See Cape Town’s first net zero carbon home at Green Point Park

Have your first experience of an entirely sustainable home at Green Point Park from 1 - 14 March

Imagine living in a fully kitted out home made entirely of shipping containers with a solar power generator, a passive cooling system, a rainwater harvesting system, and an edible food garden. This could be everyone's future in Cape Town by 2030, and it's starting now. At Green Point Urban Park, you can walk through Cape Town's first full-size model of a net zero carbon home at the My Clean Green Home Pop-up exhibition. The exhibition will be open from 1 - 14 March, from 10am until 4pm every day. 

CAPE TOWN TO BE NET ZERO CARBON BY 2030

The My Clean Green Home Pop-up exhibition is the work of a team of graduates who won first prize in Cape Town’s “clean green home” design competition. "As part of the City's actions against climate change, we are aiming to be carbon neutral by 2050. The City has committed that all new buildings in Cape Town will be net zero carbon by 2030," said Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato during his visit.

Although net zero carbon homes are challenging to create, the My Clean Green Pop-up Home showcases already existing technologies and building techniques that are becoming increasingly in reach for the average Cape Town household.

VISIT A SHIPPING CONTAINER FITTED WITH ALL THE GADGETS

"This compact home is the epitome of the City's vision for its energy future," the City of Cape Town stated in a media release on 1 March. It's got everything a sustainable homeowner needs to ease their carbon footprint. The team used recycled wooden palettes all around the house to help keep it cool and shaded. On top of the roof are the solar PV panels and the solar water heater, which is the buildings only source of energy (this future-fit home is entirely off the grid).

There’s also a rainwater harvesting system as you enter the home with an edible food garden mounted onto the wall to help save space. However, with all of these planet-saving gadgets, this net zero carbon home still looks and feels like a home.

You’ll still get the essentials of a home with an intelligently spaced out lounge, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and a spacious courtyard at the back.

YOU DON’T NEED TO MOVE HOMES TO SAVE THE PLANET

Yes, “buildings consume 38% of the city’s energy and generate 58% of its carbon emissions,” according to Cape Town Future Energy’s webpage, but you don’t need to pack up and move to a net zero carbon home just yet. Even the smallest change in your daily life can help. You can visit this exhibition at the Green Point Urban Park and find out nifty energy saving tips and tricks you can try at home. You can also take a virtual tour of The My Clean Green Home Pop-up exhibition online via thinklabgroup.com.

By Lisa Frew

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