[Cape Town, 10 August 2017]: Buildings, be they domestic, commercial or industrial, are major consumers of energy the world over and this applies to much more than just their day-to-day running. From basic components, transport, construction, operation and final decomposition after its useful life, a building has significant potential for a gentler environmental footprint. Werner…
Timber frame construction has been gaining popularity in recent years as a method of building sustainable and energy-efficient homes. Estimated percentages of new homes built of timber frame are in the USA approx 35%, Canada approx 65%, the UK approx 25 % and Australia and New Zealand approx 55%. And in the EU, while varying…
Many people have asked why it is that I prefer to design timber frame homes, and more specifically, what the advantages of a timber frame home are. Here are 10 good reasons to build your new house using timber frame. 1. Touch the Earth Lightly The choice of a timber frame home is going…
PRESS RELEASE The timber industry in South Africa and the Western Cape specifically has been fighting a desperate battle this past year to keep the pine plantations upon which so much depends, alive. The issue, which pertains to the afforestation and management of already planted tracts of land, has a huge economic, environmental and socio…
PRESS RELEASE Governments’ Working on Fire (WoF) programme have fought and contained over 270 wild fires in the Western Cape since the start of December this year. The number of fires peaked in January with February, the hottest and windiest month, being quieter than expected so far despite lower than average rainfall. Graham Barlow, General…
The Better Living Challenge called on designers, architects, residents, inventors and students to submit new or exiting products, services and systems that can be used for low-income home improvement. One of our supporters and great ambassador for forestry in South Africa, Vernon Collis, entered three proposals through his company Collis & Associates and their California…
As a modern building material, wood offers exceptional possibilities. Its potential for engineering and infinite shapes is limitless and it shows additional benefits as one of the most environmentally sustainable building materials in the world. So said the introduction to the fourth Wood Conference held this February at the CTICC in Cape Town. Architects, engineers,…
Trees naturally convert carbon dioxide into a light, strong and versatile building material. Trees sustain life, cool the environment, are renewable and require very little maintenance. The entire tree can be utilized, from sawn timber to chips and biomass for energy. Building with renewable timber is therefore an effective way for the construction industry to…
The early settlers used the natural building resource provided to them by the indigenous forests around the Cape. “After nearly 40 years of exploitation, Simon van der Stel realised that there was going to be a shortage of timber and one hundred young oaks were ordered to be planted on each grant of land in…