/ 2 June 2000

Government cuts energy costs

Barry Streek

The government has saved R45- million in rationalising and reducing the use of energy in some government buildings in Pretoria and Cape Town, says Deputy Minister of Public Works Buyi Nzimande.

In some buildings savings of more than 25% of energy costs had been achieved, she said in Parliament during the discussions of the public works vote.

Much of the energy in government buildings was consumed from a non- renewable and limited source.

“We are therefore promoting a culture and expertise to erect optimally energy efficient buildings within an environment conducive to the efficient use of energy in all sectors.”

The total saving in government buildings in the Pretoria area was R40-million between 1990 and 1999, and R5-million between 1997 and 1999, Nzimande said.