Page 11 - Energize July 2021

NEWS

KYALAMI GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT RECEIVES ENERGY PERFORMANCE

CERTIFICATE, SETS THE BAR FOR GAUTENG

n a new milestone of government’s Energy
Performance Certificate (EPC) regulations,
Ithe Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit and
International Convention Centre has received
its EPC with a highly commendable rating of
B, where A is the highest achievable rating
and G the worst possible rating for buildings
in South Africa.
“The facility is comprehensive, with the
main building in the region of 14 500 m2.
The energy requirements must be vast, so
their rating is to be applauded,” comments
Barry Bredenkamp, General Manager Energy
Efficiency & Corporate Communications at the
South African National Energy Development
Institute, (SANEDI).
In alignment with the new regulations
gazetted in December 2020, buildings in
South Africa need to have their energy
performance assessed by an accredited party,
which will then issue an EPC which rates the
building from A – G for energy efficiency.
“To be compliant, the EPC must be
displayed at the building entrance, and at suit,” says Bredenkamp.
least a D-rating must be achieved, to comply He says that this will be good for the wider value chain, where economic activity will
with the national Building Regulations,” be stimulated, as building owners look at implementing more energy efficient systems and
explains Bredenkamp. technologies.
The regulations apply to non-residential Bluedust Engineering Solutions facilitated the EPC process on behalf of the owners of Kyalami.
buildings with a net floor area of at least Dr Janco Vermeulen and Dr Frank Duvenhage, both experts in the energy field, ensured that the
2000 m2 in the private sector (schools, malls, required data is collected and packaged correctly for the EPC process to be executed with minimal
theatres, etc.), and 1000 m2 for government complications.
buildings. For the purposes of the EPC, a “After having facilitated the first-ever EPC in South Africa, and also being allocated an entire
building’s energy performance is measured building portfolio of 60 buildings for Stellenbosch University, we are happy to have been part of the
in terms of kilowatt hours per square metre drive to make Kyalami the first in its class to receive an EPC in South Africa,” said Dr Duvenhage.
per annum (kWh/m2/a) of net floor area in Dr Vermeulen added, “Kyalami is an iconic race track and venue, both locally and globally, and
accordance with the National EPC Standard it is motivating to see such leaders in their industry being early adopters of mandatory energy
(SANS 1544:2014). efficiency regulations.”
Once issued, an EPC must be renewed The Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit and International Convention Centre hosts many large
every five years, giving building owners international functions and events, both indoors and out. Along with the main building, it has three
the opportunity to improve their energy adjacent bomas used for private functions and the management offices. The property also features
performance. Property owners and public a large (approximately 1000 m2) workshop used for maintenance and tuning of Porsche, Bentley,
facilities have until 7 December 2022 to and Lamborghini sports cars, which is off-limits to the public. To ensure uninterrupted service
ensure that they are compliant. As an agency during load shedding, the centre has a large 800 kVA generator that services the main building.
for the Department of Mineral Resources JP Spangenberg, from Energy Management and Validation Services (EMVS), the SANAS
and Energy, SANEDI has been tasked with accredited inspection body responsible for issuing the EPCs said, “EPCs have the potential to
supporting the implementation of the stimulate job creation with over 100 000 buildings requiring assessments within the next 18
regulations. months. It was a pleasure working with the newly established EPC division of BlueDust Engineering
“SANEDI wants to help ensure Solutions, who facilitated the process for Kyalami.”
compliance with the new regulations, so Toby Venter, CEO for the O T Venter Group of Companies, owners of the Kyalami Grand Prix
that building owners are not unnecessarily Circuit and International Convention Centre, concluded by saying; “We strive to always exceed
penalised. We are glad to see a prominent expectations; environmental requirements are no different. We are proud to be the first conference
landmark such as the Kyalami Grand Prix and exhibition venue in South Africa to be awarded this energy efficiency grading certification”.
Circuit making EPC compliance a priority, and
we hope to see many other buildings follow Contact SANEDI, Tel 011 038-4302, information@sanedi.org.za

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