Local Green Building Conference to Share in International Best Practice Secrets
The Green Building Conference and Exhibition returns to Sandton Convention Centre, Gauteng, on 13 and 14 of July 2011, and will provide a powerful mix of international and local content for built-environment professionals and stakeholders.
Delegates to this year's Green Building Conference can look forward to insights and lessons learnt during the development and implementation of Saudi Arabia's award winning King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). KAUST is a large scale sustainable development project that has been integrated into the design of the entire community; the self-contained campus is operated in such a way as to preserve the environment and conserve resources. The total area spans more than 36 million m2 (nearly 9,000 acres). The University's rooftop solar power plant features 4,134 m2 (one acre) of solar thermal panels for hot water production and 16,567 m2 (four acres) of photovoltaic arrays which produce around 4 megawatts of energy annually. The KAUST campus and community also utilizes alternative transportation methods to reduce the community's carbon footprint by featuring 100 electric vehicles and charging stations, a campus-wide bus system, and a bicycle sharing program.
Every year, green building becomes more entrenched in conventional architecture, engineering and design, and this conference aims to offer insights into practical solutions for professionals and decision-makers by showcasing real case studies, discussing return on investment projects, and using examples that are applicable in the local context.
Lloyd Macfarlane, Chief Executive Officer at Alive2Green, says "We are delighted to have secured world renowned designers and experts who will accompany South Africa's own leaders in sustainable construction in a new extended plenary format. Delegates will have the opportunity to attend 1 of 3 real-time green building design charrettes on day 2 - a collaborative session in which a group of design professionals and experts practically tackle the mechanics of a green building."
Two of the leading international speakers who are set to address the conference, are Colin Rohlfing, Sustainable Design Director for projects within the Northern Central Region of HOK, and Megan Holder, Associate and Landscape Designer with HOK. Both Rohlfing and Holder have been extensively involved in the green building development of KAUST.
For full details of the conference, including a proposed programme of events, please visit <www.greenbuilding.co.za> www.greenbuilding.co.za or for any enquiries call 021 447 4733 / email < info@greenbuilding.co.za > info@greenbuilding.co.za .
New Partnership to address urgent need for safe water
The Responsible Packaging Management Association of Southern Africa (RPMASA) together with eThekwini Health have launched The Happy Drum Project providing thousands of community members access to clean containers for drinking water within the Metro and KwaZulu Natal region.
The Happy Drum project was launched to support the eThekwini Safe Drum Policy which the Department of Health will be launching soon. The purpose of the project is to stop the sale of used chemical and industrial drums and containers which pose serious health and pollution risks to the public, and health of the city. According to the new policy, companies and persons found guilty of supplying used drums and containers to traders and the public will be prosecuted.
According to Stats SA only 42% of the 13.8 million households in SA have access to running water in their homes and only 35% of the 2.6 million households in KwaZulu Natal. Thousands of people within the Mhlatuze, Msunduze and eThekwini area now have access to clean drinking water; a necessity taken for granted by most South Africans.
The Happy Drum project was launched to replace old drums with new affordable pink drums specifically for water collection and storage. Many used chemical and industrial drums and containers are sold daily by informal traders throughout the country to the urban and rural poor communities which are then used for collecting and storing water for drinking and domestic purposes; but this poses many health risks.
The Happy Drums project is aimed at educating the public and industry about the dangers of used chemical and contaminated drums for domestic purposes and removing them from the public domain.
"Death is roaming in the rural parts of the world and nobody cares," says Liz Anderson, President of the RPMASA. "Surviving in the villages is a tough job. There is no access to running water and sufficient transportation.
We'll reach more than 20 000 households in the first phase of the project and we hope to expand quickly next year to reach thousands more. We are hoping that the Department of Health will progress plans to roll out this project on a national basis once the first phase is complete."
Anderson continued, "Our common vision is improving the lives of the poor informal urban and rural communities within our developing country. The project requires a mindset change and support from industry. When you look at a cheap used drum, some people would say the (chemical) one from the traders is cheaper than the pink drum. But when you factor in what you're receiving in terms of health and safety the pink virgin drum is cheaper and safer to use and might actually be a life-saving decision. There has been very limited support and we urge organisations nationwide to demonstrate their social & environmental responsibility and support the Happy Drum initiative."
For more information about the RPMASA and the Happy Drum Project contact their offices on (032) 942 8256 or visit their website www.rpmasa.org.za
Notes to Editors
The RPMASA is part of a network of organizations' around the world that follow the entire lifecycle of Industrial packaging. RPMASA addresses economic, legal and regulatory concerns associated with drum and container use and uplifting the standard of drum reconditioning through global best practice, having a seat on the UN Committees of Experts for Transport of dangerous goods and the GHS, National Standards Committees and the Waste Act Steering committee.
Water Conservation - the Bigger Picture
It may be hard to believe that the looming water crisis that was debated in Parliament in 2008 remains an issue. Engineering Council of SA vice-president Thoko Majozi warns: "the maximum consumption that South Africa's water resources can sustain will be reached in about five years".
The reality of the situation is that there is simply not enough water supply to meet demand. It is clear that there needs to be sustainability planning which satisfies future demand by using current technology. The world's supply of freshwater is threatened by pollution and a growing demand by industrial, agricultural and individual consumption.
These facts should set off alarm bells for companies or individuals alike to implement water management strategies. We have seen several heavy industry users putting in place water recycling facilities and wastewater treatment plants. Classic examples of well recognised industry users taking a stand are Avis and South African Breweries.
Avis have implemented intensive water recycling plants at all three of their main car wash facilities in Cape Town, Durban and Isando. According to Avis Chief Executive, Wayne Duvenage, Avis car-wash facilities now save in excess of 100-million litres of water a year through a combination of modifying their machines (25% saving) and recycling (75% saving). In addition, underground reservoirs were also installed at these facilities to harvest rainwater, which essentially become "water neutral" facilities during the wet rain periods.
South African Breweries has joined the quest to conserve water and two of the SAB breweries are classified as quantitatively water neutral. SAB is a founding partner of the WWF's Water Neutral Scheme which encourages local entities to voluntarily monitor and reduce their operational water usage.
SAB has successfully started "Project Eden" which involves wastewater treatment.
It is comforting to see that these heavy industry users of water are playing their part in the conservation of our precious resource. Wayne Duvenage will be presenting a case study on "Water conservation at Avis" at the Sustainable Water Resource Conference and exhibition 2011. The Conference will take place at Emperors Palace on 16 - 17 August 2011. This event, convened by Alive2green, provides a platform for education and discussion regarding water conservation along with other pressing issues and latest technologies. The Conference and Exhibition will bring together delegates, speakers and exhibitors that recognise the need to incorporate water management strategies and who have identified the economic benefits of doing so. Other issues to be covered include, but are not limited to, Dams and the water crisis, Energy efficiency in water treatment, Reducing operating and maintenance costs of Municipal and Industrial wastewater treatment plants and health impacts of water in South Africa.
The importance of water conservation cannot be underestimated. We cannot afford to wait for someone else to take control. We all need to play our part to ensure that this finite resource is preserved.
For more information on the Sustainable Water Resource Conference and exhibition 2011, please contact Cara-Dee Carlstein on 021 447 4733 / ccarlstein@alive2green.com or visit www.waterresource.co.za
RPMASA and NCPC - delivering environmental best practice through training and projects
Minimization of waste is at the top of the waste hierarchy and waste to landfill being the main focus of where we don't want it to end up.
Reducing the amount of waste generated from companies in the supply chain is a core piece of the puzzle to finding a solution. The National Cleaner Production Centre -South Africa (NCPC-SA) and the Responsible Packaging Management Association of Southern Africa (RPMASA) have joined forces to offer companies within the Chemical (including plastics, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and liquid fuels), Metals Fabrication as well as Capital & Transport Equipment Sectors to participate in their Cleaner Production Programme.
The Cleaner Production Programme is aimed to help enhance the competitiveness and production capacities especially for Small, Micro and Medium sized Enterprises (SMMEs) within the South African industry. RPMASA members will be able to take advantage of this programme through regional workshops, training sessions, as well as on site Cleaner Production (CP) assessments. Liz Anderson, President of the RPMASA indicated, "Each member organisation will receive recommendations and assistance for improvements after these site visits, and will be provided with tools and opportunities for energy and resource saving. The NCPC-SA Cleaner Production programme has been designed to meet the challenge of the National Government's commitment for the South African Industry to improve environmental performance such as reducing energy use by 32% by 2020."
Anderson continued, "Our aim is for companies to comply fully with packaging and environmental regulations, and are delighted to forge relationships with organisations such as the NCPC-SA to provide and arm our members with best practice principles to implement in their respective organisations"
For more information about how to become a member of the RPMASA and to take advantage of opportunities such as the Cleaner Production Programme contact their offices on (032) 942 8256 or visit their website <www.rpmasa.org.za> www.rpmasa.org.za
Reputation Matters wins Bronze PRISM Award
Reputation Matters are delighted at winning the Bronze PRISM award for the Excellence in Public Relations and Communication Management for the Collect-a-Can Campaign at this year’s Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA)’s Awards. The awards ceremony was hosted in Cape Town on 24 March 2011.
We are very proud of this achievement.
Ecosystems vs. Economics: Reconciling Ecological and Financial Value in the Green Building Sphere
The conflict persists: the need to preserve ecological systems versus the need to use land for development and building. The reason for this conflict more often than not can be attributed to economic restraints. How do you reconcile ecological value with financial value?
This has proved a difficult task, particularly when it comes to the practical application of this process. In South Africa in particular, the continued discounting of the importance of ecosystems is the direct result of financial concerns. The conventional and less costly approaches to land use planning and site development - as opposed to approaches which account for the value ecological systems - are largely still the dominant methods employed. The valuation of ecosystems and taking environmental impact into account is all too often brushed over, albeit an imperative step in the land use planning process.
A clearer understanding of ecological value and increased awareness on this topic will drive decisions and actions in appropriate land use planning and site development. This debate will be explored in greater detail by Eamonn O'Rourke at the Green Building Conference and Exhibition 2011, now in its 5th year. There is a definite shift within the professional field requiring a need for more practical and sustainable solutions.
These needs are being addressed by the Green Building Conference and Exhibition, which aims to focus on pertinent issues within the Green Building industry.
Knowledge and content will be presented by means of international and local experts, exhibitors and design charettes, which will progress from theory and general understanding to practical implementation. The Green Building Conference and Exhibition will take place on the 13th and 14th July at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg and expects approximately 700 delegates and over 100 exhibitors.
The importance of a detailed consideration of the environment cannot be underestimated. Often this goes by unnoticed, as all but a few are unaware of the impact that failing to account for the value of ecosystems can have on, not only the environment, but on the life of the buildings themselves.
For more information on the Green Building Conference and Exhibition visit www.greenbuilding.co.za or e-mail: <info@greenbuilding.co.za%20 /> info@greenbuilding.co.za / Tel: 021 447 4733
Green Buildings are Healthier, Happier Places
The Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) wants to encourage South Africans to pay more attention to ‘green buildings’, or erecting structures with both the environment, and the occupants of the building in mind.
Our urban areas are growing at a steady pace and our skylines ever-changing. The IWMSA is calling for more mindfulness in the building arena. Whether for office accommodation, sports arenas, shopping malls, or dwellings, the principles of building green can be applied to any built environment. Popular opinion is that not only does the environment benefit from such carefully considered construction, but that people are generally happier and more contented working or living in such buildings. Dr Suzan Oelofse, IWMSA Central Branch Chairman adds, “The environmental benefits derived from green buildings can further be enhanced by including waste minimisation and recycling principles in this type of environment.”
What defines a green building? It is primarily an energy and resource efficient construction which is also environmentally responsible in terms of its design, construction and subsequent day-to-day operations.
As one may imagine, there are many facets to be taken into account: building materials and other products should, wherever possible, be made from recycled materials and manufactured from renewable resources. The use of products with ‘low embodied’ energy is called for, meaning products in which less energy is consumed during the manufacturing process. Water conservation constitutes a vital element in the whole plan, and grey water systems, as well as low flow taps should be installations of choice. Then there is the use of non-toxic finishing materials (such as paint) and applying solar technology for heating. Not least, a building should be orientated correctly in order to reduce the heat load and to optimise shade and screening thereby enabling the use of more energy efficient lighting systems and air conditioning.
These protocols, amongst a myriad other considerations, if used effectively, can substantially minimise environmental impact.
Another benefit of great significance is that green buildings are usually specifically designed to provide healthier and more productive environments for those who live and work in them, which in turn, may lead to a happier, healthier population.
Oelofse, continued “While there is not yet any particular legislation in place in South Africa in respect of green building requirements, as responsible custodians of the earth, we must become increasingly aware of our use of its resources.” Oelofse added, “The IWMSA is supportive of green building initiatives, and we believe that in the foreseeable future there will be specific requirements regarding the built environment, especially in view of other recent legislation, such as the New Waste Act. We also have increasing electricity costs to be implemented shortly, for example, and it makes sound economic and environmental sense to use renewable resources and to become as energy efficient as possible.”
As IWMSA members, both organisations and individuals have access to a wealth of information and resources, not only in the management of waste but in a number of related fields. The IWMSA provides education and training for its members, you can network and exchange information with like-minded individuals, and even have your voice heard in the formulation of legislation. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it The IWMSA also provides their members with the latest industry news.
The IWMSA supports professional waste management practices and best environmental practices and are pleased about conferences such as the upcoming Green Building Conference and Exhibition that will be taking place in Sandton from 13 – 14 July 2011, where a powerful mix of international and local content for built-environment professionals and stakeholders are anticipated.
The IWMSA is a professional, multi-disciplinary organisation with voluntary membership established to promote the science and practice of waste management and is a non-profit organisation. For more information contact the IWMSA visit: www.iwmsa.co.za or call Tel: 011 675 3462
For more information on the Green Building Conference and Exhibition visit www.greenbuilding.co.za or e-mail: info@greenbuilding.co.za / Tel: 021 447 4733
By design, rather than by default, recycled tyres can now be used to build houses
With recycling increasingly top of mind, especially since the new Waste Act came into play, people are becoming much more conscious of their waste. More questions are being raised as to how to recycle specific items and to be environmentally attuned, for example, how should tyres be recycled?
Non-profit organisation, The South African Tyre Recycling Process Company (SATRP Company), was established in 2002 specifically with the vision in mind as to how to solve the waste (scrap) tyre problem in South Africa and support a sustainable waste tyre producer industry .
According to Dr Etienne Human, CEO of SATRP Company, “Four major pollution problems can be virtually eliminated with the proper disposal of tyres.” He explains, “Waste tyres are burned to recover the steel. Water is used to try to extinguish burning tyres, which is both a waste of water and costly. Burning tyres can cause cancer and asphyxiation and massive air pollution and is even a hazard to aircraft landing at major airports. Rain water forms pools of stagnant water within the tyres that attract mosquitoes which may then breed and add to the spread of malaria.” Human concludes “Large stockpiles of burning tyres are a serious fire hazard and, as well as being unsightly, can pose a threat to property.” Human warns that something else to take into consideration, “often waste tyres, being defective, are sold as part worn tyres (second hand) to unsuspecting vehicle owners with resultant accidents and death on the roads.”
There are many benefits to be realized through recycling tyres. Individuals can earn an income and also maintain a clean environment. Statistically, only about 4% of waste tyres are processed in South Africa due to financial constraints as waste tyres have little commercial value.
However, Nick Ralphs, Managing Member of Tierra Construction Projects has identified an alternative way of using used tyres. Tierra’s methods of recycling tyres will not only preserve a clean and safe environment, but also create employment for unskilled labour in the Western Cape and help to build low income houses for people.
Tierra has been constructing buildings from recyclable material for the past three years. Tyres, bottles, tins, cardboard boxes, earth and roof tiles are all used in the construction of these enviro-buildings. The Thina Recycling centre in Cape Town was recently completed using Tierra’s construction methodology. Tierra provides hands-on training for unskilled workers providing them with the opportunity to gain experience in the building industry. A building of approximately 18 m³ takes about three months to complete using 420 tyres, 1 800 glass bottles, 2 500 tins, 800 cardboard boxes, 40m³ earth, 1 000 roof tiles and a workforce of around four unskilled workers. The construction of such a house is based on the concept of turning old tyres into bricks by filling them with earth and compacting the filling. The tyre bricks are dry-stacked in alternating courses, much like brickwork in stretcher bond.
Ralphs commented, “I am very excited about the huge potential that exists in South Africa to build with waste. It is a great opportunity for unskilled labourers to learn a trade and soon we hope that used tyres will be in demand, just like new tyres.”
Stan Jewaskiewitz, President of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) has commended the work being done by both the South African Tyre Recycling Process Company and Tierra Construction Projects and has said that they are setting examples in exemplary waste management which is supported by the IWMSA.
On 30 March 2011, the IWMSA Eastern Cape branch will be hosting a workshop specifically focusing on the recycling of tyres and the role of the Waste Act in Port Elizabeth. For more information on the session please contact Karen du Plessis on 043‐7210003 / 0721117917 or Email: easterncape@iwmsa.co.za
For more information on the South African Tyre Recycling Process Company visit, www.rubbersa.com, more information on Tierra Construction Project are available on www.tierraprojects.co.za and more information on the IWMSA and events that they host can be found on www.iwmsa.co.za
Leading SA in Waste Management
Stand up for your future – respect the environment. That’s one of the calls to action by the Lead SA campaign that was launched in 2010. It calls on each and every one of us to think about the kind of future we want for ourselves, our children and our communities. Taking responsibility for the few square metres we regularly inhabit can make a huge difference to the quality of our lives in the future, the health of the planet in general and it will definitely affect whether we end up living in a mound of squalor or in pleasant surroundings.
Small actions DO make a difference. Paying attention to the little things and working our way up from there, we can bring about a positive change in our environment. It all rests on us really noticing and altering our everyday habits.
It is essential that we stop waiting around for directions and take ownership of our piece of earth. Thanks to the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA), we are increasingly seeing more co-ordination and cohesion amongst the various stakeholders in waste management. In some provinces, we now have recyclables collected from our homes – we don’t even have to sort them. For those of us that aren’t yet part of that system, we need to stop complaining and find a way of disposing of these things ourselves. Take your cans, bottles and paper to your local school. Most schools look for extra funding and they can earn substantial amounts of money from the recyclables they collect. What better way to present an example to the children, who really are our future.
The issue is not to wait and wonder whether someone else will do it, but to step up, make a call, talk to someone and actually DO something. That’s what this initiative is all about – not sitting back and waiting for something to happen or someone to tell you what to do, but to just to do it yourself.
The president of IWMSA, Mr Stan Jewaskiewitz takes the challenge of leading the way very seriously. He says “The IMWSA is greatly encouraged by the steady growth in membership of both organisations and individuals. This seems to indicate that there is an expanding consciousness of the importance of maintaining certain protocols in waste management.” He continues, “The IWMSA is proud to be associated with such positive, creative change which can only be brought about if people become interested and involved in working together towards a common goal. Now is the time to step up and lead the way.”
The IWMSA is a professional, multi-disciplinary organisation with voluntary membership established to promote the science and practice of waste management and is a non-profit organisation. For more information contact the IWMSA visit: www.iwmsa.co.za
South Africa skills up on new global classification system for chemicals and chemical mixtures
South Africa is in the early stages of rolling out the UN Globally Harmonised System (GHS) for the classification and labelling of chemicals and chemical mixtures as part of their National Regulations and Standards. The GHS classification builds on the well established UN Model Transport Regulations, which classify purely on physical safety risks, by also taking into consideration health and environmental hazards, and applies not just to chemicals in transit but also to chemicals in the workplace and at home. The system, which has already been implemented New Zealand and Japan, is currently being rolled out in a number of countries across the globe including the EU Countries and Uruguay. It allows industries to classify chemicals according to a unified set of building blocks to determine the health hazards and environmental hazard levels of the chemicals and mixtures of chemicals in addition to the transport safety standards that should be applied when transporting, or working with them. Prior to the development of the GHS chemical classification regulation for health and environmental hazards existed only in the EU (since 1967). In other countries and regions classification was based on the nine physical safety risk classes specified in the UN Transport Regulations which require chemicals to be packaged and labelled for transport in line with their hazardous nature, i.e. explosive, flammable, corrosive, toxic etc. These were taken up into global air (IATA) and sea (IMDG) regulations, and adopted by many countries in their National road regulations.
“This is still a relatively new system which is evolving through discussions in the UN Committee of Experts and there is a great deal that South Africa still needs to learn about it in terms of application and implementation,” says Liz Anderson, President of the Responsible Packaging Management Association of South Africa (RPMASA). “We have identified a pressing need to educate members of both the public and private sectors on the GHS and as such, through our participation in the UN Committee of Experts for Transport of dangerous goods and the GHS we have been able to arrange for Orange House Partnership (OHP), supported by UNITAR (UN Institute for Training and Research), to come to South Africa to assist with raising awareness of the implementation of the GHS as an essential risk management tool through a series of practical training workshops,” Anderson explained. OHP is a non-profit partnership association of international senior experts in risk assessment and risk management with governmental, academic and private sector backgrounds who volunteer their time to provide scientific expertise, assistance, advice, training and interim management to governmental authorities and the public and private sector, in particular in developing countries and emerging economies.
OHP ran two GHS Training workshops, one in Durban from 10 to 11 March and one in Midrand, Johannesburg from 14 to 15 March where around 140 delegates from both the public and private sectors were given the opportunity to learn about the GHS and to practice classification using the system in practical group sessions. The workshops were provided free of charge to the public sector whilst members of the private sector were charged a marginal fee to offset costs of venue, refreshments, training materials etc.
Included in the panel of trainers was Dr. Herman Koëter, founder and Managing Director of the Brussels based Orange House Partnership. “The aim of the training,” Koëter explains, “is to raise awareness and build capacity in South Africa whilst providing for a common understanding by the public and private sectors of the principles and practical issues for GHS implementation in terms of new legislation that is being phased in.” Dr Steve Vaughan, one of the OHP experts who was also actively involved in drafting policy, regulations and implementation in New Zealand shared that a key factor of their success was through forming a single high level body to co-ordinate and lead the process.
The phasing in of the GHS will affect, amongst others, technical experts responsible for chemical classification, labelling, compiling safety data sheets and registration of certain hazardous and toxic products as well as occupational health officers and officials responsible for risk assessment and communication. It is included in various Departments’ regulations including Transport & Packaging, Labour (the OHS Act), Agriculture, Health, and more recently the DEA for waste classification, although using the system for waste classification remains a controversial subject as according to the International experts it is not possible to accurately determine the constituents of mixed waste, such as found on landfill sites, which could make compliance with these standards near impossible for waste management organisations.
It is still early days for the GHS in South Africa where implementation is fragmented across numerous government departments requiring high level co-operation and coordination to develop and implement a national strategy and implementation plan. This is however only the start of an on-going journey to improve communication of hazards and risks to people in both consumer and industrial chemicals and products. It is hoped that training courses such as these delivered by OHP will open the door to a positive and productive way forward for safer chemical management in our country.
For more information visit the RPMASA website at www.rpmasa.org.za or contact Liz Anderson on 032 815 1018.
