Energising South African Cities & Towns - City Energy Support Unit

EnergisingSouth AfricanCities & TownsA L O C A L G O V E R N M E N T G U I D ET O S U S T A I N A B L E E N E R G Y P L A N N I N GENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS i

Compiled by Sarah Ward and LeilaMahomed of Sustainable Energy AfricaACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:Mark Borchers and Wendy Engelsof Sustainable Energy Africa, PennyThompson, Glynn Morris, Watergy;and thanks to Susan Anderson forpermission to use information from‘Sustainable Energy: A Local GovernmentPlanning Guide for a SustainableFuture’, 1992, compiled by the UrbanConsortium Energy Task Force.This manual is funded by DANIDAas part of the SEED Programme, andby SALGA (South African LocalGovernment Association).Sustainable Energy AfricaTel: +27 (0)21 702-3622Fax: +27 (0)21 702-3625The Green BuildingBell Crescent CloseWestlake Business ParkTokai, 7945Email: info@sustainable.org.zaWebsite: http://www.sustainable.org.zaPublication copyright:Sustainable Energy AfricaThis information may be freelyused, provided that the sourceis acknowledged.Published by:Galeforce CommunicationFirst published 2003Design: Cornelle EllisCover photograph: Monwabisi Booi,SEED Advisor, City of Cape Town,photographed byGordon McAlisterProduction management:Productive ImagesReproduction: The Repro ManPrinted and bound:Michael James LithoPrinted on Reviva Plus, a 100%recycled product made in South AfricaCover printed on NovaTech, winnerof the Nordic Swan award forenvironmentally friendly pulpand paper manufacturingISBN: 0-620-31457-5CONTENTSDEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLEENERGY PLAN1 Cities & energy3 What is sustainability?4 Planning for a sustainable future6 STEP 1 – Designating a lead office &nurturing a champion6 STEP 2 – Establishing partnerships7 STEP 3 – Finding the hooks: reviewing cityvision, goals & policies8 Energy imperatives: local, nationaland international10 STEP 4 – Conducting a city energy audit12 STEP 5 – Analysing your data & developinga draft plan14 STEP 6 – Building public & internal support17 STEP 7 – Finalising the plan18 STEP 8 – Implementing & financing the plan20 STEP 9 – Monitoring & evaluating your plan21 STEP 10 – Publicising the benefits & energisingthe city’s people22 Flow diagram: City Energy Strategy ProcessENERGY CASE STUDIESAND SECTORAL OVERVIEWS24 Green electricity brings opportunities25 Community electricity supply: modelsfor developing a greener future26 Turning transport towards sustainability28 Housing: making healthier, moreaffordable homes30 Buildings and energy efficiency inSouth Africa31 Old landfills, new energy potential32 Energy efficiency in deliveringwater services33 Energy resources for local authoritiesiI ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS

Example of local authorityenergy use and cost‘The average travel time for a trip in1999 took 33% longer than it did for thesame trip in 1994’ – Joburg EconomicDevelopment PlanExample of local authorityelectricity consumptionby sectorand the primary planners and serviceproviders in the city. Energy costs alsodraw precious budgetary resourcesfrom other important municipalfunctions such as education, publictransport and health care.Energy is a variable cost, whichcan be controlled by cutting downon wasteful energy consumption –greater energy efficiency means lowerfinancial energy costs and improvedcompetitiveness.Local authorities that managetheir energy consumption effectivelyare also less vulnerable when energyprices rise. Using less energy meansreduced local pollutants and carbonemissions as well.Whatever the size or type of thelocal authority and the city or townit manages, everyone stands to gainfrom being more energy efficient. Itdelivers not only cost savings in theshort-term, but is important for thelonger term financial viability andcompetitiveness of local government,business and industry taking intoaccount factors such as reputation, riskmanagement, carbon managementand environmental responsibility.City management is complex, andcities worldwide are in crisis, financiallyand in terms of increasing inequity.An energy strategy is an excellentmanagement tool that reaches beyondthe boundaries of ‘the energy sector’– it presents an opportunity for localgovernment to take hold of its leadershiprole and to lead by example.INTEGRATED ENERGY PLANNINGIEP targets optimal efficiency and service provision in the energysector. This includes consideration of the broader concerns of theentire economy, not just a ‘least financial cost’ focus.Key characteristics of IEP for cities:• All energy sources and energy-related activities are considered asa whole systemDue to budget constraints, nationalgovernment proposed removing 20commuter rail sets from a city’s lines– this would have put 17 000 people onto the road in 3 000 minibus taxis.• Demand-side focus – since this is the reason for the existence ofthe energy supply industry• Demand-side management (DSM) is considered prior tosupply-side solutions• Supply-side options are evaluated in the light of the demands• Environmental and social costs are clearly considered• Energy sector linkages with the economy are includedThrough its Energy Strategy Process,Cape Town has already identifiedR12.8m of annual energy savingsthrough implementing efficiencymeasures in its waste water managementsystem, lighting in its buildingsand fleet management – maximumpayback period for these is five years.2 ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS

WHAT ISSUSTAINABILITY?THE UNITED Nations WorldCommission on Environment andDevelopment defines sustainabilityas development that ‘meetsthe needs of the present withoutcompromising the ability of futuregenerations to meet their needs’.Today’s urban systems drawresources from the environment,often compromising the earth’s abilityto regenerate those resourcesin the process. In many ways the worldeconomic system encourages wastefulconsumption, by paying scantregard to the worth of non-renewableresources, their scarcity, and by nottaking into account future cleanupcosts.What can your localgovernment do to builda sustainable city?A sustainable city draws from theenvironment those resources thatare necessary and that can be recycledperpetually or returned tothe environment in a form naturecan use to generate more resources.However, building a sustainableKEY ELEMENTS OF ASUSTAINABLE SYSTEMcity can be daunting, as it requiresthat decisions be based on an equitableaccounting of all costs bornetoday and in the future – this mayrequire quite far-reaching institutionalchange.But it is important to start somewhere.Every more environmentallysustainable decision and action takennow will contribute to building asustainable city in the longer term.Let it never be said that we didn’teven try.A sustainable energy planA sustainable energy plan integrateslong-term energy planning into thelocal policymaking framework.The impacts of our energyconsumption practices cannot bereversed overnight, so sustainableenergy planning must be an ongoing,dynamic activity.Sustainable urban energy systemsencompass more than energyefficiency and conservation. Thesesystems are diverse, flexible, selfreliantand renewable, and such planningrequires careful development,• Consistent. The short-term actions are compatible with long-term goals and theviability of the system.• Renewable. The system depends on renewable resources and operates usingenvironmentally benign technologies.• Diverse. The more diverse and appropriate your system, the more able it is toadapt to change.• Inclusive. All elements of the system, including people, are valued and used for thegood of both the individual parts and the whole.• Interdependent. Each element of the system is both dependent on and depended onby several other elements; the greater the interconnection, the stronger the system.THE SUSTAINABLEENERGY PATH• Reduce dependence on fossil fuels• Introduce cleaner fuels• Increase use of renewable energy• Focus on energy effi ciency• Economic development based oneffi cient resource use• Effi cient public transport using cleanerenergy sourcesnurturing, implementation andreview. It involves strong supportfrom the community and partnersat all levels. Sustainability involvesrecognising that the natural environmentalsystems on which wedepend must be allowed not onlyto survive, but to thrive.SUSTAINABLE CITIES…• Use energy effectively in achieving otherlocal goals, such as affordable housing,effi cient transportation systems, economicdevelopment and job creation.• Protect and maintain quality of life byreducing environmental problems associatedwith the use of hazardous andunhealthy sources of energy and theineffi cient use of energy.• Contribute to energy security by reducingvulnerability to predicted oil shortagesand price increases.• Ensure that its citizens have appropriateaccess to energy services and energyinformation to reduce poverty.• Develop programmes and policies toensure that energy resources and theirimpacts inform all development decisions.ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS3

PLANNINGfor a sustainable futureALTHOUGH NATIONAL initiativesare essential for developingmany of the strategies, technologiesand regulations needed for sustainability,local planning efforts arethe building blocks of a sustainable‘Although it was national governments thatsigned the Climate Change Convention, thereal global leadership for reducing carbonemissions and energy conservation is comingfrom municipal leaders’– UNEPenergy future. This section explainswhy, gives examples of what citiescan do to promote a sustainablefuture, and outlines the process fordeveloping a sustainable city energyplan. Cities must be the primaryplanners for a sustainable future.Local activities and systems determinemany of the most importantaspects of sustainability, includingland use, transport systems, wastedisposal, water services, electrification,building codes, schools, housingand public buildings.As these are part of our dailylives, it is easier to organise communityand city action than nationalaction. There is also more flexibilityand uniqueness at the local level,and this allows for flexible andcreative solutions.Strategic planningStrategic planning processes at thecity level are a good way of identifying,ranking and implementingenergy and environmental policiesand programmes that promoteurban sustainability.Strategic planning is a systematicway to identify and accomplishpriority actions.Unlike simple goal setting, strategicplanning focuses on implementationand the allocation oflimited resources to critical issues.Set measurable goalsIt is important in this pioneeringprocess to set measurable goals.An important challenge will beto empower city employees andcitizens to develop the means toaccomplish goals.To do so, you must create avision for a sustainable energyfuture. Think about what you wantto achieve. Put words to your broadvision and describe the end results insome detail – include such things aslower energy bills, less air pollution,reduced solid waste, better publictransport, less traffic congestion,more people cycling to work everyday, more local jobs, and so on.Tangible targetsMake your vision tangible by settingtargets you hope to meet by aspecific date.These energy targets can includeaccess to energy targets, energyefficiency targets, and air qualitytargets, for example.Setting such targets will focuscommunity effort and provide abenchmark for evaluating success.The planning processThis planning guide uses a 10-stepprocess as a framework.The next sections, from pages6–21, will guide you through thesesystematic planning steps. The casestudies provide extra guidance.PHOTOGRAPH OF JOHANNESBURG: © WALTER KNIRR4 ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS

THE 10-STEP PROCESS1. Designate a lead office & finda champion2. Establish partnerships3. Find the hooks: review the vision, goals &policies of your city and country4. Conduct an energy auditof your city5. Analyse your information & developa draft plan6. Build support – your participation process7. Finalise the plan8. Implement your plan & finance projects9. Review & evaluate your plan10. Publicise the benefitsThis is not a linear process, of course. Many of these activities take place all along the way. The flow diagram on page 22 suggests a dynamic view of the process.UNDERSTANDINGTHE NEEDS OFTHE USERSThe importance of ademand-led approachIn South Africa, energy sector assessmentor planning has in the past beendriven by supply-side industries.Supply-side information is alsooften relatively easy to collect (fromthe supply companies/utilities),whereas demand-side informationgathering usually takes considerablymore effort.However, there are many economicand social benefits that canarise from first considering andunderstanding the demand-sidepicture. In fact, planning for a sustainablefuture cannot happen withoutit. This avoids various deficienciesthat arise from a predominantlysupply-side approach:• Disproportionate focus on theneeds of the supply industry.While this industry clearly haslegitimate needs, this focus canlead to inadequate considerationof the needs of the customers orconsumers (ie, the demand-side),who are in fact the reason for theexistence of the supply industry.Safety and health concerns, forexample, are better identifiedby a demand-side focus.Local Authority Energy StrategyEconomically efficient fuelswitching alternatives are alsobest identified by first lookingat the demand-side.• Potential for (and history of)misjudging future demand– Eskom’s historical electricitygeneration surplus is an exampleof this.• Limited perception of suppresseddemand. An example is householdsthat could afford a particularenergy service, such as asolar water heater, if properfinancing was available. Asupply-side focus would tendto miss such opportunities.• Reduced attention to efficiency anddemand-side management options,including behaviour change – bothof these require an understandingof the demand-side.This means that you need a gooddemand-side database in order to developenergy strategies and evaluatetheir implementation.ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS 5

S t e p 1DESIGNATING A ‘LEAD’OFFICE & NURTURINGA CHAMPIONEVERY CITY department must get involvedin planning the city’s sustainablefuture. This guarantees that all staff supportthe concept and understand what itmeans for the way in which they work.An in-house advisory group orsteering committee can also helpbuild commitment, but there mustbe leadership and direction comingfrom one primary office. Champions(people with commitment, charismaS t e p 2and power) play a vital role in capturingpeople’s imagination and gettingbuy in. Try to find both political andofficial champions. You will also findthat champions emerge along the way– grab them!Be strategic about selecting yourlead office: it could be the office ofthe mayor, IDP/strategic planning orenvironment, for example. There areopportunities for co-operating: onedepartment could lead the developmentof the energy plan, while anotherdepartment – or several – could leadthe implementation.In addition to an overall champion,you might need a champion for eachsector (residential, transport, electricity,commercial and local authority).Together they can form a City EnergyPartnership. A sector can be led by asuitable external organisation as well.ESTABLISHING PARTNERSHIPSPARTNERSHIPS bring expertise,resources, support and information.As energy is cross-cutting, itneeds a partnership approach, soat the outset you need to developthese with organisations and evenother cities and networks (see alsoStep 6, Building Support).When thinking about partnerships,ask yourself what NGOs,community groups, businesses,utilities and other associationscan support your planning?Which groups can help buildyour in-house capacity and provideadditional expertise?Are there parastatal, national,provincial or local technical resourcesthat can assist you inyour planning and implementationefforts? Possibilities include NGOs,energy efficiency programmes andclimate change programmes (localand international).LOCAL ACTIONS THAT SUPPORT SUSTAINABILIT Y• Become role model energy consumers in the operation of municipal facilities, vehicle fleets andmass transport.• Regulate and plan for efficient energy use through local land use that affects the patterns ofresidential, commercial and industrial development.• Work with local utilities to set targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency systems.• Promote carpooling, cycling, the use of public transport and walking through land-use planning,parking management, improved bicycle and pedestrian access and public transport provision.• Institute local government fleet km per litre standards to promote fuel efficiency.• Plan and implement a public and staff education programme, publicising the benefits of individuallifestyle and business changes.QUESTIONS TO ANSWERBEFORE YOU GET STARTED1. What city department should lead your planning activities?2. Should you pass a city council resolution to kick off planning activities?Or wait until you have tangible goals and objectives to discuss?3. What city departments might be the most active participants in the process?4. Who will you approach to be your planning and implementation partners?6 ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS

S t e p 3FINDING THE HOOKSReviewing city vision,goals & policiesAN IMPORTANT PART of yoursustainable energy plan is to link itto city goals and issues. This makesthe energy strategy relevant andensures buy-in. Most of the city’sgoals and issues will have an energycomponent, even though it might behidden, as energy is key to the deliveryof all basic services and is thuspivotal to all the services that a localauthority provides. There is alwaysa ‘hook’ on which the sustainableenergy strategy can hang – it’s simplya matter of finding it and makingthe connection clear.MAKINGCONNECTIONSYour city may have adopted formalenergy or environmental goals,which may be in your city’s strategicplan, development plan or cityvision. This strategic plan usuallyoutlines goals concerning land use,transportation, housing, energy andthe environment, all of which havespecific energy links. If you are lucky,your city might have a strategicenvironmental policy within whichsustainable energy easily falls.Even if your city has no statedenvironmental or energy objectives,you can often link the proposed energygoals with poverty, economicand health concerns.For example, your city probablyhas poverty alleviation andadequate housing high on itsagenda, and lower energy expensescan contribute toward this goal.Economic development is a mainobjective for all cities, and creatingan enabling environment for greenelectricity production and localindependent power producers cancontribute to that goal. Improvingaccess while reducing traffic congestionand air pollution are usually toppriorities, and strategies for reducingindividual car use (and petrol anddiesel use) while improving publictransport can help meet these energyrelatedobjectives.Look out for these types of connections.Every energy-efficiency strategycan help meet at least one or two othergoals for your city and its residents.Your city might also have otherprogrammes that could support thedevelopment of a sustainable energystrategy. Look at internationalprogrammes emerging from theWSSD and its predecessors, such asthe Agenda/Action 21 programmeand the Healthy Cities and Cities forClimate Protection campaigns.Poverty alleviation or sustainabledevelopment programmes thatare run in partnership with nationalor provincial government, communityor environmental organisations,local and national universitiesor utilities would all provide a hookfor the sustainable energy strategy.FINANCIALSUSTAINABILITYYour local authority probably alsohas the internal goal of becomingmore financially sustainable andsaving energy in municipal activitieswill contribute to that.Your municipality might alreadyhave a programme that monitorsenergy use in government facilitiesor fleet management programmes.Use these to build your sustainableenergy strategy.BE STRATEGICIt is usually better to dovetail projects,processes and goals that feedyour energy plan. Do be strategic,though, and select programmes thatare strong and well-placed.IDENTIFYING ISSUESYou will be able to start identifyingenergy issues as you collect data andengage in public participation.Filter these energy ‘issues’ throughlocal, national and internationalimperatives so that you can prioritiseand develop energy goals that meetlocal needs.Focus-group workshops are agood way of identifying importantissues and links between energy efficiencyand other primary local issues.Such workshops will also give yourplan increased visibility and buildsupport for the future. Ask participantsto identify and rank the energylinks associated with major city issues.They can help draft energy policystatements and specific recommendationsfor each statement.CHECKLIST WHENIDENTIFYING GOALSAND ISSUES• Become familiar with your city’sstrategic objectives or vision.• Analyse the energy component ofthe city’s goals.• Identify relevant role players to involve inidentifying issues and developing thesustainable energy plan and goals.• Develop a list of demand-side and supplysideenergy related issues in your city and filterit through your city’s strategic vision.ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS 7

ENERGY IMPERATIVESLocal, nationaland internationalINTERNATIONALTRENDSMillenniumDevelopment GoalsWorld leaders agreed on the MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDG) inSeptember 2000. The MDG are a setof eight time-bound and measurablegoals and targets for combatingpoverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy,environmental degradation and discriminationagainst women. First onthe list is poverty eradication, andthe seventh goal aims to ensure environmentalsustainability. Energyhas a specific link to both of these.Among the indicators for targetsare GDP per unit of energy use (asa proxy for energy efficiency) andcarbon dioxide emission per capita(Plus two figures of global atmosphericpollution: ozone depletionand the accumulation of globalwarming gases)World Summiton SustainableDevelopmentThe WSSD in 2002 set five key commitmentsfor energy.• Diversifying energy supply andsubstantially increasing the globalshare of renewable sources in orderto increase renewables’ contributionto total energy supply.• Improving access to reliable,affordable, economically viable,socially acceptable and environmentallysound energy servicesand resources.• Removing energy market distortionsincluding the restructuring oftaxes and phasing out of harmfulsubsidies and supporting effortsto improve the functioning, transparencyand information aboutenergy markets with respect toboth supply and demand, withthe aim of achieving greaterstability and ensuring consumeraccess to energy services.• Establishing domestic programmesfor energy efficiencywith the support of the internationalcommunity.• Accelerating development anddissemination of energy efficiencyand energy conservation technologies,including the promotionof research and development.Many countries felt that the WSSDoutcomes were too weak and thusset up the Johannesburg RenewableEnergy Coalition (J-REC). InBonn in June 2004, willing countrieswill set targets and programmes forrenewable energy contribution totheir energy mix.Kyoto ProtocolIn December 1997, more than 160nations met in Kyoto, Japan, tonegotiate binding limitations onREGIONAL ENERGYDISTRIBUTORS:WAY FORWARDImplementation of REDs is estimated for2005. An EDI holdings company has been setup, and although various reports on proposedstructures and responsibilities for REDs havebeen completed, there is no detail on therights and responsibilities of local authoritiesin their areas of jurisdiction. Local authoritieswill be on the RED boards, however.greenhouse gases for the developednations, in response to the objectivesof the Framework Convention onClimate Change of 1992. The outcomeof the meeting was the KyotoProtocol, in which the developednations agreed to limit their greenhousegas emissions, relative to thelevels emitted in 1990. South Africasigned the convention in June 1993and ratified it in August 1997.An important dimension toclimate change is its link withdevelopment. Patterns of energyconsumption, land use and demographicgrowth are all key driversof both development and climatechange. Tackling climate changemust be compatible with advancingthe aspirations of the world’s poor.NATIONAL TRENDSEnergy is a national issue, and thelinks between energy and socialwelfare, economic developmentand environmental integrity are apparentat a policy level.National legislationThe Energy White Paper’s goals includeusing an integrated resourceplanning approach to energy; economicdevelopment; access to electricity;management of the healthand environmental impacts of energygeneration; and being vigilantof paraffin poisoning and transporthealth impacts. Cabinet is now consideringthe Energy Bill.The White Paper on the Promotionof Renewable Energy & CleanEnergy Development focuses on theIndependent Power Producer (IPP)framework, renewable energy targets,8 ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS

PHOTOGRAPH: JEREMY JOWELL© THE MULTICHOICE VUKA! AWARDSfinancing and legislative framework,and promotes local manufacture ofrenewable technologies.The Electricity Distribution Industry(EDI) Restructuring Bill isbefore cabinet and seeks to transformthe current fragmented EDIstructure into a series of RegionalElectricity Distributors (REDs). TheNIRP (National Integrated ResourcePlan) is prepared by the NationalElectricity Regulator (NER), based onEskom’s Integrated Electricity Plan.Energy also featured as a priorityat the 51st national conference ofthe ANC in December 2002. At theconference they resolved:• that the process of rationalisingelectricity distribution shouldcontinue, ensuring viable andaffordable electricity supply forall regions and the progressiveachievement of universal andaffordable access, on the foundationof a minimum freebasic electricity service to allhouseholds.• that all proposals for restructuringenergy generation and distributionshould be analysed objectivelyto assess likely impact onemployment, the cost of investmentin new capacity, electricityfor households and formal business,and the environment,• to support the introductionof cleaner technologies forburning coal as well as alternativeenergy sources,• that research into renewableenergy technologies must beconducted, and it must includepotential for local ownership andcommunity participation,Above: Devastating shack fires are regular occurrences in coastal cities where people rely on paraffin forcooking and where wind velocities are high.• to take concrete steps to combatpollution arising out of coalvalue chain activities by settingclean targets in the context ofsustainable development withoutincreasing cost to the poor,• to support the principle thatdecisions on nuclear energy mustbe based on a comprehensiveand transparent environmentimpact assessment,• to ensure safety measures inenergy generation, manufactureand usage, especially of paraffin.CITY OF TSHWANE’S8-POINT VISION1. economic growth and developmentLOCAL POLICYIMPERATIVESFrom international to local imperativesit is quite clear that povertyand sustainability are priority issuesfor any South African city, and thatevery city has a lot to gain from a sustainableenergy development path.Each city has strategic goals ora vision. Energy will usually playa pivotal role in ensuring that thosegoals are met. It is important that acity’s energy objectives reflect andfulfil a city’s strategic objectives.2. democratic, responsible and equitable governance, providing efficient andeffective delivery3. integrated and compact city4. poverty alleviation by making essential services and facilities accessible5. safe and secure environment6. strengthening of status as South Africa’s capital city7. building of Tshwane’s international status8. care for cultural and natural resourcesENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS 9

S t e p 4CONDUCTING A CITYENERGY AUDITA VITAL STEP in developing yoursustainable energy plan is to collectenergy information about your city.This process is referred to as an energyscan, an energy audit or developing aState of Energy Report for your city.Use your review of your city and thecountry’s vision, goals and policiesto help decide what information youshould prioritise. Remember that thisis the beginning of a process, so whileyour information may be far fromperfect now, engaging in this processwill ensure that the quality of the dataimproves year by year.Summarise your information intoan overview of demand and supply:total energy use and emissions bysector and by energy source.Collecting energy information willserve several functions:• It helps you identify theenergy-use areas that are mostimportant in your city.• It tells you the size and shapeof the resource-related problemsfacing the city.• It identifies non-sustainabletrends resulting from currentmarket forces, social conditions,government procedures,regulations and programmes.• It begins the process ofdiscovering the hidden, yetimportant, details about theform and function of yourlocal government• It identifies organisationalmechanisms and partnersthat can help implementvarious strategies.• It provides the base data forevaluating and tracking yourcity’s progress.THE ENERGY AUDITApart from basic data on yourcity’s climate, geography, population,economy, housing, businesses,industry, etc, your focus will be onenergy demand and energy supplyinformation in your city.ENERGY DEMANDINFORMATIONResidentialEnergy-use profile for different groupsand areas; electricity connections; energyuse, prices, expenditure; accessto energy sources; health and safety information;quality of housing (relatingto energy efficiency); end-use patterns:percentages of total energy (wood,electricity, natural gas, paraffin) usedfor specific end-use (lighting, space/water heating, cooking, cooling); endusepercentages by dwelling type.Total eCO 2emissionsby sector City of Cape TownSolid Waste37%Vehicle Fleet15%Streetlights24%Buildings18%NO TIME FOR ALENGTHY ENERGYAUDIT?Bulkwatersupply &wastewatertreatment6%At a minimum, you need to know the kindsand quantities of energy used in your city,how much these energy resources cost, anda breakdown of the big energy users andresources used.Industry and commerceOutput; employment and energyuse by sector; relative energy intensity;emissions.TransportModal split, trip length and time,cost and subsidies, energy use andemissions by mode.Local authorityEnergy use, cost and emissions by energysource and sector (see pie chart).Energy demand projectionsCurrent growth rates in energy consumptionfrom all sectors; estimatesof use at future target date.CO2 equivalentCalculate the CO 2equivalent for relevantsectors, subsectors and overall.ENERGY SUPPLYINFORMATIONAll supply to the cityCoal, liquid fuels and gas, electricity.Energy sourcesElectricity production (fossil fuels,hydro, nuclear, other), level of dependenceon oil, coal, renewableenergy sources, natural gas, etc.Solid wasteTons of waste generated/recycled,city recycling goals.SewageMillions of litres per day.CURRENT ENERGYPROJECTSIdentify all current projects acrossall sectors.10 ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS

QUESTIONS TO ASKWHILE GATHERING DATA1. Find out why the agency or group collects the information. This may uncover opportunities forfuture co-operation. For example, if they are planning a survey soon, will they include questionsthat could help your work?FINDING THEINFORMATIONThe questions below will help youdetermine where you can get theinformation you want.• Who pays for, or taxes, theresource? Following the moneyis always a good place to start.• Who manages or plans theresource? Think about the agencyor company that records, permits,inspects, controls, builds,repairs or delivers the resource.• Who else is interested in thisinformation? There may be othergroups that have collected someof the data you need. Goodplaces to start include relatedcity departments, environmentalgroups, universities, and thelocal chamber of commerce.• Use figures from an area largerthan your city to estimate thenumbers you want. Be explicitabout the assumptions inyour estimates.HOW MUCH DETAILDO YOU NEED?It pays to err on the side of havingtoo much information. As you gatherthe data, consider its accuracy.Find out how the data was generated.Examine the assumptions andmethodology. Do they make sense?On a single topic, such as housingor population, you may gatherdata from two different sources.Do the results agree, or are therediscrepancies?A deeper understanding of howthe data was generated can tell youa lot about its accuracy.2. Ask how the information is collected as clues to data’s reliability. Who collects the information?Do they use direct measurements or rely on reports or forms sent in by others? Do theydrive around and count? Do they take a sample and make a projection? How accurate dothey think the numbers are? How did they determine the accuracy? Compare differentsources where possible.3. Ask the group or agency if there have been changes in the methodology and if any are planned– changes in the methodology can skew your results and make it diffi cult to establish trends.Are you talking to someone who is actually involved or is this a second-hand interpretation?4. How far back has the agency been tracking the information? This is important to your abilityto establish a common base year for all your data.5. Ask who, if anyone, analyses the information. Do city staff members analyse the data? Do theysee any trends? If they calculate any projections ask if they use simple extrapolation or a morecomplex algorithm.6. Don’t be afraid to ask stupid questions. Ask lots of questions about the meaning of the numbers,the units and any assumptions behind them. Jumping to conclusions can be dangerousto your results.8. Get a copy of any published or draft reports. Keep a separate library of environmental auditand data support materials.PROBLEMS YOU MAY ENCOUNTER …BUT CAN OVERCOME IN TIME!• No data or inaccessible data• Energy supply info is good but demand (user) info is poor• No centralised collection of data on energy• Data not collected in the units you need• Data by region, not by city• Good data on one sector for one year, but for no other sectors for that year• Very basic information on facilities may be lacking• Different departments don’t communicate with each otherGATHER FACTSTHAT ENHANCECOMMUNIT YUNDERSTANDINGSimple facts make the project real to cityleaders and the community. How much doaverage households spend for home energy oron transport? How much air pollution is causedby local energy use? What health problems arecaused by local energy use? Gather some ofthis information and show the facts and fi guresin graphic form, such as a pie chart or graph.ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS 11

ENERGY VISIONS, GOALS, TARGETS & MEASURESENERGY VISION 2: A leading African city in meeting its energy needs in a sustainable way,and thus fulfilling its constitutional obligations and global responsibilities in this regard.GOAL Focus area Target MeasuresIncreasing renewable andclean energy contributionto the energy supply mix,and reducing dependenceon unsustainable sourcesof energy (starting withthe most financially viableoptions – the ‘low hangingfruit’)Residential10% of households to havesolar water heaters by 2010SHORT-TERM (2 YEARS)Promote the use of solar water heaters via provision of informationon costs, savings and environmental benefits.Compile standards and codes for the installation and performanceof solar water heaters.LONG-TERMEstablish solar water heater financing scheme.All City-owned housing to have solar water heaters installed.ENERGY VISION 4: A city with an efficient and equitable transport system, based on publictransport and compact planning, to enable all residents to enjoy the benefits of urban life.GOAL Focus area Target MeasuresAn energy efficientpublic transport system– (1) encouraging efficientpublic transport use and(2) discouraging inefficientprivate vehicle use.TransportRail, bus and taxi transportshare of total transportmodal split increased by10% by 2010.Numbers of private vehiclescommuting into city centredecreased 10% by 2010.SHORT-TERM (2 YEARS)Establish local government – provincial government metropolitanTransport Authority to ensure co-ordinated planning andefficient allocation of funds.Ensure that rail transport receives priority attention to ensure ahigh standard of service.Steadily improve facilities at public/private interchanges.LONG-TERMRapid bus transport corridors to be identified andimplemented.Dedicated bus and taxi lanes – identify and implementon all major commuter routes.• the availability of data,• environmental benefits,• economic development benefitsincluding savings and job creation,• support of city’s growth paths(eg tourism, manufacturing),• contribution to sustainability.To confirm whether your options contributeto sustainability, review thesekey elements of a sustainable system:consistent, renewable, diverse, inclusiveand inter-dependent (see page 3).There are several analytical andquantitative tools to assist with analysis.These can help clarify the optionsavailable to urban policy makers whoare planning for a sustainable future.Tools include cost-benefit analysis,strategic environmental assessments,scenario planning, economic impacttools, end-use potential analysis andintegrated resource planning.Your draft planYour draft plan will grow from thisanalysis, and can be in the form ofscenario planning using ‘business asusual’, as well as high-road scenarios,such as ‘20% renewables by year 2020’ –and a middle-road scenario if it suitsyour purposes.Your high-road scenario can bebased on targets such as:2020 energy vision• 20% private car use reduction• no days exceeding WHO airquality standards• 20% real reduction in CO 2emissions• 20% renewables• all housing to have ceilingsand efficient lights• mandatory green buildingstandards for all new buildingsover a certain value• poverty tariffs – all householdshave access to basic electricityEnergy straw dogYour draft plan could also take theform of a ‘straw dog’ – a plan presentedas a basis for discussion and input,set out as per the example above.• Energy vision statements – based onthe city’s vision• Energy goals – linked to eachvision statement• Targets – linked to each goal• Measures – what can be done toachieve these goals• Projects – existing and potential.ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS 13

S t e p 6BUILDING PUBLIC &INTERNAL SUPPORT– your participationprocessDEVELOPING AND implementing asustainable energy plan is pioneering.You will need to educate the public,city staff and political leaders onthe plan’s value. You will need helpgetting tasks done. You will need financialresources. And you will needallies. Accomplishing all this requiresinternal support and wide-range publicsupport, and building that supportis one of the most critical aspects ofyour planning effort. Remember yourparticipation process starts the firsttime you start interacting with citystaff or the public around the sustainableenergy plan.Participation is the key to an effectiveplan. This may be challengingas most people, businesses andmunicipal departments view energypolicy as secondary to their everydayactivities.Minister of Minerals & Energy, PhumzileMlambo-Ngcuka, at the launch of NationalEnergy Efficiency Week 2003.Therefore, it is critical that localenergy programmes be linked to theirgoals. Energy programmes shouldshare common concerns and help supportachieving broader city and communitygoals. For example, air quality,housing affordability and trafficcongestion concern nearly everyone.Solutions to each of these issues can befound in energy efficiency.IDENTIFYINGSTAKEHOLDERSThere are internal and external peopleyou will need to interact with in orderto develop a good energy plan for yourcity. Make a list of all stakeholders fromwhom you will need to source informationand get buy-in. When talkingto city staff or external organisationsremember that organisations don’tmake decisions – people do. Developrelationships with them. Rememberthat you can learn from them.LOCAL GOVERNMENTSTAFFMake a list of local government departmentsand agencies that you thinkshould care about sustainability. Ifthis is difficult, try tracing energy orother resources through the city andlocal government. Every departmenttouched by this should be on your list.ASSESSING LOCALGOVERNMENT ANDPUBLIC SUPPORTAfter talking to each department,list your strongest allies and whatprojects you may be able to dotogether. Deciding how to proceedand maintain your momentum mayrequire a different strategy witheach ally. Your approach also willdepend on the politics and structureof your local government.You also need to assess theconflicts or barriers you have withdepartments that are or may be nonsupportive.Your aim might be tosave electricity while the electricitydepartment might feel that it is theirobjective to sell more electricity. Citystaff involved in transport mightfeel that they do not have the necessarypower to create change. Otherstaff might just feel overworked.Barriers generally fall into four categories,and each is discussed below:InformationLocal government staff may lack informationor have the wrong information.Send them the right information or usethe mediums they will read.InstitutionalGovernment processes often createdisincentives to change. These institutionalbarriers are the most difficult. Toovercome them requires a firm commitmentfrom top decision makers. Talk toyour strongest supporters about how toobtain this commitment.PersonalThe risks inherent in change may bepersonally threatening to city staff.This may not have been explicitly stated,but the tone of the responses may giveclues to the hidden reasons.14 ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS

Examples of co-operative projectsDepartment Their goals Your goals Joint projectTraffic management Reduce congestion Save energy Promote off-peak work hoursFleet management Reduce expenditure Save energy Promote vehicle efficient procurementHousing Affordable housing Save energy Put in ceilings in low-income housingHousing Affordable housing Save energy Promote solar water heatersTraffic lights Reduce maintenance costs Save energy Promote the use of Light EmittingDiodesCity general services Reduce operating costs Save energy City facility energy-saving programmeAir quality departmentReduce air pollutionemissionsSave energyPromote carpools, public transport,alternative fuelsStreet lighting Reduce costs of lighting Save energy Promote longer lasting energy-efficientlighting replacementsFinancialCity departments may not have thebudget to perform the work. Look forareas where your projects could helpmeet their needs.INTERACTING WITHSTAKEHOLDERSSet up task teams and/oradvisory boards and/orpartnership teamsA task team is an effective way toget people with specific technicalexpertise involved in the planningprocess. Examples of task teamsthat relate to energy include housingand household, business andindustry, government, transportationand energy supplies (renewableresources).Assess whether an internal ora multi-stakeholder (consisting ofexternal organisations as well) teamis best for your context. Advisoryboards consisting of communityand business organisations are oneoption and a City Energy Partnershipmade up of key organisationsfrom across the city, is another.Do informal networkingAn informal network lets youknow what’s really going on in theenvironmental and business sectorsof your city. It is an excellentway to access the expertise, influenceand support of local communitygroups. Likewise, it puts youin a position as a resource for theseorganistions.Often you can act as a facilitatorfor bringing together diverse interestgroups that have common goals.Meet with key leadersOften the best way to build supportis to sit down one-on-one and listento the concerns and goals of othergroups and organisations.Meet with key leaders of businesses,utilities and interest groupsto tie their specific needs to theenergy and environmental issues inyour community.Show these key leaders how promotingsustainability and energyefficiency can help them achievetheir goals. Don’t try to convertthem. Listen to their needs andorganisational objectives, then tiethem in with yours.Conduct public or focus groupmeetings on the draft planThere are also likely to be city departments,city task teams, university departments,provincial government,business groups, energy specialistsand community groups with responsibilityor interest in energy andenvironmental matters. Link up withthese groups. They will be supportersand will have projects, reportsand information to help your effort.Another way to assess key issuesin your city is to conduct focusgroup workshops with government,community and business leaders. Includepolicy makers and programmemanagers from city departments such ashousing and community development,planning, public works, transportation,buildings and electricity. Alsoinvite the leaders of outside organisationsand business groups such as thetransport authorities, utilities, economicdevelopment bodies, relevantcommunity-based organisations andchambers of commerce.Go to people and groups at theirregularly scheduled meetings andoutline your proposal. Provide generalinformation on energy issues asit might be new to them and addresstheir comments.When you have a completed draftenergy plan, hold at least one publicmeeting with good media coverageto provide an overall wrap up of theconsensus-building process.Public participation meetingswill provide you with:• early opportunities to discoverallies and work together ondifficult issues,• public ownership of the process,• a willingness to support subsequentimplementation,• improved community esteemthrough awareness, educationand empowerment.Without a public participation processduring the planning process,you may encounter:• unanticipated opposition at thepublic hearing or adoption stage,Market the benefits of energy efficiency suchas cleaner air, lower costs, and less traffic thatare relevant to your audience.ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS 15

• little or no support for the adoptedplan and implement ation,• failure to identify issuescommunity members considerimportant.Use public relations andmedia eventsUse the media to publicise focusgroup workshops, public meetingsand the overall planning process.Consider developing a regularnewsletter that tracks your progressdeveloping goals, objectives,and implementation strategies. Thenewsletter also should feature thepeople who are involved in the sustainablecity plan. Newsletters keeppeople informed and help buildbroad community support.Occasional press events are alsoessential. Feature energy relatedprojects that are already under wayand that bring together some of theproposed goals of your sustainableenergy plan. Low-income energyefficiencyprogrammes, mass transitprogrammes or recycling efforts providetangible success stories.Staying visibleOther ways to stay visible include:• connecting your planningprocess to other importantcity events,• explaining sustainability in thesimplest words possible, such asResistance to changecontinuumInfl uenced by:• Feelings• Perceptions• Experiences• Beliefs• Infl uencesIn 1979 Portland, Oregon was the first major UScity to adopt an energy conservation policy.Then years later, changes in local energy andenvironmental conditions caused local leadersto examine links between energy use andhousing, transportation, solid waste, air andwater quality and business development.Hundreds of citizens and every city departmentwere involved in developing a 1990energy policy with a broader goal of achievinga sustainable energy future.‘meeting today’s needs withoutcompromising the future’.If your community isn’t ready forthe word ‘sustainability,’ use otherwords that link together energy andenvironmental issues and economicdevelopment.It is usually a good idea to developa draft sustainable energy plan withproposed energy goals to start thediscussions. Public participation processescan be expensive, so try to linkthe development of the plan with theIntegrated Development Plan orother community processes run bythe municipality.Identify and use championsSuccessful programmes typicallyhave one thing in common: theyare endorsed by key leaders in thecommunity. These leaders becomechampions for the energy plan.This is a good idea – it worked for meand you should try it tooI’m ready to try this (action)I’m interested – Please tell memore about your ideaYes it’s a problem but if I change it,I might lose something elseYes it’s a problem but I don’t trust this personor agency – too young, what do they know…Yes it is a problem but I don’t trust thissituation / it won’t work hereIt’s a problem but it’s not my responsibility /no timeNo problemYou need to identify and use appropriatechampions.Suggested champions includecity council members, communityleaders, environmental leaders andbusiness owners.Useful education and publicawareness toolsYou will need some tools to helpexplain and convince others of theneed for and benefits of your sustainableenergy goals.Some effective methods are presentationsusing slides or overheadtransparencies, a collection of articleson sustainability or how othercities are benefiting from similarefforts, educational exhibits to taketo meetings or put in building entrancesand other public places.Before reaching for a camera,though, think about your audience,what message you want to send,and the best way to send it.To make your message morepowerful, use simple language andgood graphics that tell a story orillustrate a point.Resistance to changeAs you identify supporters of yourenergy plan, it is equally importantto identify those city departmentsand others who will not be supportive,as non-supporters can hinderyour progress.Usually you’ll find that nonsupportersare people who are resistantto change. Some of them willsimply need the right sort of informationthat make the energy linksrelevant to them, although othersneed more work and you will needto work up the resistance-to-changecontinuum.When you do come across nonsupporters,work closely with themto understand the nature of the conflictor barrier between your effortsand their goals.Common ground usually can befound for at least some areas of yourplanning effort.16 ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS

S t e p 7FINALISINGTHE PLANFROM YOUR participation process,you will now have a lot ofinput on your draft plan or yourdifferent scenarios. You will havea list of possible and current projectsand programmes to be considered,and you will also haveanalysed their advantages anddisadvantages.Now your city must decide on aset of reasonable objectives that canbe implemented.Your next step will be to identifypriority projects that fit in underthese objectives.IDENTIFYINGPRIORITY PROJECTSThere are several approaches youcan take to select priority projects,and the approach that works bestwill depend on the nature of yourcity. Remember that it is very importantto value what is being donealready – show that you are alreadyon the road.Each programme option hasboth benefits and costs that are amix of economic, social, political,environmental and implementationimpacts. The process of decidingwhich impacts to rank or how to assignmore weight to one factor overanother is a political one.Decision-makers often balancecosts with political acceptability tofind the path of least resistance. Thiscan lead to development which isunsustainable. Rather consider thefollowing criteria:Analyse direct and indirecteconomic benefitsEvaluate the cost of programme optionsin energy Rand savings, businessgenerated, jobs created and taxrevenue generated. Also considerindirect economic benefits, such asavoided health costs, avoided firesand destruction of dwellings andmaterial corrosion from pollutants;reduced impacts from rising energycosts; and less risk of energy supplyinterruptions; job gains and supportfor local industry development; devolutionof economic power.Evaluate energy sustainabilityUsing the key elements of sustainability,evaluate programme optionsfor their contribution to a sustainableenergy system. You mightwant to pursue some options eventhough they are expensive and donot have significant short-termeconomic benefits, particularly ifthey are critical to making otherprojects happen. You may be able toaccess climate change financing forprojects which have high upfrontcapital costs and/or longer paybackperiods.Prioritise projectsWhen identifying priority projects,describe and quantify the relatedimpacts and benefits to a reasonablelevel of detail. It is possible to use alot of your limited resources determiningthose impacts. To conserveresources, quickly sort and quantifythe easy options. Assess the relativeimpacts of the difficult ones by rankingor scoring programme optionson a simple scale, such as 1–5. Basethe score on your own or a group’sopinion, supported with data fromthe energy scan (see pages 4–5, Planningfor a Sustainable Future).Sorting optionsSorting options and identifyingpriority projects may seem to be aformidable task, but the analysisyou just completed should helpyou considerably. And you also willhave help from others. Many of theanswers will become apparent asyou develop your support in andout of local government. If yoursupport-building efforts have beensuccessful, the solutions and politicalwillingness will be there.It is important to stay in closecontact with your supporters. Together,you will be developing andchanging implementation strategiesalong the way.ADOPTING THEFINAL PLANAs soon as you have a high levelof agreement (which you shouldhave after all your support-buildingefforts), take your sustainableenergy plan to your city council forformal adoption.Inform the media and providean opportunity for formal recognitionof individuals and businessesthat worked on the plan.ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS 17

S t e p 8IMPLEMENTING &FINANCING THE PLANIMPLEMENTINGTHE PLANSo you have a plan adopted …Now what do you do? Even witha list of priority and current projects,you have limited resourcesand must decide how much effortshould be spent and in whichdirection. Here are some approachesto consider. Each has itsadvantages and limitations. Usethis information to help in implementingthe plan. Remember totake advantage of current projects– where possible use them as aspringboard to implementationBE PRACTICAL,BUT AVOID SHORT-TERMTHINKINGDo what will be easily accomplishedgiven the support andresources available at the moment.This involves looking for connectionsbetween your interests andthose who make financial decisions.Also, select the projects that fit yourcity’s long-term goals.A risk with this approach is thatyou can fall into short-term thinking.If so, you may never achievea sustainable system because thethings that need doing are either tooexpensive, too difficult, or too risky.Short-term thinking not only createsenvironmental problems but alsomost often entrenches poverty andunsustainable livelihoods: the one-(badly built) house-on-one-plot lowincome housing developments onthe outskirts of cities are a perfectexample of this.LONG PAYBACKPERIODSA hurdle you will encounter insome projects is the long paybackperiods which often do not suit theway in which city or, for that matter,national politics work. Nevertheless,it is possible to obtainfunding and programmatic supportfor these types of interventions.Be careful of using up yourresources on easy-to-implementcheaper projects (or ‘low-hangingfruits’) at the expense of projectsthat are more difficult to implement,but have greater impact andfor which you can obtain funding.FOCUS ON OPTIONSWITH THE GREATESTIMPACTIdentify options that are visibleand show significant cost savings,while building a more sustainableIn South African cities, many municipaloffi ce buildings are high energy consumers.Jo’burg and Cape Town haveconducted energy audits on some oftheir buildings and found that, with thesupport of the Energy Effi cient LightingProgramme, they can achieve hugesavings by making lighting more efficient (R 1,3m/year on the Cape TownCity Council’s building), while educatinga large staff and so a fair portionof the city’s citizens. Potchefstroomhave built their new council offi ces asa demonstration of energy effi ciency tothe town’s population.urban system. You may well beable to tackle a range of differentsectors simultaneously and sobuild a broad commitment andunderstanding of a sustainableenergy future.LOCATE FINANCIALRESOURCESEnergy improvements are an investmentthat can help cities and communitiesimprove their financialsustainability.Fortunately, projects that providethe greatest benefit to longtermsustainability often are alignedwith other environmental and socialgoals. If the projects meet severalcommunity goals and provide benefitsto a broad group of residents,they’ll be easier to fund.For example, a local ceilings installationprogramme for low-costhousing may offer:• energy savings for the household,• reduced energy demand on theenergy supplier,• training and employment forresidents,• improved safety and health forresidents,• photo opportunities for localpolitical and business leaders.Those interested in funding sucha programme may be the utility,government housing and evenhealth and social service departments,international funders oran international buyer of carboncredits.18 ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS

The Portland Energy Office proposed a1% ‘fee’ on all city government energybills. These ‘fees’ (totalling about $70000 per year) were used to hire an energymanagement co-ordinator for cityfacilities. That coordinator identifiedmore than $250 000 in energy savingsin the first year.Before looking for money, thinkabout all the ways the energy projectswill benefit the community andwhich agencies would be interestedin those benefits. Financial helpmay be available through nationaland provincial government, locallending institutions, energy servicecompanies, equipment manufacturers,or a combination of these. Remember,projects resulting in energysavings usually provide a return oninvestment that is far greater thanone can get at the bank.Third-party financingSome local governments have usedthird-party financing to design andinstall energy-efficiency retrofitsfor local government facilities. Thethird-party usually funds the energyimprovements. The local governmentpays the third-party over timethrough its energy savings, withthe total cost less than the energyamount saved.If you can build strong politicalsupport for your sustainable energyplan, you may be able to avoid diggingand scratching every year formoney. With sufficient support youmay be able to acquire general fundsor generate revenue from taxes orlevies such as:• carbon taxes on activities such asconferences,• tax on parking spaces,• taxes on electricity use bybusiness and industry,• carbon trading.Be careful of regressive taxes – hittinghardest those who can affordthem least. This will affect supportamong low income groups.Grants and loansOther financial techniques – fairlyrisk-free – are being made to workfor local governments and cities:some are conventional tools, such asmatching grants and revolving loanfunds, modified to work for energyefficiency projects.Others, such as performancecontracts and public-private partnering,are more innovative.Performance contractingPerformance contracting allowslocal governments to try projectswithout making any initial capitalinvestment. It’s a growing trendbecause everyone comes out ahead– businesses and government aswell as the taxpayer.Because your local governmentmay represent substantial and attractivesales potential, local businessesmay be willing to engage ininnovative financing arrangements.Under such an arrangement, athird party, such as an energy utilityor the Development Bank of SouthAfrica (DBSA), provides a servicepackage that typically includes thefinancing, installation and maintenanceof energy-saving capitalimprovements. The customer thenuses the resulting energy savings topay for the improvements.Performance contracts are usuallystructured as a lease, but witha guarantee that payments will notexceed energy savings. This minimisesfinancial risk.Help may also be availablethrough local corporations lookingfor a good project to support.When ‘selling’ your project topotential investors, emphasise notonly the social and environmentalreturns, but also the potential financialreturns. Focus on the businessaspect, not only on the merits ofthe projects, and try to think like anentrepreneur.It’s also important to look at abalanced mix of grants, developmentinvestment funding and commerciallending, and to do your researchwell so that your first port ofcall is not to the wrong institution.When approaching funders forlarger projects, it can certainly helpcross the risk threshold to look at theproject as a ring-fenced entity.GREENFINANCINGKuyasa, a micro-lending fund working inKhayelitsha, offers borrowers three timestheir savings for house improvements,but four times their savings for energyefficiency interventions. The Departmentof Housing is investigating establishingGreen Finance funding mechanisms forall housing.ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS 19

S t e p 9MONITORING &EVALUATINGYOUR PLANYOUR PLAN should be a livingdocument, with short-term plansbeing evaluated and updated everytwo or three years, and long-termplans every five years.You evaluate the progress ofyour energy plan in order to:• track and quantify what hasbeen done, measured againstyour targets,• measure positive results,which will help you maintaincity support,• detect problems and makenecessary changes, and• plant the seeds of futurechallenges.An evaluation compares your objectiveswith your results. It asks,‘What did you aim for and plan tohappen?’ The evaluation processthen measures those plans againstwhat actually did happen! Thismeasurement reveals the quantityand quality of your progress.A GUIDE TO EVALUATION• Statement of goals• Objectives described in measurable terms• AchievementMonitoringRemember that your evaluation canonly be as good as your monitoring.Make sure that you have an effectiveand sufficiently resourced monitoringplan for the programme right atthe beginning – and stick to it.Most projects will require bothquantitative and qualitative monitoringand evaluation.Lack of good monitoring andevaluation has been an inherentweakness in most South Africandevelopment programmes.EvaluationEvaluations fall into two categories:• those that help improve theplanning process, and• those that help you decidewhether to continue particularprogrammes and projects.If your evaluation goal is to improvethe planning process, you need to:• identify the strengths and weaknessesin the planning process,1. How far did we go?QuantitativeProgress towards targets (such as improved air quality, reduced vehicle km, increased publictransport users, electricity connections, jobs created)2. How well did we do?QualitativeBenefits accrued (such as educational: knowledge acquired, skills developed, attitudesaltered or reinforced)• Contingencies1. Unforeseen benefits outside our objectives2. Unforeseen problems3. Additional objectives discovered late in the process4. Change of intention or context during process that nullified or changed the initial objectives• determine which participantsor groups are benefiting themost or least from the plan andits projects.If your goal is to decide whetheror not to continue a particular programmeor project, you will want to:• determine whether the programmeis accomplishingits objective,• analyse the cost/benefit ratioof the programme,• decide if the programme isstill appropriate,• identify who should participatein the continued programme,• reinforce the major points tothe participants (a follow-upevaluation is a good way toreinforce the informationcovered in a programme).Look for specific measurable results,such as energy saved, costs saved,poverty alleviation, environmentalbenefits, and lessons learned.RespondingWhen your evaluation is complete,examine each project and make appropriatechanges to improve yoursuccess. Be ready to adapt yourapproach and to let go of projectswhich are not working.Go back to your efforts indeveloping programme options andinvestigate new methods of achievingyour goals.An evaluation is a great learning opportunity.Be open, be honest. Those activities that didnot go ‘according to plan’ can often teach youmore than those that went ‘right’.20 ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS

S t e p 1 0PUBLICISINGTHE BENEFITS& ENERGISINGTHE CITY’S PEOPLEWHY DO you need to tell everyoneabout your project? To build supportfor your sustainable energy goalsand to change people’s behaviour.Your city can save money andensure the availability of resourcesfor years to come. By you taking theinitiative, your city can benefit fromforward thinking. Build pride, enthusiasmand a feeling of empowermentwhile building a more sustainablefuture, and telling as many people aspossible that you are doing it!That’s why education and publicityshould be on your mind all thetime – don’t hold back!Using projectsAt every point a project can be usedto build public understanding andsupport: use every chance and buildon people’s natural curiosity and ontheir need to save money.Take a waste-to-energy methaneextraction project, for example: it canbe a means to building city staff andcouncillors’ understanding about energyefficiency and best mix as wellas waste management.An energy audit and retrofit oncouncil offices can educate staff aboutenergy efficiency – information theywill take home to their families, andchildren can take it to their schools.Using the mediaYou have a vast array of communicationmethods at your disposal,and they don’t all cost huge amountsA public education strategy is a vital componentof any energy programme and activity:international and local experience shows thatenergy effi ciency gains are derived 80% fromeducation of users and only 20% from technologychange.of money. Piggy-back on other mediainitiatives wherever you can. Usejournalists’ need for stories, apply forawards, make presentations to councilportfolio committees, get onto theradio, distribute information withthe council’s monthly accounts.Critical to maintaining and buildingfurther support is the fostering of aclear appreciation of the policy’s benefits.This entails presentations, workshops,marketing, public relations andmedia events, which all add up tobuild trust and credibility, too.Let people know that you’ve providedmore service for fewer rands, and dopractical demonstrations to show themhow much money they can save. Set uppilot projects to show local authorityfinance departments how much canbe saved.ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS21

22 ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS

ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS 23

o v e r v i e wGREEN ELECTRICITYbrings opportunitiesGREEN ELECTRICITY offers excellentopportunities for sustainabledevelopment within the context ofglobal warming. It is electricity generatedin a sustainable manner fromrenewable energy resources such aswind, solar, wave, geothermal andcertain biomass and hydro energy.The key is not only that GreenElectricity is derived from renewableenergy resources, but that it is generatedin a sustainable manner.Is Green Electricity relevantin a developing country likeSouth Africa?It is essential to provide basic accessto energy services: electricity is partof the energy mix that is needed forsocial and economic development.This needs to be provided in themost sustainable way possible sothat South Africans and the economycan remain competitive andhealthy in the longer term.Right now, South Africa needsto make decisions regarding newelectricity generation capacity, asthe country is expected to run outof peaking capacity within the nextfew years and baseload capacitywithin 5–7 years. Green power generationoffers a real opportunity tomove away from environmentallydamaging and economically costlyforms of electricity generation.What are the benefits ofGreen Electricity?Green electricity has unique advantagesover conventional electricity.• It is less damaging to health andthe local and global environment.• It provides more long-termemployment than conventionalenergy systems.• It can be implemented at anyscale: from 1kW to 1GW.• It can be implemented quickly,with shorter lead times (and thereforeless risk).GREEN POWER FOR THE WSSDAGAMA Energy together with project partners, including the NER, City Power and Green Generators,facilitated the supply of 845 MWh of Green Electricity to the UBUNTU Village and NASREC ExpoCentrefor the duration of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in September 2002. The venuespaid 50 c/kWh for this Green Electricity which was supplied by a diverse range of green generatorsincluding bagasse, small hydro, solar, wind and geothermal generators. The project was supportedby USAID.Arising from this pilot project, City Power – as a leading distributor of electricity in SA – hascommitted to supply Green Electricity to consumers in 2003.WHAT DOES GREENELECTRICIT Y COST?Green electricity costs about the sameas ‘normal’ electricity, but the full costsof the latter are not included in the pricewe pay. These hidden costs are paidthrough taxes (eg, the costs of mining,nuclear accidents or oil spills) and thedepletion of the quality of health andthe environment.So, the present cost of ‘normal’ electricitycan range between 15–40 c/kWh,depending on the kind of tariff chargedby the local supplier, whereas GreenElectricity has been costed at approximately50 c/kWh. This was the priceapproved by the NER for City Power tosupply the main venues of the WSSDin 2002, and reflects the full costs ofpower generation from new wind farmsin South Africa.Overall the costs of Green Electricitywill fall, with economies of scale and technicaldevelopments, while conventionalelectricity costs will rise, to reflect fullcosts of production and increased inputcosts for land, water and fuels.• It offers empowerment opportunitiesbecause it can also beowned by individuals and SMEs.• It can be implemented anywhereon (or off) the national grid andhence provide for more decentralisedeconomic development.• It offers an easy but meaningfulway to demonstrate commitmentto more sustainable operatingpolicies and more equitable triplebottom line reporting.• It assists government objectivesof increasing the amount of renewableenergy in the economy.What can local authorities do?Local authorities in South Africa canhave a big impact on climate changebecause they are responsible for thedistribution of electricity to thousandsof consumers, and are largeconsumers of electricity themselves.Local authorities can also beleaders in getting their cities ontogreen power.24 ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS

COMMUNITYELECTRICITY SUPPLYModels for developing a greener futureLOCAL COMMUNITIES all overthe world are playing pivotal rolesin shaping their energy futures,including electricity supply. Deregulatedand decentralised energysectors have resulted in increasedlocal autonomy, which has enabledlocal governments, independentpower producers and others torespond to opportunities, in somecases more readily and with furtherreaching effects than higher levels ofgovernment.China: Decentralisationpromotes renewableelectrificationFor more than 20 years China hasseen remarkable development inthe field of small hydro power(SHP). The country has over 43 000SHP stations – more than 26GW ofinstalled capacity, generating 87.1billion kWh annually and employing1,2 billion people.The Chinese government haslaunched a series of programmes topromote SHP development in ruraland urban areas. Unlike the centraliseddevelopment model in otherdeveloping countries, most SHPdevelopment here occurs throughdecentralised management. Sincethe early 1960s, a series of preferentialpolicies have been introducedto encourage local governments todevelop local resources. As a result,SHP planning, construction, designand operation are undertaken bylocal governments. These policieshave promoted the development ofthe SHPs’ own supply areas, involvingan integrated power generation,supply and distribution system.Joint investment by individuals,community or private enterprises isencouraged with investment fromoutside, including overseas markets.Moreover, government has ensuredthat the developer can get financialsupport from different levels of governmentand from banks in the formof soft loans and grants.The City of Santa MonicaIn 1999, Santa Monica City Counciladopted a strategic energy planthat launched the city as a nationalleader in renewable energy: theSanta Monica City Council votedunanimously to exclusively userenewable electricity in all city-runfacilities. It focuses on wind, solarand geothermal energy.The city awarded a contractto a certified supplier to supplygreen power to facilities as largeas the Santa Monica airport and assmall as the public bathrooms onthe beach. Its commitment to 100%Green Electricity increased the city’sannual electricity costs by approximately5%, but the additional costwas perceived as prudent and areasonable investment in protectingenvironmental and public health.Although not focused only onrenewables, another related componentof the strategic plan is thepromotion of distributed electricitygeneration. These include photovoltaics(PV), wind turbines, fuelcells and natural gas microturbinesthat can provide site-specific supplyof electricity while putting surpluspower into the power grid. Thecity’s Civic Centre is fed by PV asis the ferris wheel on Santa Monicapier. A PV system in conjunctionwith a natural gas microturbinesupplies 90% of tenants’ needs in a44-unit affordable housing projectAt the heart of Santa Monica’sinitiatives is a shared vision thatwasteful energy use causes negativeenvironmental impacts and thatcomprehensive energy efficiencyefforts will result in significant longtermeconomic benefits.Santa Monica is working withother municipalities and organisationsto push state energy legislationtoward greater emphasis on renewablegeneration and local control.Toronto’s WindShareCo-operative kick startsa local wind industryToronto adopted a co-operativemodel to spur development of renewableenergy in a province withno prior wind power projects.WindShare, a project developedby the Toronto Renewable EnergyCo-operative (TREC) and TorontoHydro Energy Services is developingtwo wind turbines on the city’swaterfront. These will be the firstutility-scale turbines in an urbanenvironment in North America.The WindShare project is intendedto profile wind power as a solutionto smog and global climate changeand showcase a community-basedinitiative for renewable energy.The impetus for WindSharecame from TREC’s founders, aneighbourhood community group,concerned that leaders in businessand government were too slow torespond to pressing environmentalissues. It was also conceived as aunique opportunity for citizens togenerate green power in Ontario’snew deregulated electricity marketplace.To date, the co-operativehas more than 450 individual andcorporate members who have investedenough to cover the firstturbine’s development costs andsome for the second.c a s e s t u d yENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS 25

TURNING TRANSPORTtowards sustainabilityo v e r v i e w & c a s e s t u d yFOR SOUTH AFRICA’S transportsector, the road to becoming sustainablemay seem long and arduous.Our current transport systemis a mixture of unmaintained publictransport inherited from apartheidand a chaotic, unregulated minibussystem with an absence of safetystandards and accountability.Non-motorised transit barelyfactors into transport planning orinfrastructure development. Thosewho can afford it rely exclusively onprivate cars.Under-investment created atransportation void to be filled by12–20 seat minibus taxis, whichhave become the central feature ofSouth African urban transport, accountingfor up to 50% of transportmarkets and competing with busesand trains on major routes.However, mass discontent andpolitical transformation in SouthAfrica have opened the door forequitable and sustainable urbantransportation policies. In 2000, theNational Land Transport TransitionAct (NLTTA) became the over-archingpiece of legislation that governsland passenger transport in SA. TheTHE BOGOTA MODELAct places emphasis on more publictransport and the integration of transportwith larger city developmentplans, and it attempts to integratelocal and national planning by requiringstatutory transport plans fromall municipalities, Provincial LandTransport Frameworks and a NationalLand Transport Strategic Framework.Ten years ago Bogota suffered, as do various South African cities, from heavy traffi ccongestion, no rail, no formal bus system and no plan for changes. Air pollution waschoking the city, and many people were unable to reach vital destinations. However,from 1998 to 2000, under the leadership of the then mayor, Enrique Penalosa, innovativeplanning transformed Bogota into a leading model for sustainable urbandesign boasting what international experts agree to be one of the world’s most innovative,effi cient and accessible transportation networks.Today Bogota has a Transport Authority which has brought about a structuredbus lane network, bicycle ways, pedestrian routes and public spaces, resulting in a40% reduction in car trips, an 80% reduction in accidents and a 50% reductionin pollution.The Bogota model places emphasis on public over private interests. Bogota now boasts:• The world’s biggest car-free day• The world’s longest pedestrian-only street, spanning 17 km, as well as hundredsof kilometres of sidewalks, many through the city’s poorest neighbourhoods.• Latin America’s largest network of bicycle ways: 250 km long• A world-class Bus Rapid Transit systemAt the heart of Bogota’s transformations was Mr Penalosa’s belief in the need toequalise all citizens’ access to mobility. ‘In Bogota, we chose to build a city forpeople, not for automobiles,’ he explains. ‘Cities built for cars’ mobility suffer congestion,unsafe street conditions and leave many residents with poor access tojobs. Instead of these problems, we gave our citizens enjoyable public spaces andunprecedented mobility. Whereas in the past the residents of Bogota hated their city,these changes have instilled in them a sense of pride and hope that life will continueto improve.’TransmilenioThe Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, Transmilenio, was launched in 2000 with the fi rstphase comprising 40 km of exclusive bus ways, 57 bus stations, 305 km of roads forfeeder buses, 29 plazas and sidewalks, and a control centre.This system is as effective and reliable as any light rail system, at one tenth ofwhat a light rail system of equivalent length would have cost. Another testimony toits effi ciency is the fact that the system is not subsidised.26 ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS

Above left: The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, Transmilenio, in Bogota. Above right: Efficient and safe public transport is an urgent need in South African cities.ProjectsThe challenge to developing sustainabletransport is that of implementation. A keyrequirement for effective implementation atthe local level is an appropriate distributionof power to local authorities. As yet, this isnot the case for rail. In terms of the NLTTA,commuter rail remains a national function.Other promising developments suggestpositive changes to come.A Taxi Recapitalisation project has beenintroduced, and from 2006, the Ministermay issue regulations specifying the typesof vehicles to be used.The Department of Labour is looking intoworking conditions in the taxi industry with aview to issuing a wage determination.And the Transport Education and TrainingAuthority has a Taxi Chamber whichis developing training programmes forthe industry.In term of non-motorised transport,the national department is partneringwith Dutch experts to develop infrastructureguidelines. Much more needsto be done by local transport planners tocater for pedestrians and cyclists, a hugechallenge given decades of institutionalisedmotorised biases.Once public transport alternatives havebeen developed, travel demand managementmeasures to restrict private car useand to redistribute resources to public transportwill be required.SUSTAINABLE NON-MOTORISEDTRANSIT IN CAPE TOWNA number of cities, particularly in Europe, promote non-motorised transitby developing pedestrian paths and cycleways and offering incentivesfor using bicycles for commuting. In Copenhagen, for example, one thirdof the population commutes to work by bicycle; and in the Netherlands,bicycles are used for 27% of all trips. These forms of transit are widelyviewed as sustainable because they substitute for automobiles, reducetraffic congestion and lower air pollution and noise.In Cape Town, as in most South African cities, walking and cyclingaccount for about 7% of the City’s trips. Apart from the non-conducivecity structure (great distances between work and home) , this is becausebicycle use in the City is widely perceived as unsafe.South Africans aspire to drive a private motor vehicle rather thancycle to work, and women are discouraged from travelling by bicycle. Abias towards car-orientated engineering and planning results in bicycleand pedestrian facilities not receiving the attention that they deserve.However, local planners and developers are beginning to recognisethe potential contribution of non-motorised transit to achieving efficient,habitable and sustainable cities. In Cape Town the following initiativeshave been introduced:• A City of Cape Town Cycle Path Masterplan provides for a metropolitancycle path network that complements existing bicycle planning inlocal areas.• The Shova Kalula Bicycle Transport Demonstration Programme inKhayelitsha promotes the use of non-motorised transport, especiallyamong primary and secondary school students in the most disadvantagedrural and urban settings.• Two organisations – Afribike and the Bicycle Empowerment Network(BEN) – promote the distribution of second-hand bicycles to low-incomepeople in townships.• Cape Town was recently chosen to host the 2006 Velo Mondial (VM)Conference, a popular international event dedicated to promotingbicycle use, thus providing a deadline for getting the City’s bicycleplans implemented.ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS 27

HOUSINGMaking healthier, moreaffordable homesc a s e s t u d yTHE KEY characteristics of energyefficiency in housing development arelocation close to places of work andother facilities and access to a goodrange of facilities and services in andaround the development. Then thereare issues of house construction, orientationand energy service provision.The following case studies provideinsights into how these issues havebeen taken up by some of the innovativehousing projects in South Africa.LWANDLEHOSTELS–TO-HOMESPROJECTThe Lwandle Hostel in Somerset Westused to be a single men’s hostel forthe Gants food and canning factory.Gants closed the factory in the 1980s.Unemployment was high and povertyextreme, with whole families living insingle bunk spaces. The communityidentified their needs from the developmentas jobs, privacy, toilets andhot water (in that order). In additionto community facilities, taxi ranks andgreening, the hostels were dividedinto family units with some provisionfor singles. Toilets and showers wereinstalled with solar water heaters.The project, which started in 1995, hasprovided 967 units ranging from 12m 2to 30m 2 .The project was funded throughhousing subsidies and other funds,providing for the units, sports centre,taxi rank and roads. A DBSA lowinterestloan to the Helderberg Administrationover 20 years covered the solarwater heaters. Liebenberg and Standermanaged the project.Innovative componentsincluded:• Community based constructionemployed eight local contractorsand 400 residents + local materialsand construction managers.• Rental units are owned by themunicipality – monthly rentfrom R114–R172.• Toilet, basin and shower, shared bytwo family units, include solarwater heaters (no electricity backup,providing for ‘free hot water’).• Helderberg administrationaccessed a low interest loan topay for solar water heaters.• Extensive community facility,greening and ‘place making’investment to build sense ofplace. Town square surroundedby double storey units.• Additional communal toilets andshowers are provided.KUYASAA CDM HOUSING PILOTThe house of Elsie Tshabalaza, a pensionerin Kuyasa, Khayelitsha, sportsa recently installed solar water heater(one of three versions used in thepilot), an insulated ceiling and energyefficient lighting, none of which shehas ever contemplated purchasingwith the R600 that represents hermonthly income.Elsie is one of 10 beneficiaries ofa pilot demonstration project aimedat improving the energy efficiencyAbove: Lwandle Hostels-to-Homes Project showing the solar water heaters.Above: At Kuyasa, solar water heaters wereinstalled at 10 houses.PHOTOGRAPHS: MIKE SCHROEDER AND GORDON MC ALISTER28 ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS

and thermal comfort of the basicRDP housing unit through theseinterventions, which also bringabout a reduction in grid electricityand CO 2emissions.The project is part of a collaborativepartnership between the Cityof Cape Town and an NGO, South-SouthNorth, working to build capacityfor sustainable developmentand Clean Development Mechanism(CDM) projects among localand national project developers andhost government institutions.Carbon savingsThe project activity mitigates climatechange by avoiding nearlytwo tons of CO 2per house per year,with an international carbon marketvalue of around 3 US$ a ton.The personal benefitsElsie Tshabalaza explained the benefitsof these interventions to theSouthSouthNorth team: ‘Things aremuch better. Since the ceilings havebeen installed, it is much warmer, andmore beautiful than it was before.’Elsie’s house is 5˚C warmer thanthe houses of her neighbours, andelectricity savings of up to 40% havebeen experienced. Additional benefitsinclude a reduction in householddust due to the insulated ceiling, anda reduced need for paraffin stovesand other unhealthy heat sources.Other members of the community,frequently visiting the beneficiarieshouses, look forward to the implementationphase, when the interventionsare to be rolled out to 2 309 housesin Kuyasa. The project has increasedawareness of energy efficiency andits relationship to affordability inthe community at large, as well aswith local politicians.Above: The Moshoeshoe Ecovillage demonstration project.MOSHOESHOEECOVILLAGE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTThis demonstration project of 13 units in the Sol Plaatjie Municipality wascompleted in March 2002. It serves as a demonstration site for the largerHull Street Project. The latter, which will consist of 2 500 units, resulted froma partnership between SIDA and the Sol Plaatjie Municipality. MoshoeshoeEcovillage demonstrates the innovative eco-block concept with doublestoreyunits around communal agricultural and open space. The circulardesign encourages interaction amongst residents and improves securitythrough good street surveillance. The residents were provided with trainingin the different innovative components and actively chose to live here.The project was funded by the Sol Plaatjie Municipality, SIDA and housingsubsidies.Innovative components included:• Compact semi-detached and row houses: 1 unit adapted for disabledperson; 3 and 4-unit row houses; 2 semi-detached houses.• Rental units with option to buy after 4 years.• Passive thermal design including roof overhangs and light coloured roofs;insulated ceilings.• Renewable energy sources: Solar water heaters with electricity back up;grid-interactive solar and wind electricity in office building (2 units).• Compact fluorescent light bulbs.• LPG for cooking is provided on bulk supply contract from Easigas.• Demonstrates eco-block concept (see project description above).• Dry sanitation and urine diversion delivers water savings for irrigation;grey water will be recycled and rain water will be harvested.• Plots of 50m 2 for urban agriculture; agricultural training will be provided;organic waste from faecal material will be used as fertiliser.The residents of the project chose to live here, following community workshopsabout the innovative components (dry sanitation being the mostcontentious). The project and residents will provide residents of the muchlarger Hull Street Project with training and practical demonstration of theeco-block concept and stories from their own experience.ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS 29

BUILDINGSand energy efficiencyin South Africao v e r v i e wThe South African constructionindustry is seeing substantialgrowth in the adoption of energyefficienttechnologies and practices incommercial buildings. This is aidedby a rise in the number of energyservices companies, some of whichhave international energy efficiencycertification standards. Already anumber of private developers andproperty managers are implementinginnovative energy efficiencyprojects through thermal design, solartechnologies and energy-efficientappliances and materials.Private sectorThe CSIR’s Green Buildings forAfrica (GBA) programme is a commerciallydriven initiative thatencourages property owners, managersand occupants to promoteefficient and sustainable use ofenergy, environmentally consciouspolicy- and decision-making, andhealthy working environments intheir buildings. Benefits to clientsinclude potential high returnswith reasonable payback periods,healthy and safe working environmentsand reduced environmentalAbove: The Green Building at Westlake Business Park, Cape Town, provides offi ces for Sustainable EnergyAfrica and others. The aim was to create a ‘future normal’ comfortable and healthy offi ce environment.Its design, construction and functioning are based on the green principles of re-use, reduce andrecycle, and it includes passive thermal principles, energy effi ciency and environmentally sound materialand services. Locally available materials with lower ‘embodied’ energy’ were used where feasible.Bricks are 92% reconstituted composition, and hardwoods were avoided, and nearly all windows anddoors are second-hand.Rainwater is collected for the water-wise garden, solar panels will generate green electricity feedinginto the grid, and waste will be separated for recycling. Alien trees cut down are used on site forgarden retaining, mulching and paths.Buildings Evaluated According to SAEDES to DateBuilding Estimated Annual Savings – ZAR Annual Savings – %Existing BuildingsMutual Park – Cape Town R820 000 9,2%Admin Building – Pta University R46 500 16%Engineering Tower – Pta University R87 000 14,6%New BuildingsCape Town Int’l Airport (int’l section) R8 000 1,4%Chambers Potchefstroom City Council R2 300 16,4%impacts. GBA will be implementinga national grading scheme, rankingparticipating owners and buildingsaccording to their ‘greenness’.Public sector – local authoritiesIn the public sector, some municipalitiesare taking the lead in energyefficiency initiatives. Scoping studiesshow significant consumptionand cost savings for minimal input.The International Council for LocalEnvironmental Initiatives (ICLEI)Cities for Climate Protection (CCP)Campaign is helping to prioritiseenergy efficiency in buildings: eightSouth African cities have joined morethan 500 other cities around the worldin this campaign.30 ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS

LIGHTINGA NUMBER OF SOUTH AFRICAN municipalities are retrofitting city lightsto save money on their electricity bills and reduce carbon emissions.Since joining the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Programme of theInternational Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) in 2001,Potchefstroom City Council has demonstrated innovative planning inthis regard. Using the grant funds provided by USAID and DEAT throughICLEI’s contracts with them, the City of Potchefstroom has, among othermeasures, undertaken a multi-faceted upgrade of the airport’s lighting.The uniqueness of this project is its combination of energy efficiencymeasures and development of on-site green energy, which togethersignificantly minimise the use of polluting fossil fuels. In the first phaseof the project, the airport runway was retrofitted with energy savinglight emitters, which provided energy savings in the first year of 25 581kWh or R5 372. The annual saving on CO 2emissions is 20,8 tonsWithin a second phase, the taxiway was also retrofitted with a properlighting system. Potential reductions in demand are projected to amount to31 663 kWh/year, which is calculated to equal R6 649 per year in monetarysavings. The projected annual saving on CO 2emissions is 26.9 tons.The success of this innovative plan to use both energy efficiencyand green electricity supply to reduce the airport’s reliance on fossilfuel is largely a result of local partnering. Various departments withinthe City collaborated with one another as well as with the Centre forEnvironmental Management at Potchefstroom University and AeroEnergy, a private company, to produce the best solution and mosteffective means of implementation.But despite demonstrated long-term savings and environmental andsocial benefits associated with reduced electricity consumption, municipalitiesdo not always prioritise long-term gains over short-term costs.A recent energy audit on a council building in Parowrevealed that by replacing all incandescent lights withcompact fluorescent lights (CFLs), it is possible to attainR20 000 savings per year in electricity costs, thus payingback the initial investment in CFLs more than twice.National governmentNational government is also investing in energy efficiency.As part of the DME-DANIDA Capacity Buildingin Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (CaBEERE)Programme, energy audits were done on the MineraliaBuilding, offices of the Department of Minerals andEnergy (DME) as well as the National Electricity Regulator(NER) building, both in Pretoria.While all energy efficiency initiatives in South Africa todate are voluntary, they may eventually fall under a mandatorylegislative framework. In 1999, the DME publisheda set of voluntary guidelines for commercial buildings – theSouth African Energy and Demand Efficiency Standard(SAEDES) guidelines. The intent of SAEDES is to reduceenergy consumption and/or demand, thereby improvingenergy cost effectiveness within the commercial sector.OLD LANDFILLSnew energy potentialEKURHULENI METROPOLITAN Municipality(EMM) was the first municipality in South Africa toinitiate a pilot project to use methane gas from a landfillsolid waste site as an alternative fuel, in this casefor refuse collection vehicles.This pilot, commissioned in 1999, involved theextraction of methane gas from the Weltevredenlandfill site, which generates about 216 988 tonsof waste annually. It is one of five such facilities inEkurhuleni metropolitan area.The methane gas was purified in a methane purificationplant and a fuel mix of 25% diesel and 75%methane was used in four refuse collection vehicles.The project aimed to:• inform EMM on the potential for using methanegas as an alternative fuel,• demonstrate cost savings and reduced impact onthe global environment,• quantify methane potential from landfill sites,• build capacity within EMM on technology andprocesses to implement this pilot project,• explore possibilities of accessing funding forsuch projects through the Clean DevelopmentMechanism.Due to a number of problems experienced, some ofwhich are listed below, the pilot was discontinued.• Power reduction of approximately 20% whendriving on methane-diesel blend.• Additional time (10 minutes per day) wasrequired by drivers at the end of the day torefuel with methane in addition to dieselrefuelling in the morning.• Breakdowns on the methane extraction systemneeded spares to be imported from Hollandby the company that did the installation.No local supplier is yet available.• Waste collection vehicles were in poor condition,which resulted in a significant number ofmechanical breakdowns.• Poor record keeping and therefore insufficientinformation collected for monitoring andevaluation of the system.Despite these setbacks, the local authority concludedthat there was sufficient evidence to support furtherdevelopment of this industry. A tender documentis being prepared to develop a Feasibility Study inLandfill Gas Development of all Ekurhuleni’s wastedisposal sites.c a s e s t u d yENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS 31

ENERGY EFFICIENCYin delivering water serviceso v e r v i e w & c a s e s t u d i e sWATER DELIVERY is a fairly energyintensivemunicipal service. Energyefficiency reduces the costs associatedwith water services and at the sametime improves the capacity and reliabilityof the delivery system.About 2–3% of the world’s energyconsumption is used to pumpand treat water for urban residentsand industry. This could be reducedby at least 25% through cost-effectiveefficiency actions.In the developing world, energyconsumed to supply water couldeat up half of a municipality’s totalbudget. In water systems in developedcountries, energy is typicallythe second largest cost after labour.In the process of improving overallwater system efficiency, municipalwater authorities should view energyand water consumption as linkedinputs. Energy is necessary for movingwater through the water systems,making it potable and removing waste.Each litre of water moving through asystem represents a significant energycost. Losses in the form of leakage,theft, consumer waste and inefficientdelivery all directly affect the amountof energy required to deliver water tothe consumer. Wastage of water leadsto a waste of energy.To develop and implement awater energy-efficiency strategy,municipalities usually need to involvepeople from a variety of governmentagencies and offices as well as othermembers of the community.IndiaThe Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) estimates that typicalIndian municipal water utilities canimprove water system efficiency by25%. As energy accounts for 60% ofthe municipal water utility budgetin India, this saving could be usedto improve service.The city of Indore was able tosave 1,6 million rupees (US$35 000)within the first three months of action,with no investment cost, just byimproving the way existing pumpsworked together. The city of Puneidentified more than seven millionrupees (US$150 000) of energy savingsopportunities after kicking offan energy efficiency programme.Cape TownIn Cape Town a recent study hasshown that the potential for electricityefficiency through aerationsystems changes at Macassar andZandfliet Wastewater treatmentworks would save R880 450 peryear (at an investment cost ofR3,4-million). The combined paybackperiod is 3,9 years.There would be emission reductionsin excess of 5 179 tons of CO 2, 21tons of NOX, and 46 tons of SOX peryear. Electricity consumption reductionat Macassar will be 3 504 MWhand 2 300 MWh at Zandfliet.The same study showed thatscheduling and installation of variablespeed drives in bulk water supplyfacilities such as at Witzands, Wynbergand Silverstroom would yield acost saving of R1 956 966, R785 436and R460 930 respectively, and emissionsreductions in excess of 19 000tons of CO 2, 84 tons of NOX, and 168tons of SOX per year.The Electricity consumption reductionat Witzands was calculated to be13 050 MWh, at Wynberg 5 236 MWhand at Silverstroom 3 073 MWh .Fortaleza, South AmericaIn the central and northern parts ofBrazil, low rainfall created a crisis situationfor electricity supply in 2001 bylimiting available power from hydroelectricplants. The City of Fortalezain the northeast state of Ceará facedpotential blackouts due to an estimated20% electric power shortfall.In an effort to reduce the impactof the electricity shortage, the stateidentified Fortaleza’s water utilityas a major potential source of electricitydemand reductions.The water utility is a key playerin Ceará’s efforts, both because it isone of the largest electricity consumersand because it holds so manyopportunities to reduce electricityuse rapidly through efficiency.In 2000 the Alliance to Save Energystarted working with Fortaleza inBrazil to:• develop and implement a comprehensivewater managementstrategy, including a managementcell that is responsible forongoing development andimplementation of energyefficiency projects• assess the potential for energyand water savings• mobilise community-wideresources to participate in thedevelopment and implementationprocess of a comprehensivewater management strategyFortaleza has dramatically reducedtotal energy use by 5 MW in itsfirst year after adopting the energyefficiency goals, while actually increasingservice connections.32 ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS

ENERGY RESOURCESfor local authoritiesThe full list with all contact details and resource materials can be found on the SEA website (www.sustainable.org.za)and on the City Energy Strategies Conference CD.Resource organisationsAGAMA Energy SA Tel: 27 21 701 7052;Fax: 27 21 701 7056; glynn@agama.co.za;www.agama.co.zaAlliance to Save Energy Tel: 12 02 530 2204;Fax: 12 02 331 9588; info@ase.org; www.ase.orgCity of Cape Town Energy StrategyTel: 27 21 918 7424; Fax: 27 21 918 7440; Osman.Asmal@capetown.gov.za; www.capetown.gov.zaDepartment of Environmental Affairs &Tourism – SA Climate Change & OzoneDepletion; Tel: 27 12 310 3436;Fax: 27 12 320 1167; kmoroka@ozone.pwv.gov.za;www.environment.gov.zaDepartment of Minerals & Energy – SATel: 27 12 317 9566; Fax: 27 12 322 5224dikgang@mepta.pwv.gov.zaEnergie Cites – Europe Tel: 33 381 653680;Fax: 33 381 507351; info@energie-cites.org;www.energie-cites.orgEnergy & Development Group Tel: 27 21 7023622; Fax: 27 21 702 3625; admin@edg.co.za;www.edg.co.zaEnergy & Development Research Centre(EDRC), UCT Tel: 27 21 650 3230;Fax: 27 21 650 2830;harald@energetic.uct.ac.za; www.edrc.uct.ac.zaEnergy Research Institute (ERI), UCT Tel:27 21 650 3892; markh@eng.uct.ac.za ;www.eri.uct.ac.zaEnergy Saving Trust Tel: 44 20 7222 0101;Fax: 44 20 7654 2444; info@est.co.uk; www.est.org.ukGroundwork – SA Tel: 27 21 448 8814 / 2733 342 5662; ardiel@groundwork.org.za;www.groundwork.org.zaInstitute for Transportation and DevelopmentPolicy (ITDP) Tel: 27 21 671 4655;awheeldon@itdp.org; www.itdp.orgInternational Initiative for EnvironmentalInitiatives: Cities for Climate ProtectionCampaign Africa www.iclei.org/africa/ccpInternational Institute for EnergyConservation – Africa office (IIEC) Tel: 27 11482 5990; Fax: 27 11 482 4723; iiec@iafrica.comInternational Network for Sustainable Energy– Inforse Tel: 45 8622 7000; Fax: 45 8622 7096;inforse@inforse.org; www.inforse.orgRenewable Energy & Energy EfficiencyPartnership (REEEP) Tel: 44 20 70 008 4131;Amal-Lee.Amin@reeep.org; www.reeep.orgSouth African Climate Action Network Tel:27 11 339 3662; Fax: 27 11 339 3270;activist2@earthlife.org.za; www.earthlife.org.zaSouth African Local Government Association(SALGA) Energy Technical Team Tel: 27 12 3386750; rbaloyi@salga.org.zaSouth South North Tel: 27 21 425 1465; Fax:27 21 425 1463; steve@southsouthnorth.org;www.southsouthnorth.orgSustainable Energy Africa – SA Tel: 27 21 702 3622;Fax: 27 21 702 3625; info@sustainable.org.za;www@sustainable.org.zaSustainable Energy Society of South Africa(SESSA) Tel: 27 12 804 3435; Fax: 27 12 804 5691;info@sessa.org.za; www.sessa.org.zaResource documentsA User’s Guide to CDM PembinaInstitute, Feb 2003; info@pembina.org;www.pembina.orgClimate Change and the KyotoProtocol’s Clean DevelopmentMechanism Margie Orford, 2003,SouthSouthNorthClimate Change Information Kitwww.unep.ch/iuc/submenu/infokitEnergy Savings in Cities – Issues,Strategies & Options for LocalGovernments UNEP’s LatestUrban Management Series, 2003;www.unep.orgEnergising South African Cities &Towns, Sarah Ward and Leila Mahomed,2003, SEAGetting to Grips with SustainableEnergy SECCP, 2003Green Fleets: Increasing Efficiency andReducing Emissions Commuting inthe Greenhouse: Automobile TripReduction Programs of MunicipalEmployees ICLEILandfill Methane Outreach ProgramUnited States Environmental ProtectionAgency; www.epa.gov.lmopSustainable Transport: A Sourcebookfor Policy-Makers in DevelopingCountries GTZ, Germany; www.bmz.deThe Economic Significance of Cycling:A study to illustrate the costsand benefits of cycling policywww.vnguitgeverij.nlThe Energy Book for UrbanDevelopment in South Africa SarahWard, 2002, Sustainable Energy AfricaUnderstanding Climate Change: ABeginners Guide to the UNFCCCwww.undep.ch/iuc/submenu/begin/beginner.htmResource websitesBest Practice Database (UNCHS)www.bestpractices.orgCities Alliance www.citiesalliance.orgCity Environmental Reports on theInternet (CEROI) www.ceroi.netDepartment for InternationalDevelopment (DFID) www.dfid.gov.ukInternational City/County ManagementAssociation (ICMA) www.icma.orgInternational Development 21,University of Sussex www.id21.orgInternational Institute for Environmentand Development (IIED) www.iied.orgInternational Society of City and RegionalPlanners (ISoCaRP) www.isocarp.orgInternational Union for LocalAuthorities (IULA) www.iula-int.orgIULA Association Capacity Buildingwww.iula-acb.orgLocal Government International Bureauwww.lgib.gov.ukMUNEE – Municipal Network for EnergyEfficiency www.munee.orgMunicipal Development Program:Eastern and Southern Africawww.mdpesa.co.zaMunicipal Development Program:West and Central Africawww.pdm-net.orgOne World Guides: the Citywww.oneworld.org/guides/thecitySouth African Cities Network (SACN)Info@sacities.net; www.sacities.netWatergy www.ase.orgENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS 33

SEED Advisors, SEED Links and SEA staff at a SEED Network Meeting. From left to right,back row: Juan Mostert (City of Tshwane), Colleen Crawford Cousins, Monwabisi Booi(City of Cape Town), Wendy Engel (SEA), Pamela Sekonyana (National Dept of Housing).Middle row: Debra Roberts (City of Ekurhuleni), Ronald Maguga (City of Joburg), ElseManale (National Dept of Environment and Tourism), Goldius Baloyi (SALGA), JacobDikgang (National Department of Minerals and Energy). Front row: Sarah Ward (SEA),Desmond Khumalo (GreenHouse), Fikiswa Mahote (Development Action Group), LeilaMahomed (SEA).U R B A NSustainable Energy for Environment and Development (SEED) is a Sustainable Energy Africa programme. SEED aims to promotesustainable development through the integration of energy approaches and practices into urban development in South Africa.The programme develops partnerships with national and local government and with NGOs. It builds capacity in these organisationsand provides training, supports information campaigns, demonstrations and implementation. SEA is working on developingCity Energy Strategies with the partner cities. At a national and international level SEED supports exchange of experience,networking and policy development. SEED is funded by DANIDA and the partner organisations. This guide is part of the SEEDUpdate series34 ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS