Government’s programme to make thousands of buildings in South Africa more energy efficient and able to contribute multiple economic and environmental benefits to the country is being stepped up.
The South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) is leading an initiative in which 50 qualified, and mostly unemployed, young electricians will be trained to enable them to obtain the energy usage data required to issue Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) which give buildings a rating based on the amount of energy consumed per square metre. SANEDI is undertaking what is known as the EPC Practitioner Skills Programme in partnership with the Institute of Energy Professionals Africa (IEPA).
The programme is supported by the Department of Minerals Resources and Energy (DMRE), the Energy Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA), GIZ Skills Development for a Green Economy programme, a German Technical Cooperation Programme implemented on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the South African Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). Owners of buildings, in four categories, are required in terms of government regulations published in December 2020 to obtain and prominently display an EPC by 7 December this year.
The regulations make provision for a fine of R5 million- or five-years imprisonment or both for failure to comply. With buildings estimated to be responsible for between 30% and 40% of carbon emissions worldwide, the South African government has introduced the regulations primarily to encourage building owners to work towards making their buildings as energy efficient as possible. However, as SANEDI manager for renewable energy Dr Karen Surridge explains, the regulations would deliver multiple benefits if correctly implemented.
The buildings covered by these regulations are office buildings, buildings accommodating entertainment facilities, educational institution buildings, and places of public assembly such as sporting facilities and community centres. An accurate figure of the number of buildings covered by the regulations is not available but SANEDI says estimates vary between 150,000 and 250,000. Public buildings with a net floor area of 1000m2 or more and privately owned buildings of 2000m2 or more of the above listed areas are expected to comply with this government regulation.