Energising South African Cities & Towns - City Energy Support Unit

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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
Page 1 and 2: EnergisingSouth AfricanCities & Tow
Page 4 and 5: Example of local authorityenergy us
Page 8 and 9: S t e p 1DESIGNATING A ‘LEAD’OF
Page 10 and 11: ENERGY IMPERATIVESLocal, nationalan
Page 12 and 13: S t e p 4CONDUCTING A CITYENERGY AU
Page 15 and 16: ENERGY VISIONS, GOALS, TARGETS & ME
Page 17 and 18: Examples of co-operative projectsDe
Page 19 and 20: S t e p 7FINALISINGTHE PLANFROM YOU
Page 21 and 22: The Portland Energy Office proposed
Page 23 and 24: S t e p 1 0PUBLICISINGTHE BENEFITS&
Page 25 and 26: ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & T
Page 27 and 28: COMMUNITYELECTRICITY SUPPLYModels f
Page 29 and 30: Above left: The Bus Rapid Transit (
Page 31 and 32: and thermal comfort of the basicRDP
Page 33 and 34: LIGHTINGA NUMBER OF SOUTH AFRICAN m
Page 35 and 36: ENERGY RESOURCESfor local authoriti

Energising South African Cities & Towns - City Energy Support Unit

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