Terra Firma Academy is offering the Energy Efficiency Management course in Cape Town, from 3 - 5 July 2018!

The Energy Efficiency Management course will allow you to systematically assess problematic energy areas within a small to medium business environment, and how to measure and reduce energy consumption immediately through implementing focused solutions. 

It is accredited through Energy and Water SETA, and CPD points can be earned through SAFMA (15 CPD points), or SAIEE (3 CPD points). 

This course is highly recommended for facility managers, SHEQ team members, electricians and electrical contractors, business owners, sustainability team members, government Employees and engineers!

Our facilitators are senior engineers and sustainability experts in the fields of energy and water efficiency, renewable energy, energy monitoring, carbon management, carbon projects and environmental policy and strategy development. They work daily on major projects in this field for medium to JSE listed companies in southern Africa

Please contact me for registration, or for information on other courses on offer by Terra Firma Academy! Please also remember to follow us on LinkedIn for regular course updates.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,

Estee van den Berg | Academy Manager
​Office +27 11 568 0768 (Option 1)
Cell +27 78 307 5191
Fax +27 11 568 0767

European consumers are expected to snap up the last of the most powerful vacuum cleaners on the market as a new law banning those rated above 900 watts comes into effect.
The new EU energy rule means manufacturers will not be able to make or import vacuum cleaners with a motor that exceeds 900 watts.

Vacuum cleaners are subject to EU energy labelling and ecodesign requirements, and the European Commission website says that by switching to one of the most energy efficient models, people can save 70 euro over the lifetime of the product.

The website says: "With more efficient vacuum cleaners, Europe as a whole can save up to 20 TWh of electricity per year by 2020. This is equivalent to the annual household electricity consumption of Belgium.

"It also means over 6 million tonnes of CO2 will not be emitted - about the annual emissions of eight medium-sized power plants."

It adds: "From September 2017, the most efficient vacuum cleaners will carry a label of A+++. These ratings take into account the vacuum cleaners' total power and how efficiently that power is used to pick up dust."
Vacuum cleaner salesman Howard Johnson, who works in Coventry, told BBC News: "People want a more powerful vacuum cleaner but they can't see that more power doesn't mean more suction.
"The lower power machines are perfectly adequate, and better for the planet."
Source......

This Note provides guidance on the deduction for energy-efficiency savings under section 12L read with the Regulations.
In response to South Africa ranking as one of the top 20 contributors of greenhouse gas emissions in the world, the government voluntarily announced during the 2009
United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen and confirmed in Paris
in 2015 that it would act to significantly reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions.1
Government has thus proposed a carbon tax policy to encourage behavioural change
towards cleaner low-carbon technologies. As a complementary measure,
government has introduced environmental-related tax incentives to address concerns
related to global warming and energy security such as section 12K (exemption of
certified emission reductions).

Read more.......

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) on Wednesday called for an extension for public comments on the New Energy Efficiency Strategy (NEES), which was gazetted on December 23.
The organisation believes the timing of the gazette’s release and the rationality of publishing an energy strategy before the Integrated Energy Plan or the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) have been finalised, is questionable.

As such, Outa has written to Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson, requesting an extension of the comment period to 90 days after the finalisation of the IRP.
“[The NEES, which] will impact heavily on South Africa’s energy future, is being sneaked past an unsuspecting public,” it said in a statement, noting that the public had been given only had 30 days to comment on the gazette, which maps out a comprehensive energy strategy for the next 15 years.
Outa energy portfolio director Ted Blom stated that “by publishing a gazette for comment in the heart of the summer holidays, and then only providing society with 30 days to comment thereon, is unacceptable.

​Read more.....

The department of energy has unveiled a new green standard label, as a means for consumers to recognise clean energy measures, as the 16th annual African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa conference kicks off at the Cape Town Convention Centre. 

South Africa has just officially signed the Paris Climate Change agreement and a number of key state departments are involved in ensuring the country meets its 2020 objects, with clean energy also forming an integral part of SA's 9 point-plan for the national economic turnaround as outlined by President Jacob Zuma during the 2015 State of the Nation Address (SONA). 

As a result the Department of Energy (DoE) in collaboration with the Departments of Public Works (DPW);Trade and Industry (the dti), are collaborating on a planned energy efficiency programme - of which the new South African Energy Efficiency Label and the Building Energy Savings Campaign Identity form a part.

Read more......

Are you a budding BBBEE entrepreneur who has an unwavering passion for energy efficiency and making a sustainable impact on the environment? Do you have the drive and ambition to run a profitable business and are hungry for success?
Ensight Energy Solutions is providing an opportunity for a budding entrepreneur/SMME
to participate in a Business Incubator Program to develop its Energy Service Company
(ESCO).
Description
Ensight is an international energy design practice specialising in sophisticated whole-of business energy efficiency programs for energy-intensive industries. Our clients include global enterprises and our programs are innovative, highly engaging and world-leading. We have a passion for efficiency, collaborative teamwork, economic optimisation and the delivery of significant results that are enduring and profitable for our clients. We are a leader in the field of energy productivity.
We are keen to develop a new or emerging business/SMME which has knowledge, experience and
understanding of energy efficiency processes and a strong interest in building its potential to work in the
energy efficiency sector. Through this program we aim to:
• Identify and train the potential entrepreneurs in energy efficiency
• Develop the necessary knowledge and skills of the Entrepreneur/SMME
• Impart essential managerial knowledge and understanding
• Provide post-training assistance
• Develop and strengthen entrepreneurial quality and motivation
• Analyse the environmental issues related to a proposed project
• Help in selecting the right type of projects, initiatives and opportunities
• Formulate effective and profitable projects
• Develop small and medium black-owned enterprises which are necessary for employment generation
• Provide gainful self-employment to driven, ambitious black-owned businesses
• Provide knowledge and information and to enable the entrepreneur/SMME to source incentives and subsidies
available from government to set up projects
• Impart technical information about energy efficiency processes, methodologies and procedures for setting up
new projects and acquiring new clients
Essential requirements: • Applicants must have an existing BBBEE company that is CIPC-compliant
• Applicants must have the necessary skills and experience or show the potential to run an Energy Efficiency business • Applicants must be South African citizens • Applicants must be involved in the operation and management of the business on a day to day basis and be prepared to work in it full-time • The enterprise must show, or have potential to be, commercially viable and sustainable • Applicants should already have at least 3 employees.
Personal attributes: • Goal orientated • Committed to their business • Hands-on • Thrive on uncertainty • Willinto take risks • Inherently creative, passionate and positive • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
Closing date: Applications will close at 12:00 on 11 December 2015
Submit a comprehensive proposal in English with traceable references, together with certified copies
of business registration documents as well as CV of the business owner/s and staff. Applications and
enquiries must be submitted to Krishen Moodley at talent@ensight.solutions
In addition to your application also submit a compelling Video Cover Letter, telling us why your company should be selected for the Incubator Program.
Video Cover Letters must be uploaded on YouTube and your link must be sent to talent@ensight.solutions
If you do not receive communication from us within 30 days of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful. 

Download pdf......

Powering Africa announces the availability of Financial Support for the acquisition of Alternative Energy for domestic and commercial use. Powering Africa, in promoting Alternative Energy, has partnered with Greenfin Finance to make it possible for many households to become less dependent on the State Utility.
It is now possible to purchase our equipment and pay for it on a monthly basis over a five year period. Given the annual increases for Electricity over the next five years, installing a Powering Africa Plug & Play System is an obvious "no brainer" Making provision for an alternative Energy Source is no longer "a nice to have gadget" around the house, but a "must have" in response to the monopoly of supply, and the frightening increase in cost in the years to come. For more information go to our Website and "click" on "Finance" or click on the image on the left.

There is no commonly agreed definition of Energy Management (EM) and numerous definitions can be found. For the sake of this application note, we will define EM as the practice of making informed decisions, based on structural insights into energy consumption and its impact on an organization. EM entails proactive and conscious management of an organization’s energy consumption, as opposed to an ad hoc, passive approach. Energy in this case includes the typical utilities, often referred to as WAGES (Water, Air, Gas, Electricity and Steam). The goal of energy management is similar to the Trias Energetica concept and aims to reduce energy waste, increase energy-efficiency of remaining energy consumers and increase the share of renewable energy.

Download the complete application note here.......