The organization began 10 years ago with the view to provide opportunities for the various stakeholders to meet, debate and discuss issues around energy efficiency

Prof LJ Grobler, SAEE Board President opened the SAEE Eastern Cape Energy Efficiency Conference in Port Elizabeth on Thursday 19 April 2012. This event, made possible by the generous sponsorship from Eskom, marked the launch of the SAEE Eastern Cape Branch and the 10th Anniversary of the Southern African Energy Efficiency Association (SAEE).

The organization began 10 years ago with the view to provide opportunities for the various stakeholders to meet, debate and discuss issues around energy efficiency and has progressed to an organization that serves key roles in the certification and accreditation as well as facilitating the training of local professionals in energy efficiency.

Prof Grobler noted that the SAEE is the SA Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) allowing South Africans to learn from overseas experiences but at times "they can learn from us". Energy Cybernetics for example has been instrumental in developing the Measurement and Verification (M&V) standard – the SATS 50 010 standard in the country and Gustav Radloff, was selected to head up the working group on the international ISO standard for M&V.

The event in Port Elizabeth was oversubscribed– a clear indication of the interest and need to address energy efficiency and contribute to Eskom's winter 2012 challenge of "keeping the lights on" according to Lawrence Padachi, Program Delivery Manager for the Eskom IDM. Padachi described the seriousness of the region's electricity supply.

Yolanda De Lange, conference organizer said in the closing that it is unusual to see the venue still full at the end of the day – this as the audience debated and questioned Prof Grobler on the new Section 12 L income tax incentives for companies which Treasury should be releasing in the coming few months. The 12i incentives have already been released by Treasury.

Samantha Minnie from Reeflite presented the various lighting technologies and correct applications for different client requirements, with Bruce Munnings delivering a paper on the incentives available to organizations that need to make informed choices on project financing. On this note, Gary Dysel presented the financial incentives available from Eskom IDM for heat pump technologies.

Delegates were treated to the opportunity to swop their old showerheads for new ones, sponsored by EnergyWise.

As part of its own responsibility to the environment the SAEE appointed impactChoice to make the event carbon neutral.