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Eco-shelter, a new player in Zimbabwe’s construction industry, has introduced an innovative building technology, that will provide a solution to the nation’s huge housing backlog, which is estimated at over two million. The company uses the DEG Eco-shelter technology, a building system that offers a cost-effective, easier and faster way to build a variety of buildings.
These include residential, commercial and industrial properties as well as special purpose and community oriented build- ings.
“We believe that every family and community in Zimbabwe should have access to, and ownership of safe, healthy, high quality, homes and buildings.
“Our thrust is to reduce the national housing backlog through cost effective and innovative technology.
“Eco-shelter is therefore focused on transforming lives and neighbourhoods through forming smart partnerships with key players in the construction industry including Government, the financial services sector, mining, industry and local communities,” said Eco-shelter managing director Mr Taylor Mvududu.
Mr Mvududu said with the technology they are introducing, they are looking at contributing to the reduction of the national housing backlog.
The primary building component of the DEG Eco-shelter building technology are hybrid SIP panels made from durable composite building materials.
“The technology is highly adaptable and versatile to suit a variety of customer needs and specifications, providing a new option for the construction of foundations, walls, roofs, floors and fencing.
“The DEG Eco-shelter system achieves greater productivity and efficiency than conventional techniques, through a combination of simplified construction techniques with lower skilled labour and reduced building supplies requirements.
“In the short term this means that savings of up to 30 percent on the initial costs of construction can be achieved,” said Mr Mvududu.
The system makes it faster and easier to construct any building in comparison with brick and mortar technology.
It streamlines and simplifies the construction process by reducing the level of trade integration needed.
This reduces the bill of materials and eliminates the construction delays associated with waiting time for the curing of concrete, weather conditions and site clean-up. Eco-shelter uses durable materials that result in a lower regime of long-term maintenance cost.
In addition, the materials reduce the buildings’ energy requirements for heating and cooling to a minimum, resulting in greater comfort and lower operating costs that are associated with use of electricity.
The company has successfully completed housing projects in Botswana, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa. The technology has been in use in the USA and Canada markets for over 45 years and it is fast gaining wide acceptance in international markets including Africa.
The DEG Eco-shelter building system is suitable for a variety of building types including low cost pre-fabricated housing packages for whole neighbourhoods and communities, custom made home designs, high-density housing projects, public use and community- oriented buildings (schools, clinics, libraries, recreation centres), industrial and commercial buildings.
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