Theses and Dissertations (Architecture and Planning)

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Assessing the energy performance gap between 6-star and net-zero energy buildings for South Africa
(2022) Analo, Andrew
Energy efficiency in buildings has been systematically coupled with the green-rating of buildings based on systems such as the Star-rating of the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). Net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs) have also been receiving increased attention as a way of addressing concerns over depleting energy resources (especially for fossil fuels), increasing energy-costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions which contribute to global warming and climate change. With a focus on reduction in contribution to GHG-emissions and thus enhancing climate change mitigation of 6-Star green-rated buildings the study applied a case-study approach based on energy performance of the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) Building in Pretoria. Secondary data show that the building’s status quo energy performance is 112kWh/m2/yr. Within the temperate-interior climatic zone for Pretoria (as per energy efficiency regulations for buildings in South Africa), psychrometric chart analysis showed that the building could achieve a higherlevel of thermal comfort through further optimization of passive design interventions. Edge-tool simulation results on full optimization of passive design and energy efficiency interventions indicate that a net-zero energy building (NZEB) performance of the same sized building could achieve an energy performance level of 45kWh/m2/yr, thus revealing an energy performance gap of 67kWh/m2/yr. This translates to 60% savings compared to the status quo 6-Star performance of 3076 291kWh/year. Assessment of roof-area for solar PV system indicated that it is adequate for the energy balance towards a NZEB. Assessment of simple payback period per intervention indicates less than one-year payback period for tenant lighting while tenant equipment indicatesa payback period of just over a year and PV-installation at three-years. The findings indicate that the intervention-costs for migration to NZEB fall within the acceptable range for South African investors (maximum of 3 to 5 years). The above findings indicate that the pursuit of NZEBs would significantly contribute towards mitigation of GHG-emissions and climate change and thus calls for further exploration of pathways towards mandatory NZEBs for South Africa.
Living lab in architecture: integrating university campus operational support(s) with academic programmes, case of the University of the Witwatersrand, School of Architecture and Planning, the Old John Moffat Building
(2021) Matentshi, Rodney
Essential the living laboratory concept is critical for any institution, most notably for universities where teaching, learning, and research are advanced/achieved/leading. Living laboratories improve project outcomes, maintain policy alignment, and help boost green campus initiatives and energy policy discussions. The living laboratory approach provides innovation in planning, development and policy establishment and implementation in mitigating climate change challenges. Universities are leading in sustainable studies thus offer knowledge on climate change mitigation strategies. Global warming has resulted in climate change. Additionally, we have universities, which increase the demand for energy and water, which are already limited resources. This problem is a direct risk to mitigate climate change challenges. Via their students' - staff research outputs, universities produce knowledge that includes mitigation strategies for addressing sustainability issues. Students and staff at Wits University cannot integrate their work output on campus to create real-world climate change solutions. By their role as a beacon of hope, universities cannot evade their responsibilities to model society's image. Thus, the main focus of this study is to test the hypothesis that universities' implementation of their students and staff green campus research outputs on campus is possible through implementing university-specific projects inside a living laboratory setting. The study's primary objective is to determine the pathways and barriers that hinder universities such as Wits University from adopting green campus policies and the concept of living labs. The study employed various methods to achieve a "humanistic orientation," including qualitative analysis, deductive analysis, and inductive analysis. Significant findings or themes identified in this study include the following: Siloed approach of working, a lack of coordination, and the inability of diverse departments to share knowledge and expertise became apparent as a problem. A shortfall in funding for green campus initiatives is one cause for concern that must be address by the University. Universities have sought to integrate ethical values into their core activities in light of the climate change and sustainability agenda. Failure to implement and preserve green campus planning throughout its lifecycle is not sustainable for any institution or society at large. Wits University should establish an architect-led living laboratory to promote planning and development focused on win-win strategies. This initiative will pave the way for future growth and facilitate the establishment of an eco-campus. When combined with the University's green campus initiative plan, the idea of a living laboratory would foster innovation on campus. The future University is a complex living organ that needs complex system management to deliver and influence the concept of future smart and sustainable cities. Creating a Campus Sustainability Lekgotla at the University would alleviate their primary difficulty of siloed approaches and allow for the flourishing of transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary concepts across the organisation's structures.
Market opportunities and barriers to the uptake of low embodied energy building materials and components: the case of interlocking blocks in Johannesburg
(2022) Maphumulo, Minenhle Yvonne Desiree
The intensifying urbanisation challenge in the global south, coupled with the resultant need for housing calls for governments to re-think how they address related needs sustainably especially due to resultant GHG-emissions and climate change. In order to decarbonise housing development for the City of Johannesburg, this study argues that, as one of the most visible alternative building materials and systems (ABMS), interlocking blocks have the potential to contribute significantly towards low carbon homes provided that critical barriers to their diffusion are systematically addressed. Guided by a qualitative study approach and focusing on an existing business in interlocking blocks as a case study, a supply-chain framework was applied to identify the relevant actors and stakeholders from whom interview participants were purposely selected and interview questions were then articulated. Subsequent to data presentation and analyses, overall findings were articulated in terms of opportunities and barriers. In particular, the study finds that on the basis of their production and construction process, interlocking blocks confer significant benefits such as eliminating the need for conventional burnt-clay bricks which entail high embodied energy, saving on cement as a high embodied energy material as the laying of the blocks is mortarless, process of construction is significantly simplified such that low-skilled labour can be engaged, overall construction cost and time are significantly reduced thus enhancing affordability for homeowners and tenants. On barriers, the findings further indicate inadequate guidelines and incentives towards strategic promotion of low carbon materials. Negative perception of ABMS by various actors contributes to superficial cost comparisons by clients and professionals based on building material unit prices instead of the overall outcome holistically. Such perceptions also reinforce propensity to gravitate towards conventional materials. The study therefore concludes that even though most of the socioeconomic and environmental benefits of ABMS strongly resonate with national and municipal policies and goals, their uptake will remain constrained until supportive regulations and incentives are adopted in the construction sector, especially with regard to reducing embodied energy while also facilitating innovation and green-skills in the sector.
Modelling and analysis of daylighting relative to energy consumption of a heritage category A3 building under Energy Zone 4 in South Africa
(2022) Overen, Ochuko Kelvin
Restriction of participating buildings in the recently promulgated energy performance certificate (EPC) regulations to buildings completed after 1999 might have a negative impact on intended outcomes considering that a significant number of public-use buildings in the country were completed before 1999. Arising from this concern, this study evaluates daylighting interventions for a heritage instruction-cum-office building with the objective of reducing overall energy-use intensity (EUI), related operational energy cost and CO2 emissions. A quantitative study approach based on experimental and simulation research tools was employed on Livingstone Hall (University of Fort Hare, Alice campus in Eastern Cape) as the case study building. Through measurements and simulation, indoor daylighting levels were evaluated against the 300 lux threshold (recommended workplace illuminance levels in South Africa). The data indicate that on typical clear sky days in summer and winter, average daylight illuminance for 50% of the six sample spaces was below 300 lux, while for typical cloudy-sky days in both seasons, daylight illuminance for all the spaces was below 300 lux. This implies that, for cloudy-sky days in both seasons, daylight cannot fully replace electric lighting for office and academic tasks in the building. Based on simulation results, for a typical summer clear-sky day, the average daylight illuminance in spaces 41, 43, 49, 11, 15 and 22 was up to 2 000 lux, while average daylighting in the same spaces on a typical winter clear-sky day was relatively lower. In addition, the annual “as-is” cumulative energy-use of the building was 49.02 MWh, and overall EUI was 31 kWh/m2/yr. The annual operational energy cost of the building was R67 108.50, while receptacle equipment (devices such as computers and other appliances connected to sockets) energy cost was R32 702.14 and the energy cost of electric lighting was R20 091.86. Cumulatively, the annual CO2 emission of the building was 25 440 kg (averaging 2 120 kg /month). Automated on/off and continuous dimming (smooth decrease of electric lighting capacity with ambient illuminance at a pre-set light level) daylight interventions were considered in the study. Continuous dimming intervention shows the best reduction in annual lighting energy-use by 64% and overall annual energy-use by 20%, while overall EUI reduced by 19%. The resultant overall energy cost saving was R12 420.73 while mitigated CO2 emission was 4 839 kg per annum.
Smart grid and net metering for grid-interactive distributed generation for the City of Ekurhuleni
(2022) Phiri, Alfred
Increased frequency of electricity outages due to load-shedding coupled with escalating tariffs is forcing customers of municipal electricity utilities to venture into Distributed Generation (DG) technologies. These trends pose major infrastructure-reliability and revenue-erosion risks for municipal utilities which further impair quality of service to their customers, mainly as a result of dilapidated grid-infrastructure which contributes to escalation in distribution losses. With City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) as a case study, the research applied a qualitative approach to investigate the relevance of smart grid and net-metering systems as a response mechanism towards promotion of DG while also facilitating operational viability of the municipal utility. Primary data collected through interviews with electricity-sector experts as well secondary data from diverse sources were used to derive the key findings and conclusions of the study. Experiences from other countries such as Germany show that smart grids have also been pivotal towards harnessing renewable energy through DG and would therefore be critical towards addressing the prevailing distribution grid challenges within municipal authorities. In contrast, study findings indicate a steady increase in DG installations within CoE as commercial and industrial customers pursue their goal of energy security at lower costs. However, the utility has not effectively transformed the DG opportunity to cheaper electricity due to inhibitive regulatory and policy framework which also raises the risk of revenue erosion posed by DG. In particular, the overall findings support the working hypothesis which suggest that upgrading grid infrastructure and introduction of a responsive tariff-scheme is key to incentivise the adoption of grid-interactive DG within its jurisdiction. Given the qualitative focus of the study on smart grids and net metering, one of the key recommendations would be political mobilisation across all departments in CoE to provide input towards solving prevailing grid challenges and as well as evolving a responsive business model to facilitate transparent participation of small-scale generators through DG.

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