DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS 06 JUNE 2012

1. PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS: IMPLEMENTATION OF WHITE PAPER ON CLIMATE CHANGE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS 06 JUNE 2012

2. Presentation Outline • Legislation and Policy Frameworks • Challenges experienced in respect of human settlements • Current Strategies • Proposed programmes / initiatives

3. Legislative & Policy Frameworks

4. Legislative & Policy Frameworks • South African Constitution section 24: “Everyone has the right to have assess adequate housing” • Adequate housing: more than a roof over one's head, includes, inter alia: • adequate space; physical accessibility; adequate basic infrastructure, (water supply, sanitation & waste management facilities); suitable environmental quality & health-related factors; and adequate and accessible location with regard to work and basic facilities, all of which should be available at an affordable cost.

5. Legislative & Policy Frameworks • Housing Act, 1997: Municipalities must ensure that inhabitants have access to adequate housing and that conditions not conducive to health and safety of the inhabitants are prevented or removed; • Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Sustainable Human Settlements, 2004: Using housing delivery as an instrument for the development of sustainable human settlements

6. Legislative & Policy Frameworks • Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Sustainable Human Settlements, 2004: emphasis on quality of the housing product and the environment.

7. Challenges in respect of Human Settlements

8. Challenges in respect of Human Settlements • Settlements are smoggy, barren wastelands; • Sprawling settlements – time and distance travelled to work; • Informal settlements on invaded land with no basic services therefore putting more pressure on the environment; • Households utilise non-renewable energy sources (e.g. coal, paraffin heaters) – toxic fumes emitted

9. Challenges in respect of Human Settlements • Non-renewable energy is unsustainable & will be depleted in future; • Poor indoor air quality; • Houses cold in winter and hot in summer – require significant energy consumption both for cooking and heating: • Coal: high levels of air pollution compromising family health • High electricity: increased load shedding/blackouts

10. Current Strategies

11. Current Strategies • The National Norms and Standards in respect of housing development were enhanced to include guidelinesEnvironmentally Sound Housing: • House Orientation: houses should face north to obtain maximum sunlight; • House plan & layout: windows, doors, roof overhang on the northern side; • Design units that share walls as they provide insulation against heat loss & undesirable heat gain

12. Current Strategies • Energy efficient materials: materials able to heat during the day and release it at night; • Insulation: keeps the house cool on a hot day and warm on a cold day; • Windows: larger windows to allow maximum sunlight; • Green ‘lungs’: to purify air , provide food and beautify.

13. Current Strategies • Water efficient design considerations: correct pipe sizing and correct water pressure: • Water saving devices: Pressure Reducing Valve to control the flow of water to the building, taps, toilets with optimum water conservation devices,

14. Current Strategies • Informal Settlement Upgrading Programme: improve quality of life, securing land tenure and providing basic services; • Programme for Provision of Social & Economic Amenities; • Integrated Residential Development Programme; • Housing Development Agency (HDA) – Housing Institution mandated to identify well located (decreasing travel times & reducing carbon emissions).

15. Proposed Initiatives / Programmes

16. Proposed Initiatives • Municipal Densification Strategies: Low energy for transport, create more liveable spaces; • Aligning the housing programme to the latest National Building Regulations on Energy Efficient measures.

17. The end