Has your organisation made spectacular electricity savings through changing the way that you work?  Have you successfully tried new energy efficiency technologies in your business?  If so the Imagine Durban project and the eThekwini Municipality Energy Office would like to hear from you.   We are inviting interested organisations to volunteer to be the subject of case studies into successful examples of electricity savings in eThekwini.

The case study information will be written up into a user friendly form so that other organisations in eThekwini Municipality can learn from your experience and follow you example.  

In total ten volunteer organisations will be selected as the subject of case studies.  We are particularly looking for electricity saving experiences from the following types of organisations:

1. Offices
2. Restaurants
3. Hotels and Bed & Breakfasts
4. Industries
5. Supermarkets
6. Shopping Malls
7. Schools

Interested organisations should contact Sindira Chetty chettysindira@durban.gov.za and tel: 031 311 3430 by 27^th February 2009.   Please supply a contact name, contact details, the name of your organisation and a very short paragraph on the savings measures that you have implemented in your organisation. 

eThekwini Municipality officially launched its energy office today, heeding the call from our National Government to ensure energy  conservation throughout South Africa. The Deputy President's office, Eskom and numerous top businessmen and women in the region attended the launch, held at the ICC.

The office, the first of it's kind in the country,  will establish the municipality as a leading local authority in promoting and implementing energy management to achieve a sustainable energy future for businesses and residents of eThekwini.

City Manager, Dr Michael Sutcliffe said. "Some of the biggest challenges facing the world today include climate change and scarce energy resources. In South Africa, electricity demand currently exceeds its supply.  This office is a dedicated initiative to increase awareness of energy issues and promote energy reduction and efficiency within the municipality and its boundaries. It will bring together experts in different disciplines to ensure that we minimize energy usage, create a society that cares much more about the environment and find new ways to create energy, for the sustainable future of Durban."

"Besides improving our energy efficiency, the office commits to reducing green house gas emissions, reducing our dependency on finite fossil fuels, and investing in renewable energy sources or technologies," he added.

South Africa's Central Energy Fund is taking a leading role in climate change solutions for the continent, with the launch of a new hub that will help boost clean energy projects in Africa. 

I pledge to save 10% electricity simply by changing to energy-saving light bulbs, switching off the TV when I've finished watching it, unplugging the radio, the microwave, the printer and my cell phone charger. I pledge to shut down my computer at the end of the day, to switch the lights off when I leave the room, to take shorter showers instead of baths.  I pledge to use electricity responsibly, not only for my safety and those around me, but for the preservation of our world for generations to come. I pledge to save 10% electricity because I'll save money, and, together with everyone else, I'll help save Durban, South Africa and the world for generations to come.

When it comes to electricity, only use what you need.  Save 10%.  Its that simple.

Ngiyazibophezela ekongeni 10% kagesi ngokusebenzisa amalambu onga ugesi, ngokucima iTV uma sengiqedile ukuyibuka, ngokukhipha amaplaki omsakazo, e-microwave, e-printer, naweshaja yeselula uma sengiqedile ukuzisebenzisa le zinto. Ngiyathembisa ukuthi ngizocima ikhompiyutha yami ekupheleni kosuku, ngicime amalambu uma ngiphuma egumbini, ngigeze ngesisefo ngisheshise kunokugeza kubhavu. Ngiyazibophezela ekusebenziseni ugesi ngokuqikekela, hhayi ukwenzela ukuphepha kwami nokwabasondelene nami nje kuphela, kodwa ukongela nezizukulwane ezizayo umhlaba wethu. Ngiyathembisa ukuthi ngizokonga 10% kagesi ngoba ngizokonga nemali, bese sisonke selekelelana songele izizukulwane ezizayo iTheku, iNingizimu-Afrika nomhlaba wonke. 

Maqondana nogesi, sebenzisa lokho okudingayo kuphela. Onga 10%. Kulula kanjalo nje.