Energy Efficiency Campaign - African Utility Week 2016 Conference
Whilst we strive to achieve the objectives of the Energy White Policy, 1998 in preserving an appropriate balance between energy demand and supply, we have to intensify our efforts in incorporating clean energy measures into the country’s energy mix. With clean energy being an integral part of the government’s 9 point-plan for the national economic turnaround. Our government has identified energy efficiency as the most important and cost-effective means for South Africa’s climate change mitigation, and a response to improve our energy security. However for this to become a reality, the state must ensure that energy production and utilisation incorporate energy efficiency at all times.
Today, the Department of Energy (DoE) in collaboration with the Departments of Public Works (DPW);Trade and Industry (the dti), our local and international partners have pronounced on the planned energy efficiency programme intervention that will be activated, and will support the energy saving campaign launched by the Honourable President, Mr Jacob Zuma on the 13th of March 2015. The launch by the President followed the clear instruction given during the 2015 State of the Nation Address (SONA) for the Department of Public Works to ensure that all Public / government buildings become more energy efficient. While there is still a lot of work to be done, today we can also acknowledge that significant progress has been achieved in the area. Since the Presidency’s scene setting launch, a great deal of effort has gone into preparations for the build up of all the initiatives already rolled out by the national utility, Eskom. and the Municipalities nationally.
We have just unveiled the South African Energy Efficiency Label and the Building Energy Savings Campaign Identity and we would like to encourage all South Africans, property agents, building owners / landlords and end users to use energy efficiently by purchasing energy efficient household appliances. It will indeed be difficult to dissociate the use of appliances from energy efficient buildings as the two are integrated and interdependent in building’s overall energy consumption.
As the DoE we believe that a nation knowledgeable of the benefits of energy efficiency and the dedicated activation of the appropriate behaviour by all of us, will ensure that the country achieves its set energy efficiency objectives. Energy Efficiency Building Regulations as promulgated by government in 2012 have already laid the ground for the regulatory framework by stipulating the requirements for energy usage in buildings and setting the minimum standards for energy efficiency within which all new buildings and major renovations in South Africa are required to comply.
A few of our government buildings are already leading by example in terms of being green and energy efficient, and these include, among others, Environmental House (Department of Environment), Batho Pele House (Department of Public Service), Tshedimosetso House (Government Information System) and Freedom Park which are all located in Pretoria. In addition there is the Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre in Limpopo, and the Gallows Hill Traffic Department here in Cape Town, and we look forward to having many more added to this list as this momentum is gradually gaining strength.
The Energy Efficiency Label unveiled today will further guide and impact positively in changing behaviour towards energy efficiency measures and compel citizens to individually take the lead in whatever platforms they find themselves in. Appliances such as air conditioners, washing machines, electric ovens, refrigerators, electric geysers, audio and video equipment, dish washers and electric lamps will now have energy efficiency labels which have been designed to meet minimum energy efficiency standards.
We are also pleased to announce that in 2015, South Africa successfully completed the establishment of the Energy Efficiency Target Monitoring System (EETMS) in an effort to track the achievements of the targets that were set out in the 2005 South African National Energy Efficiency Strategy. In terms of our current status with respect to this EETMS, South Africa has so far achieved an economic wide energy efficiency improvement of 23.7% relative to the 2000 baseline - well beyond the 12% overall energy demand reduction that was committed to in 2005 through this Strategy.
We would like to urge all South Africans to Save Energy and support the national effort to improve energy efficiency.
Let us Save Energy. It is in your hands! Let’s not take a bold step only during set occasions like Earth Hour, we MUST save energy as part of our daily lives!
