UPLanD – Journal of Urban Planning, Landscape & environmental Design, 3(2), 83-92 [2018] Research & experimentation Ricerca e sperimentazione Green buildings and water management in Harare, Zimbabwe Vincent Itai Tanyanyiwa, Olivia Sakhile Juba Faculty of Science & Technology Zimbabwe Open University, ZW Highlights • Buildings consume more than twenty percent of the world’s available water • - bishing them. • For water management, redeveloping buildings is more efficient and sustainable than maintaining and refur • Green buildings closely emulate the site’s natural “pre-development” hence they save the existing natural waterCustomization cycle of international rating systems in green water management improves water efficiency. • - cient products. The water efficiency rating system assists consumers in making informed decisions on choosing water effi Abstract Article history Green buildings are structures that use environmentally responsible and re- Received: April 15, 2018 - Reviewed: August 31, 2018 Accepted: September 26, 2018 Buildingssource-efficient consume materials more than throughout twenty percent a building’s of the life-cycleworld’s available from siting water. to Thede On line: November 28, 2018 studysign, construction, adopted a qualitative operation, research maintenance, design torenovation, analyse water and theuse finalin buildings demolition. that are owned by Old Mutual Properties in Harare, Zimbabwe. Data were collected through structured and unstructured interviews and observation. Grey water Keywords designstreatment and and products low flow lead plumbing to less waterfixtures and provide energy opportunities use, and a reduction for industry in op to- eratingbuild high costs. tech, Increased low water government demand projects. regulation On average, and the applying desire to water-efficient lower energy Eco-friendly Green building Recycling Sustainability greycosts water are expected for onsite to driveuses such a faster as site adoption irrigation of water will minimizeefficient products demands such on the as localultra-low water flush resources toilets in and Harare low-flow in particular shower andheads. the The entire use country of non-sewage in general. and Waste water Water efficiency Copyright 2018 Vincent Itai Tanyanyiwa, Olivia Sakhile Juba Email: [email protected] ISSN online 2531-9906 | Open access article under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International License 84 Vincent Itai Tanyanyiwa, Olivia Sakhile Juba 1. Introduction 2. Green Buildings Buildings are part of the environmental problem Green development attempts to be holistic and is re- and are responsible for one-third of global green- lated to the concept of “sustainability” i.e. meeting house gas emission. They account for 40% of present needs without compromising on the abili- end-user energy consumption, 40% of solid waste, ty of future generations to meet their own needs and 12% of fresh water use worldwide hence the (World Green Building Council, 2013). The Green need for green buildings which can be a quick win building concept is part of the current movement in mitigating climate change by reducing the ener- towards more sustainable societies (UN-HABITAT, gy used in buildings by between 30% to 80%, sav- 2010). Green development establishes and rein- ing on money, creating jobs, and securing a more forces connections, applies ecological thinking by sustainable future (Lynch and Dietsch, 2010). creating places for people to live and work (GBCSA, 2016). Green development is more than individual and these are a comprehensive mechanism for buildings or their components, it seeks to minimise Water efficiency rating systems are important entire life-cycle impacts by employing resource-ef- Strategies such as legislation, regulation, licens- - ing,informing pricing, consumers awareness of watergeneration, efficient behavioural products. - ficient, and environmentally and community-sensi tion are important because treated water is scarce environmenttive land-use bywhich fitting is adaptable.the site thus It usingis generally resources ac- especiallychanges to in realise urban water areas efficiency(Ahn and Pearce,and conserva 2007). ceptedefficiently that through green building the provision refers toof botha health a structure indoor Stakeholders such as manufacturers, government and the use of processes that are environmental- organisations, sector experts, civil society, and the media should come together to ensure that there building’s life-cycle: from setting up, siting to design, is green water management (Gissen, 2003). This construction,ly conscious andoperation, resource-efficient maintenance, throughout renovation, a paper is based on four buildings owned by Old Mu- and demolition that take into consideration: ener- tual Property Zimbabwe (Private) Limited since gy use, water use (16% of water withdrawals are 1981. The four buildings are Eastgate Complex, used in the construction sector and 25% in build- Century Towers, Stanley House and Corner House, ings), indoor environmental quality, material sec- all in central Harare. tion and the building’s effects on its surroundings. Green Building Practices (GBPs) used in green buildings are environmentally friendly and eco- and water savings, improved building durability, nomically more productive than ordinary build- Green building benefits generally include, energy ings (Kaula, 2015). Green buildings are currently productivity, reduced maintenance costs, revenue getting global recognition and uptake especially fromflexibility, recycling, improved and occupantreduced outlayshealth, comfortfor building and in the global north as a climate change mitigating materials, conserved natural resources, reduced measure. Facilities built according to the GBPs, are waste and pollution, anticipating future legislation, assumed to have lower periodical rental premi- - reduced health and safety risk and liability reduced maintenance/by exceeding presentreplacement building costs code over specifications, the life of inums, Zimbabwe high finished as regards property to water values use and in buildings.are ener the building, lower costs associated with changing Thisgy efficient. paper exploredLittle research how water has been is being undertaken used in Old Mutual’s Properties in central Harare. Hara- (UN-HABITAT, 2010). A green building is one whose re’s rapidly increasing population and sponta- constructionspace configurations and lifetime and greaterof operation design assures flexibility the neous urban sprawl outstrip available resources healthiest possible environment while representing and the capacity of the City of Harare (CoH) to provide a reliable water supply. The increasing water, energy and resources (GBCSA, 2016). Green consciousness of the international predicament in buildingsthe most efficientuse environmentally and least disruptive responsible use ofand land, re- freshwater supply has led building designers and - managers to reduce water use in buildings with ity, availability, access to water in buildings, design, additional conserving equipment, rain-water re- construction,source efficient operation, materials maintenance,depending on renovation, their qual covery systems, and inventive water technologies and demolition as well as all green issues (cradle to (Du Plessis, 2005). cradle approach). The optimum green design effectively emulates all natural systems and conditions of pre and post de- UPLanD - Journal of Urban Planning, Landscape & Environmental Design, 3(2) http://upland.it Green buildings and water management in Harare, Zimbabwe 85 veloped sites. GBs are important because they save transpirational technologies are used. the existing natural water cycle and design site. GBs • A design that harvests, processes, recycles and closely emulate the site’s natural “pre-development” reduces the use of potable water coupled with hydrological systems by retaining storm water, on- a water budget is a prerequisite e.g. use of low- - done through the use of methods that closely resem- less urinals. Onsite treatment systems encour- site infiltration and ground water recharge. This is flow plumbing equipment, toilets and water use of potable water with recycling being enhanced rain and storm water for site irrigation. e.g.ble Harvestednatural systems. rainwater, At the storm- site therewater, is and an greyefficient wa- • Droughtage the usetolerant of gray-water and indigenous for toilet trees flushing, are ter. important for preserving surface and ground The Green Building Council of Zimbabwe (GBCZ) water. was launched on the 30th of September 2016 in Harare to spearhead the Green Building concept in Zimbabwe. This council is still in its infancy. The GBCZ advocates for integrated building designs and 4. Nature of water uses in build- a multi-disciplinary approach to design, catering for ings the Planet, People, Productivity (3 Ps) which in es- sence refers to sustainable green building practices There are four main types of water and waste- by educating industry players on the best materials water categories in residential, institutional and to use. The Council intends to train accredited pro- commercial buildings i.e. potable water, grey wa- fessionals that rate buildings by recruiting members ter, black water and storm water. Potable water to lobby for by-laws that promote sustainability in is commonly referred to as drinking water, while, the built environment. Most materials that have grey water is the domestic wastewater from bath- been used in the Zimbabwean construction