2014 Market Intelligence Report: Built Environment

The report outlines the South African regulatory landscape for construction, highlighting the role of the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act and SANS 10400-XA in driving energy efficiency. It identifies the commercial property sector as the primary driver of green building certifications, while noting significant opportunities for 'greening' the social housing sector in the Western Cape through alternative building technologies (ABTs) and improved thermal performance standards. The document also details the role of the NHBRC in approving ABTs and the Western Cape Provincial Government's Green Economy strategy.

• The regulatory framework for the built environment in South Africa is primarily governed by the Department of Public Works, with the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act (No. 103 of 1977) serving as the foundation for construction and development.
• SANS 10400-XA provides the first set of minimum standards for environmental sustainability and energy efficiency for both new and refurbished buildings in South Africa.
• The green building market is dominated by commercial investments, with the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) having certified 50 buildings nationwide, 11 of which are located in the Western Cape.
• The National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) has approved 40 alternative building technologies (ABTs) across South Africa, with a high concentration of 36 approved technologies located in the Western Cape.
• A Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC) resolution requires that 60% of the government's social infrastructure buildings be constructed using Innovative Building Technologies (IBTs) by 2017.
• In the Western Cape, the City of Cape Town has been allocated up to R30 million from the Jobs fund to retrofit ceilings for approximately 50,000 subsidy houses built without insulation between 1994 and 2005.
• New Norms and Standards for the construction of stand-alone residential dwellings, effective April 1, 2014, mandate specific thermal performance measures including 130mm mineral fibreglass blanket insulation and prescribed air gaps for ceilings.

APA

Didiza, S. (2014). 2014 Market Intelligence Report: Built Environment. GreenCape. https://greencape.co.za/assets/Uploads/GreenCape-MIR-Built-Environment.pdf

Chicago

Didiza, Songo. 2014 Market Intelligence Report: Built Environment. GreenCape, 2014. https://greencape.co.za/assets/Uploads/GreenCape-MIR-Built-Environment.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Didiza |first1=Songo |title=2014 Market Intelligence Report: Built Environment |publisher=GreenCape |date=2014 |url=https://greencape.co.za/assets/Uploads/GreenCape-MIR-Built-Environment.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{didiza20142014, author = {Didiza, Songo}, title = {{2014 Market Intelligence Report: Built Environment}}, institution = {GreenCape}, year = {2014}, url = {https://greencape.co.za/assets/Uploads/GreenCape-MIR-Built-Environment.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }