The Green Building Council of South Africa will lead the transformation of the South African property industry to ensure that all buildings are designed, built and operated in an environmentally sustainable way that will allow South Africans to work and live in healthy, efficient and productive environments.
To promote, encourage and facilitate green building in the South African property and construction industry through market-based solutions, by:
Promoting the practice of green building in the commercial property industry
Facilitating the implementation of green building practice by acting as a resource centre,
Enabling the objective measurement of green building practices by developing and operating a green building rating system, and
Improving the knowledge and skills base of green building in the industry by enabling and offering training and education
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Energy management and carbon credits
As they grapple with rising energy costs, more homeowners are turning to remodelers for money-saving solutions. According to the results of the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) quarterly Remodeling Market Index (RMI), 33% of surveyed remodelers report that they are increasingly called on to improve the energy efficiency of their client’s homes.The RMI measures remodeler perceptions of market demand for current and future residential remodeling projects.
NAHB is preparing for the upcoming National Green Building Standard, which includes a consensus rating system for remodeling. This standard provides a roadmap for green remodeling and assures consumers that remodelers know how to plan and complete authentically green remodels.According to the survey, remodelers have installed a number of efficiency-enhancing products in recent months, including:• Windows—73% of surveyed remodelers installed more energy-efficient windows that are insulated to prevent outdoor heat exchange.• Insulation—65% made upgrades such as insulation replacement and spraying foam or fiber insulation into enclosed walls and roof cavities, while 27% insulated foundations and 52% installed insulated exterior doors.• High-efficiency HVAC systems (56%)• High-efficiency kitchen appliances (47%)• Water-saving faucets and fixtures (46%)
NAHB is preparing for the upcoming National Green Building Standard, which includes a consensus rating system for remodeling. This standard provides a roadmap for green remodeling and assures consumers that remodelers know how to plan and complete authentically green remodels.According to the survey, remodelers have installed a number of efficiency-enhancing products in recent months, including:• Windows—73% of surveyed remodelers installed more energy-efficient windows that are insulated to prevent outdoor heat exchange.• Insulation—65% made upgrades such as insulation replacement and spraying foam or fiber insulation into enclosed walls and roof cavities, while 27% insulated foundations and 52% installed insulated exterior doors.• High-efficiency HVAC systems (56%)• High-efficiency kitchen appliances (47%)• Water-saving faucets and fixtures (46%)
Electrical savings
Despite having its highest score since January, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) continues to point to difficult conditions for the nonresidential construction market.
There have been six consecutive months with negative scores, indicating that business levels at U.S architecture firms continue to worsen.
As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI shows an approximate 9- to 12-month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the July ABI rating was 46.8, up slightly from the 46.1 mark in June (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The inquiries for new projects score was 54.6.
“Financing for new projects continues to be a problem,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. “Many projects are being reconsidered due to construction cost increases. And while there are a good number of projects still in the queue, owners are taking longer to proceed to the next phase of the design process.”
There have been six consecutive months with negative scores, indicating that business levels at U.S architecture firms continue to worsen.
As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI shows an approximate 9- to 12-month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the July ABI rating was 46.8, up slightly from the 46.1 mark in June (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The inquiries for new projects score was 54.6.
“Financing for new projects continues to be a problem,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. “Many projects are being reconsidered due to construction cost increases. And while there are a good number of projects still in the queue, owners are taking longer to proceed to the next phase of the design process.”
Green Building and Energy Management
A green building is a building which is energy efficient, resource efficient and environmentally responsible- which incorporates design, construction and operational practices that significantly reduce or eliminate its negative impact on the environment and its occupants. Building green is an opportunity to use resources efficiently and address climate change while creating healthier and more productive environments for people to live and work in
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Green Building and Energy Management
Sydney - An abandoned baby whale that has been attempting to suckle boats in the waters off north Sydney will be euthanised because it is in such poor condition, an environmental official said on Thursday.
Veterinarians and marine researchers who spent the afternoon examining the whale found that it would likely not live through the night, said Sally Barnes, deputy director-general of the New South Wales Department of Environment and Climate Change.
"The calf was in much worse condition than they originally thought and the injuries were a lot worse than they thought as well, probably from a shark attack," she said. "We have taken the hard decision to put it down, unfortunately."
The plight of the whale, which Australians have nicknamed "Colin," has dominated news coverage here since the creature was first sighted on Sunday in waters off north Sydney and began trying to suckle from boats it apparently mistook for its mother.
"Our hearts are breaking with what's happening with baby Colin," New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma said. "It's looking bleak, but every effort is being made."
The decision to euthanise the whale prompted a strong protest from a rescue group that designed a feeding apparatus intended to provide milk to the ailing calf.
"You said you'd give us a 24-hour stay of execution!" Brett Devine, a member of Devine Marine Group, shouted as environmental officials tried to calm him.
Dose of fatal drugs
Some Australians have accused wildlife officials of not doing enough to help the calf or trying to feed it.
Previous attempts to guide the whale back to open waters have failed, with the creature preferring to stick close to the boats. Officials with the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service were considering earlier on Thursday whether to use an inflatable sling to tow the creature into deeper waters, where it has a better chance of connecting with other whales.
But in the end, there simply was no other option, a grim-looking Barnes said.
"This is certainly not what we would have hoped. We would have hoped that the animal would have been OK," Barnes said. "It's a very emotional thing."
As darkness fell, wildlife officials and veterinarians huddled in a private meeting to work out the logistics of the whale's fate.
They planned to sedate the animal, tow it to shore, and inject a dose of fatal drugs into its heart.
Veterinarians and marine researchers who spent the afternoon examining the whale found that it would likely not live through the night, said Sally Barnes, deputy director-general of the New South Wales Department of Environment and Climate Change.
"The calf was in much worse condition than they originally thought and the injuries were a lot worse than they thought as well, probably from a shark attack," she said. "We have taken the hard decision to put it down, unfortunately."
The plight of the whale, which Australians have nicknamed "Colin," has dominated news coverage here since the creature was first sighted on Sunday in waters off north Sydney and began trying to suckle from boats it apparently mistook for its mother.
"Our hearts are breaking with what's happening with baby Colin," New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma said. "It's looking bleak, but every effort is being made."
The decision to euthanise the whale prompted a strong protest from a rescue group that designed a feeding apparatus intended to provide milk to the ailing calf.
"You said you'd give us a 24-hour stay of execution!" Brett Devine, a member of Devine Marine Group, shouted as environmental officials tried to calm him.
Dose of fatal drugs
Some Australians have accused wildlife officials of not doing enough to help the calf or trying to feed it.
Previous attempts to guide the whale back to open waters have failed, with the creature preferring to stick close to the boats. Officials with the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service were considering earlier on Thursday whether to use an inflatable sling to tow the creature into deeper waters, where it has a better chance of connecting with other whales.
But in the end, there simply was no other option, a grim-looking Barnes said.
"This is certainly not what we would have hoped. We would have hoped that the animal would have been OK," Barnes said. "It's a very emotional thing."
As darkness fell, wildlife officials and veterinarians huddled in a private meeting to work out the logistics of the whale's fate.
They planned to sedate the animal, tow it to shore, and inject a dose of fatal drugs into its heart.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Energy management and carbon credits
JOBURG
AA-credit rating for City
By Lucille Davie
12 August 2008
INTERNATIONAL rating agency Fitch Ratings has upgraded Johannesburg's long-term credit rating to AA-, from last year's A+ rating, and its short-term rating to F1+ from F1.
A rating provides a relative measure of a city's creditworthiness. The best long-term rating is AAA, while the best short-term rating is F1+. The F1 rating refers specifically to the city's ability to pay its short-term debt.
Stating that the City's outlook remained stable, the agency said: "The upgrade reflects the City of Johannesburg's strengthening operating performance, driven by a growing tax base and subsidies from the national government."
The rating "also reflects higher provisions for asset depreciation, which help to self-finance its investments, now approaching R5-billion, up from R1-billion in [financial year 2004]".
Responding to the upgrades, City Treasurer William Mathanela said: "We are very excited about the investor confidence that the rating has shown - it means the City has done a lot of good work."
Fitch said the rating considered the City's long-term challenges to be "income inequality and low labour participation", which limited tax generation and collection.
"The ratings could be upgraded further if easing macroeconomic tensions help to alleviate rising cost pressures on the municipality's operating performance, and if the sale of its R2-billion net debtor-book is completed successfully, providing the municipality with corresponding liquidity."
The agency warned that ratings might be negatively affected if borrowing exceeded projections, which would lead to declining debt collection, and restricted tax revenue growth, if gross domestic product (GDP) growth weakened.
"[Johannesburg's] operating performance continues to be strong, underpinned by tax and fee collection rates of about 95 percent," Fitch Ratings indicated.
The City was committed to keeping expenses below 7 percent of expenditure, it said, but this would be influenced by a slowdown in GDP growth which would, in turn, limit the City's ability to pass on to consumers increasing costs of water, electricity and other service costs.
Fitch suggested that local economic growth should hover around 3 percent per year, given a boost from the public works in preparation for the 2010 World Cup.
"Estimated income per capita of about R60 000 is approximately 40 percent above the national average and should help to underpin an average operating revenue growth of close to 10 percent. Tax and fee rates linked to inflation and the continual expansion of the tax base should help to maintain a good match between revenue and spending."
Mathanela said the 3 percent was too low for a city the size of Joburg - it would probably be around 4 to 5 percent.
However, the rise of commodity prices and frequent power cuts could have a negative effect on the local economy, causing operating costs to rise, said Fitch.
Mathanela was particularly happy to have the asset register complete, because it provided a higher provision for depreciation, and investors now knew the total assets of the City, giving them increased confidence in its growth prospects. "The past year has been a good year."
There were long-term challenges for the City, however, Fitch said. The fact that the national government oversaw revenue and expenditure weakened its manoeuvrability. On the other hand, the 2007 Municipal Fiscal Power Act had allowed cities to raise revenue by means of a 2 percent business levy for inner city regeneration.
"Income inequality and the still high percentage of population infected with HIV remain the main burden on future economic growth, with their demand for higher social and health costs over the medium term."
There were other factors that would slow growth. "A potential burden stems also from pension and potential unfunded liabilities, which the City seeks to control by implementing self-insurance policies.
Joburg's population is believed to be around four million. It remains the financial hub of the country, contributing about 16 percent of GDP and some 15 percent of employment. The City's GDP will remain at an average 6 percent annually until 2010
AA-credit rating for City
By Lucille Davie
12 August 2008
INTERNATIONAL rating agency Fitch Ratings has upgraded Johannesburg's long-term credit rating to AA-, from last year's A+ rating, and its short-term rating to F1+ from F1.
A rating provides a relative measure of a city's creditworthiness. The best long-term rating is AAA, while the best short-term rating is F1+. The F1 rating refers specifically to the city's ability to pay its short-term debt.
Stating that the City's outlook remained stable, the agency said: "The upgrade reflects the City of Johannesburg's strengthening operating performance, driven by a growing tax base and subsidies from the national government."
The rating "also reflects higher provisions for asset depreciation, which help to self-finance its investments, now approaching R5-billion, up from R1-billion in [financial year 2004]".
Responding to the upgrades, City Treasurer William Mathanela said: "We are very excited about the investor confidence that the rating has shown - it means the City has done a lot of good work."
Fitch said the rating considered the City's long-term challenges to be "income inequality and low labour participation", which limited tax generation and collection.
"The ratings could be upgraded further if easing macroeconomic tensions help to alleviate rising cost pressures on the municipality's operating performance, and if the sale of its R2-billion net debtor-book is completed successfully, providing the municipality with corresponding liquidity."
The agency warned that ratings might be negatively affected if borrowing exceeded projections, which would lead to declining debt collection, and restricted tax revenue growth, if gross domestic product (GDP) growth weakened.
"[Johannesburg's] operating performance continues to be strong, underpinned by tax and fee collection rates of about 95 percent," Fitch Ratings indicated.
The City was committed to keeping expenses below 7 percent of expenditure, it said, but this would be influenced by a slowdown in GDP growth which would, in turn, limit the City's ability to pass on to consumers increasing costs of water, electricity and other service costs.
Fitch suggested that local economic growth should hover around 3 percent per year, given a boost from the public works in preparation for the 2010 World Cup.
"Estimated income per capita of about R60 000 is approximately 40 percent above the national average and should help to underpin an average operating revenue growth of close to 10 percent. Tax and fee rates linked to inflation and the continual expansion of the tax base should help to maintain a good match between revenue and spending."
Mathanela said the 3 percent was too low for a city the size of Joburg - it would probably be around 4 to 5 percent.
However, the rise of commodity prices and frequent power cuts could have a negative effect on the local economy, causing operating costs to rise, said Fitch.
Mathanela was particularly happy to have the asset register complete, because it provided a higher provision for depreciation, and investors now knew the total assets of the City, giving them increased confidence in its growth prospects. "The past year has been a good year."
There were long-term challenges for the City, however, Fitch said. The fact that the national government oversaw revenue and expenditure weakened its manoeuvrability. On the other hand, the 2007 Municipal Fiscal Power Act had allowed cities to raise revenue by means of a 2 percent business levy for inner city regeneration.
"Income inequality and the still high percentage of population infected with HIV remain the main burden on future economic growth, with their demand for higher social and health costs over the medium term."
There were other factors that would slow growth. "A potential burden stems also from pension and potential unfunded liabilities, which the City seeks to control by implementing self-insurance policies.
Joburg's population is believed to be around four million. It remains the financial hub of the country, contributing about 16 percent of GDP and some 15 percent of employment. The City's GDP will remain at an average 6 percent annually until 2010
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
www.thorntongroup.co.za
In most work/office environments we can make quite dramatic gains in our energy efficiency by simply changing settings, buying more carefully and changing our work habits.
No cost energy saving hints
•
Switch off all PCs at the end of every day and weekends.
•
If you going to be away from your computer any longer than 15 minutes switch off your screen.
•
Make sure all printers and photocopiers are switched off at the end of every day and weekends.
•
Don’t replace if you can share a printer or copier instead.
•
Activate sleep or power-down features when possible.
Technical energy saving options with varying cost
•
Buy energy efficient equipment (Energy Star rated etc).
•
Use laptop computers wherever practical. They consume between 70-90% less energy than desktop computers.
No cost energy saving hints
•
Switch off all PCs at the end of every day and weekends.
•
If you going to be away from your computer any longer than 15 minutes switch off your screen.
•
Make sure all printers and photocopiers are switched off at the end of every day and weekends.
•
Don’t replace if you can share a printer or copier instead.
•
Activate sleep or power-down features when possible.
Technical energy saving options with varying cost
•
Buy energy efficient equipment (Energy Star rated etc).
•
Use laptop computers wherever practical. They consume between 70-90% less energy than desktop computers.
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