SA-VSBK FIRES UP FOR COP 17

On Monday 28^th November until the 09^th December 2011 all eyes of the world will focus on the annual UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP17) taking place at the Durban International Convention Centre.

This high profile event aims to address critical concerns pertaining to climate change and global warming, among other key issues, and provides an all-important space for entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world to demonstrate new technologies and alternative business practices aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

One such project is the SA-VSBK (Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln) Project that makes use of cleaner brickfiring processes to strike the essential balance between environmental, social and economic sustainability in the construction sector.

This North-South and South-South Technology Transfer initiative forms part of the Swiss Energy Efficiency Building Programme and is supported by the Global Programme for Climate Change (GPCC) of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in South Africa, with the necessary implementation project management undertaken by Swisscontact and Skat.

With at least 100 000 visitors from all parts of the globe expected to pass through the doors of COP17, SA-VSBK will be showcasing its environmentally friendly brickmaking technology at the Swiss Pavilion, along with SDC and SECO, as well as the Economie Suisse (representative of the Swiss Economy) in the Climate Change Response (CCR) Exhibition Centre.

To demonstrate the capacity of this technology and its contribution toward reducing energy consumption and CO₂ emissions by as much as to 50%, a full scale model of the VSBK counter- current principle will also be on display. This innovative working model was developed by Jez Rowe Construction, who played an instrumental role in the construction of the first VSBK shafts in South Africa, at Langkloof Bricks in Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape.

For those interested in the practical application, SA-VSBK has also made provision for a delegation of journalists to visit Langkloof Bricks to see this energy efficient brickmaking technology in operation.

COP17 will be the second time that the VSBK will be in the public eye this year. In October, SA-VSBK took advantage of showcasing its cleaner brickmaking technology to the building and construction industry at the Green Building Conference and Expo held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. This was the first time this technology had been introduced to professionals in the SA built environment, with the aim of stimulating new conversations and thinking in building green.

The VSBK stand was consistently active with many enquiries pertaining to  the energy efficiencies of the VSBK technology compared to others, the counter-current operational principle and how it works and from where the VSBK bricks can be sourced. There was also much interest in the Swiss involvement in the project and its contribution to such Climate Change initiatives.