Assessment of City of Cape Town's energy efficiency programmes within its internal operations

Date
2016-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY : The global climate crisis requires urgent action beyond the current policy framework and commitments, as currently made by a number of countries through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Cities are known to be nodes of economic activity concentrating large populations and are carbon intensive due to the hive of activity within them. Cities contribute 75% of global carbon emissions. Cities therefore play an integral role in combating climate change. Local governments can lead by example through the implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives within their own operations. The literature and case studies that were reviewed indicated that local government is implementing a number of energy efficiency programmes within their own operations. A gap remains in this area, as very few cities have made it “new business as usual” to drive and implement energy efficiency within their own operations. This study focuses on assessing the City of Cape Town’s energy efficiency programmes within its own operations, with specific focus on understanding the outcomes that have been achieved. This study develops a business model to aid in continuation of energy efficiency programmes within the City of Cape Town, beyond the guaranteed funding period of 2017. The research methodology comprises a number of methods, including: a literature review, direct observations, and fieldwork to gather energy data used to develop the business model. The results indicate that a well-developed energy management system is integral to ensuring energy and climate targets are monitored and reported. The results indicate that Traffic Signal department and Specialised Technical Services department have adopted the new energy efficient technology and have changed to a new business as usual. The Electricity Services Department requires amending their store stock items to the energy efficient technology. A total investment of one hundred and sixty million rand has been achieved up until 2015. This has resulted in a total cumulative savings of one hundred and ten million rand up until 2014. The business model developed allows departments to follow a standardised process in setting energy targets, implementing energy efficiency measures and tracking financial, environmental and energy savings.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Die wêreldwye klimaatskrisis verg dringende aksie wat meer omvat as die beleidsraamwerk en ondernemings waartoe ’n aantal lande tans vanweë die Verenigde Nasies se konferensieraamwerk oor klimaatsverandering verbind is. Stede is bekende nodusse van ekonomiese aktiwiteit met ’n hoë bevolkingstal en is koolstofintensief weens die miernes van bedrywighede wat daar gekonsentreer is. Stede dra 75% tot globale koolstofvrystellings by. Gevolglik speel stede ’n integrerende rol in die stryd teen klimaatsverandering. Plaaslike regerings kan met hulle voorbeeld lei deur energiedoeltreffendheid en hernubare energie-inisiatiewe in hulle werksaamhede te implementeer. Volgens die literatuur en gevallestudies wat ondersoek is, implementeer plaaslike regerings ’n aantal energiedoeltreffendheidsprogramme in hulle werksaamhede. Daar bestaan ’n leemte in hierdie veld aangesien min stede die “nuwe-besigheid-soos-gewoonlik”-benadering volg deur energiedoeltreffendheid in hulle werksaamhede te dryf en te implementeer. Hierdie studie is gemik op die evaluering van die Stad Kaapstad se energiedoeltreffendheidsprogramme wat sy eie werksaamhede betref, en dit fokus veral op die insigte wat die uitkomstes opgelewer het. Die studie ontwikkel ’n sakemodel wat sal meehelp om die Stad Kaapstad se energiedoeltreffendheidsprogramme ná die verstryking van die 2017-waarborgfondstydperk te kan voortsit. Die navorsingsmetodologie omvat ’n aantal metodes waaronder: ’n literatuuroorsig, direkte waarnemings, asook veldwerk om energiedata te versamel vir die ontwikkeling van die sakemodel. Die resultate toon dat ’n goed ontwikkelde energiebestuurstelsel onontbeerlik is vir die monitering van energie- en klimaatsteikens en verslagdoening daaroor. Die resultate toon dat die Verkeerseindepartement en die Departement Spesiale Tegniese Dienste die nuwe energiedoeltreffendheidstegnologie aanvaar en na die “nuwe-besigheid-soos-gewoonlik”-benadering oorskakel. Die Departement Elektrisiteitsdienste vereis dat sy voorraadlokaalitems met energiedoeltreffende tegnologie vervang word. ’n Beleggingsinkomste van altesaam R160-miljoen is tot en met 2015 behaal. Die gevolg was ’n kumulatiewe besparing van altesaam R110-miljoen tot en met 2014. Die sakemodel wat ontwikkel is, maak dit vir departemente moontlik om ’n standaardproses te volg wanneer hulle energieteikens stel, energiedoeltreffendheidsmaatreëls implementeer, en finansiële, omgewings- en energiebesparings naspoor.
Description
Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2016.
Keywords
Municipal government, Cape Town (South Africa), Sustainable energy sources, UCTD, Energy consumption - - Cape Town
Citation