Many buzzwords abound when it comes to “green” buildings.

Sustainable, carbon neutral and the newer phrase, the three Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle – come to mind.

Do we fully understand them? South Africa has excellent building regulations designed to save energy costs while maintaining good comfort levels in homes and workplaces, but they can still be ignored or tampered with by unscrupulous developers, builders and designers.

Related to all these buzzwords is the rather frightening global panic called climate change. So, how should we respond when it comes to our buildings – our homes, offices, factories, schools, clinics and churches?

Green buildings make provision for climatic conditions, seasonal changes, arc of the sun, direction of wind and rain, the geography and geology of the site and location.

It must be a safe, secure and comfortable shelter, easier and less expensive to maintain but also considerate of our environment.

Sustainability refers to caring for our vulnerable planet – the only one we have. This is where careful design and construction fit in.

It does not mean maintaining and sustaining the status quo causing air pollution, flooding and plastic pollution for example.

Carbon neutral is more obvious and pre-supposes 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 sourcing local materials, thereby reducing transport and delivery routes and drastically reducing imported materials. With sensible and careful design this is achievable.

Reduce, reuse and recycle has a greater emphasis on our wasteful society. This rule encourages us to use less wasteful and single use materials and components and to look more closely at where everything is made, how it gets to us and what happens after we have used it.

While partly guided and controlled by our national building regulations, green buildings are dependent on owners, architects, developers and builders’ attitudes and concerns.

Reducing our dependence on expensive, power-guzzling and short-life equipment and components such as air-conditioners, heaters, electric geysers, large electric stoves and the like will make a huge difference.

Professional architects and senior technologists are fully conversant with the climate control regulations – listen to them! They are trained and experienced to guide you through the minefield of regulations and by-laws, helping to give you a responsive and insulated building.

Unfortunately, costs and time constraints tempt people to cut corners, or worse still, be pressurised by builders and/or developers just to get the job done.

But in the end you will almost certainly compromise your longer term maintenance costs.

Ken Lever is an architect and designer with 50 years’ experience in South Africa, Zimbabwe, the UK, Mozambique and New Guinea.

Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.

Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you’re on desktop, scan the QR code below.