Image: Sura Nualpradid / FreeDigitalPhotos.net |
The much debated and controversial Menlyn Maine development is now in its third year of its development project spanning 10 years. Menlyn Maine is set to becoming Africa's first green city, one of only 17 worldwide that fall under the Climate Positive Program. The commitment to an environment-friendly development had been adhered to from the outset – when the suburb’s houses were demolished. The brickwork and concrete were crushed and recycled.
"We are trying to build the first green precinct in Africa. The goal is to build Menlyn Maine as a greenhouse gas negative development. We will be one of only a few in the world that are trying to achieve this, and the whole idea is that we can prove that sustainable development can happen in the world. The end goal would be that Menlyn Maine is good for the environment by coming into being," Menlyn Maine project developer Justin Bowen told Engineering News Online.
Menlyn Maine is a mixed-use development that includes a mix of office, residential, retail and public buildings. It is situated on 16ha of land, located in the eastern suburbs of Pretoria. Some of Menlyn Maine's green features include storm water tanks built into the structure and roof of buildings. The water will be treated and circulated for re-use inside as well as outside the building and is expected to provide non-potable water for almost a full year.
This project is the start of many in the country with South Africa's construction industry set to go green – and create new engineering careers – as new energy efficiency building regulations came into effect in November 2011, boosting a growing trend of cutting-edge green architecture in the country.
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