Green building materials changing construction dynamics in Africa

2022-06-15 11:32:26 By : Ms. Cisy Pei

In this exclusive ESI Africa article with Future Market Insights, we consider the market for green building materials as a way to promote sustainable construction in Africa.

The construction industry accelerates national development and growth but additionally contributes to eco-unfriendly and unsustainable development, which has detrimental effects on the economy and the environment. The construction industry is turning to green building materials (GBM) as a way to promote investment and opportunities in sustainable construction. And the African construction industry is no exception to this.

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According to a recently published report by Future Market Insights, the global green building materials system industry is expected to grow at a robust CAGR of 11.8% from 2022 to 2032. Green building in South Africa reduces energy and water usage, increases asset value and profitability, reduces operating costs, reduces life cycle energy costs and improves company recognition.

Due to their social benefits, green building materials are increasingly being used in the construction industry. The buildings are aesthetically pleasing and enhance the comfort and health of occupants. Since it is a new and innovative technology, they provide more opportunities for job creation, especially for locals who work in research and development. Researchers are working on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing strategies for converting existing buildings into green buildings.

In this blog, we will discuss how bamboo is a suitable sustainable green building material for the African construction industry, how precast concrete materials can be used for more effective planning and lower cost for buildings, and the use of straw bales for green construction in Africa.

Have you read? Op-ed: Green buildings are key to reducing energy consumption

One of the highest quality environmentally friendly building materials is bamboo. Some plants have been reported to have grown up to three feet within 24 hours, which indicates how high their self-generation rate is. After harvest, the plant grows and spreads without needing to be replanted. Bamboo is found on all continents, except for Europe and Antarctica, and is a perennial grass.

In addition to its high strength-to-weight ratio, it is more durable and lasts much longer than concrete and brick, with a negligible carbon footprint. Therefore, it is the preferred sustainable option for flooring and cabinetry. However, bamboo requires special treatment to prevent rot and insects. Bamboo, if left untreated, contains starch that greatly attracts insects and it could swell and crack once it absorbs water.

Various parts of South Africa are home to Bambusa balcooa, a bamboo species that are considered suitable for construction. Its properties have not yet been established, but it has been widely adopted by the African construction industry. It can be considered a viable construction material based on theoretical engineering and material properties determined in various countries around the world. 

As a result of a 3.5% yearly urbanisation rate in Africa, slums have become dominant settlement types throughout the continent. A priority is to identify locally sourced, environmentally responsible, and affordable building materials. As an example, INBAR implemented a project called Development and Promotion of Bamboo Housing Technology in East Africa to assess bamboo’s potential to meet low-cost, eco-friendly housing requirements in the region. A conventional bamboo building and a modern bamboo building were initially constructed in both Kenya and Uganda as part of this project. In addition, training on bamboo management, cultivation and construction, and feasibility and sustainability studies on Ethiopian bamboo construction were given to more than 60 people in that locality.

The project raised general awareness and interest in bamboo as a green building material in both countries; two universities have since introduced bamboo construction into their curricula. Also, the project has demonstrated that bamboo housing and tourism lodges can be economically viable in Ethiopia for middle- and low-income families. As such, bamboo proved to be a suitable material for green construction in Africa.

Have you read? Expected growth in the multifamily housing green buildings market

A precast concrete slab is formed at the manufacturer’s site and shipped to the construction site in whole sections. Like concrete blocks, they are made entirely of concrete but have a lot of hollow spaces within. In addition to walls and facades, precast concrete slabs can be used for floors and flat roofs since they can withstand all kinds of weather.

Concrete is an excellent way to control heat within a building as well as an affordable building material. As precast concrete slabs often take less energy to produce and assemble, their sustainability is higher than many traditional concrete options. By precasting concrete, the material can also cure properly in a controlled environment rather than being exposed to unfavourable weather conditions on the job site. As a result, precast concrete slabs prevent cracks and structural weaknesses in the concrete, which might eventually lead to demolition.

Elematic SA (ESA), a Gauteng-based developer of precast concrete panels for housing and commercial developments, believes that precast concrete panels represent a revolutionary solution when it comes to the construction of housing, particularly affordable housing, where cost and delivery are critical factors, and which will help reduce the backlog, currently estimated at approximately two million units. In South Africa, ESA is a leading manufacturer of precast concrete hollow-core slabs, which have been used to construct schools, commercial properties, housing, and stadiums.

As a result of using naturally sourced raw materials such as stones, sand, gravel, and cement, this material is environmentally friendly. It is also resistant to blasts, earthquakes, and other natural disasters, thus reducing carbon emissions significantly. A great example of the advantages of using precast concrete in the construction of green social housing is City Deep Green. In City Deep, Johannesburg, South Africa, there was a dire need for affordable housing. This project was a response to that need. During the planning process, it became apparent that the project had to adhere to a tight schedule, which is why precast concrete was selected. In comparison to traditional cast-in-situ concrete floor slabs, these sustainable building slabs can be erected much more quickly, making them ideal for projects with tight deadlines.

The flexibility of precast concrete products will allow architects and engineers to design a wider range of buildings as well as offer a quicker return on investment. In addition to the opportunities in South Africa, it is thought that Angola and Kenya are already researching precast concrete manufacturing to meet their housing and construction needs.

Have you read? IFC creates loan to finance construction of green buildings

The straw bale is another green building material that can be used as a framing material. This material is soundproof and suitable for insulation. The material can also be used as a fill material between columns and beam frameworks. Since the material cannot allow air to pass through, it has some fire resistance.

With minimal environmental impact, straws can be harvested and replanted. Straw can even be made into bales with minimal environmental impact. Also, they can be installed in walls, attics, and ceilings to contribute to cooling the house in the summer and warming it in the winter.

In South Africa, straw bales are becoming a viable alternative to conventional construction materials. Cape Town architect Etienne Bruwer built his Constantia office using straw bales. Since then, straw-bale house construction has increased in this country. To boost the sustainability of their construction activities, the African construction industry has taken various measures to reap the benefits of straw bales.

An example of this is the Straw Bale School in Malawi, East Africa project, a design concept for a secondary school in southeast Africa. Based on the brief, the design emphasises modularity, deployment, incremental expansion, and sustainable technologies. The school is built as a structural system using a modular ladder component that houses its pedagogical goals. Local materials, such as straw bale cubes, are injected into the entire surface, including voids for ventilation and light. It promotes local construction practices, so the system is easy to repair and maintain in the future. Aside from filling up the inside walls of the rooms, straw bales were also used for the roofs. They kept the temperature cool inside the school.

The design of the school reflects the importance of the vernacular in shaping the future. In addition to pedagogy, and sustainability, the design emphasises the importance of local materials, as well as student and community participation in promoting green buildings and a sustainable future.

Have you read? How to tap into the enormous potential in green buildings

Cities all over the world are committing to switching to renewable energy and green building materials as awareness grows about the impact of fossil fuels. Changing to cleaner and more environmentally friendly construction materials to develop green buildings is not an exception for Africa. As a result of the use of such green building materials, a variety of green buildings have been built across the continent.

Africa’s sustainable architecture is finding effective ways to reduce costs, learn from traditional building methods, conserve energy, and promote reuse. Located in Freedom Park, Cape Town, South Africa, the Sandbag Houses is an impressive construction. The goal of a sandbag home is to conserve resources and money. By building it for $6000, this goal was met. Using inexpensive local materials, transportation was cut down significantly. Furthermore, its construction was done with the help of its future residents, which further reduced costs. Sandbags were used in place of bricks and mortar in the house built with EcoBeams. It has been reported that it is a strong, safe, and cheap method of delivering affordable housing.

Ecomo Homes is another sustainable home construction project in Africa that incorporates low-maintenance materials. Building them in a factory in South Africa minimises construction waste. They are then installed on-site. The layout can be determined by the client. A variety of living, play, and sleeping arrangements can be created by connecting the square modular units.

The environmental benefits of green building materials include protection of ecosystems and biodiversity, improved water and air quality, preservation, reduced waste, restoration of natural and renewable resources, and reduced heat gain. In addition to creating new markets for sustainable products and services, green buildings could lower operating costs, enhance the productivity of occupants, and optimise economic performance over their lifetime. As a direct economic benefit, green buildings offer a shorter payback period, a faster return on investment, a reduction in operating costs, and a higher rent for the owner or developer. Thus, African countries are relying on these benefits, which in turn are bringing revolutionary changes to the construction industry.

Find out more about the Future Market Insights report on the Green Building Materials Market.

Nikhil Kaitwade is Associate Vice President (AVP) – Market Research at Future Market Insights, ESOMAR-certified market research and consulting firm Future Market Insights (FMI).

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