
The CCID has launched a comprehensive educational campaign to encourage Cape Town CBD stakeholders to save electricity, one of the scarcest resources in South Africa today. The unequivocal campaign message is, “Switch On to Switch Off. It Just Makes Good Business Sense”.
Launched on 21 November, the campaign emphasises that stakeholders who own or rent property, or who work, live, or visit the CBD can make a significant difference, and stave off loadshedding, by implementing a range of power-saving measures – from improving a skyscraper’s energy efficiency to the simple act of switching off office equipment and appliances when not in use.
With the CBD estimated to contribute a substantial amount of the metro’s annual gross domestic product, the CCID campaign will empower affected parties to play an active role in saving costs related to occupancy, operations and living amid the country’s electricity crunch.
EIGHT POWER-SAVING STEPS
A step-by-step guide to becoming energy efficient forms the core of the campaign. Developed by leading experts in the energy sector as well as affected stakeholders, it includes the following recommendations:
1. An energy audit to identify areas of high energy consumption.
2. Upgrade to LED lighting, resulting in 80 % less energy use than traditional lamps.
3. Optimising heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems,
4. Promotion of energy-saving behaviour.
5. Use of energy-efficient office equipment.
6. Installation of renewable energy systems.
7. Integration of battery storage to provide backup power during power outages.
8. Implementation of demand shaving to shift energy consumption to off-peak periods when electricity prices are lower.

CITY INITIATIVES
The campaign supports several initiatives by the City of Cape Town to bolster the city’s power supply in the wake of ongoing power cuts and loadshedding. CCID CEO Tasso Evangelinos says through the campaign the CCID aims to assist valued inner-city property owners, tenants, and occupants in a way that “fully recognises the challenges they face amid the rolling blackouts”.
According to CCID board chairperson Rob Kane, each building should be able to save 15 % of its power by implementing measures contained in the eight-point plan and collaborating with landlords, tenants and the CCID itself.
Kane’s company, Boxwood Property Fund, is setting an excellent example in the inner city in terms of consumption reduction, having already saved 11 % on power with a further 7 to 10 % decrease targeted. It has rolled out a programme that monitors each of its buildings at night to ensure lights are turned off in unoccupied areas.
Boxwood recently received a 4-star rating from the Green Building Council for these efforts.
For more information on the campaign (click here). To download energy campaign poster(click here).
Eagle Lighting joined forces with the CCID by sponsoring 1 050 red 1W B22 LED bulbs which were handed out to visitors in the foyers of three commercial buildings in the Cape Town CBD during a campaign activation during which campaign collateral, namely an informative brochure with power saving tips, was distributed.
Eagle Lighting is South Africa’s leading lighting retailer, which has a wide range of indoor and outdoor light fittings, accessories and eco-friendly LED solutions. Find Eagle Lighting in the Central City at 63 Long St, 021 424 4071.
Thank you, Eagle Lighting, for being part of the CBD’s energy saving solution!
