The deadline for Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) is looming for property owners who are legally required to register their building by the 2^nd of August 2024.

The regulations require that property owners of offices, indoor sporting facilities, educational institutions, and places of entertainment and public assembly, obtain an EPC. This also applies to government buildings of more than 1 000m2 and privately owned buildings of more than 2 000m2.

The EPC rates buildings on a scale of ‘A’ to ‘G’. A ‘D-rating’ is the benchmark rating considered as ‘best practice’.

Failure to comply is a contravention of the National Energy Act of 2008 and property owners risk a fine of R5 million, five years imprisonment or both, says the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI).

Once a building is registered, the property owner needs to take the necessary steps to ensure measurement of energy performance is conducted. This compliance data is submitted for review, assessment, and accreditation before an EPC can be prominently displayed in the foyer of a building.

Initially, an EPC could only be issued by a SA National Accreditation System inspection body but with an amendment released in 2023, an EPC can now be allotted by individual EPC-registered professionals as of the 1st of August 2024.

To register as an EPC professional, individuals need to meet various criteria including certain qualifications (Grade 12 or NQF 4, and a diploma or bachelor’s degree in identified courses) with specific EPC training as well as a minimum of two years’ experience in an energy auditing, management, measurement, verification or efficiency role.

SANEDI, whose mandate is to undertake measures to promote energy efficiency, notes that buildings are responsible for between 30% and 40% of carbon emissions worldwide and that the EPC programmes are commonplace as a measure to drive down fossil fuel consumption globally.

“Managing energy consumption and reducing emissions is not only about supporting global climate change targets, but also economically and physiologically better for organisations and individuals. By understanding how much energy is being consumed, one becomes more aware of one’s own behaviour (like not leaving lights on in an unoccupied room), and one can then start to reduce inefficient usage and change consumption behaviour patterns. There are also significant cost reduction implications – particularly in the long term – and decreasing emissions is also better for one’s health. Each one of us has a part to play in minimising our country’s carbon footprint, and by starting with more energy-efficient buildings, we can make a greater difference,” comments Nqobile Ngcobo, EPC lead at SANEDI.