Cape Town, April 22 (Inditop.com) In an effort to cut electricity consumption in the country that is getting ready to host World Cup Soccer, the South African government will give incentive to construction firms for adopting energy-efficient techniques in buildings.
The Department of Energy has plans to offer a rebate for property developers who fit energy-saving features in buildings. The move will encourage business houses and individual home owners to install systems that could automatically switch off power supply when it is not needed, said Minister of Energy Dipuo Peters, BuaNews reported.
Presenting the department’s budget vote Tuesday, Peters said there were still many hotels that didn’t have energy efficient systems.
Nelisiwe Magubane, the department’s director general, said R5.3 billion (around $676 million) had been set aside for this purpose.
The idea was to pay out subsidy to developers for each unit of power they save through implementing energy efficient measures, Magubane said, adding that the plan is expected to be implemented by the end of May.
Peters said her ministry was also working with the department of trade and industry to encourage more business houses to manufacture and install solar water heaters in their establishments locally.
