Renewable energy quota for new buildings set

According to a Business Day report, while not affecting existing building stock, the new regime announced by Energy Minister Dipuo Peters last week will lay the foundation for energy efficient buildings in future. The regulations fit in with the government's drive to promote energy efficiency and roll out solar water heating systems, the aim being to install 1m solar panels by 2014. According to the report, Trade and Industry spokesperson Sidwell Medupe said the regulations would apply to all new buildings regardless of their value and while it would add to the cost, 'over the lifetime of the repayment of the building the additional costs will be minimum'. Independent Democrats MP Lance Greyling said many sectors had been calling for such regulation for some time and for greater urgency in the roll-out of the solar water heating programme, which had fallen far short of targets, the report notes. Full Business Day report

But, the solar water heater system roll-out programme has been slated by a local company which says the high uptake for rebates on installed low-pressure solar water heating systems does not alleviate the pressure on the national electricity system because these units are installed in areas where there were no geysers before. A Business Day report notes that Hennie Heyl of Palace Group said that the government should concentrate on rolling out high-pressure geysers - typically used in upmarket homes - 'as these will take pressure off the grid'. Full Business Day report