This is the message from the Cape Town Partnership’s Chief Executive, Andrew Boraine commenting on the energy security situation in Cape Town.

“If it is not green, it will be obsolete,” said Boraine referring to the more than R28bn worth of new developments planned for the Central City within the next five years. “These new buildings should be designed to be green from the very start.”

The Cape Town Partnership launched a pioneering Energy Efficiency Initiative (EEI) in February this year which aims to reduce electricity bills, save power to prevent black outs and to reduce environmental damage caused by electricity generation. This is a first for South Africa: a City-level public private partnership established to help reduce energy consumption within the buildings of the Central City.

Boraine urges property owners in Cape Town Central City to become involved in this initiative. “We call on all owners of both private and public sector buildings to play their part in making their properties more energy efficient in terms of, for example, the lightning and air conditioning systems.”

He said they have embarked on this research and implementation initiative with the Sustainability Institute (linked to the University of Stellenbosch), the City of Cape Town, Provincial Government of the Western Cape, and with seed funding from CORDAID (a large Dutch Foundation). 

“The Cape Town Partnership (CTP) is committed to expanding this initiative to make Cape Town a leading green city,” said Boraine.