#10Best Blog Posts for the year

Leads 2 Business : #10BEST

 

So its roundup time. End of year contemplation combined with a healthy amount of mayhem. But as we close off and tie up all the loose ends in a pretty bow, I wanted to present you with a neat package of all the best the year has had to offer. Well, strictly speaking, the 10 best blog posts we have had to date (which trickles just over a year) voted by your foot traffic.

 

Without further ado…

 

  1. Wanting to save resources? Here are some top tips – “Ways to reduce your Carbon Footprint
  2. Looking for a means to getting your tender on in a better manner?  Look no further than “Is there Value in attending Tendering Workshops?
  3. Keeping our country pristine is not easy.  But being able to do something about our resources is priceless. The follow up to a popular post with local news “Too close to Home! What the frack!”
  4. You have heard about the growth of … well almost everything… in Africa. Get some fact here “Developing Africa….is Africa the new China?
  5. Covering industry exhibitions as we visited a popular “Cape Construction Expo
  6. Our campaign to create awareness of the desperate plight of our black rhino in Southern Africa – “Heart of a Ranger
  7. The story of our team trip to Timbavati Private Nature Reserve to film the Heart of a Ranger video – “Rhino dreaming in Timbavati
  8. Taking a look at our country and it’s colourful journey is Sherina Swart with “South Africa … just how far have we come?”
  9. Looking around us and following the trends “Trends in Africa
  10. Some inspiration from history with our witty Claire Donaldson’s “Ancient Inspiration for Modern Motivation

 

 

Now that you have had your fill of a good combination of facts and humour, I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you well for a fantastic festive season and peaceful New Year. Our offices will be closing on the 15th December and re-opening on the 6 January 2016.

 

Until then, have a wonderful break and hopefully rest.

 

 

 

 

About Carmen Barends

Social Media adventurer exploring new frontiers and learning how to survive. Tongue in cheek and mischief are the order of any good day topped with a sprinkling of laughter.

Welcome to the Silly Season!!!

 welcome

So here we are again!
One month til’ Christmas!!!!!!!
I’m sure my head isn’t the only one spinning by the idea!

Now just so you know, I use the word “silly” in this title of my blog very loosely as I’m sure many of you can relate, this last month has just taken off with full speed.
People have all of a sudden woken up and have become very demanding of my time, clients, kids, cats, cousins, you name it, they want something from me right now.  There are all sorts of deadlines whether at work or in our personal day to day lives that now need our undivided attention!! Not to mention, I feel as though my mobile number has been broadcast on some “marketers paradise” website!

In the last week I’ve been offered 3 mobile contracts, medical insurance for my pets, a free toaster with a “dream holiday” – timeshare no doubt…. and another funeral policy – I already have 4 of those!, for some reason I just battle to turn those ones down, I guess the thought of my family not having a bus on the day haunts me! lol!

5651-multitaskofficeassistant

So anyway,  I’ve come to realise there are two kinds of people right now….
One is the person who has been slacking / cruising until now, and has just realised this and because they have done very little until now, they have a spring in their step and oozing energy and getting things done and frankly making us, the number two kind of people, look bad!
They are excited to no end about the Christmas shopping that awaits, the packing of away trips, the spring cleaning of their houses while on leave and all the super fun stuff they are going to bake!!!!
kill me right now!

 

Co-Worker-Slacker

Now the second kind of people we have are the people who consistently working hard through out the year in all aspects of their lives, we forever taking on more, pushing for extra and expecting more, from ourselves, our partners and if they have any, their kids too!

bigstock-Super-Mom-22747457

 

 

 

It’s Tiring, I’m Tired!!!!

0511-1107-2914-1722_Tired_worker_asleep_on_the_job_in_front_of_the_computer_clipart_image

 

 

So when I think about traipsing around busy shopping malls over the Christmas session having my achilles heel knocked in by rogue trollies pushed by faces buried in cell phones!!!!, thinking of new ways to entertain my 3 kids for 6 weeks of their summer holidays, cooking and baking endless Christmas delights, not to mention picking up and redecorating my Christmas tree daily because my lovely cats seem to think I erected it for their personal pleasure!
I want to cry…… really, I want to cry!

holidaystress

 

 

Oh there I go sounding like a complete grinch… which I am not! I swear!

grinch

 

 

 

No Wait!….I’ve just thought about it and there is a third kind of person out there, and they’re are the worst!
These are the peeps who never put in the time or energy but are always complaining about how much they have done and how tired they are!

tired

 

You know what, lets not talk about these people anymore, they just making me feel worse!
Let me see if I can try recover this blog from doom and gloom ;).

So, just for curiosity sake…. have you worked out which kind of person you are yet?  I think it is very apparent that I class myself firmly in the number two spot! Lol! And even though it sounded like I was totes whining about it all the way, I am here to tell you that I wouldn’t change a thing!
Hard work always reaps reward, even if this doesn’t manifest into something material, it is a great feeling to get to the end of the year and know I have done everything I could do to be better than I was the year before!

 

 

So a blog wouldn’t be a blog if I didn’t do some kind of real research…. so I went forth and found you some Christmas hacks to make your lives a little easier this “silly” season!

HACK #1

online shopping

Shop online!
Now for some this is still a really scary place to shop…. don’t be scared, it is amazing, I did a huge chunk of my shopping online last year and I did it all in my jammies!

 

HACK #2

Hack2
This is for the Singles or couples that don’t have kids to think of (and have liquor lips!)
Jello Shot Christmas Tree!

 

HACK #3

Hack
This one is for the die hard organiser!

how exciting for you all……index

 

 

HACK #4

Hack 4
For the eternal cheap Skate……You’re welcome 😉

 

HACK #5

roll-dont-fold
For the traveler – roll it, don’t fold it! This will save you space as well as save your clothes from creases 🙂

 

And finally for the Foodie

HACK #6

Cut your Ice-Cream instead of fighting with an ice-cream scoop!

hack food

Make your brownies or fudge in Christmas cookie cutters!

HAck 5

Use Christmas cookie cutters to make flapjacks 🙂

hack5

I love these ideas!

 

I’m not sure about you but I’m already feeling better, I’m not quite ready to break out the Boney M cd’s….. but I’m considering it;)

Possibly even putting my tree up a little earlier, sending out a few Christmas cards this year and maybe even making some of those “jello-shots” we saw a little earlier;)

The possibilities are endless at this point!!!

 

But back to what kind of person you have been this year…. it doesn’t matter…. its pretty much too late to change that, however there is still plenty time to do better going forward!

Whether you working through the festive season or taking a well deserved break, please, take the time to be thankful for all the people who make your life easier, fuller or happier.

Do something that will make you feel proud to be you, do something for someone who you know can’t do anything back for you.

 

I wish you all a wonderful and safe festive season regardless of your religion, this is still a time of goodwill, so go out and spread it!!

…..and then come back next year ready to work harder, be better and do better!

 

41e92fbb502ad13d224b1b9ae900b607

About Sherina Shawe

"You have to do everything you can, you have to work your hardest, and if you do, if you stay positive, you have a shot at a silver lining." from: Silver Linings Playbook.

For goodness sake, Wear Something

 

inspiration

 

 

 

 

 

It’s nearing the end of the year. When researching for this article, trying to find something to write about, I came across all the quotes and inspirational tidbits that float about the web. Some witty and others seriously inspirational. Designed to give you a kick up the backside to conquer what you need to conquer and live your best life etc and so forth and blah blah fish paste. I have nothing against any of it. I, myself, enjoy a good “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster just like the next girl. But I’m tired and grumpy and my last nerve is in witness protection. My criticism of the below, is nothing against the good intentions. It’s just theres always advice and no How-To when it comes to these things. A manual. I’d like a step by step manual. And I’d probably have something snarky to say about that as well. The original is in bold and my lowly thoughts are in normal text.

 

This is your life Apparently. You don’t know me.

Do What you love, and do it often. Nothing. Does nothing count? I don’t think they were talking about nothing. They probably mean productive, ingenious things that only bring joy and peace to the world and mankind. A wee bit self indulgent. It’s good work, if you can find it. More power to you. I’ll be over here, doing what I have to do. Doing it often. And trying to “love” it. I think the young’uns call it “adulting”.

 

If you don’t like something, change it. But get permission first. You can’t go around changing other people’s stuff just because you don’t like it. You can change your stuff, not other people’s. Just so we’re clear. You can merrily change it with time, money and a viable replacement. So do the math, do the research or do your nut. Otherwise, shush. No one wants to hear it, if you are not currently changing it or haven’t actually changed it yet. Talking about planning to intend to change it, is not the same.

 

If you don’t like your job, quit. This is appalling advice. No. I assume you like having a roof over your head, and food on the table. Perhaps you have other human beings who are dependent upon you to supply them with the same. If you are unhappy, and nothing you have done has corrected this, then quietly make plans to get out. Do not cut off your nose to spite your face. You still have responsibilities which need to be met, so quit like a smart person. Do not quit, based on the moment’s emotions. It’s not the airy fairy idealistic world out there. Our economy is not what it used to be. This is not meant to guilt trip you into being a prisoner of your “Oh woe is me” job, but to prepare you that sometimes quitting is a lot of work.

 

If you don’t have enough time, stop watching tv. Really? TV? I’ve never had a problem with TV. Most of my “not to be quoted in any serious conversation” general knowledge comes from the infamous “TV”. This I feel is a bit out of date. Cellphones and social media, to be exact, would probably update this bit of advice nicely. Yes, they are a massive time suck. But they also connect people, are good for a laugh and can be quite inspirational. But there’s a time and place and a little balance wouldn’t go amiss. If you can’t go any significant time, without actively checking your phone; then you need to definitely go a significant amount of time without it to see that you won’t die of FOMO. Most people probably don’t have enough time because of husbands, wives, kids, chores, errands, mini disasters and all the things that demand our attention and the things that we would actually choose to do. If you want to do it, you’ll find the time. No one’s that busy.

 

If you are looking for the love of your life, stop. Um.. it’s a big world out there

 

They will be waiting for you when you. They’re waiting? Don’t they have anything else to do? Am I holding them up?

 

Start doing things you love. There is no logic to this piece of advice. Do whatever the hell it is you want to do. Go out, take up hobbies, dating websites, personal ads (don’t do personal ads. Just don’t. Does anyone anymore?), put yourself out there, keep yourself at home, try too hard, don’t try at all. Whatever. This, you have to sort out for yourself.

 

Stop over analyzing, life is simple. So simple, we need a 10 point plan how to navigate it. Life happens. It’s going to keep ticking over with or without your cooperation. Over analyse, if it makes you feel better, like you’re in control (hahahahaha!). If it doesn’t make you feel better, than dial back on the analysing. But you have to think a little about life. A smidge. Whether you want certain things or have to handle certain things (that you did not want). Life isn’t so simple that you can’t think about it once in a while. Just not on birthdays (especially any birthday that has a 0 in it). Or any other significant indicator of time passing. Maybe a random Wednesday. Have a good think about your life, and then pack it away for next year.

 

All emotions are beautiful. Perhaps this person hasn’t heard the expression “Snot en Trane”. Or when I’m blind with rage, my red complexion really brings out my crazy eyes. Oh yeah. I feel beautiful then. Argh. Yes, we all have emotions. Happy, sad, disdain, empathy, fear, embarrassment, anger etc. The list goes on and on and on. We, weirdly, though don’t have any control over what emotions get triggered when something happens or someone says something so earthshatteringly stupid that you have to lie down. But we all have control on how we handle it. Blah blah, we’ve heard this all before. Grin and bare it, or corner the offending human when they are alone and explain the beauteous of your emotions at that time.

 

When you eat, appreciate every last bite. This sounds mildly threatening, I say eyeing my Cadbury Minty Top Deck.

 

Open your mind, arms and heart to new things. In a controlled setting. Don’t be doing this randomly on the street. No one has time for that.

and people, we are united in our differences. A good sentiment. Differences traditionally do not bring people together though. Differences, however, can be complimentary. Underestimating and overestimating people based on external criteria, just sets everyone up for embarrassment and disappointment. If you can see each person’s strengths and weaknesses, see what people actually do; then you’ve got a handy trick up your sleeve.

 

Ask the next person you see what their passion is. Like I said before, in a controlled setting. And what exactly will this achieve? Will this poor person who’s been accosted on the street, appreciate some random’s interest in their “passion”? Maybe they will. Maybe I’ve got this all wrong. Maybe they will love being able to share their secret love of mushroom farming or their hidden delight in interpretive dance. Who knows? It’s a crazy world out there. [I have nothing for nor against mushroom farming nor interpretive dance. I’m sure they are both fulfilling in their own ways]

and share your inspiring dream with them. Go on. I dare you. Go find someone you don’t know and “share your inspiring dream” with them. Cashiers are always good. They can’t go anywhere. Oooo… the next time a telemarketer calls. Come on. Does this mean that you should be ashamed of whatever it is you dream about or aspire to be or do? Of course not. If you find that one thing that makes you ridiculously happy, go forth and do that thing (How? I don’t know. Google it). Waxing lyrical to strangers, I feel is not really going to get you very much besides a couple of “looks”.

 

Travel often; getting lost will help you find yourself. I’m all for travelling often. What with money, leave and visa applications also being available often. Getting lost, not so much. I have a terrible sense of direction. Horrible. You know that quote “Not all who wander, are lost”. Well, if you see me “wandering”; I am most definitely lost. Help me. Point me in the right direction. Don’t just leave me there. I’m not being all poetical. I need assistance. I’ve never really been able to understand the “find yourself” concept. I’m with me, wherever I go. I don’t know what I’m doing most of the time, and that’s probably not going to change if I end up backpacking through India or communing with the elephants in Bali. I believe we can experience new things and learn, but ultimately we are who we are always going to be. You can’t be something that wasn’t in you already. People do not change. And they shouldn’t have to.

 

Some opportunities only come once, seize them. Oi. If you’re impulsive, sure; grab away. Grab that one and only chance. If you’re not impulsive, go ahead and do the same. Nothing in this, says it’s going to work out. Or if it’s the right opportunity for you. There’s no guarantee one way or another. Even so, if an opportunity comes around multiple times; what does that mean? Do you take it or ignore it until the next go around? The number of times an opportunity is available, doesn’t matter when it comes to your choice. A once off or every single day kind of choice is no more or less important than the other. What we choose, and our ability to take responsibility for our choice, is what makes it count. If you believe in what you’ve chosen, you cannot be made to regret it or second guess it.

Life is about the people you meet. People are a finite resource. We don’t last forever.

and the things you create with them. Can be both beautiful and ugly all at once.

So go out and start creating. Or stay in. Whatever floats your boat.

Life is short, live your dream and wear your passion. Yes, life is short. Way, way too short. Live your life. Whatever it is, however it turns out. You’ll only have this one. “Wear your passion”; I have no idea what to do with this gem; but for heaven’s sake; wear something.

http://www.livingggood.com/inspiration/this-is-your-life/

About Claire Donaldson

I started working at Leads 2 Business in February 2005, and have served as Head of Department of Daily Tenders from 2007 until the present. I oversee both the Daily Tenders South Africa and Africa Departments.

Highlights of 2015

 

Leads 2 Business : Highlight reel

 

It is always inspiring to learn about developments that are taking place in our country, especially those developments that aim to uplift communities by providing necessary infrastructure, and that have the community’s best interests at heart. Also many projects are using innovative technologies in construction which will help to reduce negative impacts on the environment, which is something of great importance. There are also other large and exciting developments to look forward to, some of which will change landscapes forever. Many developments have progressed throughout 2015. Some highlights, which cover developments across all nine provinces over 11 months of the year, are mentioned below:

 

January

 

February

  • In February, The Green Point Athletics Stadium was officially opened, after a two year delay. The stadium boasts state-of-the-art facilities, such as a cobalt blue tartan track.

 

March

  • March contained an abundance of positive construction news, completing the first quarter of 2015 on an exceptionally high note.
  • The Youth in Construction Expo took place at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Johannesburg from 2 – 6 March 2015. The focus of this Expo is to provide high-school learners with information on the many different career choices that are available in the construction industry.
  • Also in the first week of March, the Steyn City development was launched. Steyn City is a huge mixed-use development and is the largest construction project to take place in Gauteng in many years, after Waterfall in Midrand.
  • The Coega Development Corporation made an announcement early in March that a notice for an Environmental Impact Assessment would be issued for the possible development of a cargo airport and an aeronautical or aerospace industrial cluster in the Coega Industrial Development Zone.
  • A sod turning ceremony took place towards the end of March 2015, for Phase 1 (Roosendaal) of the massive Delft integrated housing project. The four phases of the development are: Roosendaal; The Hague (Phase 1); Eindhoven and The Hague (Phase 2). This development will improve the living conditions of many of the area’s residents.
  • The KwaDukuza Municipality approved the site development plans for the Ballito Junction mega mall (PPA’s 14139 and 14140) . The existing shopping centre will be expanded to more than six times its current size.
  • After much anticipation, Unit 6 at Medupi power station in Limpopo finally began to produce power, marking new beginnings.

 

April

  • The Robert Clarke Water Treatment Plant at Matla Coal Mine in Mpumalanga was launched in April, and is designed to alleviate water storage constraints, make sure mineworkers are safe and protect natural water resources.

May

  • On the technological front, students from New York have developed the M-App. M-App is “a real-time tool that monitors and evaluates road construction projects to maximize service delivery and root out corruption”.
  • An announcement was made in May that an International Convention Centre will be built in Rustenburg.

 

June

  • The V&A Waterfront was named the preferred bidder for the new luxury cruise terminal in Cape Town.
  • Thavhani Property Investments and the Thulamela Municipality announced the transfer of the land on which the Thavhani Mall (PPA’s 13674 and 13675 ) will be constructed.

 

July

  • Construction of Phase 2 of Central Square in Sandton (PPA’s 10792, 10793 and 10794) commenced in July, and will comprise a 12-storey apartment block.

 

August

  • A launch and ribbon cutting ceremony took place in August, for the construction of Sizabantu Piping System Manufacturing Plant. The SPS Manufacturing Plant is the first plant to be built as part the RBIDZ’s Phase 1A.
  • A sod turning ceremony, to mark the official commencement of the Thavhani Mall in Limpopo, took place in August.
  • A Tender for the design and construction of a solar-powered plant was issued by Telkom. The proposed solar plant will form part of Telkom’s Centralised Energy Centre Project at Telkom Park in Pretoria, and will eventually allow Telkom to be electrically fully self-reliant.
  • A briefing session took place in August for a Tender that was issued by Transnet National Ports Authority, for a cruise terminal facility at A and B Berths in the Port of Durban.
  • Construction commenced on the Botshabelo Shopping Centre in the Free State.

 

September

  • This is not exactly a highlight in terms of construction in particular, but definitely in terms of educating people about the natural environment in which construction takes place in. With the start of a very warm Spring season and the location of some construction in close proximity to forest areas, a very large African Rock Python, measuring 3.8 metres in length and weighing in at 31 kilograms, was found at a construction site at Izinga Park in Umhlanga in September! Thankfully, the snake was not harmed, but instead a snake removal company was called in to remove and relocate the reptile. Applause for all involved!

 

October

  • Sanral received awards for both the Umgeni Road Interchange and the Candella Road Project. The Candella Road Project forms part of Sanral’s “green roads” initiative. This initiative aims to reduce the impact that road construction has on the environment. The innovative design of the Candella Road Project also increases skid resistance. The bridges in the Umgeni Road project were built using an innovation construction method, known as incremental launch.
  • During the month of October, it was announced that there are plans to revamp the former Victoria Embankment, to be ready for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
    Another announcement made in October, was that of the major R1.1 billion revamp on the cards for The Pavilion shopping Centre in Westville (PPA’s 16674, 16675 and 17164) , near Durban.

 

November

  • During this month of November, it has been reported that the VW PeoplePavilion, a multi-purpose complex for Volkswagen which is located in Uitenhage and was completed in 2013, received an award from the Eastern Cape Institute of Architects. The building was recognized as one of the leading architectural buildings in the Eastern Cape.

 

December

  • December is fast approaching, and with the builders’ shutdown period looming, many developments are nearing completion. I am sure that there will be many positive news stories reporting on the completion of exciting new developments.

 

 

I hope you enjoy many of the new or upgraded facilities that may be opening in your area during the festive season!

Here’s to all the new and exciting developments that will be taking place in the year ahead. Bring on 2016!

 

 

 

 

Sources:
http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2015/01/08/construction-starts-on-new-gauteng-city
http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/trade/2015/01/26/transnet-ports-announces-r9.65bn-in-infrastructure-projects-at-saldanha
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/green-point-athletics-stadium-opens-1.1820739#.Vj8SLDaheUk
http://connect.citizen.co.za/2020/construction-made-cool/
http://www.sacommercialpropnews.co.za/south-africa-provincial-news/eastern-cape-commercial-property/7180-coega-plan-under-way-for-cargo-airport.html
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/sod-turned-for-new-cape-housing-project-1.1839617#.Vj8UPzaheUk
http://www.sacommercialpropnews.co.za/business-specialties/property-construction-development/7162-steyn-city-raises-mixed-use-development-to-new-heights.html

Medupi power station finally starts to produce electricity

http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/work-begins-on-new-myciti-routes-1.1839325#.Vj8UbTaheUk

Ballito Junction R1.4 bn mega mall gets green light from KDM

http://www.miningweekly.com/article/exxaro-unveils-r250m-water-treatment-plant-at-matla-coal-mine-2015-04-09
http://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/r4-6bn-for-nelson-mandela-bay-housing-1.1852542#.Vj8WFzaheUk

Anti-corruption app takes aim at crooked construction thieves

http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/north-west/r683m-icc-planned-for-rustenburg-1.1863607#.Vj8X-zaheUk
http://www.eprop.co.za/commercial-property-news/item/18886-land-transfer-brings-thulamela-s-new-r950m-thavhani-mall-development-a-step-closer.html
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/n14-highway-set-for-r295m-upgrade-1.1885723#.Vj8bOzaheUk
http://www.iol.co.za/business/news/next-phase-of-sandton-development-begins-1.1889295#.Vj8bUzaheUk
http://pressoffice.mgafrica.com/richardsbayindustrialdevelopmentzone/PressRelease.php?StoryID=260285
http://www.eprop.co.za/commercial-property-news/item/19059-sod-turning-ceremony-marks-the-start-of-construction-on-limpopo-s-new-r1bn-thavhani-mall.html

Telkom to build a 3MW solar plant in Pretoria

http://traveller24.news24.com/Explore/SAHolidayGuide/Durban-a-step-closer-to-its-new-cruise-terminal-20150814
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/31kg-python-found-at-KZN-construction-site-20150917
http://www.iol.co.za/travel/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/kzn-eyes-another-tourist-paradise-1.1929556#.Vj9mJGaheUk
http://pressoffice.mg.co.za/sanral/PressRelease.php?StoryID=262171
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Local/UD-News/VW-PeoplePavilion-wins-architectural-award-20151104
http://mybroadband.co.za/news/energy/116720-two-new-massive-solar-plants-for-sa.html

About Bianca Warwick

I had the privilege of joining the Leads 2 Business content team in January 2012. I work in the exciting Projects department, following the progress of construction developments in KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State.

Survive & Thrive the remainder of 2015

The end of the year is approaching and fast. Deadlines are looming and time is slipping away.

If you’re like most people you’re probably wondering when you’ll turn the corner and see that finish line, the one you have been looking for since the start of 2015. You’re exhausted, light-headed, in serious need of a siesta and possibly considering quitting and trying again next year.

Don’t let November get the better of you!

 

You may need a quote or 2 to help keep motivated and focused, something like:

“Just keep swimming.” by Dory (Finding Nemo) or,

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour, and some style.” by Maya Angelou

Leads 2 Business : Keep Swimming

If that doesn’t float your boat try these to help you Survive & Thrive the remainder of 2015:

 

Carpe Diem!

Ask for help

Be realistic

Show gratitude

Breathe deeply

Be proactive & plan

Spend time with nature

Take care of your body

Be optimistic & positive

Focus on your strengths

Don’t sweat the small stuff

Keep things in perspective

See the beauty around you

See problems as challenges

Have a break (have a Kitkat)

Reward yourself when you achieve

Get to work a little early and stay a little late

Don’t rely on your memory (write things down)

Try something new, variety is the spice of life after all

 

And lastly…

Eat, Drink & be Merry

You made it! You survived another year and that’s reason enough to celebrate. Lighten up, enjoy yourself and others during the ‘silly season’.

 

Leads 2 Business - Survive and Thrive
Sources:

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/thrive.html#RQFWChEYMXemX25c.99

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/20-ways-to-thrive-in-life-not-just-survive

 

 

Further Reading:

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/tips-on-how-to-survive-and-thrive-in-the-leadup-to-christmas/story-fniym874-1226768757300

About Sasha Anderson

Millennial Mom + wife living the hash-tag life. Remember: If You Fail - Fail Forward

Too close to home! What the Frack!

So here I am again, it is almost exactly a year since my last Fracking blog entitled “What the Frack”. Although I left the blog wide open for a follow up, I was secretly hoping we would never get there….. and I never imagined it would be involving a town I spent so much of my teenage years in.

For those of you who are not familiar as to what exactly fracking is, I urge you to take a look at my last blog and get all the facts so you can make an informed decision as to which side of the fence you sit.
To give you a brief catch up on where the process is so far, I thought it would only be fair to start with a background on the “who & where”, as this is what will be affected first and fore most.

Matatiele / Matat is located in the Eastern Cape, though it didn’t start there….No it didn’t move! Lol! However In 2005, the municipality was moved from the KwaZulu-Natal province to the Eastern Cape.
Matat is located at the foothills of the magnificent Drakensberg and borders Lesotho.

 

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Now, the proposed area for this Fracking is not some arid land in the middle of nowhere. It is a community, a community who is facing the terrifying prospect of being fracked in the future.

And while the affected area itself seems small to outside folk, it is not! It is host to towns folk, farming folk and a large rural community. It is large in heritage, culture and beauty. It’s primary economic activity is derived from cattle farming, but has a healthy agricultural industry too. This area stands to lose a lot as it is now under threat by an international company proposing exploration with the possibility of having hydraulic fracturing ripping through 120 000 ha of land including a total of 240 farms!Matat2

Matat5 Matat4 Matat3

 

 

However people are not sitting back. It has been amazing to do the research for this blog, finding such a large outcry from an array of environmental groups and community members. I came across this response to the bid and I found it to be powerful and inspiring and absolutely made me want to be part of the solution. Take a look. Their concerns are for good reason – some of the very worrying factors surrounding their concerns is the impact on the land and its water. A lot of people don’t know this, but Matat suffers from stressed water supply in the winter months and their water supplies over 1 million downstream users. So the concern of contamination or depletion is a very real one.

There are health concerns too, both for human and herds alike, so while fracking may mean money for our economy at large, what does it mean for our local farmers and their families and the farm worker’s family? The farms themselves will undergo changes resulting in loss, if exploration to this land goes forward, there will be 10 core boreholes drilled, the land will then be home to water borehole rigs, water tanks, pumps, trailers, farm trucks, compressors, caravans etc.all brought on by new access roads tearing through the land, each operation area will be +-1000m2.

 

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And…. here is the kicker! Very little local jobs!!! Yes the bulk of the work force will be contracted out! So who is really benefiting here?

Now in no way have I covered the severity of the situation, but I thought before I get ahead of myself I should go through the process and what we know for sure thus far, so here are some points to date.

  • The Parent company looking to explore the possibility of fracking in the Eastern Cape is Rhino Resources, their local subsidiary is called Rhino Oil and Gas Exploration South Africa (Pty) Ltd.
  • Rhino Oil and Gas Exploration South Africa (Pty) Ltd have logged an application for exploration rights with Petroleum Agency South Africa.
  • The Proposed exploration time is for a total of 3 years.
  • PASA has to approve the application before any exploration can take place in terms of the Environmental Management act, 107 of 1998.
  • SLR Consulting (Africa) (Pty) Ltd (SLR) has been appointed by Rhino Oil and Gas Exploration South Africa (Pty) Ltd to undertake the environmental assessment process.
  • A draft scoping report made available to IAP (Interested and affected parties)
  • Interested and affected parties had until the 10 October 2015 to submit their concerns.

So What’s Next?

  • From January to June 2016 the EIA and EMP (Environmental Management Programme) will take place and once again be made available to the IAPs.
  • Public meetings will be held and then all the reports and concerns will be sent on to the decision makers, PASA.

I have attached the initial report SLR Consulting has done and what I found interesting and hopeful was what they said in their motivation for the exploration project, and I quote:

“Petroleum products remain a vital source of energy. Natural gas comprises mostly methane and is a relatively clean, environmentally friendly form of energy. It can be used to generate electricity or provide heat for domestic and industrial purposes. Once extracted, gas can be easily contained, transported and safely used in many applications. The type of downstream use is entirely dependent on the commercial scale of the resource.”

Now I’m not sure if I’m reading too much into this but their motivation was 4 and a bit lines long, where the list of Potential Environmental Impacts spreads down the whole page, with concerns arranging from, Farm Safety, Farm Infrastructure, Biodiversity, Surface and Ground Water, Air, Noise and that is just to mention a few. Please go take a look at the full report.

I know for sure which side of the fence I sit on and it’s the side where we look after the beautiful country we have, and yes, I know our Country is in economic trouble, but after all is said and done…. we can’t drink money!
Now while my blog has been centered around the possible fracking in Matatiele, don’t for one minute think you are safe.

It will seem that KZN Midlands has been deemed a very desirable fracking ground!

 

frack water02

The fracking belt in KZN:

  • Lies against the Drakensberg (among other areas) – the birthplace of our rivers
  • Crosses three major rivers – the Tugela, the uMngeni and the uMkomaas. The Greater uMngeni River Catchment is of strategic significance to South Africa as it supports the third largest economic hub in the country, namely the City of Durban, through the supply of water necessary to deliver water and sanitation services for social and economic needs.
  • Below are two maps which reflect a little more detail in terms of the Rhino Gas Exploration area affected HDLA (HowickLand Owners Association) & NRLA (Nottingham Road Land Owners Association) areas. Whilst not reflected on the map, the Hilton College area, Umgeni Valley, Karkloof, Mt Gilboa, Rietvlei and Mt West areas will also be included.

 

Rhino 291 ER_South west boundary Rhino 291 ER_South west boundary2

 

 

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The USA has already started cancelling fracking projects as water supplies in the areas dwindle! Can KZN really afford to spare the water we have? I say this as we go through one of our driest spells, as we speak, restrictions already imposed in some areas!

As we speak, currently, 19 percent of the rural population lacks access to a reliable water supply and 33 percent do not have basic sanitation services. While rural citizens suffer the most, over 26 percent of all schools (urban or rural), and 45 percent of clinics, have no water access either.

Just a thought….Should getting fresh drinking water to every person in our country not be government priority before we start exploiting the water we have?

Risks and Concerns of Fracking
Contamination of groundwater
Methane pollution and its impact on climate change
Air pollution impacts
Exposure to toxic chemicals
Blow-outs due to gas explosion
Waste disposal
Large volume water use in water-deficient regions
Fracking-induced earthquakes
Workplace safety
Infrastructure degradation

 

 

More needs to be done, our Government needs to know that it is no longer OK for them to leave our Country vulnerable to International land Vultures!
We need to feel protected, we will not sit by and not be heard!

So If you to feel the same, then head over and sign the PETITION and show your support, not only to a small community you may have never heard of but to our Country in general.
Say No to Fracking;)!!!

stopfracking2

frackig kzn

 

I hope you have enjoyed my blog today, but more importantly I hope I have inspired some of you to do something about the impending problem we face with these proposals to frack our beautiful country.

And while you are signing the petition, please can you take a look at these worthy causes and show them your support too as they stand up against fracking in our country.
https://www.facebook.com/happyearthforum?ref=nf
http://www.wessa.org.za/what-we-do/environmental-governance.htm
https://mpophomeniconservationgroup.wordpress.com/mnandi/
http://enviros.co.za/
https://midlandsconservanciesforum.wordpress.com/tag/fracking/

https://www.facebook.com/CentreEnvironmentalRights

http://www.midlandsconservancies.org.za/prpagefracking.php

 

Sources:
http://www.iol.co.za/business/news/new-oil-exploration-bid-sparks-fear-1.1920822#.ViT0MCsYHtJ

Rhino Oil seeks approval for pre-fracking tests

Fracking – In the Midlands?

http://12.000.scripts.mit.edu/mission2017/case-studies/water-access-in-south-africa/

About Sherina Shawe

"You have to do everything you can, you have to work your hardest, and if you do, if you stay positive, you have a shot at a silver lining." from: Silver Linings Playbook.

Hydroelectric Plants

Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy, accounting for 16 per cent of global electricity generation – 3,427 terawatt-hours of electricity production in 2010, and is expected to increase about 3.1% each year for the next 25 years. Hydropower is produced in 150 countries, with the Asia – Pacific region generating 32 per cent of global hydropower in 2010.
It is also a flexible source of electricity since the amount produced by the station can be changed up or down very quickly to adapt to changing energy demands. However, damming interrupts the flow of rivers and can harm local ecosystems, and building large dams and reservoirs often involves displacing people and wildlife. [tweetthis]Once a hydroelectric complex is constructed, the project produces no direct waste, and has a considerably lower output level of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) than fossil fuel-powered energy plants.[/tweetthis]

Leads 2 Business : Hydroelectric

Generating methods

Conventional (dams)
Most hydroelectric power comes from the potential energy of dammed water driving a water turbine and generator. The power extracted from the water depends on the volume and on the difference in height between the source and the water’s outflow. This height difference is called the head. A large pipe (the “penstock”) delivers water from the reservoir to the turbine.

Pumped-storage
This method produces electricity to supply high peak demands by moving water between reservoirs at different elevations. At times of low electrical demand, the excess generation capacity is used to pump water into the higher reservoir. When the demand becomes greater, water is released back into the lower reservoir through a turbine. Pumped-storage schemes currently provide the most commercially important means of large-scale grid energy storage and improve the daily capacity factor of the generation system. Pumped storage is not an energy source, and appears as a negative number in listings.

Run-of-the-river
Run-of-the-river hydroelectric stations are those with small or no reservoir capacity so that only the water coming from upstream is available for generation at that moment, and any oversupply must pass unused. A constant supply of water from a lake or existing reservoir upstream is a significant advantage in choosing sites for run-of-the-river. In the United States, the run of the river hydropower could potentially provide 60,000 megawatts (80,000,000 hp) (about 13.7% of total use in 2011 if continuously available).

Tide
A tidal power station makes use of the daily rise and fall of ocean water due to tides; such sources are highly predictable, and if conditions permit construction of reservoirs, can also be dispatchable to generate power during high demand periods. Less common types of hydro schemes use water’s kinetic energy or undammed sources such as undershot waterwheels. Tidal power is viable in a relatively small number of locations around the world. [tweetthis]In Great Britain, there are eight sites that could be developed, which have the potential to generate 20% of the electricity used in 2012.[/tweetthis]

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

Flexibility
Hydropower is a flexible source of electricity since stations can be ramped up and down very quickly to adapt to changing energy demands. Hydro turbines have a start-up time of the order of a few minutes. It takes around 60 to 90 seconds to bring a unit from cold start-up to full load; this is much shorter than for gas turbines or steam plants. Power generation can also be decreased quickly when there is a surplus power generation. Hence the limited capacity of hydropower units is not generally used to produce base power except for vacating the flood pool or meeting downstream needs. Instead, it serves as a backup for non-hydro generators.

Low power costs
The major advantage of hydroelectricity is the elimination of the cost of fuel. The cost of operating a hydroelectric station is nearly immune to increases in the cost of fossil fuels such as oils, natural gas or coal, and no imports are needed.
Hydroelectric stations have long economic lives, with some plants still in service after 50–100 years. Operating labour cost is also usually low, as plants are automated and have a few personnel on-site during normal operation.
Where a dam serves multiple purposes, a hydroelectric station may be added with relatively low construction cost, providing a useful revenue stream to offset the costs of dam operation. Additionally, some data shows that in most countries large hydropower dams will be too costly and take too long to build to deliver a positive risk-adjusted return unless appropriate risk management measures are put in place.

Suitability for industrial applications
While many hydroelectric projects supply public electricity networks, some are created to serve specific industrial enterprises. Dedicated hydroelectric projects are often built to provide the substantial amounts of electricity needed for aluminium electrolytic plants, for example.

Suitability for Agricultural applications

Dozens of hydroelectric projects – ranging from less than one kilowatt (1kW) to several dozen megawatts (MW) – are being actively pursued by individual farmers, hospitality operators and agricultural co-operatives in all nine provinces. Small hydroelectric projects tapping into existing Department of Water Affairs and other infrastructure are having a profound impact on the profitability and sustainability of individual farmers, farming communities and agri-businesses.

Reduced CO2 emissions
Since hydroelectric dams do not burn fossil fuels, they do not directly produce carbon dioxide. While some carbon dioxide is produced during the manufacture and construction of the project, this is a tiny fraction of the operating emissions of equivalent fossil-fuel electricity generation. According to studies, hydroelectricity produces the least amount of greenhouse gases and externality of any energy source. Coming in second place was wind, third was nuclear energy, and fourth was solar photovoltaic. The low greenhouse gas impact of hydroelectricity is found especially in temperate climates. Greater greenhouse gas emission impacts are found in the tropical regions because the reservoirs of power stations in tropical regions produce a larger amount of methane than those in temperate areas.

Other uses of the reservoir
Reservoirs created by hydroelectric schemes often provide facilities for water sports and become tourist attractions themselves. In some countries, aquaculture in reservoirs is common. Multi-use installed for irrigation support agriculture with a relatively constant water supply. Large hydro dams can control floods, which would otherwise affect people living downstream of the project.

Disadvantages

Ecosystem damage and loss of land
Hydroelectric power stations that use dams would submerge large areas of land due to the requirement of a reservoir.
Large reservoirs associated with traditional hydroelectric power stations result in submersion of extensive areas upstream of the dams, sometimes destroying biologically rich and productive lowland and riverine valley forests, marshland and grasslands. The loss of land is often exacerbated by habitat fragmentation of surrounding areas caused by the reservoir.
Hydroelectric projects can be disruptive to surrounding aquatic ecosystems both upstream and downstream of the plant site. The generation of hydroelectric power changes the downstream river environment. Water exiting a turbine usually contains very little suspended sediment, which can lead to scouring of river beds and loss of riverbanks. Since turbine gates are often opened intermittently, rapid or even daily fluctuations in river flow are observed.

Siltation and flow shortage
When water flows it has the ability to transport particles heavier than itself downstream. This has a negative effect on dams and subsequently their power stations, particularly those on rivers or within catchment areas with high siltation. Siltation can fill a reservoir and reduce its capacity to control floods along with causing additional horizontal pressure on the upstream portion of the dam. Eventually, some reservoirs can become full of sediment and useless or over-top during a flood and fail.
Changes in the amount of river flow will correlate with the amount of energy produced by a dam. Lower river flows will reduce the amount of live storage in a reservoir, therefore, reducing the amount of water that can be used for hydroelectricity. The result of diminished river flow can be power shortages in areas that depend heavily on hydroelectric power. The risk of flow shortage may increase as a result of climate change.

Methane emissions (from reservoirs)
Lower positive impacts are found in the tropical regions, as it has been noted that the reservoirs of power plants in tropical regions produce substantial amounts of methane. This is due to plant material in flooded areas decaying in an anaerobic environment and forming methane, a greenhouse gas. According to the World Commission on Dams report, where the reservoir is large compared to the generating capacity (less than 100 watts per square metre of surface area) and no clearing of the forests in the area was undertaken prior to impoundment of the reservoir, greenhouse gas emissions from the reservoir may be higher than those of a conventional oil-fired thermal generation plant.

Relocation
Another disadvantage of hydroelectric dams is the need to relocate the people living where the reservoirs are planned. In 2000, the World Commission on Dams estimated that dams had physically displaced 40-80 million people worldwide.

Failure risks
Because large conventional dammed-hydro facilities hold back large volumes of water, a failure due to poor construction, natural disasters or sabotage can be catastrophic to downriver settlements and infrastructure. Dam failures have been some of the largest man-made disasters in history.
Smaller dams and micro hydro facilities create less risk but can form continuing hazards even after being decommissioned.

Comparison with other methods of power generation
Hydroelectricity eliminates the flue gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion, including pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, dust, and mercury in the coal. Hydroelectricity also avoids the hazards of coal mining and the indirect health effects of coal emissions. Compared to nuclear power, hydroelectricity generates no nuclear waste, has none of the dangers associated with uranium mining, nor nuclear leaks.
Compared to wind farms, hydroelectricity power stations have a more predictable load factor. If the project has a storage reservoir, it can generate power when needed. Hydroelectric stations can be easily regulated to follow variations in power demand.

Power Generation in South Africa
South Africa makes use of the following forms of power generation: Coal, Gas Turbine, Hydro, Nuclear, Wind, Solar Photovoltaic, Solar CSP (Concentraded Solar Power) and Landfill Gas. The highest capacity (MW) is Coal, with Hydro coming in at third.
South Africa produces around 240,300 gigawatt-hours (865,000 TJ) electricity annually. Most of this electricity is consumed domestically, but around 12,000 gigawatt-hour is annually exported to those countries participating in the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

The following utilities are SAPP members: Mozambique (Electricidade de Mozambique, HCB, Motraco); Botswana (Botswana Power Co-operation); Malawi (Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi); Angola (Empresa National de Electricidade); South Africa (Eskom); Lesotho (Lesotho Electricity Corporation); Namibia (Nam Power); DRC (Societe National d’ Electricite); Swaziland (Swaziland Electricity Board); Tanzania (Tanzania Electric Supply Company); Zambia (Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation); and Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority).
South Africa supplements its electricity supply by importing around 9,000 gigawatt-hours per year from the Cahora Bassa hydroelectric generation station in Mozambique via the 1,920 MW Cahora Bassa high-voltage direct current transmission system. As of September, the exports were expected to reach full capacity as maintenance had been ongoing at the dam.
Most power stations in South Africa are owned and operated by Eskom and these plants account for 95% of all the electricity produced in South Africa and 45% of all electricity produced on the African continent.

Cahora Bassa (HVDC)
Cahora-Bassa (previously spelt Cabora Bassa) is the name for an HVDC (high voltage direct current) power transmission system between the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric Generation Station at the Cahora Bassa Dam in Mozambique, and Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Cahora Bassa system is the largest hydroelectric scheme in southern Africa with the powerhouse containing five 415 megawatts (557,000 hp) turbines. Most of the power generated is exported to South Africa, which is done by the Cahora Bassa HVDC system, a set of high voltage direct current lines. The system includes two converter stations, one at Songo in Mozambique and the other at Apollo in South Africa. There are two parallel power lines between these two stations, covering 1,400 km, of which 900 km is in Mozambican territory. These HVDC lines work at 533 kV and in Mozambique territory only have about 4,200 towers.
Currently, there’s a Request for Proposal out for the Botswana – South Africa (BOSA) Transmission Project (DTA 537608) requesting a Transaction Advisor.

Hydroelectric in South Africa:
Tubatse Pumped Storage Scheme – Limpopo
Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme – Kwazulu-Natal
Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme – Free State
Palmiet Pumped Storage Scheme – Western Cape
Gariep Dam – Free State
Steenbras Power Station (Pumped Storage) – Western Cape
Vanderkloof Dam – Northern Cape
Collywobbles – Mbhashe – Eastern Cape
Ncora Dam – Eastern Cape
Sol Plaatje Power Station – Free State
Merino Power Station – Free State
Kakamas Hydro Electric – Northern Cape
Kruisvallei Hyfro – Free State
Major Hydroelectric Projects in Africa:
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam – 6,000 MW Ethiopia 2011 – 2017 Located in the upper Nile Basin, drawing complaints from Egypt
Inga 3 Project in DRC: Building of massive hydroelectric dam in DRC set to begin in 2017

Sources
Wikipedia Hydro
Wikipedia Power
Wikipedia HVDC
Wikipedia Bassa
Eskom
BizNews
Energy


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About Claire Donaldson

I started working at Leads 2 Business in February 2005, and have served as Head of Department of Daily Tenders from 2007 until the present. I oversee both the Daily Tenders South Africa and Africa Departments.

Green Retrofitting

 

 

Being “Green” is fast becoming one of the most spoken about topics and the latest trend. Older Buildings and traditionally-constructed buildings are now being looked at to be converted to fit a green profile. [tweetthis]Green buildings form an important part of the generation of sustainable built environments which includes infrastructure, services, buildings and networks.[/tweetthis] Buildings are one of the main contributors to climate change and retrofitting is an opportunity to make use of resources efficiently and address climate change. In turn, this will create a healthier and more productive environment for the community.

 

What is green retrofitting?
Ret·ro·fit
ˌretrōˈfit/ verb – retrofitting
1. add (a component or accessory) to something that did not have it when manufactured.
“drivers who retrofit catalysts to older cars”
provide (something) with a component or accessory not fitted to it during manufacture

It can be defined as “Any kind of upgrade to an existing building that is wholly or partially occupied to improve energy and environmental performance, reduce water use and improve the comfort and quality of the space in terms of natural light, air quality and noise, all done in a way that is financially beneficial to the owner. Then the building and the equipment must be maintained in order to sustain the improvements over time.”

What kind of tenants are driving this “Green” movement?

While reading up about this interesting subject I came across various articles where it states that there are 3 types of different tenants that are at the forefront in demanding greener or energy efficient workplaces. The first are called the “Fortune 500 multinational corporations” who have corporate sustainability reports. The second are the “Gazelles”…. the fresh new companies that want to build green from the get go. They see sustainability and energy efficiency as a given and not as an optional extra. Finally… the Government themselves. Yep, they say that they agree with going green and are pushing the demand because it’s a requirement in their policies. They have also implemented a few of their own projects where they have assisted a few communities in going green.

What are the other key reasons / drivers for this movement?

1. Cost, Carbon and Energy Security – Eskom, enough said…! Just kidding, this Is our number 1 favourite company and don’t forget the sole provider of nearly all the economy’s electricity!! In South Africa, a continual supply of electricity is unfortunately not guaranteed. Lets face it…the dreaded load shedding is here to stay. We know Eskom is battling even though they continue to invest in increased power stations which, in turn, results in us, the people, having to pay more for electricity. And just to add fuel to the fire ;)… South Africa’s grid electricity is fueled by coal!… Coal is one of the most carbon-intensive forms of energy. The more electricity you use, the more you are polluting the air.

2. Brand and reputation – Woolworths have gone green. Their Palmyra Junction store is a wonderful example and has made use of energy-efficient LED lighting that adjust automatically to natural light. They make use of vents providing natural light from the roof, and an underfloor heating system using recycled waste heat from refrigeration. Green buildings signal a commitment to the comfort and well-being of employees, customers or other stakeholders.

3. Stakeholder demand – Impahla Clothing installed a solar photovoltaic (PV) plant to lower its carbon footprint as per the environmental requirements of PUMA, its primary customer.

4. New Trend – “Keeping up with the Joneses”. The Empire State Building and the Willis Tower (previously the Sears Tower), have been retrofitted to fit the modern green profile. Other owners and investors have now been encouraged to follow this trend.

5. Environmental – There are clear environmental benefits including reducing energy consumption, lowering demand on the power grid and decreasing greenhouse gas emission. Research has shown how retrofitting offers the most significant emission reductions in the categories of climate change and human health as well as resource impact. Being green and energy efficient has a huge impact on the environment and all living things.

6. Financial Benefits – Increased workforce productivity as well as energy and water savings.

 

Why retrofit? Why not demolish the old buildings and build new modern buildings?

South Africa has many beautiful old buildings with heritage and significance. They each hold a story and represent our past but these older buildings consume way more energy than newer modern buildings. Retrofitting them with energy-efficient technologies can have significant impact on the building sector’s overall energy profile. We have to look at ways of improving the buildings to fit the green profile yet retain their character and the history they hold so that these buildings will last and be protected, making them fit for the future.

Retrofitting is more favourable and viable than demolishing and starting over. They are also generally less risky because they involve fewer material expenses since the structural components are already in place. So it would cheaper than rebuilding.

Green retrofitting sounds daunting and seems like large scale changes etc etc. But, a green retrofit to an existing building can be as simple as installing new heating / ventilation and air-conditioning components, mounting solar panels onto the roof, or placing a bike rack outside the building for those gym enthusiasts – I mean this will reduce the carbon emissions as well as keep people fit right? 2 birds, one stone…

 

 

Steps to retrofitting:

1. Getting Started. Below are ways to retrofit simply. It is advisable to obtain a green audit however as this will tell you what needs to be done as well as the costs involved.

Lighting → The most common retrofit type. Upgrading lighting fixtures can result in an increase in the lighting level while decreasing energy consumption up to 70% which results in saving costs.

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning –> The efficiency of the HVAC system can be improved through maintenance and upgrades, resulting in improving users’ comfort and minimizing the negative impact on the environment.

Water Systems –> You would want to look at upgrading any faucets, toilets or shower heads fixtures that were made during the Noah’s Ark period. What about those taps at most malls and hotels? The ones that seem to make water softer, bubblier and just all round better… they have aerators and occupancy sensors to reduce the rate of water flowing through the faucets by mixing water with air while maintaining the pressure of the water and this results in significant saving… Oooh Bubbles! 🙂 Also, you can reduce water use by recycling it and rainwater can also be captured for irrigation or even to flush toilets.

Insulation → Good insulation helps by retaining heat in winter and trapping cool air inside in summer. An affordable way to make walls less absorbent of heat is by painting them lighter colours so they reflect light effectively – Genius! Also a double door entrance is an effective insulation measure, who would’ve thought?

On-Site Energy Generation –> Wind turbines are also becoming available and affordable. Ultimately, the right choice of energy renewable adoption depends on the location.

Plants – in the office, on the roof, anywhere. They also provide wonderful, much needed shade.

Solar → Install some solar panels, solar water heaters, or solar voltaic panels.

Equipment –> Replace old outdated office equipment with new energy star rated or energy efficient ones.

Recycling → Place recycling bins at the office like we have at Leads 2 Business

Lift Clubs → Catch a lift to work with your peers. This will save you fuel and is one step closer to saving the planet. Plus this could be fun and a good bonding session or time to catch up on how your day has been or how your cat’s birthday was.

2. Understand your usage
Measure every point of consumption and track and keep a record of these. The Green Building Council SA is in the process of developing a green star rating tool that will help various companies in measuring their buildings operations environmental performance.

3. Changing Behaviour
Educate employees / staff on how to be more energy efficient.

4. Learning from your peers
Sharing success stories with each other as well as failures could help people as some might have come across challenges and others might have solutions to these challenges that they have already overcome themselves.

5. The Right People
As mentioned, see what you can do on your own first and then establish where you need a specialist’s assistance.

6. What now?
Remember retrofitting is a long term plan and we need to encourage employees to continue to act with energy efficiency and sustainability in mind. Keep thinking…. Green, Clean, Hygiene, Coffee Bean, Ice Machine, sheesh….. its easy to get carried away but you know what I mean 😉 Don’t stop pushing the Green drive!

What is the GBCSA?

The Green Building Council South Africa are the people leading the transformation of the property in South Africa. They ensure that buildings are designed, built and are used in an environmentally sustainable way. They address what or where the major issues lie such as excess energy consumption, burning carbon fuels, pollution of air / water and land, depletion of natural resources as well as the proper disposal of waste.

Building owners submit their documentation to the GBCSA to achieve a Green Star SA rating. This is evaluated and assessed. Based on points they would either be awarded a 4-Star, 5-Star or 6-Star rating.

And in closing, please always remember:

“Reduce, Reuse and Recycle”

“DEVELOPMENT, IF NOT SUSTAINABLE, IS A DEAD-END ROAD “

 

 

Just some of the many Green Projects on L2B:

No. 5 Silo

Monte Circle Office Park – Building A

Discovery Health Head Office – Building

Office Development at 102 Rivonia Road, Sandton

 

About Michelle Crosby

I started my journey at Leads 2 Business in the Directory Department in 2012. I was then promoted to the Private Projects Department in 2014 and was recently promoted to Projects HOD this year.

Ways to Reduce your Carbon Footprint

Carbon Footprint

What is a Carbon Footprint?

 

A Carbon Footprint is defined by the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular individual, organisation, or community.

When researching the ways to reduce your Carbon Footprint there were endless articles, so many in fact I nearly got lost in the green of it all. Let’s break it down.

10 Ways to Reduce your Carbon Footprint:

  1. Plant a Tree – A classic and for good reason. Trees provide shade and oxygen while consuming carbon dioxide. [tweetthis]One 10-year-old tree releases enough oxygen into the air to support 2 human beings.[/tweetthis]
  2. Energy Efficient Appliances – Look for the energy rating when purchasing appliances. The current South African label gives a rating from A down to G; with A being the best for refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines and electric ovens. For most appliances, insist on an A-rated appliance, they are not difficult to find. (Old refrigerators in your house may be the inefficient equal of a G-rated fridge.) In addition to the letter rating, the label should carry an energy consumption number in kilowatt hours. It is often more useful to compare this number between models than to compare the letter rating.
  3. Switch Off – Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Turn off your computer when not in use, a computer that is off uses at least 65% less energy than one left on screensaver/standby. [tweetthis]Did you know that many electronic devices continue using energy even when off? This is known as Phantom Power.[/tweetthis] Unplug electronic devices when not in use.
  4. Drive Smart – Go for a hybrid when purchasing a new car and if you aren’t going to be doing that anytime soon make sure you keep your current vehicle properly maintained. Carpool if you can, the benefits are obvious. One car uses less fuel than two and much less than three. If you can’t carpool, stick to the following Carbon minimising tips: Don’t idle, travel light, accelerate smoothly, limit air-con use, warm up your car and plan ahead.
  5. Use CFL’s and LED’s – That’s Compact Fluorescent Lamps or Light Emitting Diodes. CFL’s use 75% less energy than an incandescent and last up to 10 times longer. LED’s are also extremely energy efficient; although not widely in use due to their cost, there is no question that LED’s are poised to supersede CFL’s in the future.
  6. Local is Lekker – Purchasing foods that are both in season and grown locally can drastically cut down the carbon emissions of the vehicles used to transport that food. The same concept goes for other goods and services as well as not to mention, you will be supporting the local economy too.
  7. Go Digital – There has been a lot of debate regarding the environmental costs of digital vs. print. The best policy to adopt is, “be mindful”. If you subscribe to a print paper, be sure to recycle your paper every day. If you prefer online news chose an unplugged laptop or e-reader, rather than a plugged-in device for the majority of your browsing time.
  8. Shower Power – [tweetthis]Taking a shower uses about 1/5 of the energy as taking a bath.[/tweetthis] You can also install a “low flow” shower head to limit the amount of water being used and take shorter showers.
  9. Recycle – Recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to rubbish dumps and incinerators; prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials; saves energy; reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change; helps sustain the environment for future generations and helps create new jobs. Once you get in the habit of separating your cans, plastic, glass, paper and cardboard, it’s as easy as pie.
  10. Compost & Grow – It makes sense that what nourishes us from the earth should go back to nourishing the earth. Plant your own herbs and veggies. Not only does growing your own food make you a more conscientious global citizen, it brings you a sense of satisfaction.

 

Long story short, the more pollution that we let into the atmosphere, the worse it is for the environment. No matter what your view is on climate change these tips can save you money. Most of them don’t take that much time or effort and at the end of the month you may notice less coming out of the bank account which is a plus at any rate.

Why not start by calculating your Carbon Footprint here

 

 

Reuse Reduce Recycle
Reuse Reduce Recycle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:

https://www.carbonfund.org/reduce

http://cotap.org/reduce-carbon-footprint/

http://www.carbonfootprint.com/minimisecfp.html

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/reduce-your-carbon-footprint/drive-smarter-for-a-better-planet/

About Sasha Anderson

Millennial Mom + wife living the hash-tag life. Remember: If You Fail - Fail Forward

Ancient Inspiration for Modern Motivation

Machu Picchu was discovered in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. “Discovered” has now been replaced with “brought to international attention”, rightfully so, since you can’t very well discover a place that the locals are using as grazing for their alpacas. And there are maps that reference Machu Picchu from around 1874. The 15th century Inca site sits 2430 metres above sea level, in the Cusco region of Peru. It is very much a stone city on top of a mountain. It’s believed to have been built for the Inca emperor Pachaputi (1438 – 1472), but nobody really knows why. It was abandoned about a century after construction, and managed to survive the Spanish Conquest (since the Spanish didn’t know it was there). Apparently, all six roads leading into Machu Pichu were destroyed and who exactly is going to notice a giant city on top of a mountain during a Conquest? People are busy during conquests, what with spreading disease, pillaging and general rude behaviour. About thirty percent of Machu Picchu has been restored, allowing for a better idea of what the city looked like back in the day and restoration continues.

 

Machu Picchu

 

 

 

[tweetthis]About 500 people are allowed on the Inca Trail, leading into Machu Picchu, a day.[/tweetthis] 500 people including guides, porters and tourists. Apparently, it’s a bit difficult to get tickets. I only realised this days away from my Inca Trail trek, when my friend confessed she’d only agreed to the trek since she didn’t think we’d get tickets. Well, we did. I’ve always wanted to see Machu Picchu. To say it was on my bucket list would be an understatement. You can do the four day trek (hell, no!) or the day trek which meant hopping off the very comfortable Inca Rail train at the 104km mark at 08:00 in the morning, and walking to Machu Picchu over the next 8 hours. There was trepidation. Peru is not a flat country. At all. My overall impression of the place is stairs and more stairs. Half constructed houses, that is the next generation’s responsibility to finish and awesome avocados. Seriously, their food and produce were fantastic. Mielies the size of my head and a ridiculously large selection of potatoes. There’s like 3000 varieties of potatoes in Peru. Who needs that many?! And the coca tea. O the coca tea. This was a lifeline in the shadow of altitude sickness. I digress.

 

Restoration
Restoration

 

Anyway, so we marched it up to Machu Picchu. We had two guides with us, Ruth and Ruti. Ruth took the lead, and Ruti stayed at the back. With the oxygen. I was at the back (no, I didn’t need the oxygen), keeping up the rear as usual. Gentle incline, and then stairs, gentle incline and then more stairs. Waterfalls. Butterflies. Beautiful scenery, with mountains crowding each other and the river so very far below. Trying to keep track of how far we had come, and how far we had to go was truly bizarre. The scale is baffling. Everything is green and lush and vast. Beautiful. I noticed. In between the wheezing and side clutching, and the leg cramps and beating down sun and the unidentifiable rustling in the bushes. We were in the jungle after all. That day we reached the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) and looked across to Machu Picchu. Hazy and still so far away. It’s about 45 minutes walk from the Sun Gate. [tweetthis]The road we’d walked had been run by messengers, when Machu Picchu was occupied.[/tweetthis] We rested in the shelters where they had stopped to pass the messages on. Our tickets didn’t allow for entrance into Machu Picchu that day. It was late and we were sweaty and gross. Feeling accomplished, but still gross. Random thing I noticed, there were only two loose stone pavers on the road we walked. Only two.

 

Machu Picchu

 

The next day, after a bus ride that was more switchback than anything else, we got to go into Machu Picchu. Our guide giving us a basic run down of the city. Basically, not much is known. It was abandoned and no one really knows why. About a 1000 people could inhabit the city. It could’ve been built for strategic or tactical reasons, or as a holiday resort for the Inca Emperor. There’s water and the terraces (which are everywhere) could grow enough food to feed the population. It’s a mystery. But it’s there. The smooth stones, and rounded walls. The single storey and double storey houses. There’s a quarry from which the granite was mined. The windows are trapezoid in shape. Better to survive an earthquake. Peru has lots of earthquakes, and a surprising number of active volcanoes. I was sitting in the shade of a stone wall, listening to our guide and he said something that I thought was quite strange. He mentioned the alien theory for the construction of Machu Picchu. I thought it was weird since when would an official guide give time to such nonsense. But it got better. He had a reason why aliens couldn’t have built Machu Picchu. He pointed out a wall “Aliens didn’t build Machu Picchu. Look, this wall is falling down”. Now, my sarcastic nature took over and I mumbled “What, aliens can’t make mistakes?”. Not exactly helping international relations on my side. Now I don’t for a second think anybody but the local people built Machu Picchu, just like the local people built the Pyramids in Egypt and the local people built Great Zimbabwe. But standing in front of that shifting wall, I couldn’t help but imagine the scene.

 

Machu Picchu

 

Inca Emperor Pachaputi calls his Project Management team together and explains that he wants a new city. The suggestions are flowing, but he knows what he wants. He wants a city on top of a mountain. Technically, on top of a mountain in the saddle between two mountains. No biggie. The frozen smiles and sweaty brows. Someone had to design it (architect) and someone had to figure out how to build it (engineer) and someone had to deal with those two (contractor). The polite suggestions of other locations. The polite consideration and dismissal of said locations. The realistic problems of logistics and access and water and manpower, being politely listened to and considered and dismissed. Since after all, human sacrifice wasn’t completely off the table back in those days. I’m thinking the local chicheria [definition: Place that sells chicha, a fermented or non-fermented beverage derived from maize. Usually] was totally frequented that night. Chicha is sold in half litre glasses. Giant tumblers, people. Giant. I can imagine a lot of head holding and commiserating with strangers going on. Or perhaps that’s not how it played out. Perhaps it was the complete opposite.

 

Inca Engineer says “So what’s it going to be?”

Inca Architect replies “Mountain top city”

“Again?!”

“Again”.

Inca Engineer whines “But it’ll be the third one this year. I’m so bored of building cities on mountains. Can’t we do something new? Like a nice estate in a valley? Ooo sea level”

Inca Architect shrugs “What can I say? The Inca loves his cities on mountains”.

 

 

Falling Wall
Falling Wall

 

 

But is that really a good enough reason to contribute one of the most fantastic pieces of construction on the planet to humans – because part of it is falling down? Way to go human race, we can’t take credit for anything unless it’s blatantly faulty. I’m sure there’s a life lesson in there somewhere. And can you imagine the pressure the poor aliens must be under. They’ve inadvertently created this expectation of perfection. So much so that we doubt our own involvement and attribute any massive structure to little green men.

 

Alien Architect asks “What’s this?” pointing a long decidedly alien looking finger of a greenish hue at a photo.

Alien Engineer Bob replies “Um…”

“Bob. You realise we are trying to share knowledge by example here. We’re are trying to demonstrate our superior skills and expertise. We can’t just say we know better; we have to show the humans. By blowing their minds, with massive building projects on an impressive and totally unnecessary scale. And what I have is a wall sliding off its foundations!! What do you have say for yourself?”

Alien Engineer Bob “Um… have you heard of a drink called chicha?”

“…[Intergalactic facepalm]”.

 

I loved Machu Picchu. I loved the fact I got to go there. I loved what it represented. Achievement and a strange immortality. Someone said build it, and it got built. Skills and knowledge were applied years ago, and their city still stands. And is marveled at daily. It’s really no different from any new project set out today. An idea turns into plans, which turns into execution and accomplishment and completion. The intangible made real. I’ve always considered construction as a way to live forever. An indelible mark on the landscape and history, whether for function or beauty, necessity or whim. Our challenges are our own, and so are our victories. We need no help from little green men.

 

Inti Punku
Inti Punku

About Claire Donaldson

I started working at Leads 2 Business in February 2005, and have served as Head of Department of Daily Tenders from 2007 until the present. I oversee both the Daily Tenders South Africa and Africa Departments.

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