ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
27
Green building design and
resulting pollution
The swing to green building and sustainability is rapidly gaining ground, with every supplier
claiming that their products are the ultimate in maintaining a ‘green’ environment.
By Arius Wantenaar
Let us look at this concept for a moment and
evaluate where we are going, especially when we
are constantly badgered by environmentalists with
regard to the mountain of plastics clogging our seas,
waterways, and refuse dumps.
Many of the plastics used in packaging and industry end
up in the veldt, storm drains, and refuse dumps. The stuff
in the veldt is often eaten by cattle, game, and goats,
especially during times of drought, with serious health
and digestive problems. I’m sure everyone has also been
to a dam or river to enjoy the scenery and environment
for a picnic or a day’s outing and you find all sorts of
plastic bottles, bags, and so on to spoil that outing.
The same thing applies to the sea. It is massively
overloaded with all types of plastic waste that doesn’t
just break down and is very detrimental to marine life.
Further to this, through the food chain, humans land up
consuming it, although in micro form when we eat fish
or seafood. It is also in our water system and as we have
seen from studies in America, even in our bottled water.
Although a very controversial subject, especially in the
plumbing industry, some questions do need to be asked
and awareness created around it with this growing and
persisting problem.
EVALUATING THE PLUMBING INDUSTRY
Pure plastic piping, multilayer piping and all their
derivatives, used in their appropriate settings, are very
good. But what happens to the offcuts on site, or when a
building is demolished and recycled?
During recycling of building waste, plastics and plastic
piping are difficult to separate from the masonry. Also,
because the multilayer plastic is so difficult to separate
from its metal component and generally relatively cheap,
it does not get recycled but goes to our refuse dumps. It
becomes ‘junk’ because it is too difficult to put through
a cleaning process and the scrap value does not make it
worth it. Similarly, so does the pure plastic piping. Is this
now a ‘green and sustainable’ product?
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
Mild steel piping, copper, and stainless steel all have
a scrap recoverable value and can be 100% recycled,
whether in offcut form or separating these from a
demolished building. You definitely don’t have to leave
copper lying around. It will be picked up and recycled
as quick as a wink. Everything comes at a price. Plastic
is generally a cheaper option on initial installation, but
expensive down the line to recover or reuse through
recycling in the bigger picture.
Stainless steel specifically is produced from at least 60%
of recycled steel and stainless steel, the balance being
virgin material. The installation cost of copper or stainless
steel might cost a bit more initially, but taken in the overall
concept of the products, it is a more cost-effective lifetime
solution. So, which is the greener product?
Galvanised and mild steel are not that acceptable any
longer in the industry because of the corrosion aspect
or shorter life cycle, and high installation costs, but
are still highly recyclable products. This leaves us with
clear leaders when we consider this. Copper has a
very long lifespan and also has unique anti-microbial
properties that can kill most pathogens; however, due
to its high scrap-metal value, it is also a common
item targeted for theft. It can be soldered or used with
press/crimp fittings.
Stainless steel has aesthetic appeal, long maintenance
free life, ease of installation, resistance to many
chemicals, and is very recyclable. Overall, a very cost-
effective solution in the long run. Its application is also
far beyond the plumbing industry and can be applied in
residential, commercial, and industrial applications.
About the author
Arius Wantenaar is the
director of Stainless Piping
Utilities and has been
involved in various industries
with fluid reticulation systems
for over 30 years. He has
assisted in the establishment
of SANS standards for
stainless-steel pipes and
crimp fittings, and also
collaborated with various role
players, major consulting
engineers, and local
governments over the years.
BUILDING DESIGN CHOICES
From the building design stage, architects and specifiers
should also consider green products in their application
and lifespan, its health benefits, and recycling possibility
— and not only based on efficiency in application and
costs. Everyone wants to save money but if we are
to truly look at a green future, these are the types of
choices we need to take a closer look at. PA
March 2019 Volume 25 I Number 1