by Jbs071510 g3 — July 19, 2010—South African Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies recently published amendments to energy efficiency regulations that would make it compulsory for all new buildings to be designed to a standard that minimizes their energy use.
The South African Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) invited interested parties to submit comments and input on the energy efficiency regulations for new buildings, which were published in the regulations section of Government Gazette No. 33265.
The DTI said that the regulations would form part of the deliverables of the National Energy Strategy that were identified in the Industrial Policy Action Plan to strengthen South African standards and regulations for energy efficiency, and would be finalized by the end of 2010.
The energy efficiency regulations for residential and commercial buildings, places of learning and worship, certain medical clinics, and other categories of buildings would make it compulsory for all new buildings to be designed and constructed to a standard whereby the user minimized the energy required to meet the functional requirements.
The various elements of the building envelope, such as roofs and ceilings, walls, and windows, would have to meet minimum requirements for preventing heat loss in winter or heat gain in summer in order to meet the energy efficiency targets.
All buildings would also have to be fitted with renewable energy water heating systems, such as solar water heating systems, which will also have to comply with South African National Standards (SANS).
