Rising utility costs, paired with competitively priced sustainable tools to supplement municipal electricity and water use, mean that sectional title schemes are becoming a more viable marketplace for the green building sector. While each scheme has unique characteristics, their expenses are often centred around meeting similar needs, namely: electricity and water use, … [Read more...]
Futurist returns to Design Indaba with green message
As part of the Design Indaba Festival 2020, Paris-based futurist Li Edelkoort will host inspiring new trend seminars in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Edelkoort’s ever-popular three-hour presentations form part of the official programme for the event’s 25th anniversary celebration. Her upcoming talks will take place in two parts. For the first part of the seminar, the … [Read more...]
South Africa joins global call for 5G moratorium
South African citizens are asking for a moratorium on 5G until is it proven safe to human and environmental health. It is a call for the application of the Precautionary Principle, founded on reams of indications of potential health damage caused by such new technology. Worldwide a Stop 5G Appeal has been circulating, signed by doctors, scientists and environmental … [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...]
Inaugural awards seek eco-minded fashionistas
The inaugural Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards are aimed at recognising South African designers who have adopted a sustainable design approach and fostered ethical practices in the fashion industry. They are open for nominations until August 18. Aside from the student award, all nominees must have been in business for at least one year and be able to demonstrate ethical … [Read more...]
Cape Town’s Street Sleeper wins gold with recycled PVC sleeping bags
Recycling used billboards made from end of life PVC banners not only help keep thousands of homeless city dwellers warm and dry, but has now also received the recognition it deserves from South Africa’s plastic recycling fraternity by walking away with a Gold Award in the category “Novel and Artistic Products” during the South African Plastic Recyclers Organisation (SAPRO) Best … [Read more...]
Learn natural building skills for a sustainable future
Take the first step to a sustainable future by learning hands-on natural building skills. Understand the alchemy of how different types of earth work, and do not work together, their potential and limitations. You will also explore questions around sustainable living based in Peter McIntosh’s experience living off-grid since 1999. This October, Peter will be hosting the … [Read more...]
Entries now open for 2017 Recycled Plastic Product Awards
South African Plastics Recycling Organisation (SAPRO) is inviting entries to this year’s Recycled Plastic Product of the Year Awards. SAPRO is proud to announce the sixth prestigious competition, with the aim of acknowledging the wide variety of products that are locally manufactured using recycled materials. The Recycled Plastic Product of the Year Awards were held for the … [Read more...]
Recycled polystyrene used in new Table Bay mall construction
More than 15 tons of recycled, Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) have already gone into the production of 20,000 Greenlite Concrete blocks used in the new Table Bay Mall that is currently being constructed. Expected to open its doors at the end of September this year, this 65 000 m² regional shopping centre is located on a 20 ha site on the corner of the R27 (West Coast Road) and … [Read more...]
Drought adaptation DIY style: steps to save water
January was not for chickens in the Cape – extreme drought and fires saw the gardens shrivel up and die. So sad to witness and feel the distress all round. Once our veggie plants got stressed the diseases followed. Watching your water consumption with Stage 3 water restrictions and growing food without the farmer’s concessions calls for innovation. How to capture each … [Read more...]
UCT excels in environmental innovation at second Greenovate Awards
Young environmental visionaries from the University of Cape Town took first place in the Growthpoint Greenovate Awards for the second year running. The awards recognise innovative solutions for the property industry to environmental challenges. Now in its second year, the awards programme is an exciting initiative by Growthpoint Properties in association with the Green … [Read more...]
New sustainable architecture awards promote regeneration, reconciliation and restoration
Seven Awards and four Commended projects were announced in the 2015/2016 AfriSam-SAIA Award for Sustainable Architecture + Innovation at the gala event in Cape Town. The eleven projects chosen by the award adjudicators were among a total of 22 final qualifying entries that had been selected from a record number of eligible submissions earlier this year. “The Awarded and … [Read more...]
Automation to cut 20 million vehicles from roads by 2025
New concepts in personal transport built on digital technologies could reduce the amount of cars needed on urban roads globally by up to 20 million vehicles per year in 2025, offering huge sustainability benefits and an improved experience for travellers. These are some of the key findings of new research published recently by BT and Frost & Sullivan. The research, … [Read more...]
