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