If it costs more to design and build a ‘ green ’ building , how can it possibly be affordable ?
ADVERTORIAL - COVER STORY
Is sustainability affordable in low-cost residential housing ?
If it costs more to design and build a ‘ green ’ building , how can it possibly be affordable ?
By The Clay Brick Association of South Africa
Environmentally-friendly technology and materials can be more expensive up front , but high demand , increased competition and innovative technology is bringing prices down .
When life-cycle costs are taken into consideration – like electricity costs and fines for excessive water use – there is an incentive for public sector developers and homeowners to consider sustainability .
Life-cycle costs include both upfront and continuous operating costs . Over the lifetime of a building , the operating costs utterly outweigh its upfront costs . Green buildings perform far above average in terms of operating costs , because they are designed to use less energy and water than normal , resulting in lower water and energy bills ( Penny , 2012 ).
Clay brick homes remain for a minimum of 50 years and average of more than 100 years . Durability and security are critical factors for housing in South Africa and must also be considered .
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development found that the upfront increase in materials and technology costs is often less than 5 %. Many sustainable design principles , like the use of shade and positioning the house correctly or including a cavity in the walls , cost nothing at all .
An innovative use of natural and sustainable clay brick at Windmill Park .
KIRON
ENERGY SAVINGS
The Clay Brick Association of Southern Africa recently concluded a three-year Thermal Performance Study carried out by the University of Pretoria , reports CBA technical director , Nico Mienie .
“ The research found residential buildings constructed with clay brick walls have the lowest heating and cooling requirements of all commonly employed walling systems in South Africa .
“ In the temperate climate zones of South Africa , potential energy savings of 30 % are realised for residential buildings built of solid brick walls ,” he says , “ while savings of 70 % are found for insulated cavity brick walls . Even higher savings are evident in the hotter regions of South Africa and in non-residential buildings , where electricity use for air conditioning is much higher .”
PRICE
‘ Buy local ’ usually means ‘ buy South African ’ but when it comes to clay brick , local is a lot closer to home – often less than 100km ! “ Because clay brick is a dense construction material , developers receive the best price and lowest transport costs close to the point of manufacture ,” advises CBA executive director , Mariana Lamont . “ Competitively-priced , accredited brick suppliers can be found in every region , providing consistent quality stock-in-hand and short transport distances .
“ Our website ( www . claybrick . org ) has an interactive map that allows you to select your construction site and identify contact and product information for suppliers in your area .”
ECONOMIC GROWTH IN RURAL AREAS
Creating and supporting local communities is a critical turnaround strategy for South Africa . Brick production plants are found outside urban centres and provide stimulus for economic transformation , local job creation and skills development .
About three quarters ( 76 %) of the formal clay brick operations in South Africa are located in rural areas .
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JULY - AUGUST 2018
AFFORDABLE
SA HOUSING