The innovative Jan Mouton learning centre will be a ‘green building’ once finished, which is projected to be in the second semester of 2020. PHOTO: Wianda Gilliland.
Stellenbosch University (SU) has prioritised sustainable development and environmental considerations in various of its reports, departmental websites and new developments, yet change seems to be slow and according to the manager of Environmental Sustainability at Facilities Management, John de Wet, financial support is often lacking.
According to a statement in SU’s 2018 Annual Integrated Report by SU Chief Operating Officer, Prof Stan Du Plessis:
“The principle of environmental sustainability is increasingly being embedded in SU’s operations, particularly facilities management and property services”.
The SU Facilities Management website states that “sustainability is core to our decisions across all our operations” and according to SU’s Vision 2040, two of the four main aspirations to realisation of the vision includes an environmental factor.
Is SU’s recently increased awareness of environmental sustainability truly a top priority when it comes to physical change and implementation?
According to De Wet, it is.
“The university is serious about becoming more sustainable, and the 2040 vision was set up with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals in mind,” he stated.
GRAPHIC: Wianda Gilliland
Martin Viljoen, SU spokesperson, said that when assessing sustainability and environmental projects, it’s not just about what the university does “internally”, but also “the research we do, how much has been attuned to sustainability and what the university is doing to make this research possible”.
According to a media release regarding the construction of a brand new multi-million rand learning centre, Rector and Vice-Chancellor prof Wim De Villiers reiterated the sentiments around sustainability.
“We need well-equipped buildings in which excellent learning and teaching can take place. We need smart buildings, green buildings, buildings of the future,” De Villiers said.
Situated between the Neelsie Student Centre and the Polymer Science Building where a parking lot used to be, the Jan Mouton Learning Centre will allegedly be a sustainable building with a low carbon footprint. Founder of PSG Group and SU alumnus, Jannie Mouton, donated R50 million towards the construction of the learning centre.
The building will include a gray water system that will serve the ablutions and the infrastructure will also be readied for a future photovoltaic roofing tile installation, while rain and groundwater will be collected and stored.
“We planned the Jan Mouton learning centre according to a four star Green Building rating, even though it won’t be certified. That costs a lot of money,” De Wet said. The current highest possible ranking is 6 stars.
The modern building is surrounded by the signature white walls of the typical Cape Dutch-style buildings that Stellenbosch University is known for. PHOTO: Wianda Gilliland
Ryno Lochner, data analysis at utility services, elaborated on the vast amounts of money saved when water and electricity usage decreases.
“It is a spectacular feat,” he explained, “that we managed to keep our electricity use consistent over the last few years when you take into consideration the 40% growth in student numbers”.
The green line indicates that SU has been using the same amount of electricity now than it has been in 2008, even though student numbers have increased by 40%. GRAPHIC: Supplied.
According to Lochner, R1.2 million was saved when a conscience effort was being made to manage the total amount of time that air conditioning systems needed to be switched on.
“Because that is our biggest electricity user,” De Wet added.
De Wet also mentions the global movement toward a net zero carbon footprint, and that keeping up with the standard of international universities is a major driving force in fast-tracking the implementation of sustainable and environmental projects.
“I will remain optimistic, even though the rest of management isn’t,” he stated. “We have to move towards being completely self-sustainable, firstly from a financial perspective and secondly, from an environmental perspective.”