City of Cape Town Smart Building Handbook A guide to green building in Cape Town City of Cape Town Smart Building Handbook Published by the City of Cape Town June 2012 Cover photo (top): City of Cape Town Human Settlements Contact Centre in Manenberg. Registered with the GBCSA, it is currently being evaluated for Green Star SA Rating. More information available from: Environmental Resource Management Department 44 Wale Street Cape Town 8001 South Africa Tel : +27 21 487 2284 Fax : +27 21 487 2578 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.capetown.gov.za/environment © City of Cape Town ISBN 978-0-9870321-0-2 This document is printed on SAPPI Triple Green paper, an environmentally friendly paper stock made from chlorine-free sugar cane fibre, to support sustainable afforestation in South Africa. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information in this document at the time of publication, and to acknowledge photographs correctly. The City of Cape Town accepts no responsibility and will not be liable for any errors or omissions contained herein. If you have any information you believe should be included in the next edition of the City of Cape Town Smart Building Handbook, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with ‘SBH suggestion’ in the subject line. CITY OF CAPE TOWN SMART BUILDING HandbooK Table of contents 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Who are the target readers of this handbook? ................................................................................ 4 1.2 Why green building? ........................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 How to use this handbook .................................................................................................................. 5 1.4 Limitations of this handbook .............................................................................................................. 5 1.5 Is green building more expensive? ..................................................................................................... 5 2 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF CAPE TOWN ................................................. 6 2.1 Energy ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Water .................................................................................................................................................... 6 2.3 Waste ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 2.4 Biodiversity ............................................................................................................................................ 7 2.5 Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 7 3 GREEN BUILDING PRINCIPLES .................................................................................................................... 8 3.1 Be locally appropriate ........................................................................................................................ 8 3.2 Conserve the natural environment ................................................................................................... 8 3.3 Use resources efficiently and effectively .......................................................................................... 8 3.4 Apply a full life-cycle approach ........................................................................................................... 8 3.5 Minimise waste ................................................................................................................................... 8 3.6 Use renewable resources .................................................................................................................... 8 3.7 Implement sustainable procurement ................................................................................................. 9 3.8 Utilise locally sourced materials and skills ........................................................................................ 9 3.9 Maximise the health and well-being of users .................................................................................. 9 3.10 Allow real-time monitoring and evaluation ..................................................................................... 9 3.11 Leave a positive legacy ....................................................................................................................... 9 4 IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES ............................................................................................................... 10 4.1 Site selection ..................................................................................................................................... 10 4.1.1 Greyfield and brownfield redevelopment ........................................................................... 10 4.1.2 Compact urban development ............................................................................................... 10 4.1.3 Access to transport networks ............................................................................................... 10 4.1.4 Recommendations for site selection ..................................................................................... 11 4.1.5 Checklist: Site selection .......................................................................................................... 11 4.2 Design phase ...................................................................................................................................... 11 4.2.1 Establish a knowledgeable team .......................................................................................... 11 4.2.2 Efficient site planning ............................................................................................................ 11 4.2.3 Efficient building design ........................................................................................................ 12 4.2.4 Passive solar design ................................................................................................................. 12 4.2.5 Orientation and shading ......................................................................................................... 12 4.2.6 Energy-efficient building materials ....................................................................................... 12 4.2.7 Ceilings and insulation ............................................................................................................ 13 City of Cape Town 4.2.8 Thermal mass: Heat sinks ........................................................................................................ 13 4.2.9 Natural and traditional building materials and methods .................................................... 13 4.2.10 Design according to standard sizes of construction materials ............................................. 14 4.2.11 Integrated planting and roof gardens ................................................................................... 14 4.2.12 Economic impact ...................................................................................................................... 14 4.2.13 Recommendations for the design phase ............................................................................... 14 4.2.14 Checklist: Design phase ........................................................................................................... 15 4.3 Construction phase ............................................................................................................................. 16 4.3.1 Soil conservation ...................................................................................................................... 16 4.3.2 Recycle construction and demolition waste .......................................................................... 16 4.3.3 Use sustainable materials and products ................................................................................ 16 4.3.4 Buy local ................................................................................................................................... 17 4.3.5 Recommendations for the construction phase ..................................................................... 17 4.3.6 Checklist: Construction phase ................................................................................................ 17 5 SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT................................................................................................ 17 5.1 Energy efficiency................................................................................................................................. 17 5.1.1 Passive solar design ................................................................................................................. 18 5.1.2 Insulation .................................................................................................................................. 18 5.1.3 Ceilings ..................................................................................................................................... 18 5.1.4 Air