11.5 Current Trends: Green Ideas, Innovations and Businesses in Africa
313
11.5 Current Trends: Green Ideas, Innovations
and Businesses in Africa
Whereas there is increased agreement about the importance of economic transformation, there has been relatively little change in Africa. Many African countries still
adhere to the typical historical path, and many of their employment opportunities
as well as output are in the agricultural sector. In sub-Saharan Africa, a larger
proportion of employment is in the agricultural sector. Green initiatives remain
unexploited by many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite this, there has been
an increased effort for Green entrepreneurs to venture into Green industries.
11.5.1 Architecture
11.5.1.1 Sandbag Houses, Freedom Park South Africa
Architecture is among the most dominant Green entrepreneurship inventions in
sub-Saharan Africa. Eco-architecture has found new mechanisms for reducing
costs, gaining insights from the traditional building methods, conserving energy,
and promoting reuse while remaining relevant. There are various examples of
Green architecture, and South Africa is among the leading states in sub-Saharan
Africa. The buildings use natural ventilation and cooling systems, thus promoting
sustainable use of energy resources. Sandbag Houses found in Freedom Park,
Cape Town, South Africa (see Fig. 11.2) are among the most renowned Green
architectures in Africa. The objective of a sandbag is the conservation of money
and resources. It uses cheap local materials, thus reducing the cost of transportation
(Udoma 2014). The assistance of future residents enables the house to minimize
its costs further. The house is further constructed through the use of Eco-Beams
system that substitutes brick-and-mortar with sandbags. It is a robust, safe, and less
expensive way for affordable housing delivery.
What are the major challenges/disadvantages that you believe are associated
with this architecture?
11.5.1.2 Vissershok School, Durbanville
The second example of Green architecture is Vissershok School, Durbanville, South
Africa (see Fig. 11.3). It is built using recycled shipping containers and acts as
a classroom during the morning hours and a library during the afternoon. The
313
11.5 Current Trends: Green Ideas, Innovations
and Businesses in Africa
Whereas there is increased agreement about the importance of economic transformation, there has been relatively little change in Africa. Many African countries still
adhere to the typical historical path, and many of their employment opportunities
as well as output are in the agricultural sector. In sub-Saharan Africa, a larger
proportion of employment is in the agricultural sector. Green initiatives remain
unexploited by many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite this, there has been
an increased effort for Green entrepreneurs to venture into Green industries.
11.5.1 Architecture
11.5.1.1 Sandbag Houses, Freedom Park South Africa
Architecture is among the most dominant Green entrepreneurship inventions in
sub-Saharan Africa. Eco-architecture has found new mechanisms for reducing
costs, gaining insights from the traditional building methods, conserving energy,
and promoting reuse while remaining relevant. There are various examples of
Green architecture, and South Africa is among the leading states in sub-Saharan
Africa. The buildings use natural ventilation and cooling systems, thus promoting
sustainable use of energy resources. Sandbag Houses found in Freedom Park,
Cape Town, South Africa (see Fig. 11.2) are among the most renowned Green
architectures in Africa. The objective of a sandbag is the conservation of money
and resources. It uses cheap local materials, thus reducing the cost of transportation
(Udoma 2014). The assistance of future residents enables the house to minimize
its costs further. The house is further constructed through the use of Eco-Beams
system that substitutes brick-and-mortar with sandbags. It is a robust, safe, and less
expensive way for affordable housing delivery.
What are the major challenges/disadvantages that you believe are associated
with this architecture?
11.5.1.2 Vissershok School, Durbanville
The second example of Green architecture is Vissershok School, Durbanville, South
Africa (see Fig. 11.3). It is built using recycled shipping containers and acts as
a classroom during the morning hours and a library during the afternoon. The