Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa September 2013 | Page 32

SMART MOVES

BY LEW GEFFEN

How To Build Your Green Home

Without paying an arm and a leg

H

omeowners affected by dramatic
hikes in electricity costs over the
past five years are increasingly drawn
to homes built according to green building
practices, says Lew Geffen, Chairman of Lew
Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty.
Eskom says that in real terms, electricity
prices have risen by 78% between 2008 and
2011. In February this year South Africa’s
energy regulator granted Eskom a further
average 8% annual increase in electricity
tariffs.
As larger numbers of younger, eco-savvy and
cost-conscious first-time buyers come onto the
market, realtors are seeing a steady increase in
interest in homes with energy-saving fixtures.
This interest in “green” homes is also driven
by increasing public awareness of green
building practices. Since the new building
standards regulations were put in place in
2011, developers and owners of all residential,
public, commercial and retail buildings have
been required to invest in energy-eff icient
technology for the provision of hot water.
According to the Green Building
Council of South Africa, six green building
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September 2013 SA Real Estate Investor

certifications were awarded to new commercial
developments in June 2013, bringing the total
number of Green Star-rated buildings in South
Africa to 37. In order for business premises to
be awarded green stars, the various categories
of commercial buildings have to adhere to
strict guidelines extending beyond the heating
of water.
In terms of residential property, multi-unit
developments like apartment blocks built after
2011 are rated using a points system. This is
based on the impact their development has
on the ecology of the surrounding area and
on their proximity to mass public transport,
among other things, in addition to their efforts
to reduce hot water consumption by using
efficient fittings and to lessen the greenhouse
gas emissions of the water heating system they
use.
The general SANS 10400-XA Energy Usage
requirement that applies to all buildings is that
a minimum of 50% of their hot water heating
requirements should rely on a source other
than electricity – such as solar heating and
heat pumps.
Approx imately 39% of South A frica’s
domestic electricity usage goes to heating

water. Fitting a solar-powered geyser is one
of the most popular cost-saving greening
measures taken by owners of residential
property, and because Eskom offers a rebate on
solar-powered geysers, it’s also a very attractive
option for greening a home.
Accord ing to Eskom-accred ited sola r
heating specialist Mike Bekker, if a home’s
monthly electricity payment amounts to R2
000, a solar-powered geyser could save a home
as much as R640 on power bills a month.
Taking into account Eskom’s rebate, which is
in the region of R4 000 on a R15 000 geyser
that can supply hot water to a family of two
adults and two children, most geysers pay for
themselves in three to four years.
As such, a solar-powered geyser is probably
your best green investment to make a home
more attractive to potential buyers or tenants.
There are, however, other ways to add value
to a property through the reduction of energy
bills. And if you’re handy at DIY, installing
them yourself is simple.
Insu lat ion is one e xa mple. A t y pica l
uninsulated home loses up to 35% of its energy
through the ceiling, says insulation specialist
Ian Peddie. Heaters, which add hundreds of
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