Pretoria - The Presidency says it has managed to save over R7.5 million worth of electricity in its Cape Town and Pretoria offices in the 2015/16 financial year, through its Energy Saving Campaign.
The Presidency said this on Wednesday after President Jacob Zuma received an update on the performance of the Presidency Energy Saving Campaign for its contribution towards energy savings in the country.
The President’s office said the energy saving report shows that the Pretoria office has in the 2015/2016 financial year saved an accumulated 3 325 727 kilo-Watt-hour (kWh) and 9 905 kilo-Volt-Ampere (kVA).
“The office was therefore able to save R3 762 835.13,” said the Presidency.
In 2015, the President launched the Presidency and government-wide Energy Saving Campaign as some of the efforts to ensure that government-owned buildings are energy efficient.
“In efforts to save energy, the Union Buildings in Pretoria installed additional motion sensors and lighting retrofits saving an additional 330 432 kWh in 2015/16.
“The Cape Town office, Tuynhuys, under the Parliamentary Precinct has in the 2015/16 financial year saved accumulated 3 428 923 kWh and 8 636 kVA. The office was able to save R3 779 298.43,” said the Presidency.
In both offices, the Presidency has in total saved an accumulated 6 754 650 kWh and 18 541 kVA and also saved R7 542 133.56 to date.
The Presidency said these energy savings are an equivalent to the energy supply for 1 406 low income houses for a year.
According to the Presidency, President Jacob Zuma said last year the country was faced with a lot of power outages, prompting government to further strengthen its role in addressing energy shortages.
He said energy security is very important to the economy.
“The Presidency performance in saving energy thus far is indeed encouraging and proves that we are indeed moving in a right direction to save energy,” said President.
The Presidency will also in this financial year optimise energy consuming systems and their maintenance for energy savings.
“We further appeal to government departments, private sector and all South Africans to continue to engage in energy saving drives. Working together and making simple efforts towards saving energy will help us to move South Africa forward,” the President said.
The Department of Public Works is currently ensuring that all government-owned buildings are energy efficient.
Earlier this Month, President Zuma undertook a monitoring and evaluation visit to Eskom’s head office Megawatt Park in Sunninghill as part of government’s concerted efforts to provide support to state owned companies. - SAnews.gov.za
