YOUR LEADER IN ECO-BUSINESS & LIFESTYLE
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ISSUE 5 • 2017
simply
Zeroth
GIVING HOPE TO SCHOOLS
1 SG
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THE LAUNCH EDITION IS HERE! The newly formatted AFRICAN INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE will be on shelves from the 12TH OF DECEMBER 2017! The exciting 80 page glossy title will offer you news and information about business, innovation, productivity and investment in Africa. Editor Saarah Survé Editor in Chief Evans Manyonga SEASONED EXPERTS, ACADEMICS AND JOURNALISTS HAVE PROVIDED CUTTING-EDGE NEWS, ANALYSIS AND IN-DEPTH FEATURES THAT WILL TAKE YOUR EXPERIENCE OF AFRICA TO THE NEXT LEVEL!
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10 l 20 enta nm sm iro nali v En our ard J Aw er nn Wi
Inside
ican Afr ited uth Lim e So ies Th er Brew
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Features
08 General 41 Water 48 Energy 51 Mobility 52 Motoring
12 Zeroth: Solar Solutions for Schools 22 After COP23 28 Desalinisation 36 Evolution of Cape Homes 44 3D Printing 46 Nuclear Resistance
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SG 4
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Issue 5 • 2017 Volume 10 No.5 •
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54 Greening Your Office for 2018 58 GBCSA 66 Workplace Productivity 92 Eco Home: One step at a time
70 Timber Decking 78 Cleaning & Greening 84 How to Eco Your Baby 96 Kitchen Gardens 100 Pest Control
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5 SG
SOUTH AFRICA'S ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGN www.indaloyethu.co.za
EDITORIAL 15 000 Concerned Scientists Say ‘It’s All But Too Late’ Recently the Union of Concerned Scientists – a body without comparison globally in terms of the collective authority of those involved – officially issued a follow-up letter to their 1992 ‘Warning to Humanity’. This time their letter, titled ‘A Second Notice’, lays out how the world is in much worse shape on a number of fronts than many – almost everyone, in fact – had previously realised. It’s not just runaway carbon dioxide emissions which have the scientists worried – it’s pretty much everything else as well, on top of the host of challenges which global warming-driven climate change is already presenting. They are concerned, for example, about air and water
SG 6
pollution. With respect to these two key areas the situation is every bit as dire as they feared it might become and actually rather worse – while climate change has morphed into a monster of an entirely different sort than that envisaged when they issued their original warning. If anyone is left in doubt about the world’s parlous eco-condition, this letter should settle the matter – and that includes Donald Trump and his climate change denialist environmental appointee (isn’t that last idea a contradiction in terms, but then, so is phrase President Donald Trump, since being Trump and being the US President would appear to be mutual exclusive conditions.
Over 15 000 scientists from 184 countries signed the letter. ‘Humanity has failed to make sufficient progress in generally solving these foreseen environmental challenges, and alarmingly, most of them are getting far worse,’ the letter explains. ‘Soon it will be too late to shift course away from our failing trajectory.’ According to a CNN report which followed the latest and rather alarmed and alarming letter, CO2 emissions have increased by 90% since their first letter, ocean dead zones have increased by 75%, and the past 10 years have been the warmest on record in recorded history. The letter also mentions species loss (we are in the midst of the 6th Great Extinction that the planet has seen), forest loss, biodiversity destruction, and continued human population growth as areas in which humans have done ‘substantial and irreversible harm’. Please note the term ‘irreversible’. This means that even if we stop what we have continued to do, except that since that first letter we continued at an accelerate pace and on an accelerated timeline, some of the effects of what we have done are, from a human perspective, not recoverable. The planet, having gone through much worse than humanity so has far thrown at it, always recovers, so the term is relative. But what is meant is that, on human timescales measured in lifetimes, it will be a great many lifetimes before some localised systems and some parts of the global eco-system recover. The one exception to the list of human-created catastrophes is the news that the hole in the ozone layer is the smallest it has been since the late 1980s when alarm bells went off about that particular problem. This is likely due to our decreased use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are no longer used in aerosol cans or air conditioning units after being banned from production in 1996 by when they had been proven, to the satisfaction of even industry players, that they were directly causing the destruction of the crucial ozone layer of the atmosphere. The scientists note that this single improvement proves ‘we can make positive change when we act decisively’. But, overall, ‘since 1992 … humanity has failed to make sufficient progress in generally solving these environmental challenges, and most of them are getting far worse’. What can one say? This publication exists precisely because, metaphorically, one letter from a bunch of otherwise largely unknown geeky types in lab coats (to play with the populist notions of what scientists are like) was
not sufficient to shift policy, corporate and consumer behaviour, along with the many other elements necessary to allow us a reasonable time period within which to respond to these major challenges. And, of course, we are not alone in speaking out for a gentler, more intelligent approach to the environment – the number of voices from around the planet calling out the dangers of ‘more of the same’ have grown in volume and number over the intervening years since the early 1990s. Now the world is listening, at last. But listening is not the same thing as doing – and the doing, as the recent COP23 conference amply demonstrated, is far less than is minimally necessary. It is we humans, good readers, not the planet, or even its much-abused eco-systems, that are heading for real trouble. In this issue, therefore, we look at both the positive, good green things going on, the possibilities down that line for the future, and counter-point those emergent changes and future possibilities against the actual state of play on the ground. Regarding ‘on the ground’ conditions, in Cape Town as these words are being written, historically intense heat waves are pounding the city and its inhabitants into an early-summer condition of comatose bewilderment. Level 6 water restrictions kick in on January 1 for some six million metropolitan inhabitants of the Mother City who may well yet find themselves queuing up under appalling heat in long snaking lines waiting for some litres of water to be dispensed from tankers. Who still thinks ‘everything is normal and all will be ok’? In fact, it doesn’t matter – things have already left the endless doubters behind and the entire planet has moved on. For the rest of us, getting greener in everything we do has become more of a survival mission than some mere politically correct tweaking around the edges of our lives. It’s getting real folks – best everyone out there get a grip because as rough as 2017 has been on the eco front, things are about to get a whole lot hairier. Read the letter in full here. Union of Concerned Scientists A Second Notice
Chris & The Team If you are reading this on ISSUU, you might like to try our new platform for a quicker upload and smoother reading experience by clicking here.
7 SG
N ews
GOING OFF THE GRID
Italy's supervolcano
Dozens of cities and towns in Japan have quietly shifted from traditional utility-based grid power system to a more local, resilient model of generating and storing energy where it is used. After significant damage caused by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, many Japanese municipalities rebuilt to be more equipped for the 21st century through the country’s National Resilience Program. The Program offers 3.72 trillion yen (R447m) in funding each fiscal year to be distributed to local communities seeking to become more self-reliant and locally empowered.
Like the super volcano in Yellowstone National Park, experts have been preparing for the eruption of the Campi Flegrei volcano near the Bay of Naples, in Italy, for some time. Now, a new study published in Scientific Reports has renewed fear that it could erupt very soon. Researchers with the University of Aberdeen, the INGV Osservatorio Vesuviano, the RISSC lab of the University of Naples and the University of Texas at Austin used seismological techniques to determine when the volcano may erupt again.
Full Story
Full Story
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SpaceX 2017
THE FUTURE OF AVIATION
In the video above, Elon Musk speaks on technical difficulties and challenges to colonising Mars. This is the continuation of Elon Musk’s legendary 2016 speech on Multiplanetary and Mars travelling. Currently, Musk is the CEO and Lead Designer of SpaceX. The company developed Falcon and Dragon spacecraft units. Several of their rockets has been successfully launched and returned to starting place. The SpaceX presentation was made at the International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide, Australia.
Imagine being able to travel from New York to Shanghai in just 30 minutes. If Elon Musk succeeds with his newest plan, a trip of this kind will soon be possible. During Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp, the entrepreneur revealed his ambition to build the 'BFR' – a rocket that could transport anyone anywhere on the planet within 60 minutes. Musk, who has long dreamed of founding a human colony on Mars, is willing to use his own personal assets to fund the futuristic technology.
Full Story
MAKING PROGRESS
ICE CORE FINDINGS
Call it the year the emissions stood still. Just don’t call it a victory – at least, not yet. But we can strike a hopeful note from a new report suggesting global carbon dioxide emissions stayed about the same last year. The study, published on Sept 28 by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency credits the switch to natural gas and renewable energy, among major carbon-emitting countries, for much of the slowdown. In fact, China, the US, Japan and Russia, along with the EU, saw modest dips in carbon production. India, on the other hand, saw emissions rise by 4.7%.
Ice cores from Antarctica show that at the end of recent ice ages, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere usually started to rise only after temperatures had begun to climb. There is uncertainty about the timings, partly because the air trapped in the cores is younger than the ice, but it appears the lags might sometimes have been 800 years or more. This proves that rising CO2 was not the trigger that caused the initial warming at the end of these ice ages – but no climate scientist has ever made this claim. It does not challenge the idea that more CO2 heats the planet.
Full Story
Full Story
HIDDEN ECOSYSTEM
ON THE BRINK
When one of the largest icebergs ever recorded – measuring roughly the size of Delaware – broke free from the Larsen C ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula last July, it exposed an entirely unexplored region of the Southern Ocean. Scientists are now racing to study what strange new creatures might have been lurking in the dark depths underneath this massive sheet of ice before the ecosystem changes forever. As the iceberg drifts into the Weddell Sea, some 5 800 square kilometers of sea floor that have been shielded by ice for up to 120 000 years will reveal unimaginable secrets.
At least 54 of 206 natural World Heritage Sites heritage sites are grappling with serious threats from development and industry, according to UNESCO. A report from the World Wildlife Fund in 2016 puts the number even higher, saying almost half of all natural heritage sites are under threats from 'oil and gas exploration and extraction, mining, illegal logging, construction of large-scale infrastructure, overfishing and unsustainable water use.'
Full Story
Full Story
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Events
20-21 FEBRUARY 2018 SANDTON CONVENTION CENTRE JOHANNESBURG | SOUTH AFRICA
LEARN ABOUT INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCERS AND POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS Independent Power Producers (IPPs) have become an important source of investment in the power sector in a number of African countries, but PPAs need to be crafted to balance the interest of the various parties so as not to be a source of risk to the stakeholders. Given that PPAs are the foundation of power projects’ bankability, there are a number of issues that need to be taken into consideration. The 5th Independent Power Producers and Power Purchase Agreements Conference (IPP & PPA Conference) will once again take place alongside the annual Africa Energy Indaba conference in Johannesburg on Thursday 22 February 2018 as an official side event. The conference will be facilitated by a team of energy experts with extensive experience in advising IPPs in Africa, including legal experts specialising in assisting investors and energy stakeholders with their Power Purchase Agreements and other key contracts as they set up energy projects across the continent, ensuring that projects are bankable and the legal agreements sound. They will be examining the requirements for successful IPPs and bankable PPAs, discussing current examples and giving insights into how to negotiate PPAs successfully.
TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED: •
What are the latest developments for IPPs in Africa?
•
Navigating Africa and understanding the continent’s needs relating to IPPs and PPAs.
•
Understanding power purchase agreements and ensuring you have the ‘perfect’ PPA.
•
Factors that support IPPs in Africa and their success and the role of the PPA. Other key provisions to consider in the PPA, with a particular focus relating to default and termination.
•
New markets for IPPs in Africa, i.e. structuring PPAs with end users.
•
The role of Public-Private Partnerships in Africa’s Energy Sector: Challenges, best practices, and emerging trends.
•
Project presentation of Renewable Energy Projects: A focused discussion with Renewable Energy Project Developers presenting the latest projects / Independent Power Projects and Power Sector Reform in Nigeria.
•
Who should attend?
•
The IPP and PPA conference is relevant to anyone involved or interested in IPPs, regardless of technology and country.
To learn more about the IPP & PPA Conference visit www.africaenergyindaba.com/ipp-ppa-conference/ www.africaenergyindaba.com
S G 10
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I T IS MORE THAN A M AG A ZINE, IT'S A MOV EMEN T The Digital version of Fast Company South Africa is now available on Apple iPad and Android tablets
S olar
Solar Solution for Schools
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With the rising cost of electricity in South Africa – and with likely increased costs in the pipeline – it is becoming ever-more cost-effective for schools, whether rural or urban, to look at drawing at least part of their power needs directly from solar inputs. We take a look.
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I
n South Africa, education faces many challenges,
money – to go with a solar option than to stay entirely
not least among these the basic costs of operating.
grind-dependent.
One of the key costs is that of keeping the lights
Add to that, and depending on the tariff rate being
on and the computers running, in other words, the
applied in a particular location, full repayment and
cost of electricity.
therefore ownership of such an ancillary electricity
The confusion and administrative mess that is
provision system could be as little as five years but
Eskom means that there is likely another heft electricity
probably no more than 10 years, and it becomes clear
price hike in the offing – Eskom currently is pleading
that there is a powerful business argument in favour
with the National Energy Regulatory Authority (NERSA)
of this option.
for a nearly 20% price increase, just to keep itself
Need to know
afloat. So electricity, which is already a major factor in everyone's budget, is about to cost even more. Therefore the case for going as much off-grid as
Currently, there is a lag between the state of knowledge of many school governing bodies about their options with regard to how far solar technology has evolved
possible is becoming stronger by the day.
in a very short time, relative to its ability to address
Need meets solution
current electricity consumption and future needs.
Much like a love story featuring a lonely boy who
and in partnering with the right solutions provider, they
finds fulfilment by unexpectedly falling in love, so
could have an effective system installed very quickly
too are businesses, individuals and, increasingly,
and which provides not only an immediate savings
schools, finding that solar energy provision – once
on the bottom line of running their institutions, but
considered an indulgence of rich urban elites or
actually may get them some money back in.
Almost none realise that with the right equipment,
last-ditch, expensive and only partial solutions for
And then, once the equipment is paid for out of
off-grid locations – is beginning to 'fall in love' with
revenues that would otherwise have gone to Eskom or
solar energy.
to the local electricity supplier – usually a municipality
The reason is that the need for keeping operating
– for the rest of the system's life, which could be
costs down, while ensuring a reliable energy supply,
as long as 50 years, there will be 100% savings on
has found its match with de-escalating prices for items
anything of up to 30-40% of the institution's total
such as solar panels, increased efficiencies of solar
electricity costs.
energy-based systems and the extending reliability and lifespans of such hardware. This means, in brief, that a need that once
In other words, a third or more of a school's energy costs would be, in effect, 'for free'. Once
these
facts
are
fully
absorbed,
could theoretically be met but which was not quite
historically-based concerns about the viability of solar
practicable in real-world terms, has become not only
as a part solution for energy provision in virtually any
viable but highly attractive.
environment tend to disappear.
For schools in particular, where the budgetary squeeze is such that money spent of just keeping the
New idea
lights on is money not spent on other vital aspects
As with any new idea, one of the first hurdles any
of education, solar is not merely a good idea, but
innovative renewable energy company faces with a
increasingly a vitally necessary one.
prospective client is the client's understanding of
And with a clutch of local entrepreneurs launching into this arena with innovative payment plans, such
their model and the realisation of the immediate, intermediate and long-term benefits involved.
as rent-to-own, and long-term warrantees out to 25
Says Danie Jansen, Zeroth Energy Operations
years, both the capital cost recovery time has dropped
Director: 'The most challenging part for us as an
while net outlay can be maintained from the word go
energy solutions and greening company, besides
such that it costs no more – and may even save some
getting a school's governing body to trust that one is
Making solar easily accessible for all. S G 14
15 S G
there to help them and not just sell them something, was finding the partners that were willing to see the future for the school in "going green".'
How much saving? If a grid-tied solar solution can save money for an institution such as a school, the inevitable question is how much. The answer depends on the municipality (or other provider's) bill. Some municipalities have a School Tariff. In these instances, the savings are about R1 200 for the first year. But some schools save as much as R6 000 in the first month as they do not already enjoy preferential tariffs. And some schools – in the right municipality – might even make some money back, albeit a nominal R100 a holiday, so these institutions can even make money from start-up under the right circumstances.
Starting out There are many different starting points, given the varying circumstances of particular schools. Assessment of a specific institution's needs and historic consumption is necessary so this means obtaining the last 12 months' electrical statements to see what the winter versus summer rates and consumption are. This data can then also be used to calculate the appropriate solar-based system for that institution. Then a 'going green' action plan is devised, one in which money can be saved at no capital expenditure on the institution's part, even if it cannot afford the cash option. From the client or institution's perspective, an
It has already been shown that just the fact of a solar installation in a school increases student involvement and interest, and learners get direct hands-on experience of how solar works, thereby paving the way for future generations literally schooled in the positives of 'going green' and using natural renewables such as abundantly available sunlight to help design a more sustainable future for all.
understanding is developed of how solar works. And, once it is realised that the equipment will be 'on the roof' for the next 25-50 years to provide electricity for
'With the Rent-to-Own system, we need some
a very long time, even long after the warranties, the
paperwork to make sure the school can afford it.
reaction is usually positive.
We also see if they might want to look at energy
'Sometimes they start asking all sorts of questions,'
efficiency to reduce the current electricity bill or a
say Jansen. 'Does this work? Can we trust the
battery backup system or just running the borehole
technology? I need big KVA – can this system give
on solar to start somewhere, in some cases. When this
me that? What's great is that in terms of our solution
is all done, we can start an installation. Everything is
the answer is almost always "Yes" to all. Every piece
dependent on the school's needs.'
of equipment is from the best quality and they are all bankable products. That literally means that the bank
Rental as a solution
even approves this equipment.'
As indicated, solar energy can now be obtained via
Once a school approves the idea, the proposal becomes a project. 'We arrange a site visit to do assessments like checking the roofs, the cables, all those odds and
S G 16
ends that might change the price,' continues Jansen.
a rental option which eliminates the up-front capital costs of installation, maintenance and monitoring. The savings on the school's energy bill are immediate and make a significant impact.
17 S G
The average spend on water and electricity in a government school is around R1m per annum, while schools are only given enough by government to cover about three months of these annualised costs. Given that there are 3 000 schools in the Gauteng province alone, if a solar solution was to be put in every Gauteng school today, then the regional Department of Education could save Education around R300m in energy costs per annum, according to one estimate. The same sort of proportional saving can be projected across all provinces in the country. At a nominal new construction cost of R30m, that could mean that up to 10 extra schools could be built a year in Gauteng alone, without any extra money being spent over current operational costs.
Profitability means more Schools are no different to any other business: when the product is improved and the bottom line of the business grows, it makes room for expansion. Apart from the fact that more schools could be built, existing schools would benefit in a variety of ways, from more and better educational materials, like books and stationery, to more and better equipment,
solar systems are therefore afforded an opportunity
like computers and sports supplies, and more
to be ahead of the pack with respect to future
teachers who are more highly trained and who earn
employment in a sector which has seen, worldwide,
better salaries. It is also feasible that such schools
the number of jobs in this field increase by 10% per
could afford improvements to existing facilities, like
annum since 2010.
laboratories and technical centres.
In short, affordable solar solutions for schools
An additional benefit is that, aside from owning the equipment outright for the remainder of its lifetime – currently that would be anything from two to over four decades – on a rent-to-own agreement,
Partnerships Increasingly, the role of partnerships in achieving
investment by schools would enhance student,
sustainable outcomes is coming to the fore, most
community,
especially with emergent technological solutions
regional
and
national
government
involvement in 'going green' initiatives and in doing the right thing for the environment, which is a general benefit for the country and the planet. It has already been shown that just the fact of a solar installation in a school increases student
such as grid-tied power production. Realising this, Zeroth Energy has undertaken joint ventures and forged key partnerships with other role-players in the solar sector. One such is the Lwandle Lomnotho Foundation.
involvement and interest, and learners get direct
For this organisation, schools are critical in
hands-on experience of how solar works, thereby
terms of their ability to educate and provide future
paving the way for future generations literally
leaders capable of taking South Africa to new
schooled in the positives of 'going green' and using
levels of people empowerment and development
natural renewables such as abundantly available
of communities. The Foundation aims to assist
sunlight to help design a more sustainable future
with pin-pointing and honing of natural skills and
for all.
talents, which in turn means each year there is a
With such a head start, pupils from schools with
S G 18
represent a win-win-win outcome.
growing number of school-leavers who have a better
idea and understanding of the world. Specifically, with respect to its partnership with Zeroth, this means making a difference in the improvement of the schooling environment which means, in turn, learners are able to harness their talents and pave the way for a future which will be increasingly based on renewable and other sustainable solutions for a range of issues. For example, the Foundation says, solar solutions in their schools can aid in teaching pupils more about the advantages of using solar energy. 'Many learners know very little about the use of solar. With this collaboration we are then also able to meet our goals and objectives as an organisation: to make renewable energy accessible to people who thought it impossible before,' explains Xolani Mdoda, Executive Chairman of the foundation. 'As schools "go solar" we have found that there is a significant impact on the way that both students and parents think, with a definite positive effect in terms of their futures.'
Case in point So what do schools which have gone this route have to say? It would seem, mainly, lots of good things.
Much like a love story featuring a lonely boy who finds fulfilment by unexpectedly falling in love, so too are businesses, individuals and, increasingly, schools, finding that solar energy provision – once considered an indulgence of rich urban elites or last-ditch, expensive and only partial solutions for off-grid locations – is beginning to 'fall in love' with solar energy. 19 S G
According to Derek Wilke, of Northcliff High School, the core reasons for the choice of a solar energy system were to reduce the school's electricity costs and to be more environmentally friendly. Northcliff obtained its system two months ago through Get Off Grid, another local entity which has since partnered with Zeroth Energy. Wilke says there has been a noticeable change in students' attitudes since their new solar system came on stream. 'There is lots of growing interest. We have installed a TV which shows learners the details of what energy has been produced, how much this is reducing the school's carbon footprint and, if using conventional energy, how much (coal) the school would be using with a conventional system.' This school installed a 24kWh grid-tied system in September. Consumption did drop a large amount in October, but a one-week holiday at the start of the month meant it was difficult to gauge exactly what ongoing savings would look like.
therefore savings. 'On good days we hope to cover about 30% of our day-time usage and more than cover our base-load
For example, the school's August bill showed a
usage on weekends and holidays. I believe it will also
33 139kWh usage at a cost of R91 128. October (the
show parents and pupils that we are confident that
first full month of solar energy usage) consumption
this is the way to go and will encourage more people
had dropped by about a third to 22 571kWh, at a
to think upon these lines.
cost of R60 217. But to understand the impact more
'As we are making use of a five-year rent-to-own
precisely, the one-week holiday must be borne in
solar system, we know that within a relatively short
mind, plus the reduced summer electricity tariff
period of time we will have significant savings, and
for October. The initial system is designed to cover
due to the 25-year plus warranty on panels, we hope
base-time usage during weekends and holidays and
to have at least 20 years of free energy. We hope with
so only will cover about 15% of day-time usage,
the savings to invest in more solar for the school as
assuming there is no cloud cover.
well as extending our borehole irrigation into more
With all relevant considerations taken into account, indications are that steady savings will be recorded in coming months. According to Wilke, the system being used at Northcliff was 'extremely easy' to install.
parts of the school. 'I think that more schools should make use of solar. As we have at this stage gone for the most cost-effective grid-tied solution (no batteries – which is a disadvantage when Eskom is down) we are paying
'It took roughly a week, with one or two changes
on the rental only a little bit more than what we
to the inverter software so that it could accommodate
would be paying Eskom for the same energy, weather
the higher than normal voltage that comes into the
dependant.
school,' he adds. The school is now doubling up on its existing system, which will obviously double its capacity, and
'In other words, on good sunny days we are essentially paying off the rental with money that would've gone to Eskom.'
Changing the thought process of schools, parents and their students to see the solar way. S G 20
evaluation will be made after about three months of usage. 'I am of the opinion that in the short-, medium – and long-term, taking into account massive electricity cost increases, all schools should consider this option. There will always be challenges, depending on the type of school, availability of funds and the mind-set of school bodies. But these sorts of systems will also influence the future and the way forward, especially with expensive electricity costs, power outages and load shedding.'
Evidence of effects As time goes on, people are seeing solar arrays in all arenas of life, from shopping centres to small and large businesses and homes. Any operation that consumes a large portion of its power utilisation during the day is now in a position to make a This strategy makes particular sense to schools
money-saving investment in solar. Both the sheer
that are high consumers and with high rates. Schools
economics of such a move, and the fact that using
that are, for example, on cheaper rural rates or in
renewable energy sets the groundwork for a better
areas where electricity isn't as expensive, would have
future for all, indicates that a growing number of
to take a longer-term view on savings which should
individuals and organisations, including schools, are
be achieved through a similar system.
likely to take this route.
Another example
financial commitment of a solar installation, but
Jas Fourie, of Laerskool President Pretorius in
as more installations come on line, consumers are
Potchefstroom, says this school chose its system
beginning to have faith in solar technology, say
shortly after the Northcliff project and used the
industry players.
services of Get Off Grid and Zeroth Energy in partnership.
Consumers have in general been nervous of the
'We are seeing an increase every year in the number of electric cars being developed and I believe
'The main thought behind the conversion to solar
we can draw a parallel with solar in this respect. The
electricity was based on the ever-increasing municipal
more we see, the greater the faith in the technology
accounts,' explains Fourie. 'In addition, increased
and thus the greater the interest in the product,' says
usage would cost about R10 000 more monthly.
Zeroth's partner Get Off Grid.
We also found that voltage drops were adversely affecting the life-span of electrical equipment and computers.
So what is the catch? According to those involved on the ground, there isn't one. Perhaps, then, it is time for those involved in
'The governing board decided it would take the
a key aspect of our collective future – educators,
opportunity of a commitment of R10 041 a month
educational managers and educational administrators
for a period of 10 years to install a solar solution,
– to collectively realise that applying solar energy
especially in the light of current high electricity cost
solutions in schools is good for everyone, from the
increases yearly.
learners and their institutions, both being direct
'Being something new, the children were very interested, especially so after all 92 solar panels were on the roofs. Teachers explained to them what it was all about and what the outcome would be. 'The system has been in place through October to
beneficiaries, to the emergent cadre of technicallyoriented school-leavers and graduates. As Simply Green has been saying from the outset, a solar future is a good future for everyone – and for the planet.
SG
November 2017 and there is definitely a change in the amounts of electricity usage, but a more precise
For more info please visit www.zeroth.co.za
21 S G
C arbon E conomy
AFTER
COP23 South Africa's carbon standing S G 22
S outh Africa's position in the Low Carbon Economy Index 2017 highlights that adaptation efforts toward resilience are essential to help brace for the future. So says PwC, which has recently conducted an analysis that shows that the 'carbon intensity' of the global economy fell by 2.6% in 2016, a clear step-change in the right direction from business as usual. But the question is this change enough? The answer seems overwhelmingly to be not merely 'no', but actually 'far too little and far too late'. We take a look.
N
ever
mind
Copenhagen's
hyper-ambitious
1.5ºC upper limit to average global warming – that's just never going to happen, given that
we are already sitting at .9ºC and edging quickly towards 1ºC, with another 30-year CO2 time-lag still to kick in and
which will certainly take us past the previous upper 'safe' or, more accurately, the 'manageable' upper limit target of 2ºC average warming. As anyone who has paid attention to the debate and the evolving science which is driving it, beyond 2ºC increase in average global temperature marks a point of no return – some argue convincingly we are already there – and into a rapidly escalating run-away situation wherein feedback loops such as increasing-towards-exponential releases of previously trapped methane adds greenhouse gas 'rocket fuel' to the warming mix. This in turns sees 3ºC and then, rapidly, 4ºC come and go as we head inexorably into extinction-level climate change of 5-6ºC warmer. It's not a pretty picture. While Simply Green has always tried to tell the 'good greening news', there is also no advantage in hiding one's head in the sand and hoping the future is miraculously going to 'turn out ok in the end' when the future might in fact be our end, without a truly radical change to our current trajectory. The PwC report doesn't go so far, but it does say that country progress (towards CO2 targets) on average fall a long way short of the 6.3% reductions needed every year to limit warming to two degrees Celsius. South Africa's results in the PwC Low Carbon Economy Index (LCEI) over the last eight years shows evidence of progress in transitioning to a less carbon-intensive economy as a result of a decrease in what is rated as 'intensity' since 2009. However, this progress stalled after an increase in 'carbon intensity', coupled with limited economic growth, from 2015 to 2016. There is therefore a clear imperative to focus efforts on long-term resilience planning to ensure that as a country South Africa will be ready to adapt to future climate change impacts, says the analysis. We trust PwC will forgive us for reporting that this is something of a statement of the obvious as the Western Cape grapples with a crippling drought that threatens to have some six million Cape metropolitan residents queuing up for containers of water from 200 distribution points around this urban concentration. Again, not a pretty picture. How, for one thing, will such an eventuality affect
23 S G
Cape Town's and the Western Cape's critical tourism industry?
Carbon economy Returning to the issue of carbon emissions, it is clear in the wake of COP23 that no more than two-thirds of targeted emissions levels are being achieved. Put another way, on average countries are putting out 50% more CO2 than agreed targets allow. This can have only one meaning: we are going to hit higher average temperature levels, both atmospheric and oceanic, much sooner than models have predicted. More energy in the planet's system input on a more rapid basis can only lead to more and fiercer everything – so expect much wilder, weirder and unanticipated weather. We are already seeing this, but the numbers foretell an ongoing increase in intensity – and that is going to be for all sorts of weather events, from too much to too little rain, too much to too little sunshine,
A decade and a half ago Anita Roddick, Body Shop founder and activistentrepreneur, predicted that the next great global conflict would be over water, not oil – and already there are regional manifestations of the accuracy of her prediction.
cold when it should be warm, very hot when it should be cold and so on, including, as we have already seen
intentions are being met or likely to be met – and
in the Atlantic and Pacific, many more hyper-intense
again, the answer is not universally but in the main
storm events.
'no'.
The consequent disruptions to global food production and safety, as well as water distribution to a growing planetary population, are unknowable
The LCEI – now in its 9th year – tracks G20 countries'
at present and therefore present dire risks that we
progress in reducing the 'carbon intensity' of their
need to be planning to mitigate right now – or we will
economy. Specifically, this refers to energy-related
certainly be reacting too late when the reality hits, as
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per million dollars of
with the current Western Cape water crisis.
GDP. Countries at the bottom of the Index, including
The inevitable knock-on effects of these geophysical impacts are going to reflect in economic, social and political instabilities affecting national, regional and global security and peace.
Indonesia, Argentina, Turkey and SA, all have emissions growth exceeding their GDP growth. Jayne
Mammatt,
Director
of
Sustainability
and Climate Change at PwC, commented: 'Since
A decade and a half ago Anita Roddick, Body Shop
human-induced climate change is already well
founder and activist-entrepreneur, predicted that the
underway and mitigation levels are still too slow
next great global conflict would be over water, not oil
to achieve the global goals of less than two degree
– and already there are regional manifestations of the
average global warming, South Africa needs to shift
accuracy of her prediction.
more attention to implementation of adaptation
This is not to say that many good things aren't
S G 24
Carbon Index
measures that aid in building resilience.'
being done around the world, including in South
It is likely that SA will experience a combination
Africa, all contributing to what progress there has been
of physical (extreme weather events), policy (for
on reducing CO2 and other GHG emissions, thereby at
a low-carbon transition), markets and technology
the least delaying and slowing the impacts that are
(emerging technologies and new business models)
already foreseeable and beginning to manifest.
risks, she says.
The issue is whether what is being done is enough
We agree, as do most experts, of which South
– and the answer seems plainly to be 'no'. Also critical
Africa has an unusually large abundance contributing
is whether goals set by nation states with good
to international fora such as the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). SA's Department of Environmental Affairs' (DEA)
National Adaptation Strategy identifies drought, flash-floods and veld fires as the climate scenarios which will worst affect South Africa. But coastal inundations and major destructive storm events cannot be ruled out either. To be resilient, some fundamentals that South
necessary measures in place to support sectors that are sensitive to climate change (agriculture) to adapt effectively, adds the analysis. Says Mammatt: 'Many opportunities exist in South Africa to adapt to climate change. However, this requires more from all role-players within South Africa, as it forms an important part of achieving the interlinked Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).'
Africa therefore needs to have in place include an
The abiding question as COP23 fades into memory
energy mix with a substantial quantity of energy
is whether there is enough will, political focus on the
derived from different renewable sources, a plan
issues and money to do what is being said needs to
to ensure sustainable water supply during times
be done.
of drought, the necessary firebreaks in place in
If you agree with the assessments already
high-risk fire areas (which these days is the entire
provided, then it must be clear that something
country over the course of a single year), and
extraordinary will be required – not eventually but
adequate emergency services and disaster funds in
immediately – to avert outcomes that will make our
place to react when natural disasters strike.
current political uncertainties seem like a minor spat
A resilient country will also need to have the
on a kindergarten playground.
SG
Technical data Carbon budget: The annual 6.3% decarbonisation rate is an estimate of how rapidly countries need to reduce their energy related emissions by, while growing their economies, in order to limit global warming to 2°C. Nationally Determined Contributions: Under the UN climate negotiations process, countries have
made emissions pledges (Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs) and have the collective aim of limiting warming to 2°C by 2100. Emerging consensus among climate scientists is that the 2°C level will be reached decades sooner than the end of the century, perhaps sooner even than 2050, by some models. Low Carbon Economy Index (LCEI): The LCEI model combines energy-related carbon dioxide emissions with historic and projected GDP data, and the IPCC's carbon budgets. The model covers energy and macroeconomic data from individual G20 economies, as well as world totals. Details of
the model structure are available in the Appendix of the LCEI report. The analyses of the Paris (COP23) targets are based estimates of the decarbonisation rates implied by the NDCs submitted to UNFCCC and include the full national inventory of emissions (emissions from energy as well as land use change, forestry, and industrial process).
25 S G
R enewables
New round of Funding for Renewables in Developing Countries
The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) have opened a new round of funding for renewable energy projects in developing countries and has issued invitations for applications. The ADFD concessional loans are designed to fund transformative renewable energy projects specifically in developing countries. We report.
I 
t was announced in Abu Dhabi, UAE, recently
for new power generation in countries around the
that the International Renewable Energy Agency
globe. Accelerated renewable energy deployment
(IRENA), in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Fund
in developing countries expands access to energy,
for Development (ADFD), was inviting applications for
improves health and welfare, creates jobs and
renewable energy projects in developing countries.
drives economic growth,' said IRENA Director-General
Within the framework of the ADFD-funded US$350
Adnan Z Amin.
million IRENA/ADFD Project Facility, the current
'This new funding cycle provides greater
funding round of US$50m in concessional loans
opportunity for developing countries to access low
marks the sixth of seven annual cycles.
cost capital for renewable energy projects to drive
'In just the last few years, renewable energy has emerged as one of the most economical choices
S G 26
the energy transformation and achieve sustainable development,' he added.
'The continued partnership between ADFD and IRENA connects a stable and reputable source of
funding to places where it can have the most impact and where financing is one of the greatest challenges.' For his part, Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of ADFD, said: 'Since the announcement of the first funding cycle of the IRENA/ADFD Project Facility back in 2014, this unique partnership has continued to support replicable, scalable and economically feasible renewable energy projects in developing countries.'
'This new funding cycle provides greater opportunity for developing countries to access low cost capital for renewable energy projects.' - IRENA Director-General Adnan Z Amin
He added: 'The five previous cycles have attracted a host of impressive, innovative and sustainable
advancing the global sustainability mandate, we are
The International Renewable Energy Agency
delighted to open funding for the sixth cycle and
IRENA is mandated to be the global hub for renewable
continue our journey of socio-economic growth.'
energy cooperation and information exchange by 153
projects that go a long way in enhancing energy security worldwide. Following their contribution in
The funding from ADFD, provided through the
members (152 states and the European Union). Another
IRENA/ADFD Project Facility, offers sustainable and
27 countries are in the accession process and actively
affordable energy to millions of people with limited
engaged. IRENA promotes the widespread adoption
or no access to electricity.
and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, in
In the first four cycles, the Facility allocated
the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access,
US$189m to 19 renewable energy ventures across
energy security and low-carbon economic growth and
the globe, covering up to 50% of the project costs.
prosperity.
The loan approval process saw ADFD and IRENA
For more: www.irena.org, www.twitter.com/ irena and www.facebook.com/irena.org. Contact Timothy Hurst, Chief Communications Officer, IRENA, thurst@irena.org.
conduct a thorough assessment of entries in close collaboration to select projects that best fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The ventures funded in the first four cycles will bring online more than 100MW of renewable energy capacity and improve the livelihoods of over a million people through providing better access to energy.
Abu Dhabi Fund for Development
Spanning Asia, Africa, Latin America and Small
ADFD is a national organisation owned by the Abu Dhabi
Island Developing States, the projects cover the
government. Established in 1971, its purpose is to help
complete spectrum of alternative energy sources -
emerging countries by providing concessionary loans
wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and biomass - and
to finance sustainable development projects alongside
utilise a wide range of systems, such as hybrid,
other long-term investments and direct contributions.
off-grid, mini-grid and on-grid, including backup
In addition, the Fund manages government grants
storage.
offered by the Abu Dhabi government and monitors the
SG
course of the relevant projects. To date, it has invested
The projects selected for the fifth funding cycle will be announced in January 2018. Applications for the sixth cycle will be accepted until 17:00 GST on February 15, 2018. For more information, please visit www.irena.org/adfd
around AED80 billion in development projects across 84 countries.
For more: www.twitter.com/ABUDHABI_FUND and www.instagram.com/abudhabifund. Contact Fatima Al Blooshi, Manager of Media & Comm. Team, ADFD, falblooshi@adfd.ae.
27 S G
W ater C risis
Desalination only part of Mother City's water solution
S G 28
Cape Town will have at least one desalination plant operational before 'Day Zero' hits in May, when the citiy's taps are due to
R 
ecently, City of Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille briefed the media during a visit to
the Scientific Services Branch at the Athlone Wastewater Treatment Works.
run dry. Various other measures, some
The branch monitors the city's water
possibly temporary, will also contribute to
that the plans and partnerships ahead
something of a rushed 'fix' Cape Town's
quality year-round. De Lille was certain of the so-called 'mega-plant', due for construction in the harbour area,
climate change-driven water shortage
were well under way, with three more
crisis. But climate change's relentless
installed before the end of February at
pressure means both medium-term and
Monwabisi.
longer-term projects around the supply of
additional desalination plants to be the V&A Waterfront, Strandfontein and 'Cape Town will have three new desalination plants before the end
fresh water to some six million people are
of February. Two, Monwabisi and
inevitable. We take a look.
litres of water per day (ml/day). And
Strandfontein, will produce 7 million then there is the one at the Waterfront that will bring an additional 2ml/day. The mega-plant that we are looking at for more permanent use is at the Cape Town Harbour and the planning for that has started already. That will produce about 50ml/ day. 'The Waterfront plant will take the planning from the City and they will be self-reliant after February. It (the City's response to the water crisis) is (in the form of) partnerships and people who are willing to work with the City,' explained De Lille. 'I am proud of Capetonians. At the beginning of 2016 we were using 1.1bnl/day. We are now on 582ml/ day. As you can calculate we are (still) 82ml short of the 500ml mark. I am confident that Capetonians will reach the 500ml goal. People must still continue to save water even though we have pushed Day Zero to May, she added.
Pushed back The dreaded 'Day Zero' for Cape Town's taps to run dry had initially been projected for late March but has, thanks to severe measures on
29 S G
the supply side and a steady drop in demand, been pushed out by at least two months to sometime around mid-May (De Lille said most recently that it would be about May 13), by when, it is widely hoped, the winter rains will have set in. But weather conditions in Cape Town, always tricky to predict, have become even more so under the increasingly evident effects of climate change. Driving the drought has been a super-severe El Niño effect – raised surface sea temperatures in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of South America moving westwards – which has recently and suddenly switched over to the a La Nina effect, which is much the same but in which there is a cooling of sea-surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean which, in turn, influences atmospheric circulation. Both effects
As the implications of climate change have sunk in, it has become clear that looking even a few years into the future we may be seeing just the beginning of a continued and in essence permanently drier climate regime setting in for this region.
have far-reaching global implications as they can, alternatively, cause droughts and heat-waves or
Sub-Saharan semi-tropical Western, Eastern, Central
major flooding in regions in both Northern and
and Southern African zones well watered in summer
Southern hemispheres.
months, has also meant a small boost for Western
The reason Cape Town and its surrounding region of the Western Cape have been so badly hit
This 'strange' weather pattern has seen the ITCZ
is the culmination of two factors:
shift dramatically westwards and southwards in
•
This past El Niño lasted for 25 months from
recent weeks such that it stretched down the full
2014-16, the longest and hottest on record (the
length of the western coast of Africa, right through
previous longest was 24 months, 1957-59, and
Namibia (very unusually) and across the northern
covered two winters).
and central regions of the Western Cape, reaching
By dint of timing this just past El Niño affected
right down to Cape Town itself.
•
three winters creating a special low rainfall
The result has been a series of dramatic
problem for the South-Western Cape. This has
thunderstorms and some intense weather systems
resulted in a drought that is being described as
more normally associated with the Highveld and
the worst in living memory, but is likely to be
the hinterland summer rainfall season, plus some
both one of the worst the region has had in the
welcome rainfall for Western Cape dams, and even
last several hundreds to thousands of years,
a very late season cold front that, in the third week
and may well be an indicator of similar things
of November, dumped snow across some high-lying
to come.
regions of the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and the
Implications
S G 30
Cape dam levels.
Drakensberg. The short story is, as almost everyone now
As the implications of climate change have sunk
knows, that 'normal weather' may happen, but
in with authorities empowered to head off such
it is going to happen less frequently over time
disasters, it has become clear that looking even
while unusual or 'abnormal' weather will become
a few years into the future we may be seeing
increasingly frequent – in other words, 'no more
just the beginning of a continued and in essence
normal weather' in terms of planning, service
permanently drier climate regime setting in for this
provision, distribution patterns, farming activities
region.
and a host of other impacts.
Late spring and early summer downpours
The South African Weather Service said in late
instigated by the extremely unusual intrusion of
September, prior to the weird 'summer rainfall'
the normally more easterly-lying Inter-Tropical
type weather on late October and November, that it
Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which keeps most of the
was forecasting a 'weak La Nina' weather pattern to
Desalination Plants Planned For Cape Town. Source
develop in the early summer, raising expectations
desalination plants; the Atlantis and Cape Flats
for above-normal rainfall across large swathes of
aquifer projects; and the Zandvliet water recycling
the country, including parts of the maize belt.
project, which will be producing an additional
But it cautioned in its five-month forecast that
144ml/day between February and July.
the severe drought in the southwest of the country,
To keep essential services and vital industry
which includes the tourist hub of Cape Town,
running, the City authorities will, at the 13.5% dam
was expected to worsen despite forecasts for
storage level, turn off almost all taps. This will
above-average rainfall.
directly or indirectly affect about six million people in greater Cape Town and its surrounds.
Rationing continues
Despite that scenario being daunting as a
It is therefore entirely not surprising and correct
prospect, De Lille remains upbeat: 'That is Day Zero.
that Cape Town's water authorities are saying that
But if we all work together to continue to save water,
even if there is more 'unusual' summer rainfall for
that day may never have to come.'
Cape Town and its surrounds, and even if the 2018
If it does dawn, millions of resident of one of the
winter rainfall season starts early and strong, harsh
world's leading tourism destination centres will have
rationing is likely to continue – for the foreseeable
to collect a predefined amount of drinking water per
future at least, and maybe permanently.
person a day from about 200 collection sites across
Said De Lille: 'This is our new normal – we're in
the city. The quantity of water distributed would be
a permanent drought and we must get used to the
based 'on the minimum requirements for people to
fact that water will never be in abundance again.'
maintain health and hygiene'.
The Dutch government, which is experienced in the area of desalination, has already met with
SA's
national government, and a meeting with the City authorities was imminent. 'We have already brought additional water from
At present, the plan is to distribute 25l/day per person, which is in line with the World Health Organisation recommendation.
Desalinisation or not
the Molteno reservoir in Oranjezicht and the Atlantis
While the UAE, the Israelis and others have gone far
aquifer, with 2ml/day and 5ml/day from these
in the world of cost-efficient desalinisation (most
sources, respectively. At this stage, there are seven
modern plants work with reverse osmosis technology
projects already under way in the first phase,' she
rather
added.
solutions), it has become clear in the scramble to
than
other
more
energy-consumptive
These projects are Monwabisi, Strandfontein,
avoid 'Day Zero' in Cape Town that desalinisation
the V&A Waterfront, and Cape Town Harbour
will not, on its own, be sufficient to deal with the
31 S G
That may be true for early 2018, but it is clear from
problem, either quickly or permanently. Cape Town's planning authorities say they will
how rapidly and unexpectedly (for some) the Cape
bring various 'reserves' or alternative water supplies on
Town water crisis has come on, that there are going to
line incrementally from modular desalination plants,
be further challenges down the line – groundwater, for
groundwater abstraction and water reuse. These plans
one thing, relies ultimately on absorbed run-off from
will be at different locations across the city.
rains and if the rains are not coming then groundwater
In the medium term, Cape Town needs at least one, preferably two (for redundancy purposes) large-scale
too will run dry at some point (with attendant other problems that are not for discussion in this article).
desalination plants in the order of 300-400ml/day. But building even one will be a multi-year project. Because the current challenge is firstly a short-term
into existing infrastructure, within the constraints of
crisis, the city authorities have opted instead for not one
that infrastructure, in a process that will come online
large-scale desalination plant – at least, not yet – but
'in a matter of months', and other water 'reserves' will
several elements to formulate a short-term response. The
be tapped, it is obvious and inevitable that large-scale
resort to multiple smaller and incrementally introduced
desalinisation as an addition to – and perhaps eventually,
plants and alternate water supplies has allowed the
as the main source of – Cape Town's fresh water storage
planning authorities to 'respond quickly and adapt to
and recycling system is inescapable.
the drought'. The promise from De Lille and her specialists is the
SG
Resources
Cape Town will not actually run out of water and that
•
Water plan video
'Day Zero' will be avoided.
•
Desalination plants 'no quick fix for drought'
El Nino & La Nina S G 32
So while, for the time being, several small-scale desalination plants at multiple locations will inject water
What is El Nino? El Niño is the warming of sea-surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean which influences atmospheric circulation, and consequently rainfall and temperature in specific areas around the world. El Niño is translated from Spanish as the boy child. Peruvian anchovy fishermen traditionally used the term – a reference to the Christ child – to describe the appearance of a warm ocean current off the South American coast around Christmas. Over the years the term El Niño has come to be reserved for the sequence of changes in the circulation across the Pacific Ocean and Indonesian archipelago when warming is particularly strong. Approximately 14 El Niño events affected the world between 1950 and 2003. Amongst them was the 1997/98 event, by many measures the strongest thus far this century, although South Africa escaped the impact
term 'cold event'. This situation is reflected by negative SST anomalies. The Walker circulation intensifies and
the SOI consequently becomes positive during this event.
What about ENSO? The changes in the Pacific Ocean are represented by the term El Niño/La Nina, while changes in the atmosphere are known as the Southern Oscillation. Because these two cannot be separated, the term ENSO is often used. ENSO refers to both El Niño and La Nina.
The scientific definition for ENSO A scientific definition was recently developed to help scientists to identify ENSO events. When the three-month running mean of the SST anomalies in the Nino 3.4
of it to some extent.
region are greater than or equal to 0.5°C, there is a
What is La Nina?
the anomalies are smaller than or equal to – 0.5°C, there
La Nina is the cooling of sea-surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean which influences atmospheric circulation, and consequently rainfall and temperature in specific areas around the world. La Nina, Spanish for the little girl, is the opposite of El
good chance of an El Niño event taking place. When is a good chance of a La Nina event taking place. Take note, however, that strong ENSO events (which are more likely to affect our seasonal climate) have a larger SST anomaly and normally last for a period much longer than three months.
Niño. Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the equatorial Pacific become cooler than normal, giving rise to the
Source
Water doesn’t come from a tap. Water goes on a long and complicated journey to get to you.
Visit journeyofwater.co.Za to learn more about where your water comes from. Photo Š Hougaard Malan
33 S G
COMPANY PROFILE
WHAT A what ARE people asking? 1] What causes the PONG in domestic effluent? 2] How do we treat it? 3] What is the difference between a masking perfume and a fragrance which eliminates malodours? For answers and more Q&A click here
S G 34
PONG Sannitree International is a diversified international company
offering its customers a wide variety of microbial based products specifically related to waste treatment. It is a research-based company and aims to be the market leader in its chosen field. Let's take a closer look at this company and some of their 100% environmentally friendly, biodegradable products for the treatment of organic waste and waste water.
S 
annitree International began in South Africa in 1981 when Mike Mayne initiated the idea of providing economical sewage treatment
in rural areas, farms and settlement camps. At this early stage he realised the need to treat the sewage with something that would rapidly break it up, but at the same time not harm the environment. Together with Dr PG Celliers, one of the world's most respected enzymologists, they began testing, analysing and marketing their very first microbial based product, Sannitree Bio-Enzymes. Mike was then joined by Gordon Bruce (Director, Finance and administration) and Brian Goodman (Director, Marketing & International Development). Today, the group is represented by distributors in numerous countries around the world. Sannitree International markets more than 15 niche products ranging from granules for septic tanks and grease traps to special enzymes based odour digesters and
granules to convert the
ammonia levels found in pig sty's. The Company has achieved a level of business commensurate with its well proven reputation for Quality and Service and maintains and improves an ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Programme in order to further endorse this position. Let's take a quick look at their PONG range.
WEE PONG
TANK PONG Many of us are doing all we can to save rainwater and greywater in tanks but you may not have anticipated smelly
your
just
how
greywater
can become after just a few days of storage. If this is putting you off using the water in your garden, try Tank Pong. This simple enzymatic solution makes ponging tank water fresh-smelling and safe to use in your garden again.
TURF PONG You’ve laid artificial grass and it looks and feels great. When you installed it you were told cleaning it was simply a matter of hosing it down. But every time you turn the hose on it, the stench of dog urine seems to get worse, not better! You've probably
tried
a
range
of
disinfectants and bactericides but nothing seems to work.
Water shortages are now critical. We need to be doing all we can to save every drop before we run out. Wee Pong is Sannitree's solution to help home-owners and ordinary people seriously save water. The average toilet uses 6l of water with every flush. This simple
Sannitree's solution for artificial grass utilises a combination of enzymes and bacteria that work together to first stop the smell in its tracks, then eliminate the source of the odour. If you've own dogs (or cats for that matter), urine smells on artificial grass can be an ongoing problem. TurfPong is just the start of managing the problem.
enzymatic spray solution allows you to leave urine in the toilet bowl without suffering the unpleasant smells
associated
with
stagnant and decomposing urine.
Check out our web site below for more information and read our blog here.
www.sanNitree.co.za 35 S G
P roperty
How Hom Cope With S G 36
As the Western Cape drought looks set to continue for the foreseeable future, the region's property industry is one of many industries affected. The controversial drought tax that's currently being planned is further motivation for property owners to reduce consumption. We take a look at how property owners are coping.
me-Owners h Drought
37 S G
A 
ccording to Greeff Properties CEO Mike
ultimately changes the
Greeff, a significant increase in the sale
way we see our homes.
and appeal of homes with boreholes and
And so, the homes of
automated irrigation systems has been seen more
the future will have the
recently.
future of the planet in
Potential homeowners and investors are on the lookout for homes with suitable green features as these not only helps their home living experience
Gardening
more amenable with respect to the current climate
With
(intense heat waves and extended drought), but
of
also adds value to the home in the event of a future
gardening
resale.
again rise in popularity.
From indigenous planting to thermally efficient
the
arrival
summer,
However,
will
home once
with
the
design, energy-efficient homes are the way of the
drought in full force
future.
in the Western Cape,
Both what we do in the garden and with our
some gardening tips
home design, as well as appliance usage, all adds
are an additional aid
up to solid advice for minimising water-use for
in how to beat the
property owners, as well as reducing energy costs.
drought.
Evolution
Starke Ayres, who have been in the industry since
With the Western Cape experiencing one of its
the late 1870s, shared some useful pointers on how
driest periods in decades, the property sector is
to effectively garden your home:
evolving. Some see this as a reactionary measures
Gardening experts
to deal with temporary circumstances, others see
Trim
this as a natural progression in the way we design
By reducing the size of shrubs, their need for water
and build our homes.
is decreased and thus the rate of evaporation is too.
The interaction between our homes and the environment has always been a contentious point
Mulch
with design purists maintaining that a home should
Mulch all planted areas with a layer of organic
incorporate itself as much as possible into the space
material such as peach kernels. Apart from feeding
that it occupies while using as much of the natural
the soil, mulch also dramatically reduces water loss
terrain as well as indigenous building materials.
and keeps soil cool.
And while there few indications that the current weather conditions are adversely affecting property
What to plant
prices, research shows that future buyers will be
Everyone knows that succulents are a must and
willing to pay higher prices for energy-efficient
there are numerous options – keep in mind,
homes.
however, that your water-wise plant list will be
These thoughts are echoed by Greeff Christie's
more extensive. These will include: Aloes – they are
International Real Estate CEO Mike Greeff, 'In response
low-maintenance, offer unexpected winter bloom
to the Western Cape's drought, homeowners and
and also attract sugarbirds and butterflies to
developers are encouraged to relook the way they
a well-placed pot. Other options also include:
incorporate the "green factor" into their homes. By
crassulas, vygies and cotyledons which are all more
adapting home design and current home features to
likely to require less water than the average plant.
best suit and accompany the necessary water-saving landscape for future developers and homeowners
Boreholes & water tanks
in a skilled and mindful manner. The inclusion of
If you are equipped with a borehole or water tanks,
energy and water saving devices into home design
you should water deeply and infrequently. Saturate
trends, they are conscientiously changing the
S G 38
mind.'
The inclusion of energy and water saving devices into home design ultimately changes the way we see our homes. And so, the homes of the future will have the future of the planet in mind. an area while aiming to mimic a good rainfall area
energy-efficient is to reduce the flow of heat into
and you may get away with only having to water
and out of the house. Ceiling and roof insulation
every few weeks.
serve to conserve heat in winter, and maintain cooler
Small manageable areas
temperatures in summer. Climatic regions can make a difference in the level of insulation necessary for a comfortable living environment within a home. In
Hone in on your gardening efforts by focusing on
mild climates like the Western Cape, comfort can
small areas such as a collection of herbs, succulents
be achieved without much heating or cooling, if
or potted plants. Be creative with decking, pebbles
appropriate thermal designs are implemented.
and stepping stones to minimise lawned areas.
Future design trends – thermal efficiency
Water-saving The inclusion of water-saving features appeals to the sense of responsibility that we all have, and
Thermally-efficient design through the intelligent
will no doubt add to a home's overall desirability.
orientation and placement of windows is a key
Toilets use large amounts of fresh drinking water.
element in the home. Windows allow solar energy
However, with good maintenance and simple
to enter a home. While this is desirable in winter
water-saving initiatives, toilet water consumption
it can be a curse during the summer months.
can be significantly reduced. Older toilet cisterns
In the Southern hemisphere houses should face
with a syphon flushing system hold 9-12l of water.
North. North-facing windows should be larger than
Modern toilet cisterns hold about 6l of water.
South-facing windows but not too large. The sun's
Converting your toilet to a multi-flush system, which
position in the sky also changes seasonally and an
flushes for as long as the handle is held down, or a
appropriately designed overhang or awning will
dual-flush system, which offers long and short flush
limit sunlight entering the home in summer months
options, can cut water consumption by up to 20%.
and let in more sunlight during winter. The addition
Water-efficient showerheads deliver around
of an overhang or awning to your home's windows
6-10l of water per minute. They reduce the amount
is a very cost-effective and sustainable method of
of water that flows out of a showerhead, without
temperature regulation.
affecting the quality of the showering experience.
One of the best ways to make a house more
This is done by adding air to the flow of water,
39 S G
Not all groundwater is necessarily ideal for irrigating plants. Although they are generally not considered a sustainable solution to water conservation, boreholes can help reduce our dependence on fresh drinking water for garden maintenance. increasing the size of water droplets much like a
and boreholes is expensive and should be fully
high-pressure hose. A water-efficient showerhead
researched beforehand. Also, not all groundwater
saves up to 50% of water, and also reduces
is necessarily ideal for irrigating plants. Although
water-heating electricity consumption.
they are generally not considered a sustainable
Appliances
help reduce our dependence on fresh drinking
Making smart choices when buying a new
water for garden maintenance. Groundwater plays
household appliance can have a significant impact
an important role in the environment. During
on your water and energy use. Look for water –
dry periods, groundwater replenishes low-flowing
and energy-efficient products. Dishwashers use an
rivers. During wet periods, the opposite occurs:
average of 40-75l of water per wash, although very
the rivers and surface drainage replenish the
efficient machines can use as little as 13l. More
groundwater. To ensure that borehole water
efficient machines will also use less electricity.
is not polluted or overexploited, the amount
Machines with economy or half-load washing
of groundwater that is extracted needs to be
cycles will reduce water consumption by 37% and
monitored, and all boreholes must be registered
energy use by 29%. Large washing machines use
with the municipality.
an average of 150l per wash – as much water as a bath. High-efficiency washing machines use about
Green appeal
30% less water and 40-50% less electricity. Look for
Greeff adds: 'In recent months we have seen a
machines that consume 37-45l of water per wash.
significant increase in the sale and appeal of homes
Boreholes & wells
S G 40
solution to water conservation, boreholes can
with boreholes and automated irrigation systems. Potential homeowners and investors are on the
Boreholes and well-points draw underground water
lookout for homes with suitable green features
for irrigation purposes. A well-point is normally
as it not only makes their home living experience
an installation with a pump mounted at ground
hassle-free in dealing with the current climate, but
level that draws up water via a suction pipe
also adds value to the home in the event of a future
from a maximum depth of 8-10m. Boreholes, in
resale. While our current drought status may not
turn, can be shallow at a depth of about 30m, or
be an everlasting issue, energy-efficient homes
deeper at 100m or more. Installing well-points
certainly will be,' Greeff concludes.
SG
W ater N ews reducING water consumption and savING cash in the process too. Here are some brief and simple tips most of us can apply water level for the load
•
Shorter showers with less pressure
•
Install a water saving shower head – under $10
•
Ensuring taps, water pipes and hose connections
•
gardens
to
reduce
watering
food colouring in the cistern, wait for a while
•
Installing drip irrigation systems
and check the bowl for signs of color – be sure
•
Cutting grass a little longer during summer – or remove lawn
Buy clothing made with fibers that aren’t so
•
Reduce the temperature of water heaters which
water intensive; such as hemp
lessens the amount of mixing needed to achieve
Installing rainwater tanks or even just a small
a temperature that won’t scald your skin •
rain barrel •
Mulching
requirements
Checking toilets for leaks. Use a few drops of
to flush afterwards prevent staining. •
Watering gardens just after sunrise or just after sunset to reduce evaporation – if allowed
•
don’t drip •
•
Using
greywater
from
sinks
and
Install dual flush toilets or displacement devices in cisterns
washing
machines to water the garden
•
Fill a dishwasher completely before running it
•
Using low-water car washes
•
Don’t use water to accelerate thawing of food
•
Installing tap aerators
•
Instead of using a sink rubbish disposal unit,
•
Turning off the tap while brushing teeth
•
Turning off the tap while shaving
•
Washing veggies in a sink partially filled with water instead of under a running tap
•
Setting washing machines at the lowest possible
establish a compost pile or worm farm •
Use drought-tolerant plants in your garden and drought resistant grass for lawn
•
Never use a hose to blast leaves or litter off a driveway – sweep it, it’s good exercise too
DEDICATED TO BRINGING YOU WATER Whether it is purifying groundwater or desalinating seawater, Novasurge provides the filtration, so you can connect your home or office to a source of water, during times of need. In the event that borehole water or seawater is unavailable, Novasurge also supplies atmospheric water generators. These systems condense vapour from the air, to give you purified, mineralized drinking water.
www.novasurge.co.za
41 S G
W ater N ews TOP SA MUSICIANS SING TO SAVE WATER Some of South Africa’s biggest musical names are helping Capetonians and visitors to the city save water through a special Shower Songs playlist made up of two-minute versions of their biggest hits. So press play, jump in and shower for the length of a song (or better yet, shorter), remember to switch off the shower while you soap-up and you’ll be well on your way to saving water and sticking to your allotted 87l per day. The 2 Minute Shower Songs playlist features 10 major South African musical names – including Mi Casa, Kwesta, Jimmy Nevis and Springbok Nude Girls. Each artist has recorded a unique remixed version of one of their most popular songs. An innovative initiative by Sanlam, the playlist has been created in association with the City of Cape Town and Cape Town Tourism and aims to practically help people keep their showers short. For punk rock star Francois van Coke, a Capetonian, the crisis is very much part of his daily life. 'I’ve been catching and reusing grey water, keeping showers short and flushing the toilet less. I’ve already experienced water rationing and that’s a sign of things to come. I wanted to do this campaign to make people aware – I think it’s about getting the word out there about how intense it is.' Far from just being shortened versions of the original, the songs have all been remixed and rerecorded with a unique sound that demonstrates that, just like showers, shortened can be just as amazing as the original. 'If I can speed rap in under two minutes, then I feel people can cut their shower time too,' says hip-hop star Rouge. The initiative is aimed at effecting permanent change in people’s showering habits – not just in Cape Town and not just in the short-term. Yegs Ramiah, chief executive of Sanlam Brand, the organisation that originally challenged the artists to rework their tracks, says while Cape Town’s water issues are dire in the short-term, the whole country faces long-term challenges. 'We are one of the 30 most water-scarce countries in the world, so we see this as relevant to the whole nation not just today, but over the long-term.' 'The goal in the Western Cape is to use no more than 87l a day per person and cutting down on
S G 42
water-guzzling shower time will go a long way to getting this right,' says Ramiah. 'National and international awareness is also critical because of the massive influx of tourists in the Western Cape over the festive season.' Sanlam has been involved in water conservation through a partnership with the WWF for many years, so an initiative to help reduce water consumption was a natural fit. Patricia de Lille, Mayor of Cape Town, says 'This is a truly amazing initiative. Thank you to everyone involved in this campaign for coming on board to help us with this important message of saving water because water is life. It shows that private sector players are taking our city messages and using them to develop and drive their own water-awareness campaigns. It is exactly what we have been hoping to see. There are so many businesses which have been top water ambassadors throughout this crisis. With the help of most of our residents, we have managed to halve our water consumption. It has been an amazing effort but we need to do more. The crisis is severe and while the City spends day-and-night trying to get additional water online to avoid a day when our taps run dry, all residents must join in to save. We can only make it through this drought together and what a fun way to play your part by jamming in the shower for two minutes or less to some of these great songs by our amazing talents. Thank you again Team Cape Town for saving water and thank you to everyone who joined this great cause.'
Visit www.2minuteshowersongs.co.za to download the songs for free and find some helpful water saving tips.
schools water saving
BLUE FLAG SEASON
The recently launched Smart Water Meter Challenge aims to install smart water meters at 270 schools in the drought-stricken Western Cape. Water savings at a single school during the trial period has been over a million litres per month. The initiative, a partnership between Shoprite Group, Bridgiot, Cape Talk and Pragma Asset Management has seen a rapid uptake in smart meter devices being sponsored by corporate citizens. The School Challenge is open for any schools across the Western Cape to sign up.
WESSA organised a ceremony recently to celebrate
For more info, to sign up a school or to pledge a Smart Water Meter click here.
Full Story
NEW water generator
WASTE STREAM YARN
According to the United Nations, urbanisation combined with the growth of the world's population is likely to add another 2.5 billion people by 2050. Seeking to meet the needs of a global community that is increasingly urban, a company named NexLoop has created a system to sustainably serve the needs of urban farmers. Called AquaWeb, the prototype is inspired by webs crafted by cribellate orb weaver spiders which capture water fog from the air. It is the recipient of the 2017 Ray of Hope Prize from the Ray C Anderson Foundation and the Biomimicry Institute.
The Econyl Regeneration System turns discarded nylon products such as fish nets, carpets and other textiles into new nylon fibers. Due to the chemical properties of nylon, the molecules can be ‘unzipped’ and returned to their original state an infinite number of times without any loss of quality or performance. The resulting product is a continuous filament nylon with the same performance characteristics of conventional oil-based nylon. It is then used widely for carpet flooring, clothing and other textiles.
the new Blue Flag season, which officially started on November 1. Sixty-two Blue Flags will be flying at 44 beaches, seven marinas and on 11 sustainable tourism boats around the country over the 2017/18 South African Blue Flag season. During the ceremony, the Minister of Tourism, Tokozile Xasa, stated the importance of the Blue Flag programme for the local economy. The Blue Flags programme is widely recognised as spreading a message of environmental education and management
Full Story
Full Story
43 S G
Energy
 3D printing
N O I T A V INNO
S G 44
3D printing is key to new fractal-like concentrating solar power receivers that are claimed to be 20% more effective at absorbing sunlight than current technology. Nadav Shemer reports for New Energy Update.
S 
andia National Laboratories engineers designed the receivers as part of a Laboratory Directed Research & Development (LDRD) program backed by the US government. The findings
are being applied to Sandia’s work for SERIIUS, the joint Solar Energy
Research Institute for India and the United States. While most concentrating solar power facilities throughout the world are large, India is interested in developing 1MW or smaller facilities to provide power for small villages and communities. Improving the efficiency of these smaller receiver designs is a key step toward making that goal a reality. Sandia engineers developed and tested the new receivers at the National Solar Thermal Testing Facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They studied the receivers’ ability to withstand high temperatures and pressures while absorbing sunlight as heat that can be stored or transferred to a power cycle to generate electricity. Some previous attempts at improving the efficiency of solar receivers has focused on special coatings that are applied to the receiver. According to Sandia, many of these coatings are susceptible to breaking down over time, which reduces the ability of the receiver to absorb sunlight and the potential lifetime of the solar receiver itself while increasing costs due to reapplication and repair. Sandia says its new fractal-like receiver designs have increased solar absorption efficiency without the need for special coatings. The Sandia team has pioneered the use of a 3D printing technique called powder-bed fusion to print their small-scale receiver designs from Iconel 718, a high-temperature nickel alloy. For the high-temperature testing, they used both Inconel 718 and alumina. However, the alumina is white and not conducive to solar receivers unless it is painted or coated, said Sandia engineer Cliff Ho. Their claim of a 20% improvement was based on the increase in effective solar absorptance over the intrinsic material solar absorptance due to the novel geometric features that allowed light to be reflected toward other absorbing surfaces of the receiver, Ho said. 'The 3D printing allowed us to generate these complex geometries,' he said. 'For the small prototypes that we constructed, we did not compare the cost with other traditional methods, which would have required extrusion, machining, and welding, but the cost of printing the one-of-a-kind prototypes was pretty expensive. We anticipate that for larger-scale, higher production components, the cost savings could be significant.' Sandia sees 3D printing playing a role in not only solar thermal receivers, Ho said, 'but other CSP components as well, including heliostat structures, heat exchangers, headers, valves, turbomachinery, and other components with complex features or geometries.'
SG
For the full story click here.
45 S G
Energy
NUCLEAR PLANS FOR SOUT WILL FACE RESISTANCE AT S G 46
Earthlife Africa Jhb, Greenpeace Africa and the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) have officially filed a notice informing the Department of Environmental Affairs that the three organisations intend to jointly appeal the environmental authorisation for the construction and operation of a new nuclear power station in Duynefontein, just north of Koeberg in Cape Town. We take a look.
TH AFRICA ALL LEVELS
P
enny-Jane Cooke, Climate and Energy Campaigner for Greenpeace Africa, says 'We believe that the Environmental Impact Assessment’s failure to
properly assess the impacts of the proposed nuclear power station creates a real risk. If this project goes ahead, it will infringe the environmental rights of both present and future generations. This authorisation can and must be challenged.' The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process has been underway for nearly a decade, and has been heavily contested by affected communities and broader South African society because of the potentially far-reaching implications of the construction of a new nuclear power station. Choosing a site in the midst of Cape Town will only fuel the resistance that has dogged nuclear plans from the moment that they were announced. Francesca de Gasparis, Executive Director at the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) says, 'SAFCEI
– along with Earthlife Africa Johannesburg, Greenpeace Africa, the #UniteBehind campaign, and many civil society and engaged community partners – invite everyone to join the #StopCorruptNuclearSA campaign. We are saying 'No' to President Zuma and his shuffled ministers, who want to build a new nuclear power plant near Koeberg outside of Cape Town.' Says de Gasparis, 'Independent science is clear about the most suitable energy solutions for the South African people and the economy, and it does not include nuclear energy. As a multi-faith constituency, we call for ethical governance and affordable, and just energy solutions for South Africa now. In our role as custodians of the living earth, we strongly advocate for an energy plan that invests in and includes much more renewable energy, sustainable jobs and less damage and risk to citizens, and the environment.' Makoma Lekalakala, Senior Programmes Officer for Earthlife Africa, Johannesburg says, 'The Department of Environmental Affairs must safeguard the environmental rights of all South Africans and we feel that they have failed in this duty by authorising the construction of this nuclear power station. The Department has chosen to follow the recommendations of a flawed Environmental Impact Assessment report, which were based on outdated, and incomplete information, as well as assumptions that are not justified or justifiable. We believe that this authorisation stands to be set aside on appeal.' The detailed appeal was submitted at the end of November and the organisations are seeking legal advice in terms of the way forward.
SG
47 S G
NGOs MAKE URGENT HIGH COURT APPLICATION TO HALT RUSHED NUCLEAR DEAL
E nergy N ews
S G 48
Earthlife Africa Johannesburg
absence of a lawful determination in terms
(ELA-JHB) and the Southern African
Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) launched an
of s34 of the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA), in concurrence of the National Energy
Regulator (NERSA), following a procedurally fair public participation process.
urgent High Court application
This determination would have to specify
in a further attempt to halt
that new nuclear energy electricity generation
what appears to be a rush by
is needed, and what percentage of South Africa’s energy mix it would fulfil. This
government in decision-making on the nuclear energy deal. This follows their request to the
is notwithstanding news reports indicating that the Minister of Finance, Malusi Gigaba, (ahead of his medium-term budget speech)
Ministers of Energy and Public
stated that the economy cannot afford
Enterprises, NERSA, and Eskom
nuclear at the present moment and that
to confirm their commitment
there are no intensive energy users taking up even the current generation capacity.
to following the legal process
Secondly, the court will also be asked to
of public consultation over any
direct the Minister of Energy and Eskom to
proposed nuclear deal.
provide written reports on what steps they have taken, and the future steps they intend
Government had untill Monday 13 November
taking, in relation to the procurement of new
to respond, but by Wednesday had supplied
electricity generation capacity derived from
no meaningful responses and the two
nuclear power.
organisations are now having to ask the
Should the evidence confirm that the
court to order the relevant parties to comply.
Minister and/or Eskom have taken any steps
who
that are in contempt of the judgment from
recently returned from the COP23 climate
April this year, the court will be asked to
conference in Germany says, 'We are part
grant the applicants’ leave to ask for an
of
against
order of contempt of court. 'We cannot have
dirty nuclear energy, where we have seen
unaccountable government', said Liz McDaid
governments enter into nuclear deals that
of SAFCEI. 'We have now seen overwhelming
are not in the interests of their people. That
evidence emerging into the public arena
must not happen in South Africa.'
that shows how state institutions have been
ELA-JHB’s
an
Makoma
international
Lekalakala,
movement
The Minister of Energy, David Mahlobo’s
captured and how money that is meant to
utterances in the press recently, imply that
deliver services to South Africans has gone
the finalisation of the Integrated Resource
into the pockets of looters. The nuclear
Plan (IRP) and the nuclear programme are
deal, purportedly worth over R1 trillion, is
being fast-tracked, yet the government
yet another one of these deals. South Africa
has failed to implement the necessary
cannot afford, nor does it need new nuclear
public participation required by the court
power generation capacity. I think South
judgement that was delivered on April 26
Africans have had enough.'
2017.
ELA-JHB
and SAFCEI are civil society
ELA-JHB and SAFCEI are asking the court
watchdogs and the Minister of Energy’s
to declare firstly, that no steps – including
determination to continue with the nuclear
the issuing of Request for Proposals or
deal, and at such speed, raises alarm bells.
Request for Information – may be taken
Ethical,
for the procurement of new electricity
cornerstone of democracy and we cannot
generation capacity, derived from nuclear
allow an unlawful and unconstitutional
power. Steps may not be taken in the
decision-making process to happen.
transparent
governance
is
the
Department of Environmental affairs shutdown by activists
Greenpeace Africa and Earthlife
no point coming to work if you are going to
Africa Jhb activists have
completely fail to do your job,' said Melita
confronted the Department of Environmental Affairs by
Steele, Senior Climate and Energy Campaign Manager for Greenpeace Africa. The Environmental Impact Assessment
blocking the main entrance to the
(EIA) for the new nuclear power station
Department with nuclear barrels.
has been a drawn-out process for nearly
The activists made a public demand that the Department of
a decade, with affected communities, civil society and South African citizens conned into contributing to what has been a flawed
Environmental Affairs withdraws
process from the start. The Minister has
the environmental authorisation
chosen to discard the input of civil society
that has been issued for a
and follow the recommendations of a
proposed nuclear power station at
flawed EIA report, which were based on outdated, and incomplete information, as
Duynefontein, adjacent to Koeberg
well as assumptions that are not justified or
in the Western Cape.
justifiable.
At dawn, Greenpeace Africa and Earthlife
appeal the environmental authorisation for
activists unloaded nuclear barrels filled with
Duynefontein is coming to an end. Earthlife
smoke and simulated a nuclear disaster. The
Africa and Greenpeace Africa demonstrated
activists held banners stating that nuclear is
their construction of a new nuclear power
never safe and that South Africans say no to
station in this country, and to call on the
nuclear. The main message ‘Stop Nuclear,
Minister to withdraw her approval.'
'The 30 day period for South Africans to
Protect our Future’ was being displayed
Activists would continue to blockade
on a massive banner, which hung from
the Ministry's entrance until demands were
the entrance to the building itself. The
met. They said, 'We are calling on all South
protest highlighted the fact that nuclear is
Africans to support us in our appeal to the
dangerous and expensive and should not be
Minister to retract the authorisation for
under consideration in South Africa.
Duynefontenin.' said Makoma Lekalakala,
'The Minister of Environmental Affairs is the custodian of the environment for
Senior Programmes Officer for Earthlife Africa, Johannesburg.
South Africa. The Minister is tasked with
A detailed appeal has been submitted
ensuring that our constitutional right to
to the Minister, and Greenpeace, Earthlife
a healthy environment is protected for
Africa and SAFCEI will consider their legal
current and future generations. Approving
options in terms of the way forward, pending
the construction of a nuclear power station
a decision on the appeal by the Department
is outright negligence and the Minister is
of Environmental Affairs.
putting all South Africans at risk, including future generations. South Africans are
Greenpeace.org/africa
clearly saying no to nuclear, and there is
Earthlife.org.za
49 S G
E nergy & M obility N ews
UK'S WIND FARM FUTURE
CLEAN ENERGY RACE
Britain’s renewable energy industry is getting a huge boost, as the government just approved a second phase of the Hornsea offshore wind farm to add 1 800 MW of wind power capacity. The plans for Hornsea Project Two, which have been steadily gaining support for the past several years, won the greenlight this week from UK ministers, priming the country to house two of the world’s largest offshore wind farms. If the wind farm is built to full capacity, it is expected to generate enough clean energy to power 1.8 million homes across the UK.
Nuclear fusion is the holy grail of sustainable energy — a potentially unlimited source of pollution-free electricity that can power the world. No greenhouse gas emissions. Only helium and a neutron are produced. Now Google has jumped into the race to commercialise nuclear fusion technology, teaming up with California-based fusion company Tri Alpha Energy to develop a new computer algorithim that optimises plasma – an ionised gas that conducts electricity. Other private and public entities are racing to become the first to bring nuclear fusion to scale.
Full Story
Full Story
S G 50
RAINBOW BRIDGE
COLD WAR EFFECTS
A new proposal could lead to a nuclear power plant in the UK that literally shoots rainbows into the sky. UK-based master planning firm, One Creative Environments, submitted a landscape design proposal for Cumbria’s Moorside Power Plant that is equipped with two large glass towers that would use light and mist to create a continual arching rainbow over the site. A creative design competition, sponsored by the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Landscape Institute, called on designers to submit creative landscape proposals for the project.
Up until 1963, both the US and Soviet governments conducted over 500 atmospheric nuclear weapons tests. They blew up these weapons anywhere from 25km above Earth to 250, well into space. The resulting fallout is estimated to have raised levels of thyroid cancer across the globe, and could one day even serve as a marker for the Anthropocene – the age of humans. Researchers recently discovered that the particles from nuclear tests were lofted into belts circling the Earth, causing geomagnetic storms and even damaging a few satellites.
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Full Story
PASSENGER DRONES
JAPAN'S SMART-SCOOTER
Get ready to commute in style. For the past three years, Passenger Drone has been developing a zero-emissions, easy-to-use passenger drone that has the potential to eliminate stressful commutes. With 16 electric engines, the drone can travel up to 80km/h while barely making a noise. Not only will the Passenger Drone limit air and noise pollution, it could reduce stress levels and improve the general health of commuters around the world. The newly-unveiled electric aircraft is slightly larger than a car and allows commuters to select their destination, then sit back and relax.
Electric vehicles are the future — and Gogoro is paving the way. The company behind the innovative battery-swapping Smartscooter just announced plans to launch their new GoShare program in Japan this year. The sharing service, called GoShare, will begin its pilot launch in the Okinawan island of Ishigaki this year with expansion to other cities in 2018. GoShare was created through Gogoro’s new partnership with Sumitomo Corporation, a leading Fortune 500 company in Japan that’s also one of Gogoro’s major Series C investors..
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FLYING TAXIS IN DUBAI
FLY UBER
Dubai is now one step closer to launching the world’s first flying taxi service. Recently, Volocopter successfully tested its two-seater Autonomous Air Taxi (AAT), which hovered for about five minutes approximately 200 meters off the ground. The vehicle resembles a small helicopter topped with 18 propellers, and it’s powered entirely by electricity. When it’s officially launched, the AAT will be able to fly without remote control guidance and take trips up to 30 minutes at a time. In case of trouble, there are a number of fail-safes – including backup batteries, rotors, and even built-in parachutes.
Uber has partnered with NASA to develop an on-demand electric aircraft taxi service, which is scheduled to begin flights in Los Angeles in three years time. Speaking at the Web Summit in Lisbon recently, Uber's head of product Jeff Holden announced that the taxi app had signed a contract with NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) to develop low-flying aircrafts for urban environments. The partnership, signed under NASA's Space Act Agreement, will enable Uber to develop an on-demand, app-based flying taxi service – named UberAIR.
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M otoring N ews
TESLA's NEW E-TRUCK
E-CARS INNOVATION
Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently unveiled the company's new fully electric semi truck concept. In addition, he surprised everyone with the debut of an updated Tesla Roadster. The semi truck, called Tesla Semi, can go as far as 800km between charges and can haul 40 tons at a time. Enhanced autopilot will also allow the semi to drive itself on highways. This technology allows for automatic breaking, lane keeping and lane departure warnings. The price tag on the semi truck is unknown for now. Musk has said it will take at least two years for the truck to go on sale.
The rise of Tesla Inc and its rivals could be turbo-charged by complementary services from Uber Technologies Inc and Alphabet Inc’s Waymo unit, just as the iPhone rode the app economy and fast mobile internet to decimate mobile phone giants like Nokia. The culmination of these technologies – autonomous electric cars available on demand – could transform how people travel and confound predictions that battery-powered vehicles will have a limited impact on oil demand in the coming decades.
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NEW ERA JAGUAR
EPIC CHARGING STATION
In 1961, the Jaguar E-type was labeled as one of the best-looking cars of all time. Even Enzo Ferrari called it 'the most beautiful car ever made'. Now Jaguar has turned the retro E-type into an electric car, which the automaker calls the E-type Zero. To create the E-type Zero, Jaguar started with a 1968 Series 1.5 Jaguar E-type Roadster. Its six-cylinder combustion engine was then swapped out for an electric powertrain with 295hp. Its lithium-ion battery pack has the same dimensions and weight as the original engine and it’s even placed in the exact same location as the former transmission.
As more people purchase electric vehicles (EVs) – and countries move to ban sales of gas-guzzling cars – the world will need more charging stations. German company Sortimo plans to build the world’s biggest EV fast-charging station with 144 charging ports. It is slated for construction near the A8 highway in Germany. 4 000 cars a day could be charged at Innovationspark Zusmarshausen, Germany’s upcoming charging station, according to the company.
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JOINING THE BANDWAGON
GM AIMS AT 100% GREEN
Dyson is famous for its bagless vacuum cleaners and other unique household appliances, but founder and chief engineer James Dyson has some bigger plans for the company. Dyson sent out an email recently to the company announcing his ambition to introduce an electric car by 2020. With an investment of at least $2.7 billion and a staff of 400 people, Dyson is hopeful that it can get an electric car to market in the next three years. Dyson has already started hiring engineers from automotive companies to help launch the vehicle.
The four General Motors plants in Ohio, including the Lordstown plant that assembles the Chevrolet Cruze, and three plants in Indiana will be supplied with 100 percent green electricity by the end of 2018. GM has signed two long-term contracts to buy electricity from two soon-to-be-built wind farms in Ohio and Illinois. All of the power from the Ohio farm, rated at 100 MW will go to GM facilities. One hundred megawatts of the 185 MW Illinois wind farm will go to GM.
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e-car revolution
BRITAIN'S BIG PLANS
The electric car revolution continues to gain momentum, just as autonomous features are becoming Tesla mainstream. But while potential job losses due to autonomy are a strong focus, the multitude of impacts electrification will have on road transportation aren’t as clear. Overall, the impact will be very positive economically, but there will be a lot of disruption and many losers too. Universal basic income isn’t just a value proposition for those displaced by weak artificial intelligence.
Britain recently announced plans to ban the sale of new diesel and petrol cars by the year 2040. The plan follows a similar move in France, and it will invest £1 billion towards promoting low-emissions cars, with £100 million devoted to boosting charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. More money could go to a green bus fund, cycling and walking infrastructure, and low-emission taxis. The UK government has endeavored to move away from taxes on polluting cars, although it has been encouraged to introduce charges for cars entering clean air zones.
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O ffice
Green in
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With 2017 already almost fading from view in our rear-view mirrors, we may be forgiven for hoping that 2018 will be a 'better year'. Thing is, not much gets better unless we make it so. We suggest, then, better not wait for 'something good' to happen, but to make something good happen, for its own sake. We take a look at how to make your office greener.
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I
t really doesn't matter what office you are in – you might even be in leading business or NGO
which promotes all things good and green. But
we bet you that you could make your office that bit
20
greener if you really tried and wanted to. And for all the rest of those out there in 'office land', chances are that there are any number of ways you could directly and personally contribute to greening your office space. Greening the office is not merely a 'feel good' undertaking, though it almost always ticks that particular box. It helps to directly improve office working conditions and contributes in a measureable way to improved functionality of those in the office, improved inter-personal relations and overall better performance, productivity and a healthier bottom line. The 'how to' part has been covered by us many times. But most offices and offices spaces, while perhaps going quite deep green in some respects, have remained but a pale washy green in others. The trick is to look for what's being missed.
Paper
manufacturing and supply. The toner or ink that goes into your printers is
Here's an obvious one. The so-called 'paperless
no exception – and all cartridges simply must be
office' which the digital age was to introduce is an
recycled or sent for proper disposal, not thrown in
obvious joke. Even we at Simply Green, being digital
the general rubbish.
publishers, are inundated with paperwork – one needs it just to keep track and a record that doesn't
Local is better
disappear into the vanished cloud when the internet
There is a rule in greening that says local is almost
is down or into a black hole when a hard drive goes
always better, all other things about a product being
down on a permanent basis. Paper still is with us
equal. But you can go a step better: actively seek
and in one form or the other will remain so for a
out local alternative suppliers for everything in your
while to come.
office, from the usual to coffee cups, paper plates
So what paper does your office use? Is it recycled
or anything else used, and select those suppliers
in whole or part? Is it bleached – meaning it is whiter
and products with the best eco credentials and
than white? While that's good for appearances, it
practices.
means that somewhere a paper manufacturer was
Doing the previous step may also prove to be
using a bleaching process, probably chlorine-based,
much cheaper with some products, while with
with any number of potential downstream negative
others you'll be shaving many carbon kilometres
implications for riverine systems, if that plant not be
from your collective office debt, albeit at a small
up to eco-scratch, or has a failure in its pre-release
premium in direct costs.
water systems.
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get a less eco-intensive product when it comes to
And, by the way and if you did not already know,
Does it really matter if your office stationary is
measuring a business's carbon footprint is not, in
off-white? Investigate your office stationary supplies
the near future, going to be some obscure exercise
and see where, not only with the paper, those are
in pseudo-measures of how good a business you
being sourced. Include just about everything from
run or are a part of; it is going to become a critical
pens to paperclips – any opportunity to potentially
criterion for any supplying either or both overseas
boring and you can look them up for yourselves, if so inclined, in this internet age) which clearly show improved productivity, staff retention, work
018
attendance rates, high morale and happiness of staff and an improvement in just about every other parameter worth discussing when suitable and sufficient plant life is distributed about the office space. If your scroungy office manager won't get any plants, then get a couple for your own desk space and area – and then when workmates say how nice your zone has become get them to lean on Mr or Ms Scrooge and see how long before they crack. Besides, it's a no-brainer since it simply helps people do their work better.
Eyes open If you decide you are going to be an official or unofficial office greener, then keep your eyes open for opportunities – and there will be plenty. How is the office trash separated, if at all? If not, at least taking paper, plastics and metal cans out and local markets. So local is better until proven otherwise, as when there really is no local alternative to a greener
of the general junk for separate recycling will help a lot and this can even earn a bit of revenue if you make a deal with a local recycler.
product which is made in foreign climes. On
What happens to all those little canisters of a
the other hand, enough such opportunities, plus
well-known coffee brand after it has satisfied your
demand, equals another business which could be
desire be as cool as George Clooney? Those little
locally grown, so don't let your suppliers' excuses
blighters are turning into a major landfill item,
stand – put pressure on them to source local
believe it or not, and there's a big push overseas to
suppliers or encourage local manufacturers to
recycle them – but why not so much here?
produce greener goods.
Plants
And so it goes – there will always be opportunities to make your office, even a really green one, that little bit or a whole lot greener.
What about a few plants in the office? There
Make 2018 better by doing your bit and
may have been previous failed attempts in that
improving your zone – working together, each
direction, or you may feel it is the business's job
one in our own zones, spaces and areas of
to supply such, in which case, ask for them. Any
responsibility, we can have a collectively huge
office manager who does not see and understand
effect on the world.
the upside of having at least some healthy and
And in the end, history has taught us that it
flourishing office plants about the place is still
is always the committed few who make the real
living in the 19th century and, in our world, would
differences in the most important developments,
get a good talking to.
improvements and transformations that have made
Plants help people feel better, they provide healthy fresh oxygen, literally eat CO2 for breakfast lunch and supper, and they brighten the place up considerably. Studies have been done (and no, we aren't going to cite them because that's just tedious and
our lives way more liveable than once they may have been. So this year, let it be you who makes the difference in making your office a greener, nicer space to work in, and, if nothing else, you will enjoy work more.
SG
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Building
 SA's Green Building among world lead
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g Council ders
The Green Building Council of SA (GBCSA) is leading the way in the journey to net zero buildings. Towards that end, GBCSA recently announced the official launch of its Net Zero Programme and the certification of the first four projects under its Net Zero Pilot Certification scheme. We take a look at latest developments on the green building front and how GBCSA is helping South Africa become a world leader.
T 
he GBCSA is one of 14 green building councils
participating in the World Green Building Council's Advancing Net Zero project, which
aims to promote and support the acceleration of net zero carbon buildings to 100% by 2050. Net zero carbon buildings are defined as highly energy efficient buildings, with remaining energy demand supplied by on-site and/or off-site renewable sources, or through offsets. The GBCSA has gone a step further by launching its Net Zero Certification scheme, which rewards projects for completely neutralising (net zero) or positively redressing (net positive) their environmental impacts under four categories: carbon, water, waste and ecology. Net Zero certification is awarded over and above any Green Star certification a project already has. The first four projects to be certified as Net Zero under the pilot programme in South Africa are the Vodafone Site Solution Innovation Centre in Midrand, Gauteng, which is net zero rated in both carbon and ecology; Estuaries Plaza in Century City, Cape Town, which is net zero water; and Greenfields Industrial Park in Cape Town and Two Dam in Montagu in the Western Cape, which are both net zero carbon.
New frontier GBCSA CEO, Dorah Modise, says: 'By launching the net zero
programme, the GBCSA has set a new frontier for property
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owners and tenants to be rewarded for going even further along their sustainability journey – now property owners and investors can be recognised for being net zero or net positive carbon, water, waste and ecology. We are thrilled to already have four projects that have achieved certification under this new programme in the pilot phase.' Terri Wills, CEO of the World Green Building Council, said: 'We're excited to see GBC South Africa officially launch its Net Zero Programme, which includes certification, training and advocacy for net zero carbon, water, waste and ecology in buildings. The work our Green Building Councils are undertaking through the Advancing Net Zero project will change the way the world's buildings perform. 'South Africa is one of the global leaders in green buildings, and this Net Zero Programme will certainly contribute to continuing this trajectory. We urge and challenge property owners and investors to reimagine how they design, build and operate
is set to double over its current estimated 7.3bn,
their buildings by aiming to be net zero carbon, and
requiring a staggering 89bn tons of natural
working with the GBCSA to do so,' he added.
resources per year if we do not change our ways. To
All participating green building councils are creating specialised training for green building
be prepared to learn how to adapt, Swilling added.
professionals and will be supporting the development of net zero carbon demonstration projects in their
Focus on green cities
countries.
Many cities are trying to adapt, but the question
Training in SA kicked off in July and the recently
remains,
are
enough
urban
centres
moving
certified Net Zero projects were showcased at the
quickly enough and radically enough to head-off
Green Building Convention taking place in Cape
an impending resource-crunch, along with the
Town this week.
inevitable carbon and other eco footprint impacts
Far to go
that run in tandem with such resource consumption. 'The world has broken out in a rash of
While laudable and positive, the GBCSA's advances
experiments across all dimensions of urban life. We
towards net zero or net positive buildings across the
cannot continue to see cities simply as opportunities
range of its major criteria underscores how far the
to channel finance into property development, or to
world as a whole has to go to get building sectors
spend money on out-of-date infrastructure,' said
nationally, regionally and globally all moving in the
Swilling.
right direction.
'Local government and GBCSA members need
At the recent GBCSA Convention 2017 in Cape
to talk about not just green buildings, but about
Town, Professor Mark Swilling pointed to the issue
green cities. Cities should be our focus, so that our
when asking 'where will humanity get the 89bn
impact is greater than singular buildings,' agreed
tons of natural resources each year to fuel our
Parks Tau, President of the SA Local Government
consumption in 2050?'
Association.
It's not a question with an easy or obvious
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cope with the pressure, urban authorities need to
answer – at least one that doesn't automatically
Metabolic analysis
include a continued upswing in building resource
Swilling
utilisation, with accompanying eco-cost impacts.
understand how resources are used globally and
used
urban
'metabolic
analysis'
to
2050 will arrive in a hair over 32 'quick years',
found that if humanity's consumption habits do not
warned Swilling, and by then the earth's population
change, then resource requirements scale from the
current 40 billionn tons to more than double that quantum – each and every year. Adding to the issue is the equal inevitability that less land will be available to supply the required resources. In 2050, for instance, cities will more than double their current surface area to cover 2.5 million square kilometres. Such will eat into the most productive agricultural land which are normally found on urban outskirts.
African cities & sustainability The most grievous outcomes of an uncontrolled rush towards future 'ungreen cities' may be averted. It is even possible,
with sufficient political will and effort, that a
sustainable growth scenario can replace the currently unsustainable one – a future in which everyone, more likely almost everyone, lives in a green building, uses bus-rapid-transit (or similar mass transport systems based on low-impact or zero impact energy) and all this powered by a series of mini-grids connected to renewable energy sources. Scientists such as Swilling have done the maths and it is positive: 'We found there would be a 40% saving in total quantity of resources consumed,' said Swilling. The challenge will not be introducing sustainable technology or systems, but rather the reconfiguration of governance necessary to bring about the change. 'We need an entrepreneurial mode of governance that allows experimentation. And, in my view, our cities in Africa have an extraordinary opportunity to do things differently.
'The world has broken out in a rash of experiments across all dimensions of urban life. We cannot continue to see cities simply as opportunities to channel finance into property development, or to spend money on out-of-date infrastructure' – Professor Mark Swilling
We are still going through the big decisions on the types
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of urban systems required, and we can learn from cities in more developed countries. Are we going to emulate older outdated nodes or are we going to anticipate and act? Are we going to say we don't need private cars, we don't need sprawl, we can do zero waste, we can do net zero multi-storey buildings?' Swilling challenged.
Resource crunch What of South Africa, where local governments require financial surpluses from water and energy to cross-subsidise other service delivery efforts? 'As an advocate for sustainability I am equally an advocate for long-term municipal sustainability,' Tau said. 'This is why, during my tenure as Mayor of Johannesburg, I asked City Power for a new business model. I asked for reduced greenhouse gasses, increased revenue and increased collections. It was a long multi-year conversation. Now, consider if City Power were a facilitator of microgrids and so enable
involving flies in Tulbagh. 'After many years of
demand-side supply?'
failing we started to understand how to grow flies.
City Power used to be in a strong position
Today our factory in Philippi receives tons and tons
to create billions for the City of Johannesburg's
of organic waste from the City of Cape Town, which
budget, but Parks forecast that by 2022 this
fly larvae then turn into fertiliser, and the flies are
opportunity would be gone, 'so it needed to start
processed to create fishmeal or animal feed oil,'
thinking about another plan'.
explained Drew.
Similarly, while urbanisation places municipal an
opportunity,' added Tau. 'For example, amend
them to become the first zero-waste to landfill city
building codes to meet GBCSA guidelines.'
in the world by 2021. 'We can repair the future, and
services
'under
massive
stress,
there
is
Future cities will share & repair
we can do this in the most unusual ways,' concluded Drew.
'Change (as in climate and what it drives) is a hockey
Haves & have-nots
stick and we're getting to the exponential bit,' said
One of the issues facing all urban developers is
Jason Drew, Founder of Agriprotein. 'We'll see more
how cities have been allowed to grow. For the most
change in the next five years that we can imagine.'
part, private- and public-sector land investment
Future businesses are moving away from the
in cities concentrates on keeping 'the haves away
extract-manufacture-throw away product cycle and
from the have-nots'. This had led to urban sprawl
multi-generational product development, he said.
and continuing with such a system will continue to
A new way of doing business has begun where
will to encourage urban sprawl which will consume
durable products can easily be repaired, shared and
more arable land and make sustainability that much
operated in a closed-loop cycle.
harder to achieve.
'Today the world's richest cities have huge bike
This is the overall message of Professor Edgar
share programmes, and the world's largest hotel
Pieterse, who added: 'Words such as ''security'' and
company, which helps to find beds for 80m people
''exclusive'' that are used to advertise eco estate
annually, doesn't own any infrastructure but instead
living basically mean that they are situated as far
invites ordinary people to share their second most
from the poor as conveniently possible,' Pieterse,
valuable asset: their spare room,' said Drew.
the SA Research Chair in Urban Policy and founding
In 2008 Drew started a closed-loop business
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Agriprotein's fly larvae factories are being commissioned all over the world, and Dubai will use
director of the African Centre for Cities at the
University of Cape Town, told green building champions.
'Pockets of poverty' Citing Cape Town as an example to illustrate Pieterse's point, City of Cape Town Councillor Brett Herron, Transport and Urban Development mayoral committee member, said that cheap and abundant land on the urban outskirts of the city has encouraged sprawl. He added that it becomes clear that Cape Town is an inefficient city when one travels, especially during peak hours. 'This inefficiency creates pockets of poverty on the outskirts of the city. In South Africa's push to provide 4.5m new homes since democracy, we have compromised on location. So, families are forced to commute too far. They typically live in a 40m² home, 40km away from jobs, and spend about 40% of household income on transport. It's clear that where people live matters. The spatial planning injustices of the past have a bearing on their future,' he said. 'The National Treasury has obliged metros to use the Built Environment Performance Plan, to show how they will reverse the apartheid (development plan),' Pieterse explained. 'The assumption is that transit-orientated development improves mobility, it will accelerate the speed of change
Our cities in Africa have an extraordinary opportunity to do things differently. We are still going through the big decisions on the types of urban systems required, and we can learn from cities in more developed countries. – Professor Mark Swilling
and break with the past.' In line with this, Cape Town authorities have focused investment on the Metro South East area. 'We are looking intensively at location of housing so that the families benefit by receiving it,' Herron said.
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Real estate-driven change too slow The current model will take between 20 to 30 years to lay the basis for real estate-driven urban integration and reconfiguration. 'How will the profound development challenges of the city be resolved through this approach?' he asked. 'Our zeitgeist is summed up in one word: "Gatvol". We are gatvol. Look at the amount of social protest, the rise of anti-racism sentiments and movements. Our economic stagnation means that [social] movement is stuck in neutral.' SA's townships' dysfunctional education and
health systems have turned them into spatial traps, he added. 'The paradox is that the investment in public housing is capped by state spending. The more we redistribute to try and get the poor into the city, the more we reinforce spatial inequality. What we
'Today the world's richest cities have huge bike share programmes, and the world's largest hotel company doesn't own any infrastructure but instead invites ordinary people to share their second most valuable asset: their spare room.' – Jason Drew
need to recognise is that the challenges we face get more acute with each public- and private-sector
new builds. With the cost of land acquisition,
rand invested.'
infrastructure and regulatory approval, new builds
'Lucky' Cape Town
only represent 1% of total stock, advised McGaffin.
The housing crisis can drive the economy and we
'Uber reworked the existing stock of available
need to stimulate the market – especially as there
cars, and this same trick can work in the housing
are not many other feasible options, Rob McGaffin,
market,' said McGaffin. Single-storey homes are
founding member of the UCT Nedbank Urban Real
increasingly being converted to double-storey
Estate Unit, said in his contribution. Referring to
across high-rental yield areas. City authorities need
the Cape Town example, McGaffin noted that it
to bring this trend to a tipping point, which will
is 'fortunate' to have a housing problem in that it
result in effective localised wealth redistribution,
created opportunity.
create an economic pillow to pinched homeowners
However, to realise the opportunity, housing must move from a social to a commercial concern. 'We've got about a 320 000 housing unit shortfall,' he said. This demand could be utilised to make necessary sustainable structural changes. McGaffin said that the rental market catering to
and, with very little new infrastructure or regulatory processes, close the gap on housing shortfall across the economic spectrum, he said.
Innovative policies needed
the 70% of Capetonians earning less than R20 000
Jodi Allemeier, Programme Lead for the Western
per month needed to be catalysed, so that rent
Cape Economic Development Partnership, said that
for family living spaces can be below R5 000 per
to be exposed to new, innovative urban policy
month. 'We need to build more homes within the
perspectives that will enable SA cities to heal from
city footprint, and closer to jobs and economic
past structural divisions, municipalities must be
opportunities.
more inclusionary in their planning.
'It is hard to achieve this in our current context
'We must realise that many of the groups that
because the value verses cost equation doesn't
should most be represented in policy discussions
work, and developers can't cover the costs,' added
are not appropriately capacitated to add their voice.
McGaffin.
The burden is on them to influence policy and
As cost was key, sizes must be reduced. Therefore, it was necessary to stop focusing on
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are the most expensive type of development and
design, but they're focusing on struggling to make ends meet every day.'
SG
300
green certifications
since 2007
R85 billion worth of property greened
Equivalent to
million 430 130 000 kilowatt hours cars off the road every year in terms of CO2 emissions
of electricity saved every year
500
Equivalent to powering up
million kilograms
30 000
of C02 will be saved every year
400
homes annually
million litres of water
will be saved every year
Equal to the daily water needs of
550 000 people
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Building
Does your workplace help your productivity? Just over half (53%) of wage earners think their place of work helps their productivity. This is not good. The Leeseman Index joins the dots between Maslow's well-known 'hierarchy of needs' and the most common employee complaints about their surroundings. We take a look at the links between buildings and the people who work in them.
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A 
ccording to Workplace Strategies and Change Manager, Nigel Oseland, who spoke at the recent Green Building
Councils of SA's (GBCSA) Convention 2017 held in Cape Town: 'Only once we meet our lowest level of needs can we go on to achieve our potential. It's got to do with health at the bottom of the pyramid – so air, light and water.' A quantified relationship between productivity and air quality, noise and temperature, established by more than 200 studies shows the average 5-7% increase in employee productivity easily covers any cost premiums of working in a healthy space that assists attention and concentration, Oseland added.
Advantages 'Deep buildings with windowless workspaces must disappear. These buildings, by definition, lock in a chemical soup of materials and occupant activities with serious consequences for human health. These range from asthma, to skin and eye irritations, to reproductive health and cancer,' warned Professor Vivian Loftness of the Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 'They do this by locking out the natural conditioning resources of passive solar heating, daylight,
minutes less and went to bed 40 minutes later on
ventilation and passive cooling.'
school nights than good performers.
Shorter hospital stays in sunny rooms 'Nature's renewables are at the centre of human
Natural air flow brings better concentration
health and environmental resiliency. As humans
In 2015 a double-blind office study on increased
we have a natural affinity to nature, known as
outdoor air ventilation rates and controlled VOCs
"biophilia",' said Loftness. 'We will rediscover the
identified a 42% increase in average cognitive
engineering and art of effective daylight design, and
scores when working in a green building, and 51%
not only because studies show that if you are in a
increase when in a 'deep green' building, verses a
sunny hospital room you'll have a 26% reduction in
conventional building.
length of stay, but because it can displace between
'Besides increased worker performance, natural
30-75% of lighting needs, and 25-75% of heating
ventilation saves 20-40% of cooling, and 70%
demands. We should not have to turn on lights in
of ventilation costs. Net zero buildings will be
the daytime.'
designed for natural ventilation as the dominant
Daylight restores sleep cycles 'Our brains are stimulated by daylight,' Loftness continued, citing research linking exposure to
hour, enhancing productivity, human health and community,' she predicted. Typical improvements brought about a financial return of over 750%.
more than 30 minutes in six-year-old learners. In a
Views from desks help focus
separate study, poor performing learners slept 25
'Call centre agents had a 6-7% improvement in
morning sunlight to an improved sleep time by
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ventilation and cooling strategy for every possible
a 4 Star Green Star certification for 100 of its buildings,' said Head of Sustainability and Utilities at Growthpoint, Werner van Antwerpenn. 'Green buildings offer real benefits: reduction in electricity and water costs, improved air quality and increased productivity. As such we have a free app which benchmarks the Energy Water Performance rating of our green buildings for clients so they can see their savings per square metre.' Whether or not your work environment helps, or hinders, your productivity and that of your team, it is likely no surprise that natural lighting and fresh air increases capacity for work. Although, who would have thought that the simple act of rolling up a blind and opening the window could make the difference between finishing your work promptly – or not? 
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Trapped inside
handling time simply by having seated access to views through larger windows with vegetation content, amounting to an ROI of just under 300%,' Loftness said, citing a study explaining why a visual connection to nature is important.
Here are some tips for when you work deep inside your building Design for peace and quiet: Most office work places are busy and distracting, designed for extroverts who, ironically, spend less time in the office, and when
Market's growing demand for green
they are in the office they are frequently not
It's beyond dispute that people with access to the
designed for roles and personalities.
natural environment are healthier and have higher productivity. It is expected that future tenanting requirements will include above-ground views, window and outdoor access, operable windows, natural
ventilation,
mixed-mode
conditioning,
daylight and indoor plants. 'And, considering associated productivity gains, the payback period is sometimes measured in months,' she added.
at their desks. So, what to do? Answer: Motivate that your inside spaces are Practice 'Shinrin-yoku': Take a leaf from the Japanese and go 'forest bathing' to experience the medicine of simply being in the forest. It is a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine. To convert this quintessential Japanese notion into Western terms, a stroll through a leafy park, sitting on a bench and enjoying the outside air and
Gorwthpoint
some small element of nature and taking
Tenanting requirements linked to the advantages
space and hustle and bustle of the streets
of green buildings brought a strong response from property firms, including Growthpoint.
deliberate 'time out' away from the office will do nearly as well.
'By end-2017 Growthpoint will have at least
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Home
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Timber decking done right While timber decking is most often associated with leisure and entertainment, and considered a complement to a larger structure, the importance of correct deck building is not always fully appreciated. Peter Bissett, of well-renowned KwaZulu-Natal timber construction company, Cottage Concepts, Timber Deck Member of the Institute for Timber Construction South Africa (ITC-SA), shares insights into the dos and don'ts of timber decking, from legislation governing design and construction to maintenance.
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am often told by prospective clients that other decking contractors have told them that they do not need plans or an engineered design for
their timber deck, because, among other reasons, their deck will be located at a private home, will only be utilised by one or two people, or will not be high off the ground. This is simply not true and the general rule is that if anyone can get injured due to a structural failure, like a decking slat breaking, for example, then an engineer (a civil or structural engineer, who is qualified and competent to engineer timber structures) should be engaged to check the contractor's design.
Why should you have plans drawn up for your decking structure? The local council usually has the final say and can ask to see any plans as well as an engineer's certificate, even if the deck is almost on the ground. Anyone interested in having a deck built must be aware that if they do so without plans, when the time comes to sell their property, they may well end up having to submit plans, as most councils now require that plans are up to date prior to the release of rates clearance certificates. Another important factor to keep in mind is that most deck collapses (and there are many every year in South Africa) usually occur when the deck is loaded, such as at a New Year's party or when heavy rains wash out one of the supports. Many timber decks that have not been designed properly can even be lifted off their posts during storms or strong winds. The homeowner will be liable for any damage, injuries or death resulting from such failures if an engineer has not been engaged to certify the design and construction. Engineers must carry indemnity insurance which will cover most of these types of incidents.
Legislation governing timber deck construction Timber structures must be designed and built in accordance with the South African National Standards (SANS) 10163, which governs the structural use of timber and SANS 10082 'Timber Frame Buildings'. An engineer would make use of SANS
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10163 on a timber decking project. SANS 10082 is the code of practice for timber
structures and your decking contractor should have a copy of this document as well as SANS 10043 (Solid Wood Decking) on hand. The National Building Regulations must also be strictly adhered to when constructing a deck – or any other structure for that matter – and will refer the designer, builder and engineer to the relevant code or regulation for correct execution of the project. Decks which are more than 1.5m off the ground should be designed by an engineer with experience in timber construction. The ITC-SA can help source an engineer with the relevant experience.
Treated structural timber for decking Deck sub-structures (the framework or 'skeleton' of the deck which is not usually visible) are usually built with CCA-treated pine due to the high cost of naturally durable hardwoods. Pine that is exposed
Keep in mind that timber is an organic material and part of its charm is how every piece is different. Markings and small cracks and checks are fine, as long as they do not affect the safety or structural integrity of the deck. Large, unsightly cracks or those that collect water must be avoided wherever possible. to the elements should be CCA-treated to Hazard
should not be supported on fill at the edge of a new
class 3 if above ground and Hazard class 5 if
embankment which will subside with time.
in contact with the ground (mostly poles). This
A serious error made from time to time by
treatment is done in a pressure vessel, usually
decking re-furbishers is that when they remove
at the sawmill and is not something that can be
the old decking slats, they immediately fix the new
painted on. Any cutting or planing of the timber on
decking onto the old timber structure. The screw
site should be touched up with a suitable remedial
holes left behind are ideal catchment areas for
timber preservative, like 'Enseal' or CuGard 20 or
water, which can help advance rot in the structure.
similar. Refer to www.sawpa.co.za for any queries
These holes should be filled with a waterproof filler
relating to timber treatment and preservation.
and the top of the joists should be coated with
Many decking contractors do not coat the
supplemental and remedial brush-on preservative.
sub-structure, especially if it is not visible. This is
Once dry, at least two coats of a good quality
a short-sighted approach, as the wood below the
exterior wood sealer should be applied prior to
deck often remains damp for extended periods after
fixing the new decking slats.
heavy rains, making for an ideal environment for the
Keep in mind that timber is an organic material
growth of fungi, which can eat or erode the timber.
and part of its charm is how every piece is different.
Timber poles should not be encased in concrete
Markings and small cracks and checks are fine, as
and should rather be supported on a pre-cured
long as they do not affect the safety or structural
concrete foundation pad on firm ground or erected
integrity of the deck. Large, unsightly cracks or
with a concrete 'collar' to allow for sufficient water
those that collect water must be avoided wherever
drainage at the base of the pole. Support posts
possible.
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Experts in wood preservation: The South African Wood Preservers Association (SAWPA) boasts a wealth of knowledge on the subject of timber treatment and treated timber products. If ever unsure about hazard class treatment or suitable applications, visit www.sawpa.co.za or make contact with the association directly.
Metal fastening systems All metal fixings should be galvanised or of stainless steel, if possible, and screws should be Kal coated or stainless steel. Screws should be countersunk in hardwoods and the holes should be filled with wooden plugs, epoxy or a suitable waterproof wood filler. Do not use regular wood filler for this application as it will dissolve after the first heavy rain.
Popular timbers for non-structural timber decking elements Components like the decking slats and balustrades on a deck are often misconceived as non-structural, but they must be installed in a structurally sound way to ensure that they don't fail when a load is applied onto or against them. Popular timber choices for non-structural timber decking components include Balau, Massaranduba, Garappa, Saligna, Karri Gum and, more recently,
the most underrated decking timbers. Correctly
Okan, a central African hardwood and Siberian
treated (H3) SA pine decking slats will, under most
Larch. Balau remains the most used timber for
conditions, outlast a hardwood if exposed to the
balustrading and decking slats, but due to high
elements. Some of the local treatment plants are
demand, trees are being harvested much younger,
currently offering a 25-year guarantee through
resulting in a decline in the quality of available
timber merchants on treated pine. Cost-wise,
timber. Young Balau, used in a humid environment
CCA-treated pine decking slats are not much cheaper
like Durban, could have up to half of the lifespan of
than, say, Balau slats.
the more mature Balau that was available previously.
Case in point: The Gonubie Boardwalk just
This has seen an increasing demand for the
outside East London, was built with CCA-treated pine
other species. Massaranduba and Garappa are very
in the early '90s. With almost no maintenance over
popular in Cape Town, and Saligna and Karri Gum
the years, most of the slats are still original, despite
are also occasionally used for decking; if chosen and
having been used by thousands of sandy-footed
applied correctly, they can be as durable as the likes
beach-goers for more than 20 years.
of Balau, Massaranduba and Garappa. Okan, while
Even with its excellent durability, pine is still a
not yet well known, is a very durable timber that is
softwood, and will not cope well under continuous
growing in popularity along with another newcomer
high-heel and stiletto traffic.
to the South African decking fraternity, Siberian Larch, which is reasonably priced and durable. Properly treated SA pine is probably one of
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Deck maintenance The time between the completion of a new deck
Many people enjoy the silvery grey weathered look which can be achieved in most timber species by leaving them uncoated, but the reality is that uncoated timber's lifespan will be reduced; timber coated with a good preservative or sealant will always outlast uncoated timber.
and its first round of maintenance depends on
All gaps should be filled with a waterproof
many factors, including location, extent of exposure
filler prior to recoating. At least two coats of most
to the elements, type of timber used and type
products should be applied; if the deck has been
of coating used. A deck should not be left for
sanded down to bare wood, then three coats will
longer than 18 months before receiving routine
be required.
maintenance; a 12-month maintenance cycle is
Many people enjoy the silvery grey weathered
preferable. If it is not weathering well before the
look which can be achieved in most timber species
12-month mark, remedial action must be taken,
by leaving them uncoated, but the reality is that
otherwise the lifespan of the deck will be greatly
uncoated timber's lifespan will be reduced; timber
reduced. Handrails endure the most wear and will
coated with a good preservative or sealant will
usually need attention after a year.
always outlast uncoated timber.
It is best not to let the maintenance contractor sand down the deck with an industrial floor sander if it is not in a bad condition, as this reduces the number of times the deck can be sanded. This type of sanding should only be done if the deck has weathered significantly. Sanding with a big belt sander is sufficient for routine timber deck maintenance and if the deck is in fairly good condition, orbital sanders are sufficient.
Hiring a timber decking contractor: points to consider There are a number of individuals in the market who are not qualified or experienced in the field of timber decking. The best decision a homeowner or project manager can make in the case of having a timber deck built is to hire a reputable deck builder.
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Timber decking, like all constructions, should be approached as an investment. The homeowner or project manager would do well to investigate the subject, ask for advice, engage the services of an accredited professional from design to final inspection, and ensure proper and regular maintenance is conducted.
sub-structure and not nailed, as they will eventually come lose. •
The balustrade should not have any gaps through which a 100mm diameter ball would fit.
•
Any part of the deck that is higher than 1m off the ground requires a balustrade.
•
Timber structures should have space of at least 450 mm below the decking for air to flow around the timber. Where this is not possible, try to keep the timber above soil. A timber deck is an attractive addition to any
structure and standalone (on a beach or a boardwalk, for example) makes for a durable, functional statement piece. However, timber decking, like all constructions, should be approached as an investment. The homeowner or project manager would do well to investigate the subject, ask for advice, engage the services of an accredited professional from design to final inspection, and ensure proper and regular maintenance is conducted; the yields on a well-built, well-taken-care-of timber deck are priceless and offer invaluable returns well into the future.
SG
For more info visit www.itc-sa.org
About ITC-SA The ITC-SA was established more than 40 years
Decks are worthwhile additions to any structure, but they are expensive; one mistake on the contractor's part can ruin the deck and be very costly to repair. For complete peace of mind, hire a decking contractor who holds membership with the Institute for Timber Construction South Africa. Not only will the contractor be well versed in the construction regulations, the client will have a professional body to refer to should the workmanship or materials used not be up to standard.
Decking dos and don'ts •
•
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ago to regulate the engineered timber roof structure industry and to provide design, manufacturing, erection, inspection and certification for compliance with inter alia SANS 10400 and SANS 10082, where engineering rational designs are applicable. The ITC-SA is a South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) accredited professional body with a professional membership and therefore has to comply with the requirements as set out in the National Qualifications Framework Act (NQF Act 67 of 2008 – as amended). The ITC-SA is also a Recognised Voluntary Association in terms of the Engineering Profession Act, 2000 (Act 46 of 2000).
Do not accept a deck that bounces when walked
In 2014, the Institute for Timber Frame Builders
over. Your tea should remain in its cup and not
(ITFB) was incorporated into the ITC-SA to ensure a
spill out into the saucer or the deck.
better and more uniform representation of the timber
Balustrade posts should be bolted to the
engineered practitioners in the built environment.
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Home
&
greening cleaning
It is not news to readers of these pages that 'clean' and 'green' are often counter-points in the debate about how to keep your home clean while trying to make it green. Even if you have read such pieces before, it's good to keep the basics in mind.
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reen is one thing. Clean is another. Clean usually comes at the cost of green, when it comes to home (or any other) cleaning
because we all want to achieve the lowest level of bug or microbe infestation possible. But there are real negatives in this approach. General cleaning products usually contain some pretty harsh chemicals, frequently bleaches which are usually highly alkaline – the opposite of acidic but often just as corrosive and definitely just as dangerous to all animal and human life. Pouring bleach-intensive cleaner down your drain is definitely going to bump off the great majority of nasties that may be living down there – but those same chemicals are going to go on and kill pretty much everything else they touch right through the entire water reticulation system until they are finally, and with any luck, sufficiently dissolute and chemically non-reactive so as to stop causing ongoing damage.
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Human effects But merely damaging the local eco system is only part of the problem with the harsh chemical approach. There is mounting evidence that residual traces of harsh chemical cleaners can be taken up into the human body – especially of youngsters who tend to have hands that go into all sorts of places they shoudn't. Some such chemicals have direct and immediate negative effects and a big enough dose will definitely require immediate treatment. But there are long-term effects of build-up of some of the more toxic components used, the rationale of manufacturers being that these substances are designed to produce a near nil quantum of bacteria on surfaces on which they have been applied, and are not for human consumption. But our homes are not labs and keeping such substances only in the bottle or only on the toilet seat is easier said than done.
Also, there is now growing evidence that among
We are discovering the hard way that that
long-term effects of growing up in conditions
view, apart from being a recipe for toxifying
where powerful chemical cleaners are routinely
our eco-systems, is setting us up for all sorts of
used is the apparently perverse effect of rendering
unnecessary health problems in later life – and the
such people's immune systems actually far more
impacts are showing earlier and earlier with each
vulnerable to infections than those of folks who've
successive generation.
grown up with their hands in the dirt and faces in the dog's coat.
Eco sensible
This is literally true – it is as if, like most
Therefore, if you have time these holidays, or
aspects of life, our immune systems have to be
after the relatives leave (at last) and it's time for
trained at an early age to deal with little invaders
a general clean-up, or come your next 'spring
of all sorts, most of which are then effectively
clean' bout, make an effort to seek out genuinely
fought off and from which one remains, without a
non-toxic, biodegradable and relatively harmless
further downturn in general well-being and health,
eco equivalents and use them.
more or less immune for the rest of one's life.
In the long run it will not merely be the
We have accepted a naĂŻve view that a 'clean
environment which you are helping but your own
world is a better world', that the notion of more
loved ones and pets who will not have to endure a
cleaning, the better stands, and therefore the
slowly accumulating body burden of toxins, some
more chemicals used to obtain that goal, the
of which are likely to come back with a nasty
better.
rebound later in life.
SG
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nature a lw ay s delivers For those who desire design that echoes their individuality, David Green creates eyewear as unique as nature herself. Handcrafted from the finest raw materials, Each piece guarantees exacting quality, natural comfort and timeless style. When you choose David Green, you’re saying, “I don’t just want to look good, I want to feel good – about myself and the world in which I live.” Be kind to yourself. Be kind to the earth. Discover David Green. Designed in Cape Town. Unique by Nature.
David Green is giving away a pair sunglasses from the Arniston range to ONE lucky Simply Green reader. Simply send you name and address details to Susan.ball@anapublishing.com to stand a chance of winning. Entries close January 15.
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Are you concerned about harmful chemicals in your home? Have you thought about changing to all natural cleaning products but are worried that they ‘won’t work as well’?
Look no further than Bet ter Earth’s Natural Cleaning Product range
BATHROOM & TOILET CLEANER This gel will leave your bathroom & toilet spotlessly clean. Use on your sinks, bath, toilet and shower
CONDITIONING LAUNDRY GEL There is no need to add fabric sof tener as this gel contains a fabric conditioner that is safe for all fabrics.
CLEANING SPRAY
DISHWASHING LIQUID
DISHWASHING GEL
This fragrant cleaning spray will leave surfaces fresh and clean. This can be used on kitchen counters, walls, stove tops and glass surfaces.
This dish washing liquid cleans your dishes perfectly. It is easy on your hands and the environment but tough on grease.
Sof tens the water and binds to heav y metals. Does not require additional rinse aids / salts to keep your dishwasher clean.
TILED FLOOR CLEANER
WOODEN FLOOR CLEANER
Gently cleans and shines your floors. The citrus aromas freshen your home and give your floors a streak free finish.
Gently cleans your wooden floors, with a streak free finish leaving floors looking spotless and shiny.
TOILET TAMER Perfect for eliminating odours at the source, by keeping bad odours in the bowl. Perfect for the water conscious user.
Bet ter Earth. Bet ter for you. Bet ter for the Earth w w w.bet terearth.co.za 83 S G
E co B aby
How to
Eco
Your Baby
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Having a new member of the family on board is one thing – well, it's more like 'everything', since everything is different before baby comes to after, only slightly diminishing in impact with successive 'off-spring units' arriving on the scene. We take a look at how to eco your baby, for your sanity's sake, that of your wallet and, of course, the planet too.
G
reen
baby
products
are
being
manufactured in South Africa – which was definitely not the case a dozen years
ago when Simply Green was conceived. Then you had a pick of one or two products, invariably imported, which were expensive and which only really dedicated eco-parents would buy. Joanne Austin, founder of Mother Nature Products, was impressed by the widespread use of cloth nappies while living in London. That was, she says, surprising due to the Brits' lack of space and sun. Upon returning to South Africa she decided to create a complete baby nappy system using natural, organic and recycled materials, one of the first locally available of their type. As a qualified nursing sister with many years of experience working with children, she knew what was needed and set about producing relevant lines for mums keen on keeping baby not only fresh and clean, but green too.
Natural materials One of the central concepts in going green is the use, wherever possible, of natural and renewable products, especially those with minimal impacts
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on the environment. By definition, buyers of such products want to
play any meaningful part in trying to help keep our planet liveable for future generations.
know that their suppliers are ethical and are sourcing
Remember that some forms of plastic take
their raw materials from reliable sources and using
between decades to literally many hundreds of
only the greenest production methods.
years to fully decay – as we have seen with the
Green baby goods, like any others, ought to
Pacific Ocean gyre, plastics that break down into
be either re-usable, like clothe nappies, or fully
ever-smaller pieces that are certain to find our way
recyclable – unlike the great majority of throw-away
into the food chain and eventually our own stomachs
baby nappies on the markets which include plastics
where they can cause blockage and disease, just as
and other non-eco-friendly materials.
they do all the way up the food chain.
But just because a product so 'good and green'
This really is a case of the plastic chickens
from start to finish, doesn't mean it actually does
coming home to roost, especially as a recent survey
the job it is intended to do, so things like recyclable
found that a significant amount of domestically
disposable nappies ought to work, in the first
used drinking water in developed societies carries
instance – there are few experiences less enjoyable
micro-particulants plastics.
to parents than having to deal with a 'failed' nappy.
Bamboo
Degradability Degradability is the much better benchmark when
Among the best renewable materials in a eco baby's
it comes to all products to be disposed of. The
nappy would be silky soft bamboo instead of the
quicker and more complete the product's decay
traditional cotton. Bamboo is a lot more absorbent,
into naturally-occurring non-toxic components, the
durable and has antibacterial properties. It is also
better such a product would be rated as a genuinely
grown without using crop spraying and requires less
green item.
surface area to produce. There is also a difference between 100% natural bamboo yarn and bamboo
This is the target to go for when thinking about green your baby.
viscose, the latter being a man-made fibre using
It may be a bit more hassle and even, depending
the denatured bamboo cells strung together into a
on product choice, a slightly more expensive option,
plastic-type material.
but when baby grows and becomes responsible
Disposability
themselves, ask yourself whether he or she will want to know whether they come into their family
Some products claim to be 'disposable' and one
an adored addition with minimal impact on the
supposes that outside of the constraints of eco
planet which we all share, or as merely the latest
consciousness they are, in the loosest sense of the
albeit unwitting contributor to the planet's already
term, in that one can indeed throw them away.
overwhelming trash burden.
But slowly decaying baby nappies in rapidly-filling landfills is really not the way to go if we are going to
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See ad right for more.
SG
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Food The Olami: Simple Nourishing Fresh cookbook from Nirit Saban of the popular deli on Bree Street, Cape Town is all about simple, nourishing, wholesome food. Olami, a word used in Israel, means global, universal and worldly, and Nirit’s recipes open the door to many fusions and intermingling flavours from the Middle East to South America. A book that keeps in mind the local, the recipes with easy-to-source ingredients make it accessible to everyone. Have a look at these tasty recipes.
Basic tomato sauce In the beginning of the week at Olami we prepare our basic tomato sauce. We order our tomatoes the week before, usually a combination of Roma tomatoes and regular tomatoes, and ripen them at the shop until they are bursting red, juicy, soft, sweet and tart.
Ingredients •
5 tablespoons sunflower oil
•
4 red chillies whole
•
8 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped
•
1 kg tinned whole peeled tomatoes
•
1 kg ripened fresh tomatoes
•
1 sprig of rosemary
•
1 tablespoon sugar
•
1 tablespoon salt
•
Freshly ground black pepper
Method In a large pot, warm the oil, then add the chilli and garlic and cook for about 3 minutes on a medium heat. Add the tomatoes, rosemary, sugar, salt and freshly ground black pepper and cook for 40 minutes. Taste the sauce as you go and check if you need to add more salt or sugar as tomatoes always differ slightly in their acidity and sweetness and it’s necessary to keep track of that difference and adapt the balance as you go. With a hand blender, blend the sauce until thick and creamy, cool down completely and store in an airtight container in the fridge.
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Hummus with roasted mushrooms Hummus is our butter, our main spread here at Olami. We bring in pure raw tahini from Israel to make our hummus – it makes the world of difference to use good quality tahini. To get that smooth creamy texture I’ve discovered the trick is to whip the tahini before adding it into your chickpea mix when blending. You can go crazy with all sorts of hummus combinations.
Ingredients
make your tahina paste. In a
•
Hummus
mixing bowl add the tahini, lemon
•
500 g raw chickpeas
juice, two cups of water, salt
•
1 tablespoon baking soda
and garlic, whisk well for at least
•
2 cups raw tahini
1 minute, check seasoning and
•
½ cup lemon juice
thickness and add more water if
•
1 teaspoon cumin powder
necessary.
•
3–4 cups water
•
1 teaspoon crushed garlic
•
Salt
•
Roasted mushrooms
•
500 g mushrooms
•
4 tablespoons marinating oil (see page 20)
•
Salt
•
Freshly ground black pepper
•
Handful of chopped parsley
•
Olive oil
•
Add toasted sesame seeds or pine nuts and a few pinches of paprika to jazz it up (optional)
Methods 1. Soak the chickpeas in water and
2. Preheat the oven to 220°C. Marinate the mushrooms with the marinating oil, lay on a baking tray and season with salt and pepper. Lower the temperature of your oven and roast for 25-35 minutes at 200°C. In a blender, add a few good scoops of the cooked chickpeas and blend for a minute. Add one full cup of the tahina mix and blend for a further minute, repeating until you have used all the ingredients. When
serving,
depending
on how many people you are
half a tablespoon of baking soda
feeding, spread the hummus
overnight. Rinse the following
on a large flattish serving plate
day and immerse in a hot pot of
and make a slight dip in the
boiling water with the other half
middle of it, creating a border
tablespoon of baking soda. Cook
around the plate and then pour
until the chickpeas are super soft
the roasted mushrooms into the
and almost breaking apart, strain
centre. Lastly sprinkle over the
and cool.
parsley and a few good drizzles
While the chickpeas are cooling,
of olive oil.
Published by Jacana Media, RRP R330
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DIY
BUILD YOUR OWN SOLAR OVEN & MAKE A DESSERT Here is a recipe for the perfect solar cooked dessert. Just follow the instructions below and you will be amazed at the result.
You will need: Pizza box • Ruler Black marker • Heavy-duty aluminum foil • NT cutter • Craft glue • Scissors Cling film • Sticky tape Black craft paper • Sosatie stick
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Step 1 and 2 Cut an opening in the lid
Draw a square on top of your pizza box’s lid, making sure it is in the middle with a 2.5 cm border all around it. Turn the box so that the part where it flaps open faces towards you. Use the NT cutter to cut through the two vertical lines of the square, as well as the horizontal line closest to you. Score, but do not cut, the horizontal line of the square that is furthest away from you (on the side where the lid is attached to the box).
all around their edges – this will help to keep the oven warm.
Step 5
Insulate the box
Now focus on the bottom of the box. Cover the base and sides on the inside with aluminium foil. (This step is optional, but it will insulate the heat better.) Cut the black craft paper so that it is the same size as the pizza box’s base. Place and glue the paper onto the aluminium foil on the base. The black paper helps to retain the heat.
Step 3
Step 6
Fold the square open so that it stands upright. Cover the side that faces the opening in the lid with aluminium foil. Smooth out the foil as best you can. This shiny flap reflects the sunlight and is essentially what generates the solar oven’s heat. If needed, you can use a sosatie stick to keep the flap upright.
Your solar oven is ready for cooking. Why not try some marshmallow s’mores for dessert? To create enough s’mores for six people you will need: • 12 chocolate-chip cookies • 6 marshmallows • 6 teaspoons of Nutella
Create a reflective flap
Get ready to use your solar oven
Step 4
Step 7
Cut two square pieces of cling film so that they are slightly larger than the opening in the lid. Open the lid. Place one of the pieces of cling film over the underside of the opening and seal it on all sides with the sticky tape. Close the lid. Place the other piece over the top of the opening and seal it on all sides with the sticky tape. Note: When placing the pieces of cling film, stretch them as taut as possible and make sure the sticky tape creates an airtight seal
Take six of the cookies and place a marshmallow on top of each. Open the lid of the solar oven and put the cookies on top of the black craft paper. Close the lid and place the solar oven in direct sunlight. Wait for an hour or so until the marshmallows have melted. Once they are ready, open the lid and put a teaspoon of Nutella on top of the melted marshmallows. Sandwich the cookies closed with the remaining six cookies.
Cover the opening
Cook some s’mores
Thanks to Energy Partners for sharing these tips. Visit www.energypartners.co.za
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Shelf
New Pizza: A Whole New Era For The World's Favourite Food Stefano Manfredi Murdoch Books • 978 1 7433 6888 6
Taking pizza back to its roots and introducing a new world of flavours. While Italy, and more precisely Naples, is pizza's spiritual home, it's fair to say it has become one of the world's favourite foods. Pizza comes in many styles round, square, a metre or more in length, thin, thick, filled, fried or sweet, with a crust that's high or low, soft or crunchy. And the quality of the pizza is defined by the quality of the flour, the dough and the ingredients for the topping. In his book, awardwinning chef Stefano Manfredi takes pizza back to its roots. He uses stoneground, unbleached, wholewheat flour and tried-andtested methods for kneading and proving pizza dough, showing step by step how to create the healthiest, tastiest base for your pizza. Next comes an incredible range of toppings, the classics like margherita or seafood pizza, and then a delicious range of new styles including lamb belly, ricotta and Mediterranean herbs, pickled lettuce, capers, olives and tomatoes, Roman pizza with figs, prosciutto and balsamic, the amazing Peking duck
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roll pizza, fried pizza with pork belly, ricotta and provola and delightfully named 'Pillow of Dreams', a chocolate indulgence dessert pizza. To top it off, there are features with five of Naples' finest pizza chefs and sprinkled throughout are stunning shots of the beautiful city of Naples, the local growers and their produce. Stefano Manfredi's New Pizza takes pizza back to what it used to be a healthy and delicious fast food for everyone to enjoy.
Israeli quiche), Cardamom Butter Biscuits And a Tarte de Saint Tropez. Rachel's recipes range from the super simple (ginger squares) to the slightly more complex, including a show-stopping Celebration Cake. Whatever you're after, there will be no deflated soufflés or dry sponges in sight.
Home Baking Rachel Allen
4th Estate • 978 0 0081 0051 3
Harper Collins • 978 0 0081 7982 3
Rachel's recipes always work. Her legions of fans know that they are in safe hands with her. And nowhere is it more important than with baking. Here, in this gorgeous new book, she combines simple yet brilliant techniques with delicious flavours. With over 140 easy-to-follow recipes, Home Baking caters to your every baking need or whim. Whether you're after something traditional like the perfect birthday cake, the crispest brandy snaps or the crumbliest cheese swirls, Rachel has a fail-safe recipe. Or perhaps you're looking for something a bit more unusual, in which case you'll find undiscovered gems such pashtida with aubergine, feta and mint (an
Made at Home: The Food I Cook For The People I Love Giorgio Lacotelli From Tuscan tomato and bread soup to monkfish stew, simple spaghettis or lemon and pistachio polenta cake, Made at Home is a colourful collection of the food that Giorgio Locatelli loves to prepare for family and friends. With recipes that reflect the places he calls home, from Northern Italy to North London or the holiday house he and his wife Plaxy have found in Puglia, Made at Home is a celebration of favourite vegetables combined in vibrant salads or fresh seasonal stews, along with generous fish and meat dishes and cakes to share. Early every evening, Giorgio's 'other family', the chefs and front of house staff at his restaurant, Locanda Locatelli, sit down together to eat, and Giorgio reveals
the recipes for their best-loved meals, the Tuesday Pizza and the Saturday 'Italian' Burger. In a series of features he also takes favourite ingredients or themes and develops them in four different ways, amid ideas for wholesome snacks, from mozzarella and ham calzoncini (pasties) to ricotta and Swiss chard erbazzone (a traditional pie), crostini to put out with drinks, and fresh fruit ice creams and sorbets to round off a meal in true Italian style.
Feed Me Vegan Lucy Watson Sphere • 978 0 7515 6859 2
Packed with comforting, easy-tomake and totally delicious recipes, Feed Me Vegan shows you can be vegan and still have your cake (and mac and cheese, and lasagne, and pancakes) and eat it. Passionate vegan Lucy Watson has you covered with tempting meals from breakfast to supper – as well as all the sweet treats and snacks you need in between! Enough to turn the head of even the most dedicated carnivore, Feed Me Vegan is full of tasty, satisfying vegan fare which will have everyone asking for seconds. Whether you're already a full-time vegan, considering making the
switch or just trying to cut down on meats, fish and dairy, this book is sure to add new favourite recipes to your repertoire.
reference, Jane's Delicious A-Z of Vegetables is a one-stop guide to growing any type of vegetable organically.
Jane's Delicious A-Z of Vegetables Jane Griffiths
Farmageddon in Pictures: The True Cost Of Cheap Meat Philip Lymbery
Sunbird • 978 1 9202 8997 3
This book is a detailed organic growing guide to the most commonly-grown vegetables – plus many new and unusual ones now available. The book has in-depth information on how to sow, plant, feed, water, protect, harvest and eat them, as well as save their seed for future generations. Ten years ago growing your own food was a fringe activity. Gardeners were lucky if there was more than one shelf of vegetable seedlings at their nursery. Much has changed since then. The food growing trend shows no sign of slowing down as, increasingly, people realise how easy, healthy and gratifying it is. This book includes the many new techniques, knowledge, products and ideas that Jane has discovered in the years since her first book came out. Written in her quirky, practical style and lavishly illustrated with full-colour photographs for easy
Bloomsbury • 978 1 4088 7346 5
Farm animals have been disappearing from our fields as the production of food has become a global industry. We no longer know for certain what is entering the food chain and what we are eating – as the UK horsemeat scandal demonstrated. We are reaching a tipping point as the farming revolution threatens our countryside, health and the quality of our food wherever we live in the world. Farmageddon is a fascinating and terrifying investigative journey behind the closed doors of a runaway industry across the world – from the UK, Europe and the USA, to China, Argentina, Peru and Mexico. It is both a wake-up call to change our current food production and eating practices and an attempt to find a way to a better farming future.
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P romo
ForEva Straws Plastic is so last year, and a new drinking revolution is taking the world by storm. Hygienic, re-usable, classy and an all round better choice the Stainless Steel straw is being seen in drinks all around the globe. Made from hygienic high quality Stainless Steel the ForEVA straw provides the ultimate finishing touch to cocktails, smoothies and even specialty teas and coffees and milkshakes. Available in packs of 4, the ForEVA straw is the first of its kind to be commercially available in South Africa. Packaged with a cleaning brush the stainless steel straw revolution has numerous other advantages besides making any drink taste better: • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Environmentally Friendly Classy look Ideal for Any Occasion Reusable Easy to clean Stylish Increased Tensile Strength Retains drink temperature longer Safe for kids Perfect for Travel BPA Free Made from 18/8 Stainless Steel Dishwasher Friendly for easy cleaning
www.forevastraws.co.za
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Garden
The Mod S G 96
Roman politician and lawyer Cicero once said that, ‘if you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need’. But in an era where we have smartphones and tablets as libraries, what about the garden? Should it not also be in close proximity to us as our modern libraries? We take a look.
dern Garden 97 S G
W
ith
a
slick,
modern
and
portable
design that not only gives us the joy of successfully planting our own crops, but
also supplementing our diets, the modern garden has become not a luxury but a vital part of keeping ourselves balanced, well and properly nourished. There are many approaches to the modern garden, from kitchen gardens through windowsill gardens to vertical gardens in truly cramped outdoor spaces. And news ones are popping up in a variety of forms, sizes and solutions to the eternal urban gardening challenge – how to get as much product from a minimal space with as little input of effort and time as possible.
Homefarm
Homefarm is one such product made for the urban dweller who does not have a garden. But it is also aimed as so-called ‘health fanatics’ – those who know the benefits of harvesting and consuming their own produce, sans nasty chemicals like cancer-causing glyhphosate, as well as at the ‘not so Mr/Ms green thumbs’ who have already tried to grow their own garden and failed, often dismally so. We are all busy folk so it is far from uncommon to be someone who intends well by their green and growing friends but realises, when faced with their wilting plants, that they have once again allowed day-to-day business get on top of them and have neglected necessary watering. What all these people, and many others like them, really need is a convenient, modern and slick unit that enables users to grow leafy greens, herbs and micro-greens with minimum effort, and in the comfort of their urban homes. Michael Currin, with a background in engineering, decided to follow his passion for developing innovative, point of use products and solutions. Applying and
his
development,
skills
of
product
technology,
design
together
with
management consulting and strategy, Currin came up with what he believes may be the all-in-one solution for urbanites on the run who still wish to have something good and green growing on the home front – even if that home front is a fashionably distressed-looking steam-punk style loft. The idea for his product came about while he
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was living and studying in London. He developed, prototyped and sought to introduce his product into peoples' lives, not merely to sell a new product but, ultimately, to help enhancing their lifestyles. His solution to home gardening was hydroponics, a practice that enables people to grow crops without any soil. The process includes using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent, eliminating the use of soil fertilisers and run-off as the plants get nutrients from water that is stored inside the delivery device. The appliance also has a dedicated app that reminds you to fill up your water tank if you cannot connect the unit to your water supply, the perfect time to harvest, nutritional information and a variety of recipes. When the Homefarm team first came to Resolution Circle, in Milpark, Johannesburg, they needed office space, a legitimate studio from where they could take the idea to market and grow into a legitimate company. Resolution Circle is a technology incubator that has links to industry, manufacturing, retail, distribution, design, and specialised consulting services. A crowdfunding campaign raised $45 322 in July 2017, kicking further development into gear with the Homefarm product now in its first development phase. Currin’s four-strong team is currently preparing for the official product launch which will take place in April 2018, where those who participated in the campaign will receive their gifts and units. They also are currently assembling, packaging and dispatching the units in-house and developing a very detailed manual which will be handed to the manufacturer after they themselves have perfected the product. ‘In the lean times, when it comes to product development process, you want to oversee the manufacturing yourself initially,’ says Currin. If the idea of having an appliance that yields crops with minimum effort has ever vaguely crossed your mind, this is a sign. Imagine making everyone ‘green’ with envy when you casually mention that you grow your own leafy greens, (leaving out ‘with minimum effort’) that never wilt when you are away or are just too busy – and in your own urban refuge.
SG
Resources Homefarm video
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N atural P est C ontrol
y a b t a s g u b g n i p e e k
l a r u t a n e th
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y a lw
In the air, carpet, on the counter or in the cupboard, every home shares its resources with a horrifyingly huge number and variety of tiny, often unseen, invaders. Pesticides are available for most common household insect pests, but these potent chemical compounds may be as harmful to you and the environment as it is to the pests. We take a look at some natural, gentler (to humans, pets and our eco-systems) ways to deal with nasty noonoos.
L 
et's begin where few expect to. If using a filtration system with water, for of us that means a pool filter, we're also likely to know
about the specialised 'sand' that goes into the filter. This is technically called diatomaceous earth (DE).
The name refers to the fact that it is material rich in the exoskeletons of diatoms, which are tiny entities not visible to the human eye, but hugely useful as a general water purifier because their lattice-work remnants are the perfect size and form to capture bits of microscopic detritus. But that is not all that DE is good for. It turns out to be an excellent, broad-spectrum treatment for many of the more difficult house pests, and one which is not very expensive and entirely non-toxic. It works by attracting and trapping the little intruders in the same micro-frameworks that trap soil and other organic particles floating about in your pool water and making it cloudy. DE does not work for some bigger, flying creatures,
so for each type of creepy-crawly invader you are
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dealing with there is a relevant course of action that
children and pets must be protected – but it does
does not involve turning your home into a toxic
not have be the literal 'can of doom' solution.
inter-species war-zone.
Should all else fail, use the following method: mix one litre of water, one teaspoon of borax and a cup of sugar. Soak cotton balls in the solution and place them in a small yogurt container with holes punched in the lid to allow the ants access. Place the container(s) in a location where ants are present.
Ants
Ants will carry the bait back to their colonies where it will eventually kill the colony. Importantly: use
As with all invaders attracted indoors by odours,
this system indoors only; and the bait must be kept
food and other goodies, the first step is to remove
away from pets and children as some toxicity is
the attractants. Ants often go for sugar, as well as
involved.
other sweet things like jam, as well as water in the sink, when the heat is on and water is scarce.
Another option is to leave a small, low-wattage night light on for a few nights in the area of highest
So keeping counters free of bread crumbs, jam
ant activity. The change in light can disrupt the
knives and blobs of peanut butter, jam or sugar
ant's circadian rhythms and help discourage their
granules, all of which contribute to drawing in bugs
foraging patterns.
on the look-out for an easy meal. Clean sticky spots and keep surfaces clean using a damp cloth with, at most, a natural non-toxic
If you have ants on the deck or between floorboards, slip a few cut-up cloves of garlic between the cracks.
general cleaner lightly sprayed onto the cloth. Cover
For long-term non-toxic control of ants, sprinkle
the sugar and put the honey or jam jar in a plastic
diatomaceous earth where ants congregate – though
baggie, if not in the fridge. Cut off water sources
not captured by the DE, ants seem to loathe walking
such as drips or dishes left soaking overnight.
over it and after a few attempts they give up and go
These steps alone will resolve something like eight out of 10 ant issues. But if the ant invaders
round if they can, or if not, turn back the way they have come.
persist, try these simple measures: •
Keep a small spray bottle handy, and spray the ants with a bit of soapy water;
•
Set out cucumber peels or slices in the kitchen or at the ants' point of entry. Many ants have a natural aversion to cucumber (as do some
•
•
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people). Bitter cucumbers work best (but less
Dust mites
so for people).
Microscopic dust mites are everywhere in the home
Leave a few tea bags of mint tea near areas
– in our beds, clothing, furniture, book shelves and
where the ants seem most active. Dry, crushed
stuffed animals – and they are a real and growing
mint leaves or cloves also work as ant deterrents.
problem. It is well known that for people with
Trace the ant column back to its point of
allergies or asthma, dust mites are a problem, but
access. Set any of the following items at the
it turns out that they may even be a foundational
entry area in a small line, which ants will not
cause in many modern people developing earlier
cross: cayenne pepper, citrus oil (can be soaked
onset general allergic responses whereby the
into a piece of string), lemon juice, cinnamon or
afflicted become ever-more sensitive to a growing
coffee grounds.
list of allergens.
If your efforts still fall short of a complete
The issue is that if you are susceptible then
resolution of the problem, then you must move to
constant exposure to dust mites turns your immune
the lowest level of more aggressive ways to put ants
system into a runaway train, attacking any protein
off. Such steps almost always involve something
– including some in your food – as another assault
which needs to be watched carefully and from which
on your health and well-being, thereby making your
system hyper-reactive. Any small additional irritant then becomes a secondary allergen. People with multi-allergen allergies find that over time that the number of allergens to which they are reactive grows, as does the severity of their reactions. For the most unfortunate things becomes so bad that there is literally a laundry list of super-allergens, any one of which or in combo could kill them through anaphylactic shock. So dealing with dust mites is important, even if you can't see them. •
Vacuum mattresses and pillows. For people with sensitivities to dust mite allergens, dust mite bedding is available with zippered, allergenimpermeable encasings designed to block dust mites.
•
Wash bedding at 55ºC (130ºF) or higher. Detergents and commercial laundry products have no effect on these tough little blighters unless the water temperature is high.
•
Keep books, stuffed animals, throw rugs and laundry hampers out of the bedroom of allergy sufferers. Wash stuffed animals occasionally in hot water (as per previous point).
•
•
•
Tannic acid neutralises the allergens in dust
If you have ants on the deck or between floorboards, slip a few cut-up cloves of garlic between the cracks.
mite and animal dander. Dust problem areas
equivalent thrown at them in many a household –
with tannic acid powder, available at some
and which, once ensconced, are nearly impossible
health food stores and pet centres. Otherwise,
to get rid of without literally smoking the entire
search on the web for suppliers.
house out over a weekend with deathly fumes. This
Cover mattress and pillows with laminated
last step would have to be have to be a last-ditch
covers which prevent penetration by dust mites
decision because everything in the home will have
(not necessarily the most comfortable but
a fine coating of highly toxic fallout after such a
definitely efficacious). Avoid fabric-covered
chemical attack and all surfaces would need at least
headboards.
one thorough cleaning to be safe for little hands
Cover heating ducts with a filter which can trap
and feet, as well as paws and tongues.
tiny dust particles smaller than 10 microns. •
The best defence against hated roaches is a
Avoid using humidifiers. Dust mites thrive on
clean kitchen and bathroom – actually, a clean
warmth and humidity.
everywhere. If roaches have managed to gain a foothold in your home or apartment, vacuum well and wash the area with a strong (disinfectant) soap. Dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag in a sealed container. You can also try one of the following options:
Roaches
•
Diatomaceous earth is a safe alternative which can be sprinkled in areas where roaches
Cockroaches are the much despised monsters of
congregate, especially hidden areas such a
the kitchen and bathroom, apparently capable of
cabinet tops and behind appliances. Harmless
surviving a nuclear holocaust – of the chemical
to people, the tiny but sharp particles cut
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•
the insects' waxy exoskeleton and kills them
so much that he painted a scary sci-fi-ish impression
within 48 hours. For a week or so after the
of the soul of a flea. The bearers of many diseases,
treatment, the dehydrating insects will search
including the infamous and terrifying bubonic
more actively for water. So don't be surprised if
plague, fleas usually gain entry to your home
you see roaches more often after the treatment.
through your pet or visitors' pets, or your visitors
Most roaches should be killed within two weeks
with pets. For every flea on your pet, there may be
of application.
as many as 30 more in the pet's environment. But before reaching for pesticides, try these
Catnip is a natural repellent to cockroaches. The active ingredient is nepetalactone, which is
much safer choices:
non-toxic to humans and pets. Small sachets of
•
comb, dip the comb in a glass of soapy water.
Catnip can also be simmered in a small amount of water to make a 'catnip tea' which can be
•
•
boiling water over a sliced lemon. Include the
and behind counters. This natural repellent
lemon skin, scored to release more citrus oil.
should only be used in homes without cats,
Let this mixture soak overnight, and sponge on
however, otherwise moggie will likely go nuts
your dog to kill fleas instantly. Do not use citrus
and start tearing in furniture, non-moving dogs
oil on cats. Firstly, they hate it and will likely
and humans, among other things. Cats get
claw you and secondly, they are hyper-affected
'high' or 'crazy' on catnip, though most love
by the volatile oils and will likely end up in
it, so be considerate when using this solution
a corner drooling and blinking back the cat
around them.
equivalent of tears, while giving you looks of
Keep a spray bottle of soapy water on hand.
hatred and disgust. •
vinegar, to your pets' food. It is not advisable
are so notorious hard to kill.
to use raw garlic as a food supplement for cats
In an empty coffee can, place a couple pieces of
(see previous point – much the same applies,
bread which have been soaked thoroughly with
and cats can't properly metabolise the volatile
beer. Set a ramp leading up to the top and line
oils in garlic, so endangering their organs,
slippery lubricant. Place in areas known to have
especially the liver and kidneys). •
Cedar shampoo, cedar oil and cedar-filled
roach infestations.
sleeping mats are commercially available,
It is a little known fact that roaches like high
though mainly overseas (you may have to
places. If you put boric acid on top of your
revert to the web on this one). Cedar repels
kitchen cabinets (not inside), and if space allows
many insects including fleas, and is one of the
between ceiling and cabinets, the roaches will
pleasant ways of dealing with fleas for humans and animals.
take the boric acid to their nests, killing all of them. Boric acid is toxic by mouth, so keep •
Add brewer's yeast and garlic, or apple cider
kill them, perhaps surprisingly given that they
the inside top edge with vaseline or a similar
•
Citrus is a natural flea deterrent. Pour a cup of
used as a spray to apply around baseboards
Spraying roaches directly with soapy water will
•
Bathe and comb your pet regularly. Use mild soap, not insecticides. If fleas are found on the
catnip can be left in areas of cockroach activity.
•
Fleas in the carpet are best dealt with by
away from children and pets.
thoroughly vacuuming, especially in low traffic
Leave bay leaves, cucumber slices or garlic in
areas, under furniture, etc. Put flea powder in
the affected area as deterrents.
the vacuum cleaner bag to kill any fleas that you vacuum up, and put the bag in an outdoor garbage bin. Dispose of this bag in locations equipped to handle toxic waste. Inquire with your local authority as to where such a facility may be. This is a hassle but necessary – flea powder is actually quite dangerous stuff if
Fleas No-one loves fleas, not even the ones that perform at mythical flea circuses. William Blake hated them
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ingested. •
Trap fleas in your home using a wide, shallow pan half-filled with soapy water. Place it on the
floor and shine a lamp over the water. Fleas will jump to the heat of the lamp and land in the water. The detergent breaks the surface tension, preventing the flea from bouncing out. They drown. Shame. In the yard or garden, plant fleabane (Fleabane Daisy Erigeron speciosus) to repel fleas. This is an annual growing 40-60cm tall with violet, daisy-like flowers. •
Nontoxic flea traps are available commercially, again
mainly
overseas.
These
traps
are
inexpensive and very effective. So much for crawling bugs (though roaches can and do fly, they are mainly surface dwellers and rarely use their wings in adulthood). The flying bugs are entirely different ball of wax in that they must be dealt with not in just two but three dimensions.
Mossies Ubiquitous mosquitos are found in virtually ever environment on earth from the Arctic tundra
Catnip is a natural repellent to cockroaches. The active ingredient is nepetalactone, which is non-toxic to humans and pets.
regions, through the equatorial zones and certainly throughout most habitable regions around the
collect water. •
Campers often report that the very best
planet. They are not merely annoying, they are a
mosquito repellent is Herbal Armor, a nontoxic
primary vector for a whole range of disease, most
DEET-free repellent which is also recommended
notable malaria but including Nile Fever, Dengue
by National Geographic. For small areas such
Fever and many others. The first line of defence
as decks or patios, citronella beeswax and soy
against mosquitos is to prevent entry into the home.
candles can be effective. These candles are
Lots of South African rural homes have screens on
most effective when placed low to the floor and
doors and windows to deal with mossies and flies (they come next). If you don't have screens then you
in areas where there is little breeze. •
If you're using the braai (barbeque or grill
must keep windows and doors closed as much as
for Aussie and American readers), throw a
possible when they are at their most active, which
bit of sage or rosemary on the coals to repel
is in the early morning and early evening. They
mosquitos. This obviously only works for as
seek areas of still air because they are hampered by
long as the pungent herbs are smoking. A
breezes, tracking their prey (that's you) through a
longer-lasting effect is to get some dried herbs
combo of infra-red and carbon dioxide sensors and
smouldering and pull them to one side of the
the traces of both are disrupted by wind eddies.
braai and let them smoke away, adding a little
Close windows and doors on the side of your
bit more every now and then to keep up a
house which are opposite the breeze. Then try the
constant stream of their smoke which mossies
following:
can't stand.
•
Remove all standing water sources. Change
•
An effective natural bug repellent is made by
birdbaths, wading pools and pet's water bowl
mixing one part garlic juice with five or six parts
twice a week. Keep your eaves-troughs clean
water in a small spray bottle. Shake well before
and well-draining. Remove yard items that
using. Spray lightly on exposed body parts for
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an effective repellent lasting up to 5-6 hours.
exposed skin, covering thoroughly at least once.
Strips of cotton cloth can also be dipped in this
You can also make a tincture using alcohol, for
mixture and hung in areas, such as patios, as
spray applications. Plantings around the patio
a localised deterrent. Commercially available
will also help repel mosquitoes.
garlic-based, all-natural mosquito repellent and larvae killer will repel mosquitoes up to four weeks – again if you live in South Africa you may find yourself ordering via the web, though there are some DEET-free local alternatives. •
Neem oil is a natural vegetable oil extracted from the Neem tree in India. The leaves,
•
seeds and seed oil of the Neem tree contain
FLIES
sallanin, a compound which has effective
Every bit as bothersome and perhaps a lot more
mosquito-repelling properties. Neem oil is a
unhygeinic are flies, one of the planet's most
natural product, is safe to use and is excellent
successful species and literally found just about
for skin.
everywhere except parts of Antarctica.
Planting marigolds around your yard works as a natural bug repellent because the flowers give
Here are some tips for dealing with flies: •
off a fragrance bugs and flying insects do not
crushed mint can be placed around the home
like. These plants are part of the same family as khakibos and both produce aerial traces of
to discourage flies. •
small cheesecloth squares can be hung by open
toxic to both human and pets, especially the
windows or doors. •
and caution.
the house. •
mainly on the international market.
•
A few drops of eucalyptus oil on a scrap of absorbent cloth will deter flies. Leave in areas
For outdoor mosquito control, bat houses are effective, supposing the thought of bats
Place a small, open container of sweet basil and clover near pet food or any open food in
Safe, nontoxic pheromone-based mosquito traps are now commercially available, but again
•
Bay leaves, cloves and eucalyptus wrapped in
pyrethrum. Though natural, this substance is very young and old, so must be used with care •
Use mint as a fly repellent. Small sachets of
where flies are a problem. •
You can make your own flypaper with this simple
flitting about the braai does not freak you and
recipe: Mix 1/4 cup syrup, 15ml granulated
your guests out more than the bothersome
sugar and 15ml brown sugar in a small bowl.
mossies do. Some bat species can eat 500-1000
Cut strips of brown kraft paper and soak in
mosquitoes each per night, so this approach
this mixture. Let dry overnight. To hang, poke
definitely works, but obviously not for everyone.
a small hole at the top of each strip and hang
Thai lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a natural and effective mosquito repellent.
with string or thread. •
Safe, nontoxic, pheromone-based outdoor and
It contains the natural oil citronella, which is
indoor fly traps are available, but once again
safe and effective. Lemon grass citronella is
mainly from international sources. Check your
considered more effective than true citronella
local outdoors specialists though – they may
as an insect repellent. You can buy Thai lemon
have what you are looking for.
grass at garden centres and supermarkets, and it grows readily into a clump about 40cm across and about 60cm tall. To use as a mosquito repellent, break a stalk off from the clump, peel off the outer leaves until you find the scallion-like stem at the base. Bend the stem
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between your fingers, loosening it, then rub it
Bed bugs
vigorously between your palms – it will soon
Finally we come to bed bugs which, despite being
become a pulpy, juicy mass. Rub this over all
shy, slow-moving and seemingly delicate, have
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Made in South Africa
REST ASSURED YOU WILL NOT BE "BUGGED" CONTACT STEVE BERGS FOR MORE INFO, ORDERS AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES: bergssteve1@gmail.com • 082 838 4017107 S G
ruined sleep for billions of humans since humanity could be called that. The best defence against bed bugs by far is prevention, and this is easily achieved in rooms which have not yet been infected. If there is presence of bed bugs in a room, then a thorough cleaning and vacuuming is required, followed by preventive measures. Frequent travellers should be especially alert to early signs of bed bugs in the home. Here are some measures to help: •
The first step in controlling bed bugs is to determine if there are bed bugs present in your home or hotel room. Non-toxic bed bug traps use heat, CO2, and a pheromone lure to attract bed bugs to a sticky glue surface. These traps are safe for air travel and can go in your luggage or carry-on bags.
•
The best preventive measure against bed bugs is to apply non-toxic diatomaceous earth in the vicinity of bed bug activity. Be sure to use food-grade diatomaceous earth. Do not use pool-grade diatomaceous earth.
•
Wash all bedding in hot water (120ºF or about 70ºC). This will kill any bedbugs in the bedding.
•
If you are sleeping in rooms where you suspect bed bug activity, non-toxic bed bug spray can be applied which kills bed bugs and their eggs on contact. It also acts to prevent bed bug activity for up to two weeks. This spray can be applied to mattresses, furniture, luggage and clothing.
•
If there is a bed bug infestation, a thorough cleaning and vacuuming of the room is necessary. The most likely hiding places for bed bugs will be small cracks and crevices closest to where you sleep. The mattress and box spring should be lifted from the frame, and after vacuuming, sprinkle diatomaceous earth along the edges of the frame which holds the box spring. Personal items such as stuffed animals, blankets, etc should be vacuumed and placed
Going safer and natural is always the best and first option and resorting to slightly more aggressive measures only comes as the non-toxic ones prove ineffectual.
in plastic bags for several weeks. The bed bugs will die of hunger and not lay new eggs. Above all, and regardless of which particular bug
ones prove ineffectual.
or bugs have infested your home, do not panic and
In the end, in you have a persistently stubborn
reach for the hyper-toxic 'kills 99% of everything'
bug problem, you may have to refer to professionals
spray because you, your kids and the animals in
and fortunately there is a growing number of
your home are included in that 99%.
such outfits which offer non-traditional and largely
Going safer and natural is always the best and first option and resorting to slightly more
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aggressive measures only comes as the non-toxic
non-toxic forms of relief from virtually any sort of known bug infestation.
SG
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What a Great Idea: Awesome South African Inventions Mike Bruton Jacana • 978 1 4314 2427 6
This is the ultimate book on South African innovations and inventions that every South African should own. It is crammed with information on the awesome variety of new products and services that South Africans, at home and abroad, have invented from pre-colonial times to the present. Written in a highly readable style and richly illustrated, it will astonish, surprise and inspire you. Everything from Wadley's Loop to Musk's Hyperloop, Louis Liebenberg's Cybertracker to the unique Africanis dog, the first computerised ticketing system in the world to the world's first digital laser. Read about dozens of items that we use every day but which had very humble beginnings. Did you know that the machine that was used to drill the tunnels for the first underground railway in England was invented by a South African, or that the first 'computers' in South Africa were women calculators working at the Royal Observatory in Cape Town? Everyone knows that the Kreepy Krawly, Pratley's Putty, Dolos, CATscanner and Thawte Internet Security System were invented in South Africa, but what about the
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Sheffel Bogie, Oil of Olay, Q20, Policansky fishing reels, Lodox lowdose X-ray machine, Waste Shark, Wind-up Pulse Oximeters, Lithium ion batteries, DryBath, Acesco Breast Imaging System, and components of the SALT and SKA telescopes? Meet the new generation of South African inventors and innovators, including Brian Steinhobel, Mulalo Doyoyo, Jacques Blom, Elon Musk, Viness Pillay, Kelly Shibale, Tebello Nyokong, Gregory Maqoma, Kiara Nirghin, Tony Budden and Ludwick Marishane, and hear what they have to say about the climate for innovation in South Africa. Historic photographs, fascinating anecdotes and illuminating case studies light up the text and make it read like a detective novel. This book clearly shows that South Africans have punched well above their weight in international circles – now you have the opportunity to become an expert on what we have achieved through the ages.
A Guide to the Garden Route Revised and Updated Jacana • 978 1 4314 2520 4
Our Garden Route Guide will take you on a magical journey along South Africa's Garden Route while exploring the beauties and hidden
secrets of our natural heritage. Filled with detailed and up-to-date information, this book tells you where to go, how to get there and what you'll find in the area: hikes, drives, mountain bike and adventure routes; whale watching, birding hot spots; fauna and flora; maps from Still Bay to Storms River; historical, environmental, cultural and geological info. This 'must have' guide will enhance your experience, and will certainly expand your knowledge of the area. This book will appeal to tourists and locals, holiday makers, hikers, bikers, walkers, birders, outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers and guides.
Hermanus: Whales, Wine, Fynbos, Art Beth Hunt Struik Travel & Heritage • 978 1 7758 4547 8
Set along the cliffs between mountain and sea, Hermanus is one of the most popular holiday and travel destinations in South Africa. Initially it was the abundance of fish in Walker Bay, along which the village rapidly grew, that attracted holidaymakers. Today, the stars of the bay are undoubtedly the Southern Right Whales that migrate from Antarctica to mate and calve here during the winter months. But it is not only the wonders of the sea that
draw thousands of visitors to this picturesque village and surrounds year after year. Mountains, fynbos, culture, arts, crafts, country markets, adventure sports, scenic walks, golf courses, nature reserves, shark-cage diving, historical landmarks, and the vineyards and world-class wines of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley are richly described and illustrated in this lavish volume. With chapters covering all aspects of the town's diversity, the reader will learn more about all that is so generously on offer here, and also catch a rare glimpse of the heart that drives the town: the people and communities that have shaped this favoured destination. A self-published edition of Hermanus appeared in 2010. Now republished as a new title the book features entirely rewritten text and fresh photographs throughout, many commissioned especially for this edition.
Running Wild: The Story of Zulu, An African Stallion David Bristow Jacana • 978 1 4314 2569 3
Following in the footsteps of Jock of the Bushveld, Running Wild is an African story for all ages. It is a tale of resilience, of courage and endurance, a book that will uplift, enrich and warm every lover of the African bush.
The story of Zulu is based on the life of a real stallion that lived on the Mashatu Game Reserve. The versions of the story of Zulu are about as numerous as the people who recount them. The horse and the myth were at times indistinguishable. This account of his life has been stitched together from all those stories. In February 2000, tropical Cyclone Leon-Eline resulted in a storm so severe that the horses of Mashatu broke out of their enclosure and roamed wild and free for days before returning. Zulu was the only one that did not return. He was thought to be lost to the scourges of the Bushveld. Years pass before Zulu is discovered to be not only alive and well, but running as the lead stallion of a herd of wild zebras. He was recaptured and returned to the safari stables as a much bolder and wiser stallion – knowledge he passed on to the other horses as well as the humans of Limpopo Valley.
A Rhino in my Garden: Love, Life & The African Bush Conita Walker with Sally Smith Jacana • 978 1 4314 2595 2
Conita Walker tells the story of the love match that lured her from the world of international air travel to
plunge, somewhat naively, into the life of a conservationist. It is a tale of adventure, mishaps, humour and heartbreak. Conita's life begins on a remote missionary station; she survives the WWII bombing of Berlin, witnesses the defeat of political systems in both Europe and South Africa, and eventually finds her true mission in the rescue and hand-rearing of black and white rhino orphans. There was a baby hippo to rescue and re-wild too, conservation organisations to found and support, wilderness battles to fight, but it was the rhinos that became her life's work. Her first male calf, named Bwana, was raised in her back garden, followed by a female hippo calf who grew up in her washroom, and eventually returned to the Palala River and has produced numerous offspring. The supreme test of her mothering skills was the raising of a very seriously injured black rhino female named Moeng who was saved in the nick of time by the dedicated work of veterinarian Dr Andre Uys. This rhino calf, along with her predecessor 'siblings', were to be viewed up close by thousands of school children who came to Conita's garden while attending the environmental school nearby.
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Diving in Mozambique Robyn & Ross Hofmeyr Struik Nature • 978 1 7758 4525 6
The first guide to dives and diving in Mozambique that describes the best dive centres and resorts in the region and that details the following key information: facilities and equipment available, size of dive groups, length of dives, who leads the dives, distance to the launch site, the best time of year for diving, what there is to see, and what health and safety precautions to take. A labour of love that displays not only genuine knowledge, but also a real affection for the country, its remarkable coastline, and its to class diving.
OVERKILL: The Race To Save Africa's Wildlife James Clarke Struik Nature • 978 1 7758 4577 5
Ninety percent of the world's megafauna (its larger creatures) have disappeared since humans migrated from Africa and fanned out across the rest of the world. Within a very short time the megafauna – mammoths, mastodons, woolly rhinoceros and the huge carnivores
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that preyed upon them were extinct. Only Africa seems to have escaped: not unscathed, but not entirely vanquished either. This book describes the history and extent of human impact on the worlds wildlife (marine included), good and bad; it examines, in particular, the status of wildlife in Africa – the world's last great megafaunal sanctuary; and it questions whether Africa's wildlife has reached its lowest ebb, and whether it is about to witness the turn of the tide? The author sounds a note of cautious optimism: conservation initiatives have gained a new urgency in the 21st century, and governments in Africa and elsewhere are showing increasing resolve to tackle poaching. Vast transfrontier parks, many still in development, have the potential to provide a sustainable habitat for the continent's megafauna. If we can muster both local and international support, name and shame the rogue nations, and build a practical conservation model that does not conflict with human needs, then Africa's wildlife can perhaps be saved.
Invertebrates of Southern Africa and their Tracks & Signs Lee Gutteridge Jacana • 978 1 4314 2157 2
This bvook covers a never-beforeexplored aspect of Southern African nature and is an essential new addition to the library of every nature lover. It was researched and written over the last four and a half years to open a door to a little known micro-world that exists all around us. Invertebrates – which include commonly seen creatures such as butterflies, spiders, beetles, worms and scorpions – are everywhere. The signs of their day-to-day activities are all around us if we know where to look. The life cycles and behaviours of many animals are discussed, with a special focus on interactions between mammals and invertebrates – a fascinating subject in itself.
Garden Birds in Southern Africa Duncan Butchart Struik Nature • 978 1 77584 474 7
This guide profiles 101 garden birds likely to be found in gardens across Southern Africa, informing readers
about what to look and listen for, and where and when. It is also an inspirational guide to creating a bird-friendly garden that is also a reservoir of biodiversity, wherever you are in the region. With an attractive layout and multiple colour images, it offers descriptions and photos of 101 garden birds; how to get to know your local species, their feeding, breeding, calls and general behaviour; how to design your garden to attract the widest range of birds and other wildlife; the best plants and structures to provide food and shelter for birds; and detailed lists of recommended trees, shrubs, climbers, aloes and grasses
years ago), the chapters each deal with a particular event or process that has resulted in the formation under discussion. These include the early beginnings of the Earth, meteorites, canyons and limestone caves, vast desert landscapes, moonscapes and bizarrely-shaped rocks, and Namibia's astonishing underwater lakes and reservoirs. Picture-driven, with accessible text, this book features all the highlights of Namibian landscapes and landforms. A treat for travellers real and virtual – those on the road as well as those in armchairs.
Geological Wonders of Namibia Anne-Marie & Michel Detay
Greater Southern Africa has a wealth of mammal species, almost 400 – all of which are covered in this fully updated, comprehensive field guide. Now expanded to include species found in Angola, Zambia and Malawi, it has also been extensively revised to include: the most recent research and taxonomy, revised distribution maps and many new images, colourcoded grouping of families, spoor
Struik Nature • 978 1 7758 4294 1
This stunning depiction of geology in Namibia combines searingly beautiful photography with clear explanations of how the varied landscapes formed. Arranged chronologically (starting 13.8 billion
Mammals of Africa Chris & Mathilde Stuart Penguin Random House 978 1 7758 4111 1
and size icons, skull photographs, grouped for easy comparison detailed descriptions of each species offering insight into key identification characters, typical behaviour, preferred habitat, food choice, reproduction and longevity.
50 Top Birding Sites in Kenya Catherine Ngarachu Penguin Random House 978 1 7758 4248 4
For the very first time, local and visiting birders will have a detailed guide to Kenya's best birding sites. The book will help them to locate the key species in each area, including sought-after 'specials' and endemics. This book offers a detailed map for each site with specific guidance on what to look for and where, as well as information about the birds likely to be seen along with descriptions of each site, indicating the plants and wildlife that may be encountered in addition to the birds. Also included are tips for planning your trip and road directions to each site.
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DOING ONE THING Brent Hazell and Jason Smit are two South African 'brothers from each other’s mothers', as they described their deep relationship. The two men have decided to cycle across the length of South America, covering 11 000km taking seven months which would be average of 60km cycled per day. The purpose behind it is to raise awareness for the DOT Challenge and inspire many other to Do One Thing for the planet, initiative that Braam Malherbe, extreme adventurer, motivational speaker and conservationist conceptualised and started a few years back.
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n September 3 Brent and Jason departed from South Africa to start their journey in Ushuaia, the southern tip of Argentina. From
there they headed north with the intension of reaching northern Colombia seven months later. Their tour will take them through some of the highlights of South America, including the ice caps of Patagonia, the beautiful ancient ruins of Machu Pichu and Charles Darwin's Galapagous Islands. It will give them the opportunity to experience a wide variety of different climates and environments in Spanish speaking countries. Brent has recently quit his job to undertake this journey of self-exploration and Jason is an aspiring development activist who wants to understand the
'After coming close to death and wondering why I was doing such a crazy thing, it truly gives me hope when I see young people, like Brent and Jason’s passion to embrace change and take positive action. In this case they are riding their talk.' - Braam Malherbe
world. Both want to become greater assets to this finite planet, our only home. Originally they planed to embark on this journey primarily for self-discovery, but after they attended Braam Malherbe’s motivational talk and heard about the DOT Challenge they decided that this is their purpose
and that the last piece on the puzzle was found.
others' back to preserve and conserve, the world can only become a better place.' Jason has similar goals and is equally excited to embrace this journey with his best friend: 'Every action has a consequence. Somehow I have ended up here with one of my best and oldest friends
Climate change is a topic that both of them feel
and for a cause with which every self-respecting
strongly about and they are going to help to reach the
humanbeing can identify. Accumulative micro-action on
goal of getting as many people as they can to Do One
a mass scale will make the world a better place. Nobody
Thing every day for the planet.
appears to understand pollution and what we are
Along the way they are going to be completing
doing to our home. When you experience the wonders
challenges to try and grow as individuals. One of these
of nature you cannot help but feel a responsibility to
challenges will be related to DOT, where they will do
protect it. I am proud to be behind a cause with a true
one challenge a day. Other sustainability challenges will
homie. I am excited to experience what freedom of the
include meat-free Mondays (and then an extended spell
bike can inspire. We are by no means pioneers in what
of vegetarianism), limiting single-use plastics, planting
we are doing, we are just friends trying to do better,'
trees, local conservation projects as well as to educate
said Jason.
the local communities about sustainable living.
Braam Malherbe, the founder of the campaign,
Individual challenges would be a little more
is an extreme adventurer himself and on May 9 he
light-hearted and include things like 'learning to touch
arrived back from his latest expedition, the Cape To Rio
my toes, back flips, living off a dollar-a-day and
Row, during which he and his rowing partner, Wayne
learning to speak Spanish', says Brent.
Robertson, rowed, unassisted, from Cape Town to Rio
They have taken a drone, a GoPro and a camera along with them in order to document the challenges. All of them will be posted on the DOT Challenge’s social media platforms.
de Janeiro, a distance of 8 100kms in 92 days to raise awareness for the DOT Challenge. 'After coming close to death and wondering why I was doing such a crazy thing, it truly gives me hope
'The place that we all call home is sick. We all have
when I see young people, like Brent and Jason’s passion
the power and the responsibility to make changes in the
to embrace change and take positive action. In this case
way that we live to create a more sustainable society. I
they are riding their talk,' said Braam.
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look forward to sharing how easy and rewarding it can be to make these changes with Jason, the boy I moved
To support this global initiative and contribute
next door to when I was six years old,' said Brent and
to the wellbeing of the planet please visit the
continues; 'social capital is knowing that the person
www.thedotfoundation.org and
next to you has your back. If everyone scratches each
www.2brotherstouring.com.
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