The SBAT Residential tool and manual has been updated and a new online course developed. The Sustainable Building Assessment Tool can be used to assess and improve the sustainability performance of residential buildings, such as houses and apartments, and their … Continue reading New online course on the Sustainable Building Assessment Tool
These are some COVID-19 (Coronavirus) resources I have found for built environments. They may be of interest to researchers, facilities managers, building owners, building cleaners and occupants and visitors of buildings. As knowledge about the virus, and how to reduce … Continue reading COVID-19 Resources for Built Environments
We now know from the World Health Organisation that we need to move quickly to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus. As people spend most of their working and living hours in buildings, developing measures that help reduce the spread … Continue reading Preparing Buildings for COVID-19
In developing some new guidelines on ‘Design for Climate Change’ I was reminded of the work I did sometime back on design for energy efficiency. The guidelines for the City of Johannesburg aimed to enable designers develop designs which maximise … Continue reading Design Guidelines for Energy Efficient Buildings in Johannesburg
The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is spreading very rapidly and disrupted many aspects of life.While people live and work in buildings where they may be infected by Coronavirus there is limited practical guidance on what can be done to reduce the … Continue reading Coronavirus in Buildings
I was invited to give a keynote on Circular Built Environments in Asia, Africa and Latin America at the World Urban Forum 10 in Abu Dhabi. My talk was on circular built environment actions that can be implemented in developing … Continue reading Circular Built Environments: World Urban Forum WUF 10
This podcast interview is on the Circular Economy in Africa in the Build With Care series organised by the One Planet Network. Interesting points discussed include the need to recognise the value of circular approaches in indigenous building materials and … Continue reading Build With Care Podcast on the Circular Economy in Africa
This new paper explores alternative approaches to addressing climate change and implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. It is based on a neighbourhood-driven approach which enhances sustainability performance through creating local facilities, installing sustainable technologies, creating new organisational and governance structures … Continue reading Capable Neighbourhoods
Evaluating the Sustainability of High-Density Affordability Housing Development in Alexandra, Johannesburg is the title of a recent paper I presented at the 2019 South African Energy Efficiency Confederation Conference in Pretoria. The paper critically evaluates a new housing development which … Continue reading Evaluating the Sustainability of High-Density Affordability Housing Development in Alexandra, Johannesburg
Using Onsite Service Enterprises to Improve Housing Sustainability and Affordability is the title of a recent paper I presented at the 2019 South African Energy Efficiency Confederation Conference in Pretoria. The paper proposes innovative strategies including Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), … Continue reading Using Onsite Service Enterprises to Improve Housing Sustainability and Affordability
Water Infrastructure for Human Settlements: Urban – Non-Urban Linkages and Water Access is the title of a paper developed with Professors Adeyeye and Chakwizira and presented at the 2019 International Conference on Resource Sustainability – Cities – Adelaide, Australia, 1-3 … Continue reading Water Infrastructure for Human Settlements: Urban – Non-Urban Linkages and Water Access
Does the Built Environment Sustainability Tool (BEST) Address Resilience Sufficiently? is the title of a paper at the Sustainable Urbanization through Research, Innovations and Partnerships Conference, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, 6-10 May 2019. The abstract for the paper is … Continue reading Does the Built Environment Sustainability Tool (BEST) Address Resilience Sufficiently?
Does the Sustainable Built Environment Tool (SBAT) Address Resilience Sufficiently? is the title of a paper at the Sustainable Urbanization through Research, Innovations and Partnerships Conference, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, 6-10 May 2019. The abstract for the paper is … Continue reading Does the Sustainable Built Environment Tool (SBAT) Address Resilience Sufficiently?
Household Expenditure Affordability Thresholds for Housing, Water, Energy and Transport in South Africa Human Settlements is the title of a paper at the Sustainable Urbanization through Research, Innovations and Partnerships Conference, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, 6-10 May 2019. The … Continue reading Household Expenditure Affordability Thresholds for Housing, Water, Energy and Transport in South Africa Human Settlements
Climate Change in the Built Environment: Addressing Future Climates in Buildings is a chapter in a new book called Claiming Identity Through Redefined Teaching in Construction Programs, edited by Sherif Mostafa (Griffith University, Australia) and Payam Rahnamayiezekavat (Western Sydney University, … Continue reading Climate Change in the Built Environment: Addressing Future Climates in Buildings
Green Building Technologies is a chapter in a new book titled Cases on Green Energy and Sustainable Development edited by Peter Yang. Cases on Green Energy and Sustainable Development informs and educates students and young professionals about renewable energy and … Continue reading Green Building Technologies
Recently I was asked to present on sustainable building rating systems in a webinar organised by the UN. There are now many different systems so it is becoming increasingly difficult to choose and distinguish between these systems. My presentation, therefore, … Continue reading 5 questions to ask when choosing a sustainable building rating system
Yesterday, Eliud Kipchoge ran the marathon in under two hours. This is the first time this has ever been done. As well as the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly running shoes and 41 pace-makers, a support car beamed a green laser mark … Continue reading How targets and indicators can help achieve ‘impossible’ goals
What is public project management? Public project management involves the development of government projects, such as the building of schools, clinics, and housing. Very few of these projects are completed on time, on budget and fully achieve the envisaged outcomes. … Continue reading Public Project Management
Increasing housing backlogs and rising house prices mean that self-build may be an increasingly attractive option for many households. Building on timber frame self-build project experience, I am developing a simple modular prefabricated timber unit that can be readily assembled … Continue reading Self-build modular prefabricated housing
