Cape Town launches energy efficiency plan
With the risk of blackouts a reality for the next five years, Cape Town organisations have joined forces to launch a major new energy efficiency plan which will cut electricity consumption, reduce carbon emissions and save money.
Called the CBD Energy Efficiency Initiative, it will be run by the Cape Town Partnership and the Sustainability Institute, and dovetails with the City of Cape Town's energy and climate change strategy.
Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille, who hosted the event, said at the launch on Wednesday that South African cities consumed large amounts of energy compared to their economic output. Commerce and industry used 45 percent of national power supply.
"We have all felt the effects of the recent blackouts. We have all played our part in reducing our consumption to pull through the shortages last winter. But it has become clear that long-term solutions are required if we want to continue to grow and use energy without suffering the consequences of lack of supply," Zille said.
The last spate of blackouts was because Eskom was unable to meet the growing demand for electricity. Eskom planned to spend R97-billion on building more power stations, but these would not be ready until after 2010.
Zille said although South Africa, as a developing country, was not required to cut carbon emissions under the Kyoto Protocol, this might well change after 2012 because of the constant growth in the country's carbon footprint.
"Acting now will enable businesses to prepare themselves for such an outcome. The City of Cape Town is here to forge a partnership with businesses and industries for greater energy efficiency," Zille said.
Peter Willis, Southern African director of the University of Cambridge Programme for Industry, said the days of cheap, abundant energy were over.
"We grew up in an era when Eskom's lights never failed and oil was abundant, so we all became comfortable. The United Kingdom and much of Europe is seriously switched on to the urgency around climate change. It has not hit here yet. When it does, it will come with more constraints around burning fossil fuels. The unsuccessful businesses will be those who continued to operate out of the old paradigm.
"Businesses need to get smart and reduce their energy consumption now, which will also reduce their bills," Willis said.
Andrew Boraine, head of the Cape Town Partnership, said the country-wide blackouts had made his organisation focus attention on energy efficiency.
"The aim is to help businesses with energy efficiency. Anyone who's interested, we welcome them on board," Boraine said.
This included doing an energy audit on buildings, paying for the audit, sub-contracting to energy supply companies to install energy-efficient equipment and to offer advice. They would also liaise with Eskom, the Central Energy Fund, the provincial government and the city council.
Denis van Es of UCT's energy research centre ran an energy audit on Volkswagen South Africa, which had an energy bill of R40-million a year.
"We identified measures to save R6,5-million for an investment of R5-million. This represents a saving of 16 percent of the total energy
Article from http://www.iol.co.za/
Our vehicles run on liquid energy - www.southafrica-carhire.com
Called the CBD Energy Efficiency Initiative, it will be run by the Cape Town Partnership and the Sustainability Institute, and dovetails with the City of Cape Town's energy and climate change strategy.
Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille, who hosted the event, said at the launch on Wednesday that South African cities consumed large amounts of energy compared to their economic output. Commerce and industry used 45 percent of national power supply.
"We have all felt the effects of the recent blackouts. We have all played our part in reducing our consumption to pull through the shortages last winter. But it has become clear that long-term solutions are required if we want to continue to grow and use energy without suffering the consequences of lack of supply," Zille said.
The last spate of blackouts was because Eskom was unable to meet the growing demand for electricity. Eskom planned to spend R97-billion on building more power stations, but these would not be ready until after 2010.
Zille said although South Africa, as a developing country, was not required to cut carbon emissions under the Kyoto Protocol, this might well change after 2012 because of the constant growth in the country's carbon footprint.
"Acting now will enable businesses to prepare themselves for such an outcome. The City of Cape Town is here to forge a partnership with businesses and industries for greater energy efficiency," Zille said.
Peter Willis, Southern African director of the University of Cambridge Programme for Industry, said the days of cheap, abundant energy were over.
"We grew up in an era when Eskom's lights never failed and oil was abundant, so we all became comfortable. The United Kingdom and much of Europe is seriously switched on to the urgency around climate change. It has not hit here yet. When it does, it will come with more constraints around burning fossil fuels. The unsuccessful businesses will be those who continued to operate out of the old paradigm.
"Businesses need to get smart and reduce their energy consumption now, which will also reduce their bills," Willis said.
Andrew Boraine, head of the Cape Town Partnership, said the country-wide blackouts had made his organisation focus attention on energy efficiency.
"The aim is to help businesses with energy efficiency. Anyone who's interested, we welcome them on board," Boraine said.
This included doing an energy audit on buildings, paying for the audit, sub-contracting to energy supply companies to install energy-efficient equipment and to offer advice. They would also liaise with Eskom, the Central Energy Fund, the provincial government and the city council.
Denis van Es of UCT's energy research centre ran an energy audit on Volkswagen South Africa, which had an energy bill of R40-million a year.
"We identified measures to save R6,5-million for an investment of R5-million. This represents a saving of 16 percent of the total energy
Article from http://www.iol.co.za/
Our vehicles run on liquid energy - www.southafrica-carhire.com
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