The Energy Efficiency Forum, a public-private partnership between the City of Cape Town, Eskom and the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA), is delighted to announce the winners of the first Energy Efficiency Forum Awards: VA Waterfront Holdings (Pty) Ltd and Vunani Property Investment Fund Ltd (14 Loop Street).
The Energy Efficiency Forum has been running for three years and has hosted ten highly successful events. During this time businesses have clearly gone to great lengths to improve the energy efficiency of their commercial buildings and operations.
To recognise this leadership and inspire others, the Forum partners introduced the first Energy Efficiency Forum Awards. Applications were judged on the implementation of significant energy efficiency interventions – in terms of both technological and behavioural change – which have resulted in substantial reductions in energy consumption in their buildings. The University of Cape Town’s Energy Research Centre judged all of the applications.
“The City is proud that there are businesses across Cape Town who are interested in improving their energy efficiency and building a responsible and sustainable commercial sector in Cape Town,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic, Environmental and Spatial Planning, Alderman Belinda Walker.
Both the VA Waterfront Holdings (Pty) Ltd and Vunani Property Investment Fund Ltd have financed the interventions themselves with a pay-back time of just under five years and are exploring additional interventions to increase the energy efficiency of their buildings.
The Energy Efficiency Forum partners acknowledge and applaud both VA Waterfront Holdings (Pty) Ltd and Vunani Property Investment Fund Ltd (14 Loop Street) for their vision, diligence and leadership in saving energy:
“My congratulations to the VA Waterfront and 14 Loop Street, who have taken great strides in reducing their energy consumption. These companies are certainly outstanding leaders in energy efficiency and we hope that they will serve as role models for other commercial buildings,” said Alderman Walker.
“Eskom wishes to congratulate the VA Waterfront and the Vunani Property Investment Fund on winning the inaugural Energy Efficiency Forum Awards. The two Cape Town properties are proud examples of optimal energy usage, reduced energy costs and improved bottom line earnings as a result of the implementation of innovative energy efficiency solutions.
“We invite businesses in all sectors of the economy – commercial, industrial and agricultural – to follow suit and partner with Eskom’s range of funding options to make the switch from energy intensive technologies, systems and processes to energy efficient solutions,” said the Acting Senior General Manager for Eskom’s Integrated Demand Management Department, John Thorby.
