South Africa’s first ‘Green Street’ upgrade in a low-income area was completed ahead of the COP17 international climate change talks in late 2011. Thirty low-cost houses in a small cul-de-sac road in the historic township of Cato Manor in Durban received a green upgrade, called a retrofit. This project was led by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA), in association with the World Green Building Council, and was primarily funded by the British High Commission. The aims of the project were to demonstrate the range of socio-economic, health and environmental benefits which are possible through sustainable design and resource-efficiency interventions in low-income houses; and to show that people’s quality of life can be improved, while keeping the country’s development on a low carbon and more ‘Earth-friendly’ path.

In the Cato Manor Green Street, each household received an energy efficient retrofit in the form of solar water heaters (SWHs), insulated ceilings, efficient lighting, and heat insulation cookers. Rainwater harvesting tanks were also added, and food gardens were established for the production of healthy, homegrown food. The polluted stream in the area was cleaned up and indigenous trees and smaller plants and fruit trees were planted. This project was the first of its kind in KwaZulu Natal, and one of the first in the country, with such a broad set of interventions in one place. Homes are now more comfortable and safer. Residents have greater convenience, and they are realizing significant energy, water and time savings. Fresh, nutritious food grows at their doorstep and the local area has been upgraded.