RACA Journal October 2020 | Page 19

Associations Continued from page 15 Johannesburg, Tshwane, Cape Town and eThekwini are C40 cities and signatories to the 2018 declaration, alongside 24 other global cities. These cities have committed to developing regulations and/or planning policy to ensure new buildings operate at net zero carbon by 2030 and all buildings reach net zero carbon status by 2050. Meeting these commitments will require a step change in building energy efficiency policies and regulations in most cities. The biggest challenges facing the uptake of net zero buildings are challenges of perception (when people think it’s more difficult than it is), technical challenges and financial challenges. All of these are being rapidly overcome. Technically, it is absolutely possible to achieve net zero carbon buildings. It requires determination and enabling building standards, bylaws and policies to make it happen at scale. Critical mass of net zero carbon buildings is required to meet political and planetary climate goals. Getting to Zero: A guide to developing net zero carbon buildings in South Africa is freely available and can be downloaded from the collaborative parties’ websites. RACA ABOUT THE COLLABORATORS ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) South African Chapter is a volunteer-based society of dedicated professionals in the built environment, striving to improve and share building sciences and related industries. C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) connects 96 of the world’s greatest cities to take bold climate action, leading the way towards a healthier and more sustainable future. Representing 700+ million citizens and one quarter of the global economy, mayors of the C40 cities are committed to delivering on the most ambitious goals of the Paris Agreement at the local level. The C40 South Africa Buildings Programme is delivered in partnership with Sustainable Energy Africa (SEA). It includes embedded expert advisors working in each city, to develop net zero carbon building policies and bylaws as part of a roadmap to achieve net zero carbon new buildings by 2030. Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) promotes sustainable development and property industry transformation through green building programmes, technologies and design practices. The GBCSA has developed comprehensive environmental rating systems for buildings, including Green Star, Energy Water Performance and Net Zero / Net Positive. www.hvacronline.co.za RACA Journal I October 2020 17