Short term insurer Santam has agreed to co-sponsor the Energy Efficiency Forum for commercial property, which is run by the City of Cape Town, Eskom and the South African Property Owners’ Association (SAPOA).

The Energy Efficiency Forum provides owners and managers of commercial and public buildings with a platform for practical, shared learning and collective action. Efficient use of electricity has become increasingly important in view of steeply rising electricity tariffs and the medium-term shortage of South Africa’s electricity supply. The need to reduce operating costs, the risk of future power cuts and carbon emissions all add up to the urgent need for a concerted effort to improve energy efficiency, particularly for the larger electricity users.

The next forum meeting is scheduled for 9 March 2010. Commercial property owners and managers who would like to attend should contact Melissa Van Harte of SAPOA by e-mail to MVanHarte@omigpi.com

The forum is also endorsed by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), the Cape Town Partnership, the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) and the Provincial Government of the Western Cape.