greening Africa

Regular readers will notice that, along with the redesign of this weblog, I have a new link at the top of the page called 'maps'. This is a link to a map I have started of green projects in SubSaharan Africa. Sounds ambitious, I know, but I am counting on you, dear readers, to tell me what you know about projects that are underway or complete. I am using the term 'green' very loosely here, and a project could be a building that incorporates renewable energy, grey water recycling, passive solar design, and so on. Or it could be any other type of project that addresses mitigation of climate change or adaptation to its effects. As long as it is something that can be mapped. I will have to leave out programmes and other endeavours that don't have a specific location.

My point is to highlight positive things that are being done in Africa. There are a lot of projects out there, but many are just not visible. The first projects on the map are mostly around Cape Town, just because I live here and have some firsthand knowledge of the area; but I don't want this to be a South African map.

If you are a design professional, feel free to let me know of projects done by you or your company - I will provide a link back to your website, as a 'thank you' for letting me know; and as a way for others to see who is working on green projects in different regions. If you are not directly involved in any project, please still let me know of any you are aware of, or names of people who might be able to help.

Here's what I need:

• a title (e.g. building name, or owner, or address);
• location (I need the exact coordinates so that I can find it on Google Maps)
• status of project (year of construction or installation of green features)
• project owner or developer, if appropriate
• type of building, if it is one (e.g. commercial, office, industrial, multi-storey residential or house)
• green features (e.g. solar water heating, wind or solar power generation, other renewable energy source, passive solar design, use of recycled or renewable materials, use of materials with low embodied energy, recycling of construction waste, use of efficient or innovative technologies to reduce energy consumption, rainwater or grey water collection and re-use, green roof, waste management facilities and so on)
• professionals involved in planning, design or implementation

The list is endless, but you get the picture. For some projects, where there are a number of interesting or innovative features, I could include more detailed case studies. Any other suggestions for improving this mapping exercise are very welcome.