The Problem

The delivery of low cost housing developments in South Africa is generally characterised by high density, dysfunctional, monoculture environments that fosters urban sprawl which hinders opportunities for socio-economic upliftment. The post apartheid dream of addressing the injustices of the past by housing the nation in vibrant sustainable neighbourhoods has more than often replicated the same sterile developments of the previous dispensation.

Marble Flats - Ottery, Cape Town

Green Communities initiatives, design concepts and greening interventions aim to address how sustainable low cost housing developments can be designed to cater for more functional and economical housing with greater opportunities for urban agriculture, open space systems, community facilities and sustainable livelihoods.

Our Aims

Green Communities provides attractive green environments and energy interventions that are core to any community. Our greening efforts come with significant benefits to the environment & communities; they help to mitigate the impact of climate change, beautify the area, enhance health and wellbeing, provide food and ultimately provide economic opportunities for its inhabitants.

It is our AIM to provide an environment where communities can thrive.
Healthy Environment – Healthy Communities

All our greening interventions promote the mitigation & adaptation of
Climate Change and include:

• Renewable Energy
• Water Conservation
• Integrated Waste Management - recycling projects
• Sustainable Livelihoods – urban food gardens and nurseries
• Green Play
• Restoration of our natural environments.

The Key to Success - Community Participation

The key to success is evaluating a community's assets accurately and getting the right people involved. Broad community participation will bring about a holistic knowledge base of the community's cultural, social and natural resources and the identification of community values. The evaluation of economic conditions in the community as well as the effectiveness of public facilities and infrastructure capacity such as waste and water is a vital component for success.

"A community vision is an expression of possibility,
an ideal future state that the community hopes to attain.
Such a vision must be shared by the entire community
so that it is truly owned by all
so that it is "theirs" in the inclusive sense."

Who will benefit from our Greening Interventions

Green Communities will focus not only on redressing apartheid town planning developments but established and new high density/ low income flats and housing developments that fall within the local, provincial and national housing schemes and funds such as RDP (BNG), GAP and rental blocks.

Partner Participation is Key

Bringing people together, including business, industry, education, planners, civic leaders, environmental groups and community associations, allows the vision to capture the values and interests of a broad constituency.

A sustainable community strives to:

• Comply with environmental regulations
• Practice pollution prevention
• Create vibrant recycling programmes
• Actively involve its citizens and incorporate local values into decision making
• Support locally-based business initiatives
• Provide green open spaces
• Encourage the public and businesses to work together with government to achieve common goals
  

The future is not completely beyond our control.
It is the work of our own hands.
Robert F. Kennedy