Greencape Market Intelligence Report 2014: Greening South African Buildings

The report analyzes the South African green building sector, detailing the regulatory environment governed by the National Building Regulations and SANS 10400. It highlights the growth of the commercial green building market, the adoption of alternative building technologies (ABTs) in social housing, and specific strategic initiatives in the Western Cape to promote a green economy.

• The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) has certified 50 buildings nationwide, with 11 of those located in the Western Cape. Early adopters in the commercial sector are reporting economic benefits, including lower electricity costs—particularly for HVAC—higher asset returns, and increased property values.
• The National Homebuilders Registration Council (NHBRC) has approved 40 alternative building technologies (ABTs) across South Africa, the vast majority of which (36) are in the Western Cape. Despite this, ABT adoption is slow due to a lack of community trust and insufficient product information.
• A Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC) resolution requires that 60% of the government's social infrastructure buildings be constructed using ABTs by 2017. To support this, the report recommends establishing an ABT Centre of Competence and an ABT Forum.
• The South African regulatory framework for buildings is based on the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, Act 103 of 1977. Technical guidelines are provided by SANS 10400, with Part XA specifically addressing energy use and environmental sustainability for new and refurbished buildings.
• In the Western Cape, the 'Green is Smart' strategy and the '110% Green Campaign' target residential buildings for green growth. The province has also implemented various pilot projects, such as the Manenberg Public Works Building, which achieved a four-star Green Star rating.
• New norms and standards for government-subsidized housing, effective April 1, 2014, align with SANS 10400-XA to improve thermal performance. Required measures include the installation of ceilings with prescribed air gaps and 130mm mineral fibreglass above-ceiling insulation.

APA

GreenCape (2014). Greencape Market Intelligence Report 2014: Greening South African Buildings. https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/MIR2014-Buildings-3.pdf

Chicago

GreenCape. Greencape Market Intelligence Report 2014: Greening South African Buildings. 2014. https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/MIR2014-Buildings-3.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=GreenCape |title=Greencape Market Intelligence Report 2014: Greening South African Buildings |date=2014 |url=https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/MIR2014-Buildings-3.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greencape2014greencape, author = {{GreenCape}}, title = {{Greencape Market Intelligence Report 2014: Greening South African Buildings}}, institution = {GreenCape}, year = {2014}, url = {https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/MIR2014-Buildings-3.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }