About the Energy Water Waste Forum
The Energy Efficiency Forum for Cape Town’s commercial sector was established by the City of Cape Town, Eskom and South African Property Owners' Association (SAPOA) in 2009. It was renamed to the Energy Water Waste (EWW) Forum in 2018. The main aim of the Forum is to promote resource efficiency and operations for economic, environmental and energy security reasons.
Forum composition
The EWW Forum shares practical knowledge and support for taking action. Its members are the owners and managers of commercial buildings, service providers, policy-makers amongst others.
Participation is free of charge, and there are currently over 1700 members.
In the past the Forum has been co-funded by Old Mutual, Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Western Cape Government and the University of Cape Town, and a number of organisations support the forum activities through their respective networks.
These organisations include:
- Accelerate Cape Town
- Cape Chamber of Commerce
- Cape Peninsula University of Technology
- Cape Town Partnership
- Green Building Council SA
- GreenCape
- Many City Improvement Districts
- National Business Initiative
- SA Council of Shopping Centres
Aims of the Forum
The commercial sector is a key sector with regard to resource efficiency. This sector already consumes about 11.22% of the electricity supply in the Cape Town area and is responsible for 22% of Cape Town’s total carbon emissions. The past drought has meant water consumption is now at the forefront of everyone’s minds. In 2017, Cape Town’s commercial sector (retail and offices) used 13,5% of the city’s potable water, and so, plays a key role in promoting water efficiency and leading by example during and after the drought.
Energy efficiency plays a pivotal role in Cape Town's journey towards a more affordable, resilient, sustainable and secure energy future. The City has made a commitment to becoming carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2050, as evident in its Climate Change Strategy and Climate Change Action Plan. A recent addition to these efforts is the publication of 'Our Shared Energy Future: The 2050 Energy Strategy for the City of Cape Town' which outlines three key commitments. Notably, the Optimise Energy Use commitment aims to enhance energy efficiency across businesses, households and municipal services. This initiative supports the management of energy demand, facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources and alternative fuels while assisting in the balance of the electricity distribution grid.
Waste management is an essential service provided by the City to assist communities to maintain cleanliness and improve the good health and well-being of Capetonians. This commitment is reflected in the City's Integrated
Waste Management (IWMP) Sector Plan and in the
Western Cape Provincial Integrated Waste Management Plan. These documents aim for a 50% reduction in organic waste disposed of in landfills by 2022, and complete diversion of organic waste from landfills by 2027.
The Forum’s objective is to provide owners and managers of offices, shopping centres, hotels and other commercial and public buildings with practical knowledge and support to promote resource efficiency, as well as minimise the amount of landfill waste. The Forum is aimed at large and small property owners, managing agents, facility managers and other related service providers.
Remember
The recent drought has highlighted the need for sustainable water use practices. The Forum has been renamed to reflect the importance of sustainable water use going forward.
Meetings and site tours
There are two main meetings held each year. The meetings offer case studies, expert views, panel discussions and updates on financing options, innovation, policy and training and advisory opportunities.
ENERGY WATER WASTE FORUM
Download the latest report.
Download PDF A series of site tours keep the learning alive between Forum meetings. Site tours offer a ‘see and touch for yourself’ practical learning experience and the opportunity to engage with the expert who designed or manages the building/operation. Tours cover technological and behavioural change as well as management interventions. The results and lessons learned, are then shared with the rest of the Forum at the next meeting.
Governance
The Forum is led by the City of Cape Town and managed as a collaboration between the partner organisations. Co-funding organisations make a range of different contributions – including covering event costs and ‘in kind’ services.
There is no cost attached to participation, as the partners do not want expense to be an impediment to anyone attending.
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