Fresh life for old tyres; visionary 3D-printing for construction: these are just some of the clever and sustainable ideas presented by university students competing in the annual Growthpoint Properties and Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) Greenovate Awards. The University of Stellenbosch triumphed overall, notably in the engineering category – which … [Read more...]
The collapse of ideology and the end of escape
An essay on the deeper causes and implications of climate-driven societal breakdown, by Professor Jem Bendell. If you have begun to anticipate the climate-driven collapse of societies, what can you wish for? I have written elsewhere about the problems of being attached to hope, if that means we falsely assume we can’t engage in the world creatively unless we have an … [Read more...]
Affordable housing designed with the environment in mind
A Western Cape design project that encourages innovation and affordable solutions in low-income housing is in the running for a prestigious US$85,000 award. Known as the Better Living Challenge (BLC), the project is in the finals for the Human City Design Award, organised by the Seoul Design Foundation. The winner will be announced on Thursday 26 September in Seoul, South … [Read more...]
Global student competition seeks solutions for energy efficient cities
Go Green in the City is one of the biggest global student competitions for engineering and business students worldwide. Schneider Electric SA has launched its ninth annual global student contest for two-member teams to find bold ideas and innovative solutions for smarter, more energy-efficient and sustainable cities. Engineering and business students across the country … [Read more...]
Young entrepreneur brings solar solutions to townships
Invented by social entrepreneur James van der Walt, the SolarTurtle recently scooped a win at the Inventors Garage at the 2017 SABC Education SA Innovation Summit, walking away with R10k. The SolarTurtle, converted from shipping containers, charges solar batteries that can be used on site or at home in low-income communities to power LED lights, charge phones or other … [Read more...]
Energy efficiency: a national conversation
The Southern African Association for Energy Efficiency (SAEE) has joined forces with Gareth Burley (pictured), a radio presenter on Kingfisher FM in Nelson Mandela Bay, in starting a national conversation about energy efficiency. Dubbed The Green Hour, this energy efficiency radio programme will be hosted by Gareth on Mondays between 1 and 2pm and was launched on the 4th of … [Read more...]
Interested in a Green Career?
South Africa is committed to becoming a low carbon economy and to reducing our carbon emissions by 34% by 2020. The demand for skilled professionals in the carbon and energy sectors is rising. Predictions around job creation from these industries are very promising. The Greenpeace SA Energy Sector Jobs to 2030 report predicts that the opportunities offered by the renewable … [Read more...]
GM maize field trials threaten environmental health
Monsanto, the controversial U.S.-based multinational company, has applied to conduct field trials with genetically modified maize in five locations across South Africa, including the Lutzville district in the Western Cape. South Africa is the only country in Africa that has allowed the genetic modification of food crops to date and the only country in the world to have … [Read more...]
Shabangu extends fracking moratorium
Mining Minister Susan Shabangu has extended a moratorium on prospecting for shale gas for a further six months, to allow time for public consultation on the matter. The extension would be published in the Government Gazette, she told journalists at the end of a Cape Town Press Club breakfast function. Shabangu said her department had to "engage with the public" on the … [Read more...]
