Question no

QUESTION NO. 868

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 15 of 2008

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 30 May 2008

Mr G R Morgan (DA) to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism:

(1) Whether his department has conducted an energy audit to determine its (a) use of energy and (b) opportunities for reduction of energy use; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether his department has any plans to reduce energy consumption; if not, why not; if so, what plans;
(3) whether his department has made any material reduction in energy use since 1 January 2008; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1559E

MR G R MORGAN (DA)

SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS

868. THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM ANSWERS:

(1) (a) and (b) Yes. These are particularly efficiency savings on lighting systems and computers, amongst others.
(2) The Department has energy efficiency plans aimed at the reduction of electricity consumption. The following practical energy efficiency measures have been implemented:

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  Rolling out of Energy Efficiency Campaign aimed at reducing energy consumption at work place and at home on the efficient use of electrical appliances at work and home.
  

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  All our light fittings have been replaced / retrofitted with energy efficiency accessories
  

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  The lights are switched off at 22:00 and switched on at 06:00 daily. Only emergency stairs / corridors / security linked points remain lit at all times for security reasons.
  

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  Dedicated light switches were installed for specific areas /sections for easy control by users
  

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  Geysers have been switched off and alternative cheaper and energy efficient water heaters have been installed.
  

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  Users are continuously encouraged to shutdown their PC's, notebooks, printers, radios, fans and fax machines and other electrical appliances before the leaving the office at the end of each business day.
  

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  The communal air-conditioners have been adjusted accordingly to switch on at 06:30 and off at 22:00 daily. The split unit air-conditioners in boardrooms and offices are switch on only when it is necessary by users
  

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  All IT equipment had been adjusted to a "hibernate" mode.
  

(3) The Department cannot currently supply information in this regard. Information on the reduction in energy use for 2008/9 financial year will only be available at the end of the year after comparison processes for the energy consumption levels with the previous financial year has been concluded.

QUESTION 869

DATE OF PUBLICATION: FRIDAY, 30 May 2008

869: Mr M J Ellis (DA) to ask the Minister of Minerals and Energy:

(1) Whether his department has conducted an energy audit to detennine its (a) use of energyand (b) opportunitics for reduction of energy use; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

The Department of Minerals and Energy, conducted an Energy audit as part of its energy efficiency audit more than 4 years back. following this audit and its findings, a program was undertaken to install energy efficiency light bulbs in all its offices. This was because the audit findings indicated that retrofitting of the light fittings is the most cost effective energy efficiency intervention, as other interventions will have cost substantial amounts of money. The ultimate challenge with the current DME building is that it is an old building and to do a retrofitting of the air conditioners, sealing the windows and making improvements on the walls will cost large amounts and the payback period related to the retrofit of this old building does not justify these investments

The DME is in a process of moving out of the current building as the lease has expired and we are not interested in renewing the lease. As a policy depanment we experience difticulties in implementing our policies and programs around energy efficiency particularly in the rented building like the one we currently occupy and this often results to us failing to lead by example. A new process is currently underway to acquire an energy efficient building through the Public Works Department,

(2) whether his department has any plans to reduce energy consumption; if not, why not; if so,
what plans;

Answer

Yes. The Depamnent has an energy efficiency program to reduce energy consumption which is monitored on a daily basis. In terms of this policy lighting within the department is centrally controlled by security component. On a daily basis the DME lights are swhched off between 20:00pm and 6:00 am and this program is managed by the security personnel. Report on compliance are lodged on a daily basis and supervised by the responsible manager and if need be these are presented to the Executive Management Committce(EXCO) on a weekly basis or as and when required. Despite having this program it is still hard to implement a full scale energy efficiency program In the building as old as the one we are currently occupying.

(3) whether his department has made any material reduction in energy use since I January 2008;

if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Answer

The electricity billing and payment in government building is centrally controlled through the Department of Public Works (DPW) and it is often difficult to get the electricity accounts to see the actual savings that have been achieved, however there is a. plan as part of the energy efficiency program in the Public Sector, for which a Cabinet memo has already been approved to ensure that each and every department takes full responsibility for its electricity accounts and metering. The planned program will assist the department to monitor energy consumption on a monthly and continuous basis.

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