Energising South African Cities & Towns - City Energy Support Unit

HOUSINGMaking healthier, moreaffordable homesc a s e s t u d yTHE KEY characteristics of energyefficiency in housing development arelocation close to places of work andother facilities and access to a goodrange of facilities and services in andaround the development. Then thereare issues of house construction, orientationand energy service provision.The following case studies provideinsights into how these issues havebeen taken up by some of the innovativehousing projects in South Africa.LWANDLEHOSTELS–TO-HOMESPROJECTThe Lwandle Hostel in Somerset Westused to be a single men’s hostel forthe Gants food and canning factory.Gants closed the factory in the 1980s.Unemployment was high and povertyextreme, with whole families living insingle bunk spaces. The communityidentified their needs from the developmentas jobs, privacy, toilets andhot water (in that order). In additionto community facilities, taxi ranks andgreening, the hostels were dividedinto family units with some provisionfor singles. Toilets and showers wereinstalled with solar water heaters.The project, which started in 1995, hasprovided 967 units ranging from 12m 2to 30m 2 .The project was funded throughhousing subsidies and other funds,providing for the units, sports centre,taxi rank and roads. A DBSA lowinterestloan to the Helderberg Administrationover 20 years covered the solarwater heaters. Liebenberg and Standermanaged the project.Innovative componentsincluded:• Community based constructionemployed eight local contractorsand 400 residents + local materialsand construction managers.• Rental units are owned by themunicipality – monthly rentfrom R114–R172.• Toilet, basin and shower, shared bytwo family units, include solarwater heaters (no electricity backup,providing for ‘free hot water’).• Helderberg administrationaccessed a low interest loan topay for solar water heaters.• Extensive community facility,greening and ‘place making’investment to build sense ofplace. Town square surroundedby double storey units.• Additional communal toilets andshowers are provided.KUYASAA CDM HOUSING PILOTThe house of Elsie Tshabalaza, a pensionerin Kuyasa, Khayelitsha, sportsa recently installed solar water heater(one of three versions used in thepilot), an insulated ceiling and energyefficient lighting, none of which shehas ever contemplated purchasingwith the R600 that represents hermonthly income.Elsie is one of 10 beneficiaries ofa pilot demonstration project aimedat improving the energy efficiencyAbove: Lwandle Hostels-to-Homes Project showing the solar water heaters.Above: At Kuyasa, solar water heaters wereinstalled at 10 houses.PHOTOGRAPHS: MIKE SCHROEDER AND GORDON MC ALISTER28 ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS