It is becoming more evident daily that we are experiencing an energy efficiency entitlement epidemic, where hand-outs are expected. So writes Yolanda de Lange of Energy Cybernetics: Eskom DSM and similar energy efficiency ‘assistance-type’ programmes has in my opinion, in a majority of companies, created a culture of expextation, even before initiatives are taken to … [Read more...]
Growing the international energy efficiency community
The international energy efficiency community is growing. And in South Africa are 6% of the world's total certified energy efficiency professionals. At the Energy Training Foundation’s (EnTF) annual Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Certification Ceremony held this month another group of energy professionals received international recognition in the energy efficiency … [Read more...]
Companies join forces for renewable and energy efficiencies
Local infrastructure experts and energy management services are joining forces to identify renewable energy and energy efficiency opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Akhani Group, a B-BBEE level 1 company, provides turnkey solutions of support infrastructure for the mining, oil, gas, energy sector and related industries and is based in South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania. … [Read more...]
Most energy efficient buildings announced
Each year building owners and facility managers enter their buildings in the National Energy Barometer Survey (NEBS) to compare how they have improved their energy use against others in a similar industry – hospitals, offices, car dealers, hotels and shopping centers. The latest results are out and the top performing buildings for the 2012 utility year are: Head office: The … [Read more...]
How to save on tax through your energy efficiency
A special tax incentive to save energy was promulgated on 1 November, but how does that work? We are talking about the “Regulations in terms of Section 12L of the Income Tax Act, 1962, on the allowance for energy efficiency savings.” The allowance is for the purpose of determining the taxable income derived by any person from carrying on any trade in respect of any year of … [Read more...]
Claiming for energy efficiency savings
The long awaited tax allowance for energy efficiency savings was promulgated in December 2013. How do we go about claiming an allowance for energy efficiency savings, what is claimable and what not according to the National Treasury, Income Tax Act No. 58 of 1962? The effective date was notified as 1 November 2013 and is set to provide impetus to the development of the … [Read more...]
Directing action to maximum energy savings & funding
Why is energy efficiency internationally supported as the preferred solution for economic sustainability? In a recent survey done by Ernst and Young (E&Y)[1], almost 40% of large corporations in the world see energy costs rising over the next 5 years, with expected increases of at least 15% for the time period. In South Africa, since 2008/2009 the average increase … [Read more...]
Measuring and verifying energy savings
The importance of following the correct methodologies and protocols in measuring and verifying energy savings is becoming a prerequisite for ensuring successful application of financial incentives. Fund managers of incentive schemes want to be sure that the energy that is being saved, which they are paying for, is in fact true savings. Measuring such a saving is actually the … [Read more...]
Pioneering organisation certifies 226 energy engineers
Towards the end of last year another 226 delegates received international certificates from the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE). Their sole training provider is the Energy Training Foundation (EnTF), which is the training division of Energy Cybernetics, an energy optimisation engineering company. With the growing awareness of a changing energy future and the need for … [Read more...]
