4. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - Faculties submissions

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    The role of Mass Engineered Timber in the decarbonisation of the built environment
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Erasmus, Jan Harm; Stone-Johnson, Brigitta
    As urbanisation accelerates globally, the built environment faces the critical challenge of decarbonisation to mitigate the impacts of climate change. With cities expanding at an unprecedented rate, the demand for sustainable construction methods is more pressing than ever. This research explores decarbonisation pathways in the construction industry by examining the potential of Mass Engineered Timber (MET) as an alternative to conventional building materials for medium-rise urban buildings. The study investigates how geographic location influences buildings' Global Warming Potential (GWP), hypothesising that MET buildings exhibit significantly lower embodied emissions than reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. Factors such as energy grid composition and supply chain logistics are examined in two geographic scenarios: Cape Town, South Africa, and Perth, Australia. A standardised Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology is employed to perform a comparative analysis of functionally identical buildings in these locations through computational modelling. Scenarios involving vertical extensions of existing buildings are also modelled to assess their decarbonisation potential compared to redevelopment. By integrating qualitative and quantitative insights, the research highlights the importance of context-specific strategies in emissions reduction. It underscores the benefits of utilising local materials and adopting standardised LCA methodologies to advance sustainable urban development. The findings indicate that MET offers a viable alternative to conventional construction materials and methods, providing actionable recommendations for stakeholders to mitigate the environmental impact of the built environment.
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    The socio-economic impact of Eskom’s Just Energy Transition on the town of eMalahleni, Mpumalanga Province
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Mamoleki, Maila
    The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established the need to reduce global warming by lowering temperatures. This involves the reduction in fossil power plants which are a major source of global warming. South Africa (SA) relies heavily on fossil power plants and Eskom is now transitioning toward the reduction of fossil energy generation. However, the impact of this transition is not yet understood fully. This calls for research into the socio-economic impacts of the transition, specifically in the town of eMalahleni, which is the largest source of coal in SA. Understanding these impacts will therefore assist in designing a transition which minimises the negative impacts and maximises positive impacts. The study adopted a qualitative approach with a case study to understand the socio-economic impacts of the Just Energy Transition (JET) in eMalahleni. Descriptive and thematic analyses were utilised. The study found that this JET would result in a loss of income and jobs, increase social ills and the expansion of ‘ghost towns’ in SA. The results suggest that this impact could be mitigated by using the gradual approach, upskilling plant employees, providing financial support and ensuring fairness between those who will lose their income and jobs and those who will gain jobs and income thus the losers can be compensated. It was concluded that the negative socio-economic impacts of the JET in eMalahleni are inevitable. People of eMalahleni are going to face the negative consequences from the energy transition. It was also concluded that there are positive impacts on the people of eMalahleni from the energy transition such as the improvement in the environment and health of people due to less carbon emissions. However, there are ways to mitigate these impacts, which are far outweighed by the positive impacts the change in power generation would bring. From the research, it is clear that a slow transition would ensure fairness and justice for all employees involved.