“I am not a tree hugger, I simply have a cause”
Interviewed by: Jessica Solomons
He started out as the handyman on SABC’s Huis Huis and now, eight years on, he’s wrapping up his sixth season of the hit SABC 2 show, DIY with Riaan. Now, Riaan and his wife Michelle will be taking on TV together with a new show due to air in January. We sat down with Riaan to talk reality TV, green living, eco-homes and the Couple of the Year award.
Liveeco: How did you and Michelle become so involved with the green movement?
Riaan: Michelle and I have always had a passion for wildlife and looking after nature and so our venture into green living and eco-building was a natural progression.
Liveeco: You were voted couple of the year at the YOU Spectacular – what was that like?
Riaan: There are so many great couples in South Africa, so it really was a great achievement to be voted Couple of the Year. What is so nice about it is that we’re not just an ordinary couple; we’re a couple with a cause.
Liveeco: The final episode of your show Love & Mortar airs tonight. What would you like viewers to take away from this show?
Riaan: Tonight’s episode is essentially a recap of the past seven months. The idea behind the show was really to demonstrate to people the step-by-step process of building an eco-home. Originally I just wanted to do a show on how to build a home from the foundation up, but the Home Channel suggested doing a reality documentary and came up with the idea for Michelle and I to design an eco-home. At the end of the day I really just want South Africans to think before they build. Even if you don’t build an entire house, you can make a difference by doing something small whether it’s installing a water saving shower head or buying energy saving light bulbs.
Liveeco: What was the process like for you?
Riaan: Having cameras following me and my wife around was definitely a new experience. That was a big challenge because I am a very private person. In terms of building the house, it was quite tough at times to find the right people and products to work with. You have to make sure you really do your research when it comes to what you’re spending money on and which companies you’re using. We tried to work only with green companies, but you have to be careful that you’re not being misled by people. Greenwashing is a problem. You need to know what you want and figure out what’s best for you.
Liveeco: For those who did not catch the TV show, what suggestions do you have for building an eco-home?
Riaan: There are lots of different options, some more expensive than others. For Michelle and me, we knew we wanted a water-wise garden and that we wanted to recycle all our water. We also installed polystyrene underneath the cement slabs of the walls for insulation which is a green way of insulating the house because the polystyrene is not being released into the atmosphere but it ensures that the cold from the outside doesn’t come through the cement. I think the key is to remember that an eco-home will still look like an ordinary home, it’s simply a matter of making more conscious decisions when it comes to building and furnishing it.
Liveeco: What DIY tips do you have for home-owners looking to go green?
Riaan: The big thing for me is to invest in a water-saving shower head. It’s easy to fit and it makes a big difference. Another way you can be more eco-friendly is to buy energy-saving light bulbs. You don’t need to go out and spend on them right now, but the next time a bulb blows, make sure you buy a CFL instead of a regular bulb, which will save you electricity. It’s also good to stock up on eco-friendly cleaning products – Pick ‘n Pay has a great range.
Liveeco: What is next for Riaan and Michelle, couple of the year?
Riaan: We’re working on a new TV show called The Green Line which will focus on positive stories on South African green living. There’ll be an in-studio guest every week who will have something to do with the green movement and the field presenter will be out reporting on the latest green news from the wind turbines being built in SA to the mines and what they’ve done to relocate their grounds. I will also be bringing viewers DIG (Doing it Green) tips each episode.
Liveeco: Who is behind this venture?
Riaan: The Green Line was really mine and Michelle’s brainchild but we’ve got Eskom to come on board as the main sponsor and we’ve also got the Department of Water and the Department of Environment involved which is fantastic. The show itself will be aired on SABC which is great because we’ll have the opportunity then to reach the majority of South Africans.
Liveeco: Are there any plans for you to do a follow up on Love & Mortar?
Riaan: Michelle and I are thinking of documenting three couples on their journey to building an eco-home. It’s a project we’re looking into and there’s been some interest in it already.
Liveeco: You’ve had huge success with your shows – do you think this is proof that there is more of an interest in green living here in South Africa?
Riaan: Definitely. Judging by all the emails we have coming in and the people we speak to, there is definitely change happening.
Liveeco: What do you hope to achieve when you look back at your career – what are you doing this all for?
Riaan: I just want people to try and live more consciously and realize that you can make a difference by doing something small. At the end of the day we might not be able to save the world, but at least we know we tried.
Catch the last episode of Love & Mortar on DSTV Home Channel 182 tonight and DIY with Riaan on SABC 2 Saturday Mornings at 8:30am.
The liveeco team
