Construction World November 2016

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD NOVEMBER 2016
Reynolds believes that having an environ-
mentally aware society starts in the home.
“It is our responsibility as parents to teach
our children to be environmentally aware, and
demonstrate practical ways of making a difference
to the planet starting in our own homes,” explains
Reynolds.“Teach kids that littering is forbidden, to
use water sparingly, to turn off lights and elec-
trical appliances not in use, and implement basic
recycling practices so that everyone in the home
makes an active contribution to the process,”
suggests Reynolds.
She explains that while households can make
a difference en-masse, industry needs tomake the
biggest contribution to sustainability, and erode
the age old mind-set of purely driving profitability.
“The environment must be a priority, businesses
must implement sustainable practices, which will,
in the long-run, result in major financial savings
and improve their bottom line,” she adds.
“When it comes to driving sustainability in
business, women must stand up and own this
space. Women must demonstrate leadership in
A LADY LEADING THE WAY IN SUSTAINABILITY
Chatting with Lisa Reynolds, sustainability development director at
Saint-Gobain, world leader in the habitat and construction market, is
an enriching encounter. One thing is for sure, she is a very involved,
knowledgeable, influential, passionate lady, particularly when it comes
to energy efficiency, energy management, the environment and
encouraging women’s presence in the world of sustainability.
driving corporate sustainability and responsibility.
Women must work together to develop strategies
that will make businesses adopt a sustainability
mind-set. We need to move to a place where
companies embrace creative, meaningful sustain-
ability projects, based on the economic and social
advantages of these,” says Reynolds.
Sustainability in South Africa is certainly
making significant strides to catch up
with commonplace practices employed across
the globe.
According to Reynolds, the real problem in
South Africa is not whether or not we have elec-
tricity, the real problem is if we have no water.
“Electricity can be generated, at a cost, but there
is no possible way to generate water.” A very scary
thought.“The water crises is catastrophic, by 2025
we will be 1,7% short on the water needed for
people to survive. Our infrastructure is very old
and needs to be upgraded. We are currently losing
43 million litres of water a year due to leaking
pipes,” she explains.
In 2011 energy efficiency for buildings was
legislated, thanks to Lisa’s passion and commit-
ment to the cause. Today the building envelope
must be designed and built in such a way that
heat loss and gain are minimised. Every five
years the standards are re-drafted to increase the
requirements, with the long term vision as per
the National Development Plan, for zero carbon
emission building standard by 2030.
It takes leading ladies, like Lisa Reynolds to
show us the way on how tomake a real difference
to the planet, to ensure that the planet is sustain-
able for the children of the future.
Lisa Reynolds sustainability development
director at Saint-Gobain.
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