(Tshwane) — Mayors of Tshwane, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban to introduce requirements ensuring all new buildings are energy efficient, cutting electricity bills and greenhouse gas emissions.

C40 Cities South Africa Buildings Programme, launched today in Tshwane, aspires to make zero carbon buildings standard practice across South African cities: SA Goodnews.

Residents and businesses moving into new buildings in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Tshwane will soon enjoy lower energy bills and will generate less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reducing their climate change impact. High-efficiency energy performance requirements are being developed for all new buildings in these leading cities, thanks to their collaboration in the C40 Cities South Africa Buildings Programme. The ambition of the programme, launched today at an event in Tshwane, is to make zero carbon buildings the standard practice across South African cities.

The energy used to power, heat and operate buildings account for more than 25% of the GHG emissions produced by South African cities. Therefore, action to make buildings more energy efficient has huge potential to reduce GHG emissions. More than 70% of South Africans are expected to be living in cities by 2030. With growing urban populations comes increased demand for housing, commercial buildings, office space, schools, hospitals and other buildings. Ensuring these new buildings meet high-efficiency energy performance requirements will be crucial if cities and South Africa as a whole will deliver on its commitments to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Representatives from ten cities across C40’s global network have gathered in Tshwane this week to exchange best practice on building energy efficiency. The cities outside South Africa include Boston, Chicago, Copenhagen, Los Angeles, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro.

For the full article, visit SA Goodnews.