JOCELYN NEWMARCH

Infrastructure & Environment Correspondent

SA’s World Cup stadiums in Durban and Cape Town include a host of features designed to make them environmentally and economically sustainable.

Sustainable building practices are likely to become more mainstream with recent increases in electricity tariffs and concern about SA’s water consumption.

Cape Town’s Green Point Stadium and Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium lead the way. Both achieved a “good” rating for overall sustainability.

Eric Noir, director of WSP Green By Design, hired by the Department of Environmental Affairs for the evaluation, said yesterday this had been achieved despite financial constraints.

The company evaluated water, waste and energy use using the Sustainable Building Assessment Tool, which includes 75 indicators on economic, environmental and social sustainability.

At Moses Mabhida, a 700m³ rainwater storage tank has been included in the design, and low flow shower heads and low-flush toilets and urinals were fitted.

Drip irrigation — using 30% less water than usual irrigation methods — has been used to feed the mostly endemic species of plants. The estimated water savings are 6000m³ a year.

Energy efficient lighting, natural ventilation, a building management system, and gas rather than electricity for cooking will save 1,2 million kWh a year, or 30%.

As much as 85% of the construction material was obtained locally, reducing the need for transport, while also building the Durban economy. Waste was recycled where possible and PVC for piping was avoided.

Green Point’s roof design allows 100% of rainwater to be collected, and directed to a retention pond to be used for reducing water consumption.

The use of drought-resistant, indigenous plants in landscaping resulted in a 20% water saving, and intelligent drip irrigation was added. Low-flow and aerated shower heads and dual-flush toilets were installed.

The raked design and facade fabric permit natural shading and allows breezes through while blocking strong winds and gusts. A translucent roof lets through natural lighting. Green Point also has the option to buy energy from the Darling Wind Farm.

Fly-ash, usually sent to landfill, was used in the concrete mix of both stadiums.

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Source: Business Day