The SAEE's affiliated trainer, Energy Training Foundation (ETF), celebrates its 10th anniversary of successfully training Certificated energy engineers in South Africa, thereby equipping to the country's skills base to develop the energy efficiency industry in the country.

10 years of energy management training in SA

Launched in 2001 as a vision of the Southern African Association for Energy Efficiency (SAEE) to broaden South and Southern Africa's pool of knowledge in the energy efficiency sector, the Energy Training Foundation (ETF) programme has delivered almost 500 energy efficiency professionals, whom are actively involved in local industry. Of the 500 professionals, 345 are Certified Energy Managers (CEMs) and the balance contributes as energy auditors and measurement and verification professionals.

The CEM course was the first of the ETF initiative. To facilitate the need of the South African industry to continuously contribute to energy efficiency, the Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CMVP) course was launched in 2006 to ensure accurate and verifiable reporting of savings to receive energy efficiency project grants and recognition. Currently 84 professionals are active CMVPs and have gained invaluable experience to accommodate future requirements with prevailing tax incentives for energy efficiency projects that are set to encourage industry investment in this sector. Subsequently the Certified Energy Auditor (CEA) course was initiated in 2009, with 61 auditors currently active. The latest addition to the stable, since 2010, is the Certified Carbon Reductions Manager (CRM) course, which is still in its infancy.

These courses are all developed and promoted by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) in the United States. All these certification programmes require that specific educational and/or experiential criteria be met. The qualifications obtained at the ETF are recognised internationally as one of the leading standards in competence in energy management, as well as measurement and verification, and carbon management. Locally these courses are accredited for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) for engineering practitioners.

South Africa's 500 professionals are part of the 15,000 worldwide that the AEE has certified. These certification credentials distinguish the recipients among colleagues in their field, and demonstrate high levels of experience, competence and specialised knowledge at international level.

A great variety of vertical industries, both locally and in the African region, benefit from having these certified professionals within their organisations. Industry representatives have qualified from economic sectors such as financial institutions, major retail stores, metering technology companies, government departments, food and beverage manufacturers, energy management specialists, gas corporations, aluminium, iron and steel, civil construction, lighting, electronics equipment manufacturers, pulp and paper industries, cement manufacturers, local utilities, major property investment groups, facility management organisations, solar suppliers, academia, consulting engineering firms, electrical engineering consultants, mines, and many more.

Courses are hosted regularly throughout the year and can be tailored to suit a specific niche industry or an organisation's individual requirements. For 2011, scheduled courses will run during May and October at Emperors Palace in Gauteng. Energy Cybernetics Training facilitates the AEE certified training courses on behalf of the SAEE for the ETF.

For more information logon to www.energycyberneticstraining.com or contact christina@eventstraining.co.za.