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Urban Energy Support is an information portal of relevant documents and resources, with an emphasis on practical tools and guides to support the transition towards sustainable local energy development and a low carbon trajectory for the country in the context of global climate change.
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What’s new
State of Energy in South African Cities 2020 report
Cities are major drivers of energy demand in South Africa, influencing the country’s energy and emissions profile and socio-economic development of the country. Since the first State of Energy in South African Cities report in 2006, energy demand in cities has grown. Not only has growth been absolute, but Cities also represent a growing demand relative to the rest of the country. Sustainable energy development and climate response in cities are therefore critical to achieving a resource-efficient and low-carbon and equitable future for the country.
BLOG: Hlompho Vivian helping City of Tshwane to transition towards green buildings
Hlompho Vivian is a Technical Officer for the C40 South African New Buildings Programme, seconded to the City of Tshwane by Sustainable Energy Africa. The aim of the C40 Buildings Programme in South Africa is to support the City of Tshwane along with three other metropolitan municipalities in the country to go above & beyond current minimum building efficiency requirements, through the accelerated implementation of low carbon building actions.
What is the missing piece for building ‘green’?
Despite the emerging business case for ‘green’ or NZC buildings, the perception that such buildings have a higher capital cost with low returns on investment remains a barrier. An initial scoping exercise, in support of the C40 Buildings Programme, highlighted the common
concern that ‘green’ or NZC building requirements would financially burden and constrain development, particularly in a time of recession. This prompted the implementing team at Sustainable Energy Africa with the eThekwini advisor for the C40-SEA New Buildings
Programme, to explore the question in some detail, hoping to establish an evidence-base of the cost differential between ‘standard specification’ buildings and NZC buildings.
Aiming for Zero-Carbon New Buildings in South African metros
Four of South Africa’s metros – Cape Town, eThekwini, Johannesburg and Tshwane – are working towards the implementation of ambitious policies and innovative programmes that aim for net zero carbon emissions from newly-built buildings by 2050.