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The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies says Green Economy should be used as a tool to create opportunities and drive job creation. He was addressing delegates at the two day manufacturing opportunities conference held today in Pretoria.

The aim of the conference is to raise awareness to role players in the building and construction industry as well as to local manufacturers of various elements and products that can be used to adhere to the new building regulations.

“South Africa needs to be part of the development and revolution in the new green economy and not be seen as service providers like it did during the Information Communication Technology (ICT) development era. If we are to achieve job creation, then greening the economy is the way to go,” said Davies.

He also said the National Building Regulations embraces the vision of ensuring a safe, competitive and prosperous building environment for all South Africans. Minister Davies added that the scope of the Energy Efficiency Building Regulations includes that new building will have to be installed with solar water heaters, heat pumps, or similar technologies.

“Ceilings, walls, windows, will have to meet minimum requirements for preventing heat loss (in winter) or heat gain (in summer) in order to meet the energy efficient targets. Buildings will also have to be fitted with energy efficient heating, air conditioning and mechanical ventilation systems,” added Davies

Minister Davies said the department needs much more partnerships not only with regulatory bodies, but with industry players as well.

The new building regulations were published in the Government Gazette on 11 June 2010 by the Minister Davies. They were developed jointly by the dti and the Department of Energy (DoE). They support the dti’s Industrial Policy Action Plan and as well as government’s energy strategy led by the DoE.

The regulations set minimum requirements for residential and commercial buildings, ensuring the environmental sustainability of buildings and places of learning or worship, certain medical clinics and other buildings.