At the 2014 Energy Efficiency Forum Awards which took place Wednesday, 19 November, Washtub Laundry, Peninsula All-Suite Hotel and the V&A Waterfront’s No 1 Silo building were recognised for helping to make sustainable progress possible through reductions in their energy consumption.

“Given rising electricity tariffs and the serious constraints on South Africa’s electricity supply, energy efficiency is critical to economic growth and stability. The commercial sector uses an estimated 44% of the electricity supply in the Cape Town area. The promotion of a responsible commercial sector is therefore of utmost importance. Travelling on the road to sustainability is, however, a shared responsibility and we will not be able to meet our sustainability targets without the support of our partners,” the City of Cape Town said.

The City, Eskom and the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) congratulated the winners in taking the required action to reduce their electricity consumption.

“A city that pays attention to its energy consumption is a non-negotiable requirement for efficiency and future sustainability.”

Winners per category are as follows:

  • Small Building Retrofit Category: Washtub Industrial Laundry Service’s comprehensive efforts have saved a significant 60% of their monthly electricity costs. This has also improved business growth and working conditions for staff.
  • Large Building Retrofit Category: The Penninsula All-Suite Hotel’s ongoing, measured initiatives have become part of their ethos and have saved them 19% year-on-year despite higher occupancy.
  • New Building Category: V&A Waterfront – No.1 Silo building is the first Green Star-rated building to achieve six stars in Cape Town. During its first year of operation, the 50% energy saving target has been achieved.

The 2014 Energy Efficiency Award applications were judged by the Energy Research Centre’s (ERC) Monitoring and Verification Unit, based at the University of Cape Town.

Companies have been judged on their commitment to more innovative solutions for their operational energy needs. They had to show that they were reflective about their own systems, policies and developments and that they were dynamic enough to change the way they operated to maximise energy efficiency without compromising productivity. The company’s personnel had to demonstrate a commitment to ensuring that they carry through efforts to implement energy efficiency measures through behavioural change and not just technology upgrades.