Energy efficient building standards begin to emerge
Thématique :
sud afrique
A series of standards to provide a framework for energy efficient buildings – the SANS 204 series of standards – is under development at the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). The first three parts of the new standards series has already proceeded through a public enquiry phase, and were currently at the draft committee phase, with publication expected in June 2009.
Speaking at the Intelligent Building Automation symposium in Johannesburg on Monday, SABS standards development executive Dr Geoff Visser said that effective energy saving did not hinge entirely on regulation. But he added that there were areas that required both codified standards and credible third-party testing and certification. In addition, the technical infrastructure underpinning the regulations had to be put in place.
Given South Africa’s current electricity stresses, it was also felt that standards, which brought together all the individual components of energy efficiency, were urgently needed.
“New work is being done at the SABS on developing energy management systems standards. We are in the early stages, but welcome any and all participation,” added Visser.
He said it was imperative for building owners and managers to start measuring energy consumption, monitoring it and, most importantly, reducing consumption.
BILLS COULD TREBLE
Electricity price increases were seen as another big driver of these conservation efforts.
“If you consume over 20 kVA, and don’t start implementing energy saving measures, your electricity bill could triple by next year,” emphasised EE Publishers MD Chris Yelland.
Energy Cybernetics director Professor Ian Lane noted that building management and owner participation in energy saving, as well as occupier buy-in, was important. He indicated that, through a combination of people and technology, a 23% electricity savings could be achieved in a building.
However, he warned that technology alone would not solve the problem, adding that “if nobody actually used it properly”, money could even be lost.
The standards at the SABS draft committee phase were as follows:
- SANS 204-1 for energy efficiency in buildings with artificial or natural environmental control part 1, general provisions;
- SANS 204-2 for energy efficiency in buildings with artificial or natural environmental control part 2: the application of the general provisions for energy efficiency in buildings with natural environmental control;
- SANS 204-3 for energy efficiency in buildings with artificial or natural environmental control part 2: the application of the general provisions for energy efficiency in buildings with artificial environmental control.
Visser noted that the SANS 204-4 standard, and the SANS 204-5 standard, which focused on smaller buildings, could follow soon, but that work was still at the initial stages.
However, from September 1, 2008, the SABS was no longer responsible for regulation, and conformity monitoring, with that responsibility now falling to the newly formed National Regulator of Compulsory Regulations (NRCS).
The NRCS administered certain regulations for the Department of Trade and Industry, and was still housed in the SABS building, in Pretoria.
Visser said that the SABS worked closely with the NRCS, and other regulators, in terms of developing an infrastructure allowing for the enforcement of certain regulatory instruments.
The areas being addressed were lighting, water heating, energy consumption to condition living space, the driving of electric motors, energy-consumption control, alternative sources of energy and energy storing, and efforts to create awareness.
