Home
Blog
November 27
Mapping sustainability– Imagine Durban launches the eThekwini Municipality Green Map
In order to foster a sustainable future for eThekwini, all those who are part of the complex system that makes up our cities and society have a role to play. By involving individuals, civil society, businesses, and all levels of government in the implementation of an envisioned sustainable eThekwini, and by sharing knowledge about sustainable practices, we will have before us a set of infinite possibilities that can chart the path towards a sustainable future for eThekwini—a future that includes all elements of sustainability. eThekwini Municipality has become known for its innovations in local sustainability: the Ekhaya Multi Arts Centre in KwaMashu-an integrated arts centre empowering youth of the community, Crushed Lemon - a sustainable business making upcycled items from industry-used material, the Corner Cafe – an eco-restaurant with a zero-waste policy, and eThekwini Municipality’s Green Roof Pilot Project – the first green roof on a Municipal building in South Africa, just to name a few.  Additionally, the recent 2012 Sustainable Living Exhibition provided a platform for public engagement in sustainability, while acting as a learning hub for the exhibitors and attendees to network and learn about initiatives in various sectors.  Sustainable living is achievable, and there is a new, exciting initiative that promotes and celebrates sustainability in eThekwini -the eThekwini Municipality Green Map. 
 
   
Untitled.pngeThekwini Green Map side 2.jpg 
1st edition of eThekwini Green Map
 
The eThekwini Green Map is an interactive tool which displays sustainable features of our community, while promoting inclusive participation in sustainable community development. The eThekwini Green Map “will involve all citizens in building and enjoying a more sustainable city” says Bongumusa Zondo, Senior Manager of Imagine Durban.
 
 DSC_0626.JPG
Ms Nomusa Dube, MPL and Mayor James Nxumalo unveiling the eThekwini Green Map at the 2012 Sustainable Living Exhibition
          Photo credit: Themba Khumalo
 
eThekwini joins over 60 countries and more than 800 communities in mapping green living, as well as natural, cultural and social resources.  Launched at the 2012 Sustainable Living Exhibition, the Green Map enables locals and tourists alike to explore eThekwini's historic sites, green spaces, bike routes, libraries, eco-friendly cafes and restaurants, local music scene, craft markets, lively spots and other places related to environmental sustainability, or points of cultural or social significance. As the Green Map is an online tool that is part of a global Green Map system, people around the world will be able to see the wealth of interesting features eThekwini has to offer. The Green Map provides an opportunity to look at eThekwini through a sustainability lens, and offers a new perspective of the municipal area. Citizens of eThekwini can use both the online and print version of the Green Map to gain a better understanding of the nature, sustainable living resources, and cultural highlights that are available in the community.  
 
Championing inclusive participation in development, the Imagine Durban team led two community asset mapping pilot projects with youth in the communities of KwaNdengezi in Ward 12, and another in KwaMukhuta, Ward 93. Youth explored sustainability features of their community, and participated in a series of mapping workshops. Sites of significance were collected and put on the Green Map. The project aimed to empower the youth to tell the story of their community, share its initiatives, and inspire others.
“This project helped a lot because not all people or youth here know that we have such important things and to give us, the public, to participate and appreciate the local things we have is very meaningful” acclaims a project participant from KwaNdengezi.
“I learned that if we can help each other in doing things we can change our place/country” says another participant, “by working together we can achieve success and be sustainable.”
Anyone can participate in the eThekwini Green Map by suggesting a site on the eThekwini Green Map website. If you know where there are sustainable practices in your neighborhood, run a business or school that practices sustainability, or your organisation ascribes to a sustainable ethos, you have the agency to put your site on the Green Map and share it for eThekwini, and the world, to see. The Green Map is not only a tool that promotes sustainable development through community participation, inspires responsible tourism, fosters dialogue on all aspects of sustainability, and celebrates local sustainability initiatives; the Green Map also leads the way for a sustainable eThekwini, today and tomorrow. eThekwini Green Map—know it, map it, share it.

November 21
What’s in a Park? Sustainable Urban Design: the Bulwer Park Revitalization Project
Sustainability is a direction. In the public sphere, sustainability can be seen as an underlying momentum shaping the blueprints that are transforming cities in their approach to urban planning and design. Sustainability requires a holistic and integrated approach to decision-making that takes into account economic, ecological and social impacts as a whole. When the public is involved in community planning, they become engaged in their natural and built environment. As a result, establishing concrete relationships between people and the environment, developing an instilled sense of ownership to those who use the space, and facilitating a stronger sense of community identity and pride—all which are contributing factors to urban sustainability.  The Bulwer Park Revitalization pilot project in Durban, South Africa has adopted this model of participative sustainable urban design in park redesign, which has gained international recognition and implementation in cities such as Colima, Mexico.
 
colima-blog1.jpg
 Community members of Colima, Mexico participate in design process, source: ipco, SCI blog

The approach to the formulation of the project objectives has been premised on the definition of sustainable urban design as a process whereby all the actors involved (local authority, local residents, civil society and community-based organisations, as well as the private sector) work together through partnerships and effective participatory processes. Bridging ecology, economy and community, the Bulwer Park Revitalization project adopts this participative approach and considers both ecological and human elements in the park’s redesign while promoting inclusive participation in sustainable community development. Being the first park revitalization using community input and consultation in Durban, South Africa, the Bulwer Park Revitalization is a pilot project on community engagement in parks revitalization of the eThekwini Municipality’s Sustainable Public Spaces Programme, which is part of the Integrated Development Plan’s (IDP) Quality Living Environment Plan.
 
The Space

Bulwer Park forms a key link in an ecological corridor of green spaces that extends south east to Pigeon Valley and to the Botanical Gardens north east of the park. The park is located within a mixed neighbourhood of Durban that is home to both an abundance of gated private gardens, as well as corridors of urban decay. As an open green space in the area of Glenwood, located on the edges of the downtown core, one would think Bulwer Park would be a communal and inviting space; yet the general derelict appearance, unhygienic conditions, vagrancy, and real or perceived lack of safety of the park made this park a space avoided by the community.
 
Consultation Process
 
The planning and design of the park revitalization began with a comprehensive public consultation process carried out by Imagine Durban. The consultative process included meetings with the Ward Councillor and representatives from community stakeholder groups; workshops and meetings with various departments of the

Municipality; three community workshops; as well as an additional workshop with the child users of the park facilitated
by the Child Friendly City Campaign Group. The Municipality’s Corporate Policy Unit, in consultation with City Architects, also conducted a user perception research study to obtain information on how the park’s potential users envisioned Bulwer as a space of community, designed for and by the community. Community members also had the opportunity to submit input on the Imagine Durban website. On the benefits of park revitalization projects using community input and consultation, “[the park] becomes a usable space as development will occur according to the people’s needs and not just a desk top exercise” says Genevieve Hartley who has been involved in the ongoing public consultation process on behalf of Imagine Durban. Nadia Funke, a professional landscape architect involved in the project adds that “[community] involvement ensures ownership of the park which in turn increases usage of the park and helps to combat issues of disrespect and vandalism.”
 
 Bulwer Park Re-Design.JPG

In response to the first community workshop, a Community Brief was developed as a compilation of the feedback received from the community participation and stakeholder consultation process. “It is important to recognise that all comments and contributions have merit, and effort should be made to understand the background and reasoning behind each comment –it is often that this is where the solution lies rather than in the actual comment” says Funke. “A lot of discussion is thus key to understanding each other.” Following a series of public meetings, further input from stakeholders and the community were included in the concept and design.pdf document, contextual and site analysis, and a preliminary master plan of the revitalization, which was presented at a third public meeting. From the initial workshops, representatives from stakeholder groups in attendance were selected for a working group that participates in the ongoing consultations in order to ensure that each interest group has equal representation.
Hartley passes on a few words of wisdom to those interested in adopting a participatory, placemaking approach in their design of park revitalization projects, “going in with no preconceived plans or designs really gave the people confidence that we needed and valued their input and would use their input in shaping the design.” She continues, “As with any participatory process you need to have patience as participation is a lengthy process [,] set your timelines cautiously as delays will take place.” Funke adds “No park or open space design will be successful without a thorough study into the needs and expectations of the surrounding community and end-users—people involved with the park on a daily basis often have a thorough insight into the nature of the space and the usage patterns. A participatory process ensures that all needs are heard and recorded through a structured process in order for them to be taken into account during the design process.” 

The multi-stakeholder approach to the consultation and public participatory process of the park’s redesign served as a platform to ensure that the Bulwer Park Revitalization project would create a healthy environment as well as a safe and inclusive space that addresses long term sustainable community development in its design and functionality. 

The Vision
 
‘Bulwer Park will be retained as a valuable green space that offers opportunities for recreation and conservation and attractive creative spaces for community events, which will complement the site and create a unique identity
reflective of the surrounding uses and community aspirations’
 
                                                 -The vision derived through the stakeholder consultation process
 
Bulwer Park’s revitalization incorporates a multidisciplinary framework.pdf that connects people with their community and the surrounding built and natural environment. The redesign.pdf features aspects of arts, culture, nature, social and environmental sustainability, sport, education and heritage to create a green public space highlighting the assets of the community, and building social capital.
 
The Progress
 
Phase one is currently underway with noticeable changes in the park to facilitate increased safety, usability, and visibility of the park in the beginning stages of the revitalization. The implementation of Phase 2 heavily depends on future funding by corporate sponsors, grant providers and in-kind donations.
 
A priority for Bulwer Park is to develop the green space as an economic corridor by connecting the planned pedestrian walkway to gateways entering the park in the surrounding area. Local shops and businesses will turn their store fronts to face the park. This not only encourages and facilitates local commercial development but also acts as a safety initiative by improving visibility of the park. A strong culture and heritage theme, including a lawn amphitheatre for community engagement in the arts and other social activities, is also detailed in the park’s site redesign layout.pdf.
 
       Bulwer Park 002.jpg
               1km multipurpose track, lighting, bins, and restored play equipment at Bulwer Park
 
 
        Bulwer Park 012.jpg
                        Children's playground at Bulwer Park
  
 
                    Bulwer Park 009.jpg 
                Water fountain that doubles as a water dish for dogs
 
 
Sustainability in Design
 
Through revitalizing the entire area of the park based on community input; designing for various activities at all hours to develop a safe, lively and vibrant atmosphere of the park; and proposing a management model whereby stakeholders and the eThekwini Municipality’s Parks Department co-manage the park, the participatory process guiding the development of Bulwer Park is a framework of sustainable design that can be adopted by other cities who take a participatory and community-based approach in working towards urban sustainability, while promoting an  inclusive cityscape. Bulwer Park could a set a new approach in the design and development of public parks that will be resilient to cope with management and environmental challenges, while empowering and enabling a community to transform their public space into a collectively envisioned identity in the process.
 

 
November 20
Are you a city changer? Stories of urban sustainability around the world
Cities are complex systems; centres of innovation with more than half the world’s populations as residents –an urban population that continues to rise. Addressing the challenges that come with this world urban dominance is imperative for a sustainable future. It is also important to focus on the emerging spaces of opportunity within this dominance, and to perceive cities themselves as engines in the urban paradigm facilitating change.  
 
Vancouver.jpg
 Downtown Vancouver, Canada at sunset 
 
“We need to demonstrate that change is possible through the genius, creativity and audacity of people and decision-makers to make the wisest choices for cities. We need City Changers for a better urban future”, says Dr. Joan Clos, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, at the launch of the worldwide campaign,  Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development.
 
Ever wanted to share your story or the initiative of someone you know who is taking action towards urban sustainability in your city? Here’s your chance. I'm a City Changer is a “global movement to share and spread individual, corporate and public initiatives that improve our cities.” With “the aim of sensitizing and creating awareness among citizens on urban issues to achieve better cities”, I’m a City Changer is a worldwide campaign that engages city citizens with their urban landscape and serves as an online resource of knowledge sharing on urban sustainability initiatives around the world that have demonstrated a positive impact. The campaign is promoted by UN-HABITAT, the city agency of the United Nations, through the World Urban Campaign, and “works to achieve better cities and better life fostering proper sustainable urban development through key core components: a Resilient City; a Green City; a Safe and Healthy city; an Inclusive City; a Planned City, and a Productive City.”
 
A collection of stories from cities including Toronto, Canada; Kolkata, India; and Prishtina, Kosovo, presents a global portrait of an urbanism focused on change. There are a variety of inspiring projects in eThekwini supporting and working towards the key components of I’m a City Changer.  The Recreation for Girls project at the Amaoti 3 Combined School is a featured story, highlighting how after-school recreation programs are an avenue towards a safe and healthy city. The project hosts an after school programme including netball, aerobics, motivational talks and life skills lessons.The project is managed by the Domino Foundation (formerly Indlela), a non-profit organization based in North Durban, and received financial support from Sustainable Cities International through Imagine Durban’s Demonstration Project fund.
 
Picture 340.jpg
 Amaoti 3 Combined school, recreation program

Re-addressing urban challenges by highlighting positive stories of a city’s urban fabric presents an alternative platform of communicating how moving your own city’s blueprint in a sustainable direction can improve the quality of life and liveability of urban areas for the cities of today and tomorrow.
 

November 14
Success factors for starting and maintaining a school food garden: a resource for schools
There are many reasons for starting up a food garden at a school. Imagine Durban's Success factors for starting and maintaining a school food garden.pdf booklet is a guiding document for what is required for a successful school food garden. This brilliant resource also includes a section on innovation in school food gardening, and case studies of three schools that have succeeded in maintaining food gardens.
 
food garden booklet pic for blog.jpg
 
 
 

 

November 14
Building More Sustainable Cities: Urban recyclers – the need for proper storage and sorting space
Submitted by Stephen Charters, Green Economy Project Officer - Imagine Durban
Despite working on the margins of many cities around the world, informal recyclers are playing important roles in urban waste disposal: collecting, sorting and returning discarded recyclables from city streets, parks, alleys and beachfronts. There may be up to 15 million informal recyclers globally (Chaturvedi 2009). The volume of recyclable material diverted from landfills or from lying around as litter by these workers can be substantial. In Durban for example, informal recyclers collectively save approximately 150 tons of recycled material daily from being deposited as waste into local landfills. Typically, however, their contributions to society are not recognized or valued, they earn very little for their efforts, and they are rarely integrated within formalized municipal waste disposal programs or policy.
Read more about informal recyclers in Durban, South Africa; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and Vancouver, Canada on the Sustainable Cities International blog.
durban-inner-city-web-1.jpg
Durban Inner-City Informal Recyclers. Credit: Thomas Ferreira

November 14
Youth Taking Action in eThekwini
Submitted by Thokozani Ndlovu, eThekwini Municipality Communications Unit
eThekwini Municipality’s Imagine Durban partnered with the iNanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu based Management to come up with a brilliant concept called the Community Park Project, which was aimed at youth empowerment.
The Community Park Project is a project that engages youth in training and employment activities while working with the broader INK communities to identify their needs and wants in the development of a public park or green space. Partnerships with Government organisations, non-profit organisations and businesses from the private sector will be pursued and leveraged to optimise the coordinated efforts of various stakeholders.
This project aims to mitigate and address this issue by providing meaningful employment and increased skills and knowledge to the youth of INK communities. This will contribute to youth employment, prospects for employment and green economic development.
 INK Revitalation_Green Space Champions_ Certificate (19).jpg
 
INK Community Park Project certificate ceremony
They recently hosted a handing over of certificates for the participants at Kwamashu C-section Community Hall. Sthembiso Ntuli who was part of the graduating participants started by expressing his gratitude to all the stakeholders who made this project a reality, “I am very happy about participating in this project as it made me grow as an individual, because we as the youth need to involve ourselves in such activities as this allows us to be better people in life.”
Malusi Zondi, the Secretary General of Youth In Action, says “Since the start of this project we have seen a huge difference in our area as we contributed to the green economy and for the youth to take a leading step by creating job opportunities for themselves.”
All in all this project was a great success and phase two which is set to begin shortly, will build on these successes. Stay updated with future developments from Youth in Action and the Community Park Project by following Imagine Durban on Facebook, Twitter, or the Imagine Durban website!

November 14
2012 Sustainable Living Exhibition:  your source for making smart choices that make a difference, and keep you healthy
Submitted by Sohana Singh, eThekwini Municipality Communications Unit & Brittany Morris, Imagine Durban Community Outreach & Communications Project Officer
 
To help everyone find easy and practical ways to contribute to saving our planet, the eThekwini Municipality, through the Imagine Durban Project, is hosting its 3rd Sustainable Living Exhibition.
 
The three day event taking place from 30th August to 1st September 2012 at the Durban Exhibition Centre will showcase ways in which people can live a more sustainable lifestyle. More than 180 exhibitors will display their sustainable living initiatives. Exciting innovations from water and energy saving devices, solar powered gadgets and ozone friendly appliances, to worm farms, upcycled arts and crafts, organic gardening, healthy living and waste minimization will be showcased.
 
Several exciting, educational and informative events on various issues will be held to involve people from every age group, and so that there is something for everyone.
 
For young learners, fun and educational activities will take place every day; such as a Puppet making and an Object Manipulation Workshop by the eThekwini Municipality’s Green Hub. Children will be enthralled by a Planetarium Show mobile exhibits and the “scientastic” science shows hosted by the Science Centre.
 
Videos on sensitive topics such as children trafficking, adult behavior and HIV will be screened during the exhibition.
 
Back by popular demand, fashion design students from the Durban University of Technology, will strut their unique creations made of recyclable and recycled material on the catwalk, demonstrating that sustainability can be implemented in every aspect of life. A fashion show by learners from Our Lady of Fatima School is also on the cards. FREE discreet counseling sessions will also be held for learners.
 
An open forum discussion on ‘Responsible Shopping’ will be held on Friday, to ensure that awareness is raised on ways to make your shopping trolley greener, and to highlight how the choices we make everyday impact our planet.
 
Donate and recycle
In line with eThekwini’s vision of becoming a caring city, the public are urged to open their hearts and donate their unwanted shoes, toys, clothes and books. Receptacles will be available at the exhibition, and Imagine Durban will donate the items to worthy pre-determined charities and schools every day. There will also be recycling bins available for all your recyclable material, and you can bring in your bread tags to enable a needy person to obtain a wheelchair.
 
Green Map
Imagine Durban invites you to celebrate the launch of the eThekwini Green Map on Friday 31st August from 9am to 10:30am during the 2012 Sustainable Living Exhibition. The eThekwini Green Map is an interactive tool which displays sustainable features of a community, and highlights points of cultural or social significance.
 
eThekwini Municipality will join over 700 communities in mapping green living, as well as natural and cultural resources, and is proud to represent South Africa alongside Cape Town and Johannesburg on the global Green Map. There will be 10 computers on site for the public to view the Green Map online or to add a site on the map. Everyone will be able to easily explore eThekwini’s historic sites, green spaces, libraries, eco-friendly cafes and restaurants, local music scene, craft markets, lively spots and other sites of the Municipality. The computers will also provide opportunities for the exhibitors to place themselves on the map. Imagine Durban staff will also be present to answer any questions.
 
When: August 31stTime: 9am-10:30am
Where: Coast of Dreams, Durban Exhibition Centre
 
If you lead, or want to learn more about a sustainable lifestyle, then this exhibition is where you need to be.
ENTRANCE IS FREE and the exhibition will be open from 9am – 5pm. For more information on the Sustainable Living Exhibition and eThekwini Green Map visit www.imaginedurban.org
 

November 14
Building Community at the 2012 Sustainable Living Exhibition
The Sustainable Living Exhibition isn’t only about sharing ideas and networking, or learning how to follow a sustainable ethos in your daily life. Bringing in 240 exhibitors, 5300 visitors and young learners from 93 schools this year, the Sustainable Living Exhibition is also about building community and fostering connections. A feature of the expo is the daily donation whereby exhibitors and attendees bring in food, books, clothes and toys, and other useful household amenities, which are then given to a different organisation each day. Donations this year went to Helping Hands Outreach Programme on the opening day, Paran Christian Ministries on the second, and the Salvation Army on the closing day of the exhibition.
Seeking to “inspire and make a difference in peoples’ lives, through bringing hope, love and smile to those needing a brighter day in their battle for survival” the Helping Hands Outreach Programme has various programs in rural communities which value inclusivity and lending a ‘helping hand’. Donated books will be used to start a library at a training centre Helping Hands is developing in Umkomass. Helping Hands is “a group of like-minded individuals wanting to make a difference” and in response to receiving donations they find that it “is always really inspiring when we receive donations from new sources based on the results we have managed to achieve through the grace of The Almighty and the generosity and caring that surrounds us.
Paran Christian Ministries is involved in the community by providing counselling, clothing and food donation, vocational training, hospital visitation, and youth empowerment among others. Donations went to refugee communities. “We felt very happy when we heard that the community we serve was chosen to have the donation” exclaimed Pastor Eugene of Paran Christian.
The Salvation Army runs many community programs such as raising awareness about Human Trafficking; a help desk where the unemployed have access to resources such as telephones and CV assistance; a Homework centre for children from local schools; and the weekly distribution of soup, clothing and blankets, which is where the clothing donations have been used towards. The toy donations received are being saved until Christmas. “We are very grateful for any donations we receive. With the unemployment being at approximately 28% there are so many people who are really battling just to survive and so the need for assistance and support is very much on the increase” says Major Moya Hay of the Salvation Army, Durban. Hay expresses support for this endeavour “I think it was wonderful of the organizers of the Expo to even think about asking for donations - the fact that other people care about those in need is very encouraging.”
The organizers and partners of the 2012 Sustainable Living Exhibition would like to extend their thanks and sincere gratitude to those who donated goods to these charities, and by extension, lending a hand in community development.

November 14
Youth Development and Empowerment
Submitted by Thomas Ferreira, Chief Policy Analyst -Corporate Policy Unit, eThekwini Municipality
 
The City has developed a Long Term Sustainable Plan through the Imagine Durban Project which is to ensure and encourage sustainable good practices by all stakeholders in the City. The aim is to partner, network and share sustainable good practices and initiate projects that align to the plan. One such initiative has come about which is to partner with Wright State University Dayton, Ohio who has been involved in community development projects in America through the Wright LEAD Points of Light Youth Leadership Institute (PYLI).
 
                                   pic2.jpg

This Institute’s programme has been expanded to Durban and has been working annually since 2007 with students from Bechet and Zwelibanzi High Schools.  Dr. Jennifer Subban and Neil Daniels initiated the project at Zwelibanzi High School with vice principal Mondli Khubone. Since the second year of implementation the project expanded to include both Zwelibanzi, and Bechet High Schools. In 2011, the program diversified to include Congolese students from Bechet and members of St. Philomena’s girls home.
 
This year the community based-Leadership training took place at the  UNITE/School of Engineering Building, University of Kwazulu Natal , Howard College campus which included  five themed areas: Community Service, Entrepreneurship, Sports (Soccer), Art & Music and Poetry.  The 110 learners from Bechet and Zwelibanzi High Schools attending the two week programme  experienced a hands on approach in developing leadership skills, decision making capacities, and commitment to community service. 
 
Community Based Leadership participants went through an extensive leadership training process focused on community building and organizing.  Activities centered around conflict resolution, communication, diversity appreciation, and the value of serving their communities.  Thereafter they cleaned up and re-organized a community centre and playground.
 
In the Entrepreneurship Institute, participants developed  business ideas and products.  Through community leadership exercises they explored how to create socially responsible entrepreneurial ventures.  Their service learning project involved working with the Community Resource Center in Sydenham to make boxes from recycled plastic coke bottles and developed marketing ideas for the Centre.
Through the sport of soccer learners connected personally to the elements of community leadership and discipline of teamwork.  As a service project they conducted a community clean up at the Elwyn Court, a social housing residential building in the Point area of Durban.
 
pic1 .jpgParticipants in the Art & Music Leadership Institute explored ways to re-use materials to create public art and increased their appreciation for the role that art and creative expression play for improving and enhancing our communities.
 
Poetry & Leadership Institute participants creatively used the written and spoken word to express personal experiences and connected the art form to the processes of community building and organizing.  As part of a service project the learners are performing their poetry in a public space in the belief that art and poetry can uplift and empower the community.
 
The programme ended with a recognition ceremony to celebrate the success and development of the learners. The transformation of the learners was evident when each group performed and spoke of their experience and enlightenment over the two week period.
 
As Dr. Jennifer Subban put it, “ When the light bulb goes on and the kids realize they can find ways to make a difference, you see the transformation. These kids have so much; they just need a little support.”
 
 

November 14
Sustainability in Action - Going Green
Submitted by Thomas Ferreira, Chief Policy Analyst- Corporate Policy Unit, eThekwini Municipalitygreen foot.jpg
 
Two years ago an Energy Saving competition run in partnership with Imagine Durban, UNIDO, Durban Investment Promotion Agency (DIPA) and Durban Industry Climate Change Partnership was held to increase the awareness amongst the business sector to reduce their energy consumption by implementing energy interventions in their organisations.
 
The Turner Group who participated, have continued with energy saving measures by introducing a number of interventions to further reduce their building’s carbon footprint.
 
CEO, Conrad Cochrane-Murray is encouraged as to how the company staff have taken to the challenge by applying sustainable business or green business practices in the workplace. He says, "It’s a win win for all and a commitment from a corporate social responsibility perspective and the triple bottom line reporting, profits, people and planet." He further mentioned that even small interventions help to mitigate the negative impact on our local environment, community and society and helps to achieve the goal of sustainability by meeting the needs of the present world without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs.
 
The Turners Group have been in operation for over 100 years and their building, now 123 years old needed upgrading and modernised to standards that are more energy efficient.  The biggest single consumer of electricity in their building, are their industrial air conditioning units. They have now been upgraded with thermostats and electronic time switches that are more sensitive to fluctuations in temperature resulting in energy savings. The lighting in the basement parking has been halved and still provides enough safe lighting.  Staff are also being proactive by switching off appliances when they are not being used and when away from their desks for extended periods are encouraged to switch off their computers, desk lamps and office lights.
 
At the close of business each day the IT system shuts down automatically and all appliances not needed get turned off.  Geysers that service the building have all been set on time switches and to a lower temperature thereby reducing energy consumption.  A monitoring programme has also been introduced to record the actual savings on a weekly basis.
 
                                           Turner House, Durban
Turner House, Durban“Going Paperless” - The introduction of two new software systems BDP Smart and Cargo Wise has helped revolutionize their  logistical operations, by reducing the number of documents being printed and faxed.
 
“Waste Management Policy”- Turners has committed to recycling. A recycling system has been implemented to cater for all waste generated in the office. Specific bins are being provided and labelled for recyclables and non recyclables.
 
Turners has also committed themselves to continuously explore ways of operating efficiently and sustainably. Future interventions such as, the lighting of individual work-stations are being investigated rather than the entire office environment.  All the lights are being converted to energy savers and LED globes and fittings. The installation of wind turbines and solar power is also on the cards to offset the ever increasing energy bills. The collection of rainwater harvesting to fulfil their grey water needs will also be implemented shortly.
 
Turners sees that everyone affects the sustainability of the marketplace and the planet in some way. They have therefore committed themselves to sustainable development within their business and promotes that all business can create value for customers, investors and the environment.
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 - 10Next
 

 User Tasks

 
There are no items to show in this view.
 

 About this blog

 
About this blog
Welcome to SharePoint Blogs. Use this space to provide a brief message about this blog or blog authors. To edit this content, select "Edit Page" from the "Site Actions" menu.