Minister Jeff Redebe: Energy efficiency walk about in-store activation

Key note address by the Minister of Energy,Jeff Redebe at the Energy efficiency walk about in-store activation of the mandatory energy labelling requirements for residential appliances, Hirsch appliance store

Programme Director, DG Thabane Zulu;

Chief Executive Officers of the Hirsch’ Store; Mr Allan Hirsch

Representatives of the Appliance Industry’;

Our esteemed guests and members of the media;

Ladies and gentleman

Good Morning,

It is my pleasure to have this opportunity to address you today at the official activation of the Mandatory Energy Labelling requirements. Last month at the University of Mpumalanga, I officially launched the national energy month campaign by giving a public lecturer on energy efficiency practices under the theme Promoting an affordable and sustainable energy mix in support of radical socio-economic transformation.

Programme Director

Governments in most countries face challenges with respect to sustainable development of their energy systems especially on (1) ensuring adequate supplies of energy in the long term to support economic development; (2) improving security of their energy suppliers to reduce dependence on foreign energy sources; (3) providing a healthy, unpolluted environment for their populations; and (4) contributing to global climate change mitigation.

I am happy to state that these challenges are also key elements that guide South Africa’s energy mix especially the long term electricity plan, that is, the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) which is a sub-set of the Integrated Energy Plan (IEP). The reduction of energy consumption through Energy Efficiency represents a key strategy in these efforts.

Today marks the results of one of the collaborative efforts between government departments, state owned entities and private sector in bringing additional solutions to reduce energy consumption especially in the light of escalating electricity costs.

Collaboration with private and developmental financing institutions to develop public-private partnerships and other frameworks that will facilitate energy efficiency financing remains one of the measures we should always prioritize.

This launch activation serves as a significant milestone in the country’s efforts of realizing the achievement of the goal of putting in place mandatory energy efficiency standards and regulatory framework for the attainment of a total transformation of South Africa’s domestic appliance market.

It is a step in the right direction that greatly advances our country’s Energy Efficiency intentions and re-affirms government’s commitment to promoting the nation and economy-wide energy efficiency practices as defined in the national energy efficiency strategy of 2005.

Since the release of the Strategy in 2005, government began a consultative process with all stakeholders within the energy sector with the objective of developing concrete regulatory frameworks to ensure prioritization of Energy Efficiency practices across all sectors of the economy. In order to achieve these goals, government took the responsibility of ensuring public education around energy efficiency and the benefits thereof.

The public education approach implemented over the years has of-course led to behavioral change in many of our people in terms of understanding what is meant by being energy efficient.

Esteemed Guests, I must admit that this has not been an easy journey by all involved in this significant milestone. The S&L programme was identified as one of the strategic intervention necessary to ensure a sustainable and significant energy consumption reduction within the residential sector.

I must give my sincere appreciation to the team comprised of officials from the Departments of Energy and Trade and Industry, and its agencies, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS), supported technically by the Project Steering Committee which also comprises of officials from Eskom and the South African Appliance Manufacturers Association.

I would also like to offer special words of appreciation on behalf of the South African Government on the financial support from Global Environmental Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) until the end of the programme in 2019.Without you, it would have been difficult to get where we are today.

Programme Director, Of-course I am not oblivious to the challenges facing us as government including the SABS and the NRCS both on the testing capacity and the administration and issuing of Letter of authority (LoAs). Quite a significant work has been done to-date to bring the work of the two institutions to the level expected and we shall work tirelessly in consultation with all stakeholders to ensure that we address all teething problems affecting a speedy adoption and uptake of this initiative. I would also want to appeal for a greater participation by all stakeholders and industry partners in particular.

Your support to government will amongst others involve the supply of data to the Department of Energy in order to assess the impact and the success of the programme over a pre-determined period.

I would also want to indicate that my department has concluded a study looking in to the next set of appliances to be included into the second phase of the S&L programme as well as the potential to improve the current Minimum Energy Performance Specifications (MEPS) levels applied on the appliances currently covered in the programme.

The implementation of this phase will be undertaken within an open consultative process taking in to consideration the lessons learnt in the first phase.

I would like to urge for more compliance to the labelling requirements from industry and merchandisers. While we ensure compliance, let us also ensure that sales personnel on the shop floors also understand compliance requirements and are able to read and articulate better the information on the labels for the benefit of ordinary customers.

I am also informed that in the year 2017 through this programme, my department has developed an energy labelling guideline and a training manual which were subsequently unpacked through training sessions in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg to the retail floor managers and nominated staff with the view to educate them on the information detailed on the energy label.

Programme Director, also of significance today, is the fact that I am also launching officially, the Appliance Energy Calculator, a mobile application (App) designed to assist retail sales staff and consumers to estimate the running costs of various appliances.

The App also provides consumers with the ability to compare the energy performance of one appliance to the other in order to inform their purchasing decision. This tool will be an addition to the appliance – check twitter account (@SA_Energy_Label) currently running, where twitter followers are interacting and sharing information on the appliance energy efficiency information while at the same time creating awareness. With this Appliance Energy Calculator, I am happy that all of us as appliance consumers will be able to make informed decisions before we procure appliances from any brand.

It is a very useful tool.

Programme Director, energy-efficient home appliances can save us significant amounts of money since they account for up to 30% (per cent) of your home energy use. I would like to take this opportunity to emphasize a few basic steps that all of us need to practice at home in order to save energy and money, and these include:

Use energy efficient lamps;

Switch off lights, fans, and air-conditioners when you leave the room;

Switch off electronic equipment like TV, Computers, DVD/VCD players, and music system when not in use � don’t keep them on standby mode;

Close the door of the fridge after you remove items and make sure it seals properly;

Reduce the temperature of your geyser to around 55 degrees Celsius to avoid adding too much cold water when you use it;

Close the windows and doors when the heater or air conditioner is on;

Boil only enough water for your immediate need � not a full pot or kettle;

Do all your ironing at the same time; and

Check your electricity meter at regular intervals, and take note of your energy consumption patterns.

Programme Director as I conclude, I would like to end by reminding all of us that this year, South Africa celebrates the centenary of the life of our nation’s founding father Nelson Mandela under the theme Be the legacy. The celebration is a major milestone in the incredible story of Nelson Mandela and our nation’s journey.

The centenary celebrations extend across the continent and the globe as the former President Nelson Mandela and Mama Albertina Sisulu who are among the world’s most revered statesmen and women.

The two have left an indelible mark on our society having laid the foundation for a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society. Their legacy lives on in our commitment to ensure a just and fair society for all, including the rights to dignity and freedom of expression.

I thank you.

Source: Government of South Africa

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