Swiss backing for SA energy efficiency
2 August 2010
South Africa and Switzerland have signed an agreement that will see the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation funding a R120-million energy efficiency programme in the country.
The programme will contribute towards the government's Energy Efficiency Monitoring and Implementation project, which will run from 2010 to 2014 and involve collaboration between national and local government, research institutions and the private sector.
Energy Minister Dipuo Peters, speaking in Pretoria on Friday, said the governments of South Africa and Switzerland recognised climate change as a serious threat to development.
Peters said that various climate change reduction options had been assessed, and that energy efficiency had been found to be one of the most cost-effective mitigation options for South Africa.
The agreement, she said, would help the government achieve energy efficiency in South Africa's buildings.
"As a department we are of the view that, improving energy efficiency in the building sector requires an expanded capacity at many levels.
"Of equal importance to us is the need to ensure that new constructions and retrofitting of existing houses and buildings comply with building codes and standards that incorporate best practice for energy efficiency and green design."
The municipalities of Sol Plaatje, Rustenburg, Polokwane, Mbombela and King Sabata Dalindyebo have been earmarked for capacity building and implementation of the first phase of this project at local government level.
This will be done under the auspices of South African Local Government Association at a cost of R13-million.
The project also aims to improve the way in which the municipalities collect and compile their electricity sales data and monitor electricity consumption.
