“The use of fibre-cement represents a small fraction of the energy embodied in a conventional brick and mortar structure…” 

CapeNature, a public institution with the statutory responsibility for biodiversity conservation in the Western Cape, recently launched its flagship tourism facility, the Oudebosch Cabins in the Kogelberg Nature Reserve. 

The five CapeNature “eco-designed” cabins, providing spacious self-catering accommodation, have been built together with a function room in the heart of the Cape Floral Region. The project has already received international and local recognition in the form of awards for its sustainable construction process and architectural excellence. 

Among the many sustainable innovations applied to the development, the factor of “embodied energy of building materials” was one of the key considerations. The following extract from CapeNature – a sustainable tourism development highlights the criteria that applied in selecting Nutec board, manufactured by Everite Building Products, to clad the timber frame cabins.

“Building materials optimise the balance between low carbon production and durability, so that lifetime greenhouse gas production associated with construction is minimised. 

“Most materials were locally sourced. Buildings are framed with local timber and clad with fibre-cement board (Nutec). While cement has a relatively high CO₂ production associated with its manufacture, the use of fibre-cement represents a small fraction of the energy embodied in a conventional brick and mortar structure, and also greatly minimises transport emissions.”