Quite often the term “green building” is not fully understood.

Closely allied to “green” are the equally mystifying terms “sustainable”, “carbon neutral” and the relatively new buzz phrase, the “3 Rs” – reduce, reuse and recycle.

Repair should be added.

And apart from these is the frightening global panic we call climate change.

Let me try to explain some of the mystery and confusion.

Green building: This is a response to climatic conditions, the seasons, the arc of the sun throughout the year, the direction of wind and rain, the geography of the site and location.

Sustainable: Protecting our delicate planet – the only one we have – by careful and sensitive design, detailing and construction.

Carbon neutral: A little more obvious and presupposes that your building, new or old, produces no noxious emissions and has kept the use of carbon dependent materials and components to an absolute minimum.

This includes the sourcing of local materials and reducing transport routes. With sensible design this is possible.

Reduce, reuse, recycle: The emphasis is on our wasteful society and encourages us to use less. Avoid single use materials and components. We need to look more closely at where everything is made.

Reduce, reuse, and repurpose must be applied to all buildings.

It is far “greener” to reuse an existing building and adapt it as necessary than to build from scratch. New clearly requires new services.

Respond sensitively to the site and location, the climate, the efficient use of utilities and services.

Reduce dependence on expensive, power-guzzling and short-life equipment such as air conditioners, heaters and electric geysers.

Professional architects and technologists are fully conversant with the climate control regulations – listen to them.

We need to rethink our heavy dependence on cement, and its ubiquitous off-spring concrete. SA is one of the biggest producers in the Southern Hemisphere.

We need to develop our timber industry. It is well established and organised but still has massive potential.

Our country still has a bias against timber construction, but we can now guard adequately against insect attack and fire.

Timber construction is much quicker, cleaner and less wasteful than our conventional brick/concrete system.

Plastic is also here to stay, but we must learn how to produce, use and recycle it more appropriately in the design and building industries.

Metals (including steel, copper, aluminium and stainless steel) are important building materials but are expensive and pollution heavy to produce. Most require regular coating for protection.

A rethinking at many levels is essential if we are to go truly “green” with our buildings. It is not just limited to the professionals but also involving you and me when we buy, sell, upgrade or build.

* Ken Lever is a professional architect and designer with 50 years’ experience working in South Africa, the UK, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

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