Main image: Young Artisans at the Ekurhuleni East TVET College
The government’s programme to make thousands of buildings in South Africa more energy-efficient and able to contribute multiple economic and environmental benefits to the country is being stepped up.
A leading job-creating initiative
The South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) is leading an initiative in which 50 qualified, mostly unemployed, young electricians will be trained to enable them to obtain the energy usage data required to issue energy performance certificates (EPCs), which give buildings a rating based on the amount of energy consumed per square metre.
SANEDI is undertaking what is known as the EPC Practitioner Skills Programme in partnership with the Institute of Energy Professionals Africa (IEPA).
Published government regulations
Owners of buildings are required to obtain and prominently display an EPC by 7 December this year. With buildings estimated to be responsible for between 30% and 40% of carbon emissions worldwide, the South African government has introduced the regulations primarily to encourage building owners to work towards making their buildings as energy-efficient as possible.
Young artisans in training
The 50 young, qualified electricians will be trained to assemble all the critical energy usage data required by the SANAS-accredited companies to rate buildings.
In addition to creating jobs in the new EPC sector, the trainees can become involved in other aspects of the energy efficiency of buildings, such as the planning and installation of energy-efficient products, equipment and devices.
Two technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges, Ekurhuleni East TVET College and College of Cape Town, will be able to offer the course after the EPC Practitioner Skills Programme has been completed.
- For more information on the EPC Practitioner Skills Programme, contact the Institute of Energy Professionals Africa at https://iepa.org.za/.
- For more information on EPC regulations, visit https://www.sanedi.org.za/Energy_Performance_Certificates.html and Notice 700 of Gov Gazette 43972 of 8 December 2020 (1).pdf.
For more information, contact SANEDI:
Tel: +27 011 038 4302
Email: information@sanedi.org.za or FunananiN@sanedi.org.za
Website: www.sanedi.org.za
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