About

The operation of residential and commercial buildings in Cape Town accounts for a significant portion of the overall energy consumption and related carbon emissions across the city. Driving energy efficiency in buildings is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to reduce emissions, with enhanced energy efficiency resulting in reduced utility bills. 

Cape Town is a signatory to C40, a global network of large cities that are committed to developing and implementing policies to address climate change. 

The City has committed to three significant targets related to energy use in buildings across Cape Town. These are reflected in our Climate Action Plan and Energy Strategy.

By 2030:

• All new buildings city-wide are net zero carbon in operation by 2030 
• All municipal buildings are net zero carbon in operation by 2030

By 2050:

• All existing buildings to be net zero carbon in operation by 2050.

Achieving this ambitious goal will require a fundamental shift in how buildings are designed, constructed, managed and operated. 

Find out more about the City’s commitments in the Creating Net Zero Carbon Buildings video. 

These commitments have also significantly driven the uptake of renewable energy projects and initiatives, resulting in:

• several municipal assets with rooftop solar; 
• the development of City-owned renewable power plants; and 
• the potential procurement of renewable energy from independent power producers.

Net zero carbon buildings

What is a net zero carbon building?

A net zero carbon building refers to a building where the amount of carbon emissions associated with the building’s operational energy on an annual basis is zero or negative. It is highly energy efficient and powered from on-site and/or off-site renewable energy sources, with any remaining carbon balance offset.

Pathway to net zero carbon buildings

To reduce a building’s carbon emissions intensity to net zero, you need to:

• Reduce building energy demand for heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting through passive heating, ventilation, cooling design and improved building envelope and daylighting performance techniques; 
• Reduce total building energy demand and operational building use energy demand through the installation of high efficiency mechanical, lighting and power systems, and energy efficient appliances; and 
• Supply remaining building energy needs from an on-site renewable energy source, to the extent possible and then off-site where necessary.

Energy efficiency regulations for building and development

All new buildings, and extensions to existing buildings, need to comply with the national energy efficiency regulations, as set out in the South African National Standard (SANS) 10400-XA 2021 (Ed.2). 

Our Energy Efficiency at Home Booklet is a non-technical guide to the SANS 10400-XA requirements for homeowners and built environment professionals. This document simplifies and explains SANS 10400–XA on energy usage in buildings, and forms part of our efforts to support energy efficiency across the city.

Resource efficiency in the workplace

Make your office smarter with our practical tips and resources. 

Display your energy performance certificate 

An energy performance certificate indicates the amount of energy used in a building and is used to show the energy efficiency rating of a building based on its operational use, size and energy zone. Buildings of a certain size and occupancy class are required by national regulations to publically display an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) at the building entrance. 

For more information on EPCs and the implications of the regulations, visit SANEDI’s webpage.

Resource efficiency at home

You can take steps to reduce the amount of energy, water and waste that you use and save money in your household. 

Understand how your home performs 

To help you assess how efficient and sustainable your home is, the City in partnership with the Western Cape Government and GreenCape, developed the Smart Home Disclosure Checklist. 

The checklist aims to encourage homeowners to invest in sustainable home improvements that lower energy and water needs and reduce carbon emissions while improving thermal comfort, safety and health for the occupants. It also empowers prospective buyers to make informed decisions about their home regarding the ongoing operational costs, liveability and comfort levels, as well as the impact the home has on the environment. 

Develop smart energy habits and save

By developing smart energy habits in your household, you can save on your electricity bill, help safeguard the environment and ensure energy security for the future. With rising energy costs and electricity shortages, it is important to ensure that your home is as energy-efficient as possible. 

Use our Smart Living Audit Guide to find out where most of the energy in your home is being used. The guide comes with some questions for you to answer, which will help you compile an action plan for the changes and savings that you can make.

For more information on other energy-saving practices, refer to the useful links below: 

• Visit our Saving electricity page for tips on how to save energy in your home. 
• Our Smart Living resources will help you make smarter choices for a safer, more affordable home, while also reducing the impact your home has on the environment.
  

Document downloads

• 1. Resource Efficiency Criteria for Development Guideline

     04/11/2019, Guideline - 3.1 MB

  2. Rooftop PV Safe and Legal Installations Guidelines Pamphlet

     19/02/2025, Pamphlet,Guideline - 4.2 MB

  3. SANS 10400-XA Energy Efficiency Requirements for Buildings Guide

     21/05/2024, Guideline - 667.1 KB

  4. SANS Forms Guide and Checklist (BDM 16)

     22/04/2022, Checklist,Guideline - 1.8 MB

  5. Smart Home Disclosure Checklist

     07/11/2022, Checklist - 197.3 KB

  6. Smart Living Handbook 2025

     01/12/2025, Handbook - 10.6 MB

  7. Smart Living Handbook: Audit Guide For Your Home

     17/10/2019, Handbook,Guideline - 1.1 MB