In alignment with the new regulations gazetted in December 2020, buildings in South Africa need to have their energy performance assessed by an accredited party, who will then issue an energy performance certificate (EPC), which rates the building from A to G for energy efficiency.

The Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit and International Convention Centre has achieved a new energy efficiency milestone when its EPC was awarded with a highly commendable rating of B, where A is the highest achievable rating and G the worst possible rating for buildings in South Africa.

“The facility is comprehensive, with the main building in the region of 14 500m². The energy requirements must be vast, so its rating is to be applauded,” comments Barry Bredenkamp, General Manager for Energy Efficiency and Corporate Communications at the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI).

Strict compliance

“To be compliant, the EPC must be displayed at the building’s entrance, and at least a D-rating must be achieved to comply with the national Building Regulations,” explains Bredenkamp.

The regulations apply to:
• Non-residential buildings with a net floor area of at least 2 000m² in the private sector (schools, malls, theatres etc.) and 1 000m² for government buildings.
• For the purposes of the EPC, a building’s energy performance is measured in terms of kilowatt hours per square metre per annum (kWh/m²/a) of net floor area in accordance with the National EPC Standard (SANS 1544:2014).

Once issued, an EPC must be renewed every five years, giving building owners the opportunity to improve their energy performance. Property owners and public facilities have until 7 December 2022 to ensure that they are compliant. As an agency for the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, SANEDI has been tasked with supporting the implementation of the regulations.

SANEDI offers support

“SANEDI wants to help ensure compliance with the new regulations, so that building owners are not unnecessarily penalised. We are glad to see a prominent landmark such as the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit making EPC compliance a priority, and we hope to see many other buildings follow suit,” says Bredenkamp. He says that this will be good for the wider value chain, where economic activity will be stimulated, as building owners look at implementing more energy-efficient systems and technologies.

Bluedust Engineering Solutions facilitated the EPC process on behalf of the owners of Kyalami. Dr Janco Vermeulen and Dr Frank Duvenhage, both experts in the energy field, ensured that the required data is collected and packaged correctly for the EPC process to be executed with minimal complications.

Toby Venter, Chief Executive Officer of the OT Venter Group of Companies, owners of the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit and International Convention Centre, says: “We strive to always exceed expectations, and environmental requirements are no different. We are proud to be the first conference and exhibition venue in South Africa to be awarded this energy efficiency grading certification.”

For more information on this worthy project, contact SANEDI:
Email: BarryB@sanedi.org.za
Website: www.sanedi.org.za

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