Page 24 - Energize March 2022

NEWS

Energy Performance Certificates: It’s the

law and the deadline is approaching fast

wners of buildings in South Africa Compliance with EPC regulations will enable building owners to identify where they could
have less than a year left to introduce energy efficiency measures that would, in turn, save them money and possibly
Oobtain and prominently display increase the value of their buildings. An energy-efficient building is generally a better
an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) environment in which to work and is significantly less expensive to run, so an owner can
in the foyer of their building or risk a fine potentially justify a higher price if they want to sell or impose a higher rental for office space.
of R5 million, five years imprisonment The more energy-efficient buildings become, the more they will contribute to taking
or both, as defined in the regulations electricity demand off the national grid. This could help to ease load shedding, and
gazetted on 8 December 2020 and apply by reducing carbon emissions, building owners will be helping South Africa meet its
until 7 December 2022. international obligations to combat climate change.
The South African National Energy
Development Institute (SANEDI), which Who needs a certificate?
maintains an EPC register on behalf of Regulation requires that owners of four categories of buildings must obtain an EPC, which in
the Department of Mineral Resources general terms, gives a building a rating based on the amount of energy consumed per square
and Energy (DMRE), has urged building metre (m ).
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owners to take all necessary steps to The categories that currently need to comply are offices, entertainment facilities,
comply with EPC regulations, emphasising educational institution buildings and places of public assembly such as sporting facilities and
that compliance affords them, and the community centres. The regulations apply to government buildings of more than 1000 m 2
2
country, a range of benefits. and privately-owned buildings of more than 2000 m .
An EPC must be issued by a South An accurate figure of the number of buildings covered by the regulations is not available
African National Accreditation System but estimates vary between 150 000 and 250 000 buildings that need to comply with the
accredited Inspection Body. regulations.
Alliance Energy, a Level 1 B-BBEE and An EPC rates buildings on a scale of A to G in a similar way to how appliances are rated
100% Black Woman Owned organization, for their energy efficiency. A D-rating is the benchmark rating that is in line with the national
is the 2nd SANAS accredited Inspection building regulations.
Body (EPC0004) for the issuing of EPCs. The primary objective in obliging building owners to obtain EPCs is to make them aware
It employs a customized proprietary of their energy consumption and encourage them to be more energy efficient if their EPC
software for an efficient end-to-end rating is poor i.e., Levels E to G.
process and is the only fully dedicated Buildings are responsible for between 30% and 40% of carbon emissions worldwide.
EPC provider, operating nationally. EPC programmes are commonplace in many parts of the world and some cases even extend
As a new local industry, a large right down to the level of residential buildings, and they are one of many energy efficiency
part of the market requires education measures currently being implemented to drive down fossil fuel consumption and carbon
and hand-holding to understand and emissions worldwide.
successfully navigate the requisites to
ultimately achieve the best possible Contact Alliance Energy, contact@aepc.co.za, www.aepc.co.za
energy performance level. Alliance Energy
understands the impact of accurate
assessments on their client’s competitive
advantage and the difference it can make
to drive a building’s energy efficiency,
and is therefore fully committed to
exceptional performance and delivery to
their clients.
With many thousands of buildings to
be rated, inspection bodies will almost
certainly need to employ significant
numbers of individuals to assist
them in gathering the required data,
measurements and related information,
for their final review and sign-off.

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