Introduction

The mission of the DME's Energy Efficiency Directorate is to develop measures to promote energy saving, reduce the negative impact of energy use on the environment, reduce energy costs to the economy, contribute towards sustainable development, and to achieve a national energy policy.

Our vision is to optimise energy sector development through efficient utilisation, production and consumption of energy resources.

The Energy Efficiency Strategy of South Africa [PDF, 365KB] was approved by Cabinet in March 2005 and sets the target for improved energy efficiency in South Africa at 12 percent by 2015.

Electricity has contributed to South Africa's economic growth and service delivery to the poor. The strategy includes Eskom's Demand Side Management (DSM). Municipalities are also implementing their own energy efficiency strategies.

When a utility or local authority which supplies electricity influences the way it is used by customers, this activity is known as Demand Side Management (DSM).

In addition, 32 large companies have joined forces with the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) and Eskom by signing an energy-efficiency accord, committing themselves to targets contained in the DME's strategy.

To assist households in becoming more energy efficient, the DME initiated an Appliance Labelling campaign. Labels on household appliances inform consumers how energy efficient their appliances are. The DME, in collaboration with the Department of Public Works and Eskom, is retrofitting government buildings to make them more energy efficient. This contributes a saving of about R600 000 in electricity bills per year.

Source: South Africa Yearbook 2005/2006

Objectives of the energy efficiency directorate

• Promote and develop energy efficiency practices, norms and standards in different energy sectors, including industries, commercial buildings, households, transport and agriculture;
• Develop energy efficiency policies, strategy and guidelines;
• Facilitate information awareness, and capacity building campaigns on energy efficiency and environmental issues;
• Promote energy for sustainable development;
• Mitigate negative impact of energy utilisation on environment;
• Promote energy efficiency technologies, clean energy technologies including environmentally sound energy technologies;
• Promote and facilitate international collaboration and cooperation; and
• Ensure the DME's participation at international forums on energy efficiency and the environment, including the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), the Kyoto protocol and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).