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Smart Living Handbook 

The Smart Living Handbook and its associated campaign guide people on how to be resource-efficient and sustainable in their daily lives and practices. The themes covered in the handbook include energy, water, waste and biodiversity, and it contains a series of practical steps that households in Cape Town can take to protect the environment, save them money and make their homes safer to live in. Together, we can make a difference.

The following smart living resources are available for download:

  • English version: Smart Living Handbook - Making sustainable living a reality in Cape Town homes More...
  • Smart Events Handbook - Greening guidelines for hosting sustainable events in Cape Town More...
  • Afrikaans version: Slimleef Handboek - Om volhoubare ontwikkeling ’n werklikheid in Kaapse huise te maak More...
  • Xhosa version: Incwadana yokuphila ngokulumkileyo - Ukwenza uphuhliso olusisigxina lube yimpumelelo kumakhaya aseKapa More...
  • Smart living poster More...
  • An introductory slide presentation on the Smart Living Handbook More...
  • Smart Living Activity Sheets More...
  • The Animals Save the Planet (video clips) More...


English version - Smart Living Handbook

Smart Living Handbook Smart Living Handbook - Making sustainable living a reality in Cape Town homes (updated edition, May 2011) [PDF 7.6 MB]
The updated Smart Living Handbook has a new design and exciting new cover – a colourful cartoon done by Chip Snaddon which encourages forward thinking about Cape Town's future as a sustainable city. The handbook also has an additional 30 pages of new and updated information.

Individual sections to download:
     Section 1 - Waste [PDF 3 MB]
     Section 2 - Energy [PDF 5 MB]
     Section 3 - Water [PDF 3.9 MB]
     Section 4 - Biodiversity [PDF 4.4 MB]

In the interests of sustainability, we encourage you to download a copy of the Smart Living Handbook, but if you would really like a hard copy of the English version, you may collect it from our office. Please phone Glen Takeloo on 021 487 2829 or e-mail smartliving@capetown.gov.za to arrange collection from:
Environmental Resource Management Department, 6th floor, Good Hope Subcouncil Building, 44 Wale Street, Cape Town.
* Please note that you will need to collect your copy and that it is one copy per household while stocks last. You will also be required to provide us with your contact details to receive a copy.

 Smart Events Handbook - Greening guidelines for hosting sustainable events in Cape Town (Jun. 2010) [PDF 4.6 MB]
To encourage event greening, the Smart Events Handbook can help you to host your events in an environmentally and socially responsible way. It can be used for a range of events, such as meetings, conferences and exhibitions, and applies equally to large sports events and to small local community initiatives.

Afrikaans version - Slimleef Handboek

 Slimleef Handboek - Om volhoubare ontwikkeling ’n werklikheid in Kaapse huise te maak (Nov. 2008) [PDF 8 MB]
An Afrikaans version of the Smart Living Handbook.

Individual sections to download:
     Section 1 - Afval (Waste) [PDF 1.8 MB]
     Section 2 - Energie (Energy) [PDF 2 MB]
     Section 3 - Water (Water) [PDF 1.6 MB]
     Section 4 - Biodiversiteit (Biodiversity) [PDF 1.8 MB]

Xhosa version - Incwadana yokuphila ngokulumkileyo

 Incwadana yokuphila ngokulumkileyo - Ukwenza uphuhliso olusisigxina lube yimpumelelo kumakhaya aseKapa (May 2009) [PDF 5 MB]
A Xhosa version of the Smart Living Handbook.

Individual sections to download:
     Section 1 - Inkunkuma (Waste) [PDF 1.7 MB]
     Section 2 - Eneji (Energy) [PDF 1.6 MB]
     Section 3 - Amanzi (Water) [PDF 1.5 MB]
     Section 4 - Izityalo Nezilwanyana (Biodiversity) [PDF 1.5 MB]

 Smart living poster [PDF 2.1 MB]
A colourful cartoon poster created by Chip Snaddon that encourages forward thinking about Cape Town's future as a sustainable city. It encapsulates the many ideals of 'green living' in a city, however the cartoon does not necessarily depict the City of Cape Town’s plans.

 Introductory slide presentation on the Smart Living Handbook (1st Edition, 2007) [PDF 513 KB]

 Smart Living Activity Sheets [PDF 264 KB]
A series of activity sheets extracted from the third edition of the Smart Living Handbook (2009), which can be used for auditing activities at your home.

 The Animals Save the Planet [External website]
Each of these short animated video clips has a simple message to address sustainable living (for children and adults alike). Very simple, very funny and very effective.

Please consider the environment before printing this web page.

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© City of Cape Town, 2012