Cape Town’s most successful inner-city business owners are heeding the call to conserve power for the continued prosperity of the city’s vital central business district (CBD).
Leading property developers, world-renowned restaurateurs and established merchants have given their full backing to the Cape Town Central City Improvement District’s (CCID) “Switch on to Switching Off” campaign, which encourages every CBD stakeholder to stave off loadshedding by implementing a range of power-saving measures.
The campaign, launched late last year, takes the form of a step-by-step guide that recommends a variety of simple yet effective actions stakeholders who own or rent property, or who work, live, or visit the CBD, can take to save electricity.
These include energy audits to identify areas of high energy consumption; upgrading to LED lighting; optimising heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; promoting energy-saving behaviour; using energy-efficient office equipment; and installing renewable energy systems, among others.
The CCID is a private-public company which manages the Cape Town CBD by offering top-up services in the form of security, cleaning, and social development in partnership with local government and SAPS. Established in 2000 by local property owners, the company also drives high-quality investment into what is arguably the country’s most successful inner city.
BUSINESS OWNERS ON BOARD
The campaign, launched in Cape Town, emphasises that stakeholders who own or rent property, or who work, live, or visit the CBD can make a significant difference by implementing a range of power-saving measures – from improving a skyscraper’s energy efficiency to the simple act of switching off office equipment and appliances when not in use.
Big and small business owners who have thrown their weight behind the campaign say it is beholden on every Central City stakeholder to conserve energy, and the benefits can be substantial.
Grant Elliott, Chief Operating Officer at Thibault REIT, and a member of the CCID Board, believes there is a misconception that conserving energy comes at an additional expense. “Generally speaking, energy conservation saves money in the long run. If money does need to be spent upfront, it will mostly create a return on the investment, especially if you consider where electricity prices are and are going to. Income returns in excess of bank interest rates are frequently achievable,” he says.
Elliott suggests some CBD business owners operate under the erroneous belief that the changes they implement must be wholesale and costly, but there is often “low-hanging fruit” that can be targeted and managed.
By understanding a building’s electrical systems and components through an energy audit, they may learn that they can save a considerable amount of power simply by flicking a switch. “Every single person and business need to play their part and, if you are a public company, you will be more than aware of the need for implementation and accurate reporting of ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) initiatives.”
REDUCING CONSUMPTION
Neil Swart, co-owner of the popular Harrington Street restaurants Belly of the Beast and Galjoen, is a shining example of the efforts being made to reduce power consumption in the inner city.
While he doesn’t have his own solar solution yet, he is weighing up rent-to-own options. In the interim he has introduced induction stoves and a charcoal oven in his kitchens, both of which are far more energy efficient than electricity-powered cooking apparatus.
Swart is not alone in his endeavours.
Richard Harris, third-generation owner and CEO of leather wholesaler Woodheads may not have to endure load-shedding thanks to his business being on the same grid as the District Six Clinic and City Hall, but he is still playing his part.
“We have converted to LED lighting and switch off all our electricity at night except for the critical circuits. Our air conditioners are all the inverter type, and we don’t have any hot water geysers on the premises,” he explains.
Renowned chef-patron Liam Tomlin, whose extensive restaurant portfolio includes CBD gems Chefs Warehouse at The Bailey, The Brasserie at The Bailey and The Old Bailey Lounge Bar is fully on board with such initiatives.
While Tomlin has been fortunate to remain profitable amid the power scourge, he is by no means exempt from its wrath. The temperature fluctuations that come with power cuts can wreak havoc with fresh produce, and he has had to invest heavily in inverters, generators and solar at his restaurants. These are costs he must absorb, as adding them to customers’ bills would be highly damaging to his businesses.
“So, anybody who can do anything to make it better, I’m behind it 100 %.”
EIGHT ELECTRITICY SAVING STEPS
The campaign message takes the form of a step-by-step guide that has been developed by leading experts within the electricity sector as well as affected stakeholders, and includes the following recommendations:
- An energy audit to identify areas of high energy consumption.
- Upgrade to LED lighting, resulting in 80 % less energy use than traditional lamps.
- Optimising heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
- Promotion of energy-saving behaviour.
- Use of energy-efficient office equipment.
- Installation of renewable energy systems.
- Integration of battery storage to provide backup power during power outages.
- Implementation of demand shaving to shift energy consumption to off-peak periods when electricity prices are lower.
POWER HEROES OF THE CITY
The City of Cape Town recently launched its own “Power Heroes” initiative. Through the campaign Cape Town becomes the first metro in the country to implement an electricity demand reduction programme. This will target 60MW in demand reduction, enough to protect against a full stage of load-shedding.
Rob Kane, chairperson of the CCID Board and CEO of Boxwood Property Fund, says by taking responsibility and ownership of their own power-saving initiatives, stakeholders can ensure that Cape Town’s world-famous CBD continues to thrive.
“We need to act now, and we are calling on everyone to play their part. Our catchphrase could not be more perfect – you need to be switched on about switching off.”
Access the CCID’s energy saving digital booklet here: https://bit.ly/49Qi7QX
