| Sustainability has become one of those keywords | | | | which local small businesses such as contractors, |
| that politicians bandy about to raise their profiles, and | | | | manufacturers and retailers were supported |
| then conveniently forget when their contracts are | | | | throughout the entire construction process. · The |
| signed or their tenure is secured. It’s a | | | | local maintenance of the building and its systems. |
| particularly popular concept among social | | | | For sustainability to be successfully integrated into a |
| development projects that always aim to be | | | | construction project, it needs to be addressed as |
| self-sustaining or have long term sustainability. | | | | early as possible. A meeting to brief all of the |
| It’s now being applied to the design, construction | | | | stakeholders in the project about sustainability and a |
| and management of buildings with the focus on the | | | | shared vision of its future is imperative. A site |
| needs of developing countries. | | | | analysis is important, as it helps to establish possible |
| In South Africa, which can be considered a | | | | problems that will need to be addressed, and |
| developing country in many ways, the problem of | | | | potential resources that can be drawn from social, |
| sustainability in buildings is being addressed by CSIR | | | | economic and environmental assets. |
| Building and Construction Technology. One of the | | | | All of the information gathered to date can be used |
| most important methods that they have developed | | | | to set feasible sustainability targets for the |
| is the Sustainable Buildings Assessment Tool (SBAT). | | | | construction project. The client’s commitment to |
| SBAT collects information at all stages of the building | | | | sustainability, as well as the design team’s |
| lifecycle for analysis, which can then be saved on a | | | | understanding of the overall concept needs to be |
| database for use in future projects. | | | | established. Information gleaned from the site analysis |
| Sustainable development entails meeting the needs of | | | | should have revealed the extent to which the |
| those in the present while making provision for the | | | | project can rely on local businesses and how much |
| continued existence of resources for future | | | | work will have to be contracted. Similar projects can |
| generations. Effects on the environment must also be | | | | be examined to get an idea of the time frame and |
| considered and the natural surroundings preserved as | | | | overall expenses required. |
| far as possible. | | | | One of the focus points of sustainability is to do as |
| SBAT addresses 15 areas in the construction of | | | | little harm as possible to the environment. It’s |
| buildings that need to be assessed in terms of their | | | | recommended that when a building has ceased to |
| relationship to the surrounding social, economic and | | | | serve its original purpose, it’s refurbished and |
| environmental systems. These areas include: | | | | reused. In some instances this is not possible, in which |
| Environmental areas: · Water · Energy · Waste · | | | | case as much of the building should be recycled as |
| Site · Materials and components Economic areas: · | | | | possible. |
| Local economy · Efficiency of use · Adaptability | | | | Building sustainability is a growing industry in many |
| and flexibility · Ongoing costs · Capital costs Social | | | | developed countries, such as the USA and Australia. |
| areas: · Occupant comfort · Inclusive environments | | | | In developed countries the focus is on maintaining the |
| · Access to facilities · Participation and control · | | | | current lifestyle while curbing the consumption of |
| Local education, health and safety contractors | | | | natural resources. In developing countries, the aim is |
| One of the most important considerations that need | | | | to improve the quality of life of the citizens, while |
| to be included in sustainability is the impact the | | | | preserving resources and preventing a negative |
| development has on the local economy. To measure | | | | impact on the environment. Wherever building |
| the extent of the effects SBAT has come up with 5 | | | | sustainability occurs, however, it must never be |
| assessment criteria. These criteria include: · The use | | | | forgotten that in preserving our environment, we |
| of local contractors and labour in the construction on | | | | preserve humanity. Sustainability might be a |
| the building. · The volume of building material | | | | politician’s word of the moment, but that |
| supplied locally. · Whether or not local components, | | | | doesn’t detract from its global value. |
| fittings and furniture were used. · The extent to | | | | |