Can South Africa’s Construction Industry Go Green?

South Africa’s construction industry needs to intensify its pursuit of environmental sustainability. In the commercial sector, many green initiatives are being driven by the banks and the green lobby, which focus on areas such as carbon credits and tax rebates, particularly around the implementation of solar power.

For residential developers, the variety of housing types makes it difficult for standardised environmental adherence, although it becomes easier to do so in residential precincts. Here, the focus tends to be on solar energy, recycled water, designing the houses for energy efficiency and even sourcing the correct types of plants for the landscaping and open spaces – all of which help drive sustainability. This approach is not inexpensive, but some new homebuyers can afford such initiatives.

At the lower end of the spectrum – affordable and subsidised housing – it can be challenging to implement these more costly measures as most residents are likely to have greater priorities than protecting the environment.

Nonetheless, the construction industry can apply some green building principles to this market sector, too.

For example, by adapting the design and orientation of the house and choosing the most effective building, roofing and insulation materials, it becomes possible to optimise a building’s thermal properties and improve its overall sustainability.

Ultimately, with South Africa’s current economic outlook, we, as the industry, need to agree on achievable environmentally friendly methodologies and decide what we can afford to do feasibly.

And, vitally, we need to educate and encourage consumers on the value of going green within the parameters of what we can offer.