The quantity surveyor has a major part to play in the pursuit of sustainable, energy efficient construction, says Larry Feinberg, executive director of the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors.

Feinberg says with the increasing pressure on developers and property owners to maximise energy efficiency, it is up to the quantity surveyor to balance the economic equation of sustainability and affordability.

 

Taking on new roles

“In addition to the traditional role of controlling costs, the quantity surveyor now also has to guide clients on a wide variety of sustainable aspects of a building project, including energy conservation, analysing and advising on ‘green’ capital costs, promoting the benefits of life-cycle management, cost-effective sustainable strategies, as well as appropriate financing and leases,” he states.

“Energy efficiency and renewable energy are today regarded as the twin pillars of a sustainable energy policy. In fact, energy efficiency is now seen to have a national security benefit because it can be used to reduce the level of energy imports – particularly oil – and also slow down the rate at which domestic energy resources are depleted.

“The quantity surveyor has to set specific targets for the reduction of energy consumed on a building project by avoiding the use of energy intensive materials, as well as restricting embodied energy which is the total energy required for the extraction, processing, manufacture and delivery of building materials to a building site, whether for retrofit or new projects.

The quantity surveyor also has to ensure that minimum energy is used during construction by avoiding over-specification and reducing site labour costs through the use of pre-assembled components wherever possible. He or she also has to ensure that waste levels are controlled and that waste is disposed of responsibly, that water resources are conserved, and that the environment is preserved and enhanced.”

Feinberg says procurement is another important element in sustainable building. “The quantity surveyor has to ensure that the procurement of materials meets the objectives of stakeholders, such as property developers and occupiers, who are concerned about the sustainability of the components used in the construction or maintenance of the buildings they own or work in.

“Consequently, the quantity surveyor has to select and procure renewable energy equipment such as solar water heating, and other energy-efficient appliances. Companies who build for their own occupation are now increasingly prepared to consider higher expenditure at the outset if it means lower energy bills during the rest of their building’s lifespan,” he concludes.

“The South African Bureau of Standards has found that if just thermal ceiling insulation and high-performance window systems were introduced today into all new residential and commercial buildings, an astounding 3500 MW of electricity could be saved by 2020. This is almost twice the electricity currently produced by South Africa’s Koeberg nuclear power plant.  Furthermore, overseas studies have shown that tight building design, including energy-efficient windows, well-sealed doors, and additional thermal insulation of walls, basement slabs, and foundations can reduce heat loss by 25 to 50%.

“So the quantity surveyor’s responsibility in driving sustainable directives is now of national importance. However, while the QS can undoubtedly influence other sectors of the property sector, achieving maximum energy efficiency will need the commitment of the entire industry, including both private and public sectors. There is still an alarming level of apathy and lack of awareness around energy efficiency in South Africa and the need for employing skilled professionals in implementing sustainable building design and execution,” Feinberg added.