Buildings must have an EPC issued in terms of the SANS 1544:2014 by a SANAS-accredited body such as Stract Malan by 7 December 2022 An energy audit (sometimes called an “energy assessment” or “energy study”) is conducted to determine where, when, why and how energy is used in a facility, and to identify opportunities to improve efficiency
Energy audits are a powerful tool for uncovering operatio
nal and equipment improvements that will save energy, reduce energy costs, and lead to higher performance. Energy audits can be done as a stand-alone effort but may be conducted as part of a larger analysis across a group of facilities, or across an owner’s entire portfolio
Why Carry Out Energy Audits
To Fulfil Statutory Requirements:
- To comply with The South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) Energy Performance Certifications (EPC) for buildings in South Africa in accordance with SANS 1544
- This requires an EPC issued in terms of the SANS 1544:2014 by a SANAS-accredited body such as Stract Malan
- SANS 1544:2014, gazetted under Section 19 of the National Energy Act, requiring EPCs, applies to non-residential buildings with a net floor area of at least 2 000 m2 in the private sector, and 1 000 m2 for buildings owned, operated or occupied by an organ of the State
- Property owners and government entities have until December 7, 2022 to ensure that their buildings adhere to regulations
The Cost of an Energy Audit
There are fixed costs associated with preparing an energy audit (site coordination, travel, field surveys and report generation), so economies of scale tend to apply for larger facilities. Detailed energy audits vary, depending on the size and complexity of the building.
