden design, she worked in an architect’s office; learning
draughtsmanship. But it was a visit to England, to recuperate from illness, that had a
life-long impact on Pim. During her stay, she was introduced to Brenda Colvin, the
president and founder of the British Institute of Landscape Architects. Colvin welcomed
Pim as a pupil and, from that day on, she had no other thought and her only desire was to
qualify as a landscape architect.
Dedicated
community worker
As
was the case with everyone of Pim’s generation, her career ambitions were interrupted
by the Second World War. As a “Quaker” and philanthropist, Pim spent most of the
war involved in voluntary community work as the chairperson of the executive committee of
the Navy War Fund. She helped raise considerable funds – 800 000 pounds in 1944
alone!
In
spite of her considerable investment of time and effort in her subsequent career as a
landscape architect, Pim worked tirelessly for the community. She took a keen interest in
youth matters, particularly as the founder and chairperson of the South African
Association of Youth Clubs. In 38 years, she provided more than 125 000 child members of
these clubs – most of them black – with an opportunity to learn to create and
appreciate beautiful things.
She
also played a leading role in Johannesburg’s equestrian community – she was
involved in many events of the Rand Hunt Club and the Inanda Club.
Career
of exceptional commissions in South Africa
Pim
was only able to return to her chosen profession after the war in 1946 and was accepted by
the British Institute of Landscape Architects in 1947. What followed was a career of
exceptional commissions – by quantity and quality – even measured against today’s
standards.
Her
clients included some of the most prominent mining companies – most notably, the
Anglo American Corporation.
In
1952, Pim was appointed, on retainer, as a consultant at Anglo American.
She
was tasked with the landscape planning of an area comprising “virtual desert”,
including the layout and rehabilitation of 14 mines and mine villages, and, most notably,
the landscaping of the town of Welkom to accommodate a population of 30 000.
She
quickly developed a reputation and loyal following. In 1954, another mining house –
this time Harmony Gold Mining Company – signed her up as a consultant.
With her
services very much in demand, Pim started to clock up as much as 64 370 km a year –
travelling to clients and sites by air and road. In the 1950s, Pim established herself as
South Africa’s first and foremost landscape architect. In 1952, she qualified, by
correspondence, as a licentiate member of the British Institute of Landscape Architects.
Nurserywoman
in addition
Apart
from her professional consultancy, Pim also became a businesswoman by purchasing
Winckworth’s Silverbend Nursery in Halfway House in 1950. She renamed the nursery
Woodlands where she experimented with
unheard-of indigenous plants. Over the following decades, Woodlands, operated by its own
manager, but with Pim as investor, supplied many trees and plants all over the country,
including the numerous Anglo American projects.
Founder
of ILASA
As
Pim’s reputation grew, so did awareness among academics of her new approach to town
planning and architecture.
In
1958, she was invited, for the first time, to address a group of architectural students at
Wits.
In
the same year, she made contact with P Leutscher of Mondeor, Johannesburg, in connection
with the formation of a South African Institute of Landscape Architects. In this
endeavour, she was supported by her friend, Ann Sutton.
It
is clear that, once Pim had decided to pursue a specific objective, it would be achieved,
inevitably. By 1962, the constitution of the Institute of Landscape Architects of Southern
Africa was officially adopted.
The
office bearers were Joane Pim as president, P Leutscher as vice-president and Roelf Botha
as secretary-treasurer.
Degree
course established
An
institute alone, though, was not sufficient for Pim. She was adamant that South Africa
needed a full university degree course in landscape architecture.
In
1965, she wrote to the University of Pretoria with regard to creating a course.
She
also gave a lecture to Cape-based architects, town and regional planners, and professorial
staff at Stellenbosch University on the need for this university course. In 1968, she
addressed the Western Cape Farmer’s Day at Bien Donné Farm on “the farmer and
the landscape”, which became one of the chapters of her book, Beauty is Necessary.
In
1969, she wrote to her neighbour and good friend, Harry Oppenheimer, asking for Anglo
American to sponsor a full-time course in landscape architecture. The Anglo Chairman’s
Fund, subsequently, committed between R500/year to R1 000/year for four years; provided
that the necessary additional finance was forthcoming from other sources.
Once
again, Pim’s perseverance paid off. On May 27 1970, Sutton and Pim drove to the
University of Pretoria to attend a function where the rector, Prof CH Rautenbach,
announced that a four year degree in landscape architecture would begin the following
year. This followed a donation of R100 000 from Sentrakor – a member of the South
African Property Owners Association. Pim later learned that the chairman of Sentrakor, Mr
Bezuidenhout was in the audience during her talk in Stellenbosch in 1965.
In
1970, a letter from Prof EM Hamman, of the University of Pretoria, addressed to Pim, said:
“We must thank you sincerely for the interest you have shown in launching this new
venture”. It is recorded in the biography, Joane Pim – South Africa’s
Landscape Pioneer, that this was the culmination of her dreams and one of the highlights
of her life.
Observations
as relevant today
Pim’s
observations, in her presidential address to ILASA on June 20 1970, remain relevant today.
Apart from expressing excitement about the formation of the journal Plan in 1968 –
led by Roelf Botha – and the new degree course at the University or Pretoria, Pim
spoke about the state of the profession within South Africa.
“There
are countless examples in the Republic of South Africa where local features have been
ignored, and townships and even towns have been planned on the grid system, regardless, so
that any chance of special local character, or charm, is lost.” The cooperation of
the landscape architect is needed from the start in order to ensure that all existing
features and peculiarities in the landscape under scrutiny shall be put on paper...
outcrops of rock, indigenous vegetation, springs, dams, pans, streams or dry river beds,
trees of merit, contours and variations of level, she stated.
Pim
went on to speak about the need to educate the South African public on the role of
landscape architecture: “The man in the street puts up with far too much unnecessary
ugliness and untidiness – in fact, he sees it so often that he accepts these
conditions as inevitable, which is not so. He must be educated to protest and to insist on
higher standards.
We
must ensure that the natural beauty that we enjoy now is preserved for all time and that
man’s capacity to create beauty is utilised to the utmost, and that active steps are
taken to prohibit unnecessary ugliness”.
Apart
from her influence in teaching landscape architecture, as well as promoting the
profession, Pim’s career in private practice continued to grow from strength to
strength.
It is not
possible to feature her numerous projects in this article. While she will, probably,
always be best remembered for her work at Brenthurst and Welkom, two other projects
deserve mention as they illustrate her visionary approach to landscape architecture.
Ecological
awareness proven
In
1969, Pim was commissioned to design the gardens of the Kodak Centre in Maitland, Cape
Town.
Her
design of a water feature illustrated her awareness of greater ecological issues rather
than aesthetic concerns alone. In her biography on Pim, Wiesmeyer records:
“A
symbol of the dependence of the photographic industry on the use of water, this fountain
was erected in 1970, South Africa’s Water Year and the year when Kodak South Africa
moved to the Kodak Centre. Consciously expressing the responsibility of industrial users
to conserve water and maintain a clean effluent stream, the recirculating water runs down
a chute, representing a ribbon film, in which natural stone mosaic represents the grain of
photographic emulsions”.
Pim’s
insight into the need to promote biodiversity and the conservation of water was also
visible in her design of the Mauritzfontein garden on the Oppenheimer stud farm near
Kimberley. There she experimented widely with the use of indigenous plants and wrote:
“No plant, even when young, is watered more than once a fortnight and established
plants are lucky to be watered at all. Compost is applied freely several times a year.”
It
is not surprising that Harry Oppenheimer maintained that the garden at Mauritzfontein was
Pim’s masterpiece.
A
remarkable person and a true South African icon
A
year after her sudden, unexpected passing, the programme for the “Tribute to Joane
Pim”, staged at the Johannesburg Art Gallery on November 25 1975, stated:
“As
a landscape architect with an international reputation, Pim tried to create beauty; not
only for the wealthy and privileged but also for the ordinary people in the streets and
public places of towns such as Welkom, and for the mine workers in their compounds and
hospitals”.
On
September 5 2009, ILASA acknowledged Pim as a remarkable person; as a true icon – not
only in the landscape architectural profession but South Africa at large – and so
does Urban Green File.
__________
WASTE & POLLUTION MANAGEMENT
Wetland
solutions appropriate?
Artificial
wetlands are being suggested for the treatment of stormwater and greywater. But does
research support this notion?
As
many municipal systems are overloaded, greater attention is being paid to the treatment
and reuse of stormwater and greywater. The argument is being made that, if water run-off
could be managed on property development sites, the financial burden on municipalities, in
terms of extra infrastructure spend, would be reduced. In addition, the “green
building” movement is making the property sector increasingly aware of the need to
conserve and reuse water resources. At the same time, urban rivers and streams are
becoming more polluted. The poor water quality is often a result of stormwater and
greywater flowing into these water courses. However artificial wetlands appear to offer a
“natural solution” in the struggle to purify stormwater and greywater.
Impact
of urbanisation alleviated
“In
order to understand the function of a wetland, I think it is very important for people to
understand what wetlands do and, specifically, what needs to happen in a wetland for it to
treat water successfully,” remarks Dr Gwen Theron of Golder Associates. As
highly-productive ecosystems, wetlands provide resources of economic and social
importance. Indirect benefits offered by wetlands include flood control, nutrient cycling,
erosion control and storm protection, as well as recharging of groundwater .
According
to civil engineer, Chris Brooker of Chris Brooker & Associates (CBA), wetlands
alleviate the impact of urbanisation on stormwater systems in various ways. “They
provide storage that attenuates the flood peak and the storage takes place mostly above
ground as the soil in wetlands is generally saturated with very little additional storage
capacity.”
In
addition, water is released from wetland soils slowly; helping to maintain the downstream
base flow. Physical filtration takes place because of the drop in flow velocity, which
causes sediment to fall out of suspension. Wetland vegetation “sifts” the
flowing water; bringing very fine suspended particles, that would not settle out even
under quiescent conditions, into contact with surfaces where they are trapped.
Chemical
filtration takes place in wetlands as nutrients and pollutants are taken up by the
vegetation, Brooker adds. He, however, casts doubt on the long-term effect of this
mechanism. “The nutrients may be sequestered temporarily in the wetland during times
of low or moderate flow but they could be washed downstream in the form of debris or algae
during floods; resulting in a balanced nutrient flux that is changed from constant to
episodic by the presence of the wetland.”
Inappropriate
for greywater treatment
Apart
from stormwater, artificial wetlands are also being promoted as a solution for the
treatment of greywater emanating from buildings. However Allan Batchelor, a director of
Wetland Consulting Services, based at the CSIR in Pretoria, cautions:
“My
understanding is that greywater should not be treated any different to sewage because you
have absolutely no predictability of the quality of the water that is coming through the
system.
Impact
on natural wetlands considered
If
development is taking place near natural wetlands, a variety of ecological and water
systems must be considered – as is the case at Sammy Marks, east of Pretoria.
Unaffected
if responsibly managed
Flood-plain wetland
Characteristics: valley bottom areas with well-defined
stream channel, gently sloped and characterised by flood-plain features such as oxbow
depressions and natural levees, as well as alluvial transport and deposition of sediment
Current state: moderately to largely modified
Important function to retain: sediment trap that slows down water and cleans it
before it reaches the Pienaars River
Impact of development: higher peak flows, concentrated point discharges, risk of
erosion and pollution of the water that enters the wetland through surface flow
Implications: create cut-off meanders or backwater swamps at the contact between
side slope and the floodplain – these back swamp areas should, ideally, be linked via
a controlled-release system to the river in order to restore the capacity to attenuate and
diffuse flows associated with frequent return-event storms and to support biodiversity
Integrated
rehabilitation strategy required
Hill-slope
wetland
Characteristics: slopes
on hillsides characterised by colluvial movement of material; water inputs mainly from
subsurface flow; no direct surface water connection to a water course but also in the case
of the Tukulu soil form – wetting in a reverse direction through diabase layer
Current state: moderately to seriously modified
Important function to retain: reduces flood damage, prevents soil erosion, removes
pollutants
Impact of development: contributing water supplies are not readily definable and
depend on maintaining the flow patterns that support its presence; depending on the nature
of the development, some drainage/water management systems might be required outside of
the delineated wetlands and their buffer zones, and these wetlands could be deprived of
water supply
Implications:
depending
on the nature of the development, some drainage/water-management systems might be required
outside the delineated wetlands and their buffer zones – this could have an impact on
the hill-slope seepage wetlands by depriving them of water supply
Unaffected
if responsibly managed
Riparian
zone
Characteristics: valley-bottom
areas with well-defined stream channels but they lack characteristic flood-plain features;
they may be gently sloped or steeper sloped and characterised by riparian vegetation along
the marginal areas
Current state: largely modified
Important function to retain: riparian areas are corridors that form important
linkages across landscapes – they intercept and transform nutrients while also
stabilizing banks of the river
Impact of development: higher peak flows, risk of erosion and pollution of the
water that enters the Pienaars River; loss of habitat
Implications: the development should not encroach on the riparian zones; depending
on the positions of the stormwater-discharge points, the riparian area is more likely to
be affected by activities upstream of the site than the site itself; if the flows draining
off the site are significantly different to the predevelopment conditions, there is a
possibility that riparian zones immediately downstream of the site could be affected
Integrated
rehabilitation strategy required
Channelled
valley bottoms
Characteristics:
valley
bottom areas with well-defined stream channels but lacking characteristic flood-plain
features; may be gently sloped and characterised by net accumulation of alluvial deposits
or have steep slopes characterised by net soil loss; water inputs from main channel and
adjacent slopes
Current state: VBC 1 is in a largely natural state with the other three channelled
valley bottoms in a moderately modified state
Important function to retain: recharging of groundwater resources, reducing flood
damage and transporting sediment
Impact of development: higher peak flows, risk of erosion and pollution of water
that enters the wetland through surface flow, as well as changes in channel morphology
Implications: ensure that water derived from the proposed development is
transferred across the site to the river without causing erosion – this would be
impossible to achieve unless the layout is altered or that water is contained in a
protected channel; it would be unacceptable from a flow and water-quality management
perspective; wet detention ponds should be incorporated into the stormwater system to
provide better water quality, as well as a flow-attenuation function; ideally, the flow
velocity at the point of discharge of the channelled valley bottom systems should not
exceed the predevelopment velocities for a 1:2-year return-event storm; the wet detention
ponds should be designed with a bypass for storms that occur with a less frequent return
event
Risk
management required
It
is all about managing risk, Batchelor points out. “I think one of the problems of
treating greywater is nutrient imbalance.”
Recovered
greywater must be used for irrigation as quickly as possible, he adds. “It certainly
shouldn’t be stored for longer than 24 hours otherwise it starts to ferment. If you
are going to store it for longer than 24 hours, you need to oxidise the organics and the
only way to do that is to add air to the water.”
This
can be done in a number of ways, says Batchelor. “You can use aeration equipment or
an intermittent sand filter.
In
fact, you can use all sorts of elements in order to get air into the system and to enable
microbial processes to degrade the organics.”
An
important consideration regarding biological treatment is the need for nutrient balance.
Yet, in the case of greywater, there is no guarantee that nutrients are present. “The
composition of greywater is constantly changing; making it very difficult to treat,”
claims Batchelor. “So the answer is to get rid of it as quickly as possible and
irrigation is a practical application.”
There
is, of course, also a risk of possibly affecting soils if sodium replaced the calcium and
magnesium in the soil.
This,
in turn, could affect the permeability of the soil. The treatment of greywater came up in
a convention not so long ago, Batchelor tells Urban Green File. “Irrigating in
semi-arid countries was not encouraged despite the potential advantages of saving water.
This is because of the uncertainty of long-term salinisation.”
Batchelor
contends that artificial wetlands are counter-indicative for greywater treatment because
they are, typically, anaerobic and this could result in odours.
“However
they could be configured as aerobic systems, such as an intermittently loaded vertical
down-flow system, in order to behave in a similar way as an intermittently loaded sand
filter. This would ensure that air is drawn into the filter between pulses of water. The
result would be the maintenance of aerobic conditions within the wetland.”
Reed
planting compromises sand filtration
Intermittently-loaded,
vertical-flow wetlands behave in much the same way as intermittent sand filters except
they are planted with reeds and this may, in the long term, compromise the functioning of
the system. “By including reeds, one would lose control of the porosity of the
medium. The roots would begin to take up space and the hydraulic properties would change;
resulting in a much more complex system to manage even though it would be more pleasing
aesthetically.”
Batchelor
is adamant that, if an artificial wetland is used for the treatment of greywater,
intermittent sand filtration is the preferred option but cites horizontal flow and
vertical down-flow systems or ponds as alternatives. However he warns that, whatever
process is used, it should be aerobic to prevent odour generation.
Ideal
for stormwater treatment
“Stormwater
is a totally different story, though and, typically, if you take parking lots, for
instance, where the run-off might contain hydrocarbons, heavy metals and sediments,
wetlands work well,” says Batchelor. “But, again, the biggest issue is
maintaining biomass for the degradation of hydrocarbons. The heavy metals and sediments
are typically removed through deposition and physical filtration. However maintaining
sufficient active biomass is a challenge in areas subjected to seasonal rainfall.”
Because stormwater is typically associated with seasonal rain, these systems tend to dry
out and, by the time you get your first storms, there is no water in the wetlands and
active biomass levels are low.
However
natural and artificial wetlands can be used successfully for the treatment of stormwater,
maintains Batchelor.
“In
my opinion, they should, definitely, be included.” Successful examples of the use of
natural wetlands for stormwater management include the pans on the East Rand. Stormwater
generated in the urban environment is directed into pans that provide extended detention
and, in essence, function as maturation ponds, which facilitate the trapping and
transformation of nutrients and other pollutants.
A
feasible solution
Dr
Theron is confident that artificial wetland systems could be designed to function at an
optimal level. “I am very much for ensuring that our systems perform better than they
were actually designed to do,” she says. “If one looks at Limpopo, for instance,
there is not enough water to dilute the pollutants in that system any more. We, therefore,
simply cannot continue piping stormwater into rivers and ‘shipping’ it down to
the ocean. We absolutely need to retain as much stormwater or greywater on site. We need
to design systems that allow water to infiltrate the soil. We need to plant vegetation and
make the wetlands three times the required size so that they actually contribute to the
ecological system.” Simply preserving natural wetlands is not going to crack it for
Theron. It is perceived that wetlands are wonderful “kidneys” in the landscape,
Batchelor adds. “But this is not entirely true; the quality of the water leaving the
wetland is largely determined by the quality of the water entering the wetland, the
retention time and the processes that the water is subjected to while passing through the
wetland.”
Appropriate
for swimming pools
It
would appear that there are not too many examples in South Africa of fully-functioning
artificial wetlands purifying stormwater and greywater. However there are excellent
examples of artificial wetlands making a difference in certain instances.
An
entrepreneur in this field is Anthony Philbrick, an architect who has launched
wetlandPOOLS. Philbrick has been instrumental in converting and designing new swimming
pools around this concept and he has received interest from many different sectors –
for example, golf courses.
Health
and engineering concerns overcome
“There
has been resistance to wetlands because of concerns about space, maintenance, uncertainty
of design parameters, safety, nuisance, insects, smells and technical mindset,” says
Brooker.
However
Theron believes that the resistance was based on engineering solutions that were driven to
get the water out of our environment as soon as possible. “Stormwater was seen as a
threat to public health and safety in the past. However, today, engineers are more than
willing to design stormwater-management systems as long as they are certain of the design
parameters.”
Constructed
wetlands are designed, built and managed to emulate the natural functions of wetlands, and
they have an added benefit over other means of treating wastewater because they require
little energy, chemical input or maintenance. For Brooker, the issue all revolves around
space and the lack of it.
He
says this will be a major constraint in the future. “There are sufficient,
well-documented and successful implementations worldwide to demonstrate the effectiveness
of constructed wetlands for water-quality management,” he points out.
Catchment
management essential
Batchelor
sums up the advantages of artificial wetlands: “The beauty of wetlands in a natural
environment is that they collect and filter rainwater. However wetlands depend on a
healthy catchment area. The minute you change land use, you lose one of the main natural
water-filtering processes known to man. In designing a wetland, it is critical to match
the process with the right environment.
Make
sure it doesn’t happen by accident but by design.”
__________
WASTE
& POLLUTION MANAGEMENT BRIEFS
Bank
introduces recycling at source
Waste
reduction at source, when it involves corporate business, remains the most effective way
for a city to reduce its volume of waste sent to landfill. In Johannesburg, thousands of
businesses contribute to the city’s waste load by sending recyclables such as paper,
cardboard, plastic and beverage cans to the city’s landfills. While the efforts of
one corporate alone may not make a sizable dent in the city’s waste load, a concerted
effort by business could make a significant difference.
At
the same time, businesses could achieve significant savings by reducing, for example,
consumption of paper. A company that is taking a lead in this regard is Nedbank. Between
January and July 2009, Nedbank claims that its retail division saved as much as
R1,3-million through its paper reduction programme. This is according to Nina Wellsted,
Nedbank Retail sustainability manager, who ascribes the achievement to educating staff
about paper use. This involves changing mindsets in terms of what is really necessary to
print and the format used for reports – using less paper by printing on both sides,
for instance. Other initiatives involve the use of in-house DVDs, communicating
electronically with staff members, hosting an informative “green” intranet site,
encouraging paper “champions” and including paper-reduction targets as part of
the management scorecards.
A
plan is also afoot to switch from printing client statements on paper to electronic
format. The bank’s recycling and landfill programme is overseen by Fabio Francis,
facilities manager in Group Property Services. He has rolled out as many as 683 waste and
recycling bins across the bank’s 13 campus sites, which cover more than 320 000 m²
of office space.
The
recycling-at-source system involves a four-bin set-up in every pause area for mixed paper
waste, glass and tin, plastic and polystyrene and, lastly, biodegradable “wet waste”.
The latter is sent to landfill as it is deemed unfit for recycling. In addition, staff
members are encouraged to bring old light bulbs to the office where they can be discarded
properly while the bank has also introduced a printer cartridge- and battery-recycling
project. “From the beginning of 2009, we started measuring our landfill waste in
kilograms rather than cubic metres to make it more meaningful to our staff,” Francis
tells Urban Green File. “To reduce our landfill waste, we are looking into
better recycling and reuse processes.
For
example, we are looking at a partnership with a recycling company that recycles paper hand
towels.” Nedbank has entered into partnerships with Remade, Nampak and Waste Paper
Recovery for the implementation of its recycling initiative.
Impressive
statistics
·
Waste-reduction
statistics for the 13 head-office and regional buildings, managed by Nedbank Group
Property Services, are impressive:
·
waste
sent to landfill amounted to 7 930 m³
in 2007 – reduced to 6 907 m³
in 2008;
·
plastic
recycled increased from 1,9 t in 2007 to 12,7 t in 2008;
·
glass
bottles recycled decreased from 5,9 t in 2007 to 4,6 t in 2008;
·
tins
recycled increased from 1,9 t in 2007 to 7 t in 2008;
·
cardboard
recycled increased from 49,5 t in 2007 to 64,1 t in 2008; and
·
paper
recycled decreased from 337 t in 2007 to 310 t in 2008 (indicating a reduction in the
amount of paper consumed in the first place).
Glass
crushed
Glass
recycling is a growing application for Pilot Crushtec’s Twister vertical shaft impact
(VSI) crushers, the South African-based equipment manufacturer tells Urban Green File.
The
VSIs are used extensively for crushing glass in countries such as Australia, New Zealand
and the UK.
“Our
Twister VSI crushers are proving to be an ideal solution for recycling glass bottles,
glass factory waste and cullet material,” remarks Sandro Scherf, CEO of Pilot
Crushtec.
In
New Zealand, Europe and the USA, recycled glass is a valued resource that is used for
remanufacturing glass, for mulching and decoration in the landscaping industry, for filter
media in water-purification processes, for primary aggregates in construction, for
abrasive blasting, and even for beach-sand replenishment.
More
glass recycled
Since
2006, recycling of waste glass in South Africa has increased from 148 000 tpa to more than
204 000 tpa.
However
more than 550 000 tpa of waste glass still finds its way onto landfill sites throughout
the country. The Glass Recycling Company has, therefore, installed more than 700 new,
improved glass “banks” across South Africa.
River
pollution investigated
Several
incidents of sudden fish and crocodile deaths have occurred in the Olifants River
catchment, including the Loskop Dam, and further downstream in the Kruger National Park. A
team of scientists and government officials hope to identify the so-called pollution hot
spots and come up with sound science-based solutions for remedial action.
The
team of more than 35 scientists and government officials is being sourced from the CSIR,
the University of Pretoria, Stellenbosch University, the Department of Water Affairs, the
Mpumalanga Tourism & Parks Agency and the Olifants River Forum.
“This
is the first time in South Africa that such a big team is looking at the ecological health
of the entire ecosystem in a catchment and how it impacts on water quality,” states
Dr Paul Oberholster, limnologist at the CSIR and project leader. “Water in this
catchment is subjected to various sources of pollution, including acid-mine drainage,
pesticides, agricultural fertilisers, industrial waste, domestic sewage and atmospheric
depositions. The problems facing Loskop Dam and the Olifants River are extremely complex,
and can only be solved with a holistic and scientifically sound approach. We do not want
to start the project by pointing fingers; we want to work with all the stakeholders to
come up with solutions. If we can help Loskop Dam, then we can do the same for other
catchments in South Africa.”
__________
INSPIRATION
Beyond
Imagination
Johannesburg’s
latest playgrounds are beyond the imagination of any child!
Four
playgrounds that have been installed in prominent Johannesburg parks recently – at
Zoo Lake,
Thokoza
Park, Joubert Park and Delta Park – are simply inspirational. Quality equipment has
been placed on protective surfaces for a memorable playground experience.
Sponsored
by Simba with the design and construction arranged by WideOpen Platform, these playgrounds
bring a new level of sophistication to Johannesburg’s parks. While maintenance and
upkeep are always cause for concern, particularly with regard to expensive playground
equipment, so far so good as sponsored security guards patrol the area.
Everyone
involved in this initiative deserves an award for inspiration. Here’s to the
enthusiasm of Johannesburg City Parks spreading across the entire city!
__________
INSULT
Depressing
highways
Why
so few trees along our highways? Do we really enjoy driving through these urban wastelands
that cost billions to build and maintain?
Although
Johannesburg is an amazingly green city, boasting many trees, spectacular gardens and
parks, many visitors are oblivious to this fact because the city’s highways – as
in the rest of Gauteng and the country as a whole – mostly stretch through urban
wasteland.
While
billions are spent on the much-needed upgrading of Gauteng’s freeway network, the
experience for the motorist remains depressing. The only reprieve is provided by numerous
billboards but these advertisements are often so unsightly that they only deepen the
overwhelming feeling of despair.
Why
are South Africa’s main road arterials in this state? In contrast, many other
countries make a concerted effort to improve their highway environments. They argue that
extensive tree planting on the wide road reserves not only improves aesthetics but also
plays a key role in offsetting the pollution emanating from vehicles.
Imagine
how different Gauteng’s highways would be if indigenous trees were planted on a
massive scale and carefully positioned to frame views. Imagine if wetlands were
established to treat polluted stormwater flowing from the roads.
The
issue is complex as many different authorities are involved, including the South African
National
Roads Agency Limited, as well as provincial and municipal road departments. But who is
going to take the lead and show the way towards responsible and ecologically sound road
development and management?
__________
VIEWPOINT
Carbon
neutrality is advantageous
Becoming
carbon-neutral is a major competitive advantage.
South
Africa is widely expected to commit to a carbon emission-reduction road map at a global
meeting of nations in Copenhagen in December 2009. This will mean the establishment of
legislation that will have an impact on the corporate community and affect all spheres of
the economy. The only uncertainty that still remains is the shape it will take.
Graham
Terry, head of the office of the executive president at the South African Institute of
Chartered Accountants and author of the book Green – why corporate leaders need to
embrace sustainability to ensure future profitability, agrees. “If ever there was a
time for chartered accountants and the business community to investigate the risks and
opportunities that carbon reduction holds, it is now.”
Terry
says that sustainability reporting is just one of the tools that business can use to
monitor and evaluate sustainability risks and to highlight the opportunities. “The
reporting process in many companies is, unfortunately, largely a reputation-enhancement
exercise, known as ‘greenwash’, and it is often not integrated as a core part of
the company’s performance monitoring.”
According
to Donald Gibson, director of the Transnet Programme in Sustainable Development at the
University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science, it is not all doom and
gloom. Gibson believes that sustainability awareness within South African business,
although it is not where it should be yet, is on the increase.
“It’s
difficult to tar all companies with the same brush. There are, certainly, pockets of
excellence and areas where sustainability is not on the agenda.
While
our companies have a long way to go, awareness in the business sector of sustainability
issues, like climate change, is increasing rapidly.”
Gibson
says that the South African government appears to be taking climate change seriously, and
the dialogue around planning for a carbon-constrained economy, including business, is
increasing. “The problem for business is that South Africa’s exact commitments
are unclear after Copenhagen.
Many
companies are, therefore, lying low and observing what transpires. There are definitely
legitimate risks in South African business – financial, regulatory, physical and risk
to reputations. It appears as if South Africa is not going to be able to avoid mandatory
emission-reduction targets in the short to medium term, say after 2020, and those
businesses that want to be competitive and, indeed, in business then will need to start
adapting their business models for the carbon-constrained world sooner rather than later
or else they will be outperformed by the competition.”
Gibson
says that the Copenhagen negotiations are largely about national competitiveness in an
increasingly “flat” world and, if South Africa wants to sell products and
services globally, being carbon-neutral or positive along the full value chain will become
a prerequisite.
“Some
South African companies are already struggling to expand globally due to their large
carbon footprints.”
The
viewpoints expounded by Gibson and Terry clearly illustrate the importance of
understanding and implementing sustainability reporting – not only as a risk-reducing
business tool but also as a way of gaining competitive advantage.
“Reporting
should be integral to the annual reporting of companies and not an exercise relegated to
the communications or marketing department of an organisation,” Gibson points out.
He
says that reports should, meaningfully, balance the areas of poor performance with the
good, risks with opportunities and include a meaningful stakeholder-engagement process.
“This
will help companies understand their risks and opportunities better. We should not,
however, stare ourselves blind against the concept of ‘risk’ as it creates
mental fear.
We,
therefore, perceive issues like climate change negatively.
The
risks must be acknowledged.
We
do need to mitigate our impact, and we have a tough challenge ahead to adapt to the
changes, but we should also be focusing on the positive opportunities for competitive
advantage through cost reduction, innovation, and development of new products and
services, efficiency, waste and pollution minimisation, reputation enhancement and many
others.”
|
