Options for Sustainability in Building and Energy: A South African Permaculture Case Study

Sustainability of human economies and the environments that we inhabit as part of a globalized society have been debated at least since the 1970s, and solutions to the currently destructive effects on the planet of our economies and behaviours have been sought across the spectrum, from government agencies, NGOs, to the private sector and civil society alike. This paper brings to light one case study that provides some clues to opportunities and challenges for sustainability in energy and building from a permaculture project located in a semi-arid permaculture project in the Western Cape province in South Africa, in the context of South African housing and energy policy that recognizes sustainability in principle but in practice still leaves much room for the implementation of sustainability goals.