With State-owned power utility Eskom’s 2014 energy efficiency awards (eta Awards) scheduled to take place on November 28 this year, Eskom sustainability executive Dr Steven Lennon states that raising awareness of the benefits of using off-grid electricity will be greatly emphasised.

“The impact, viability and benefits of energy efficient ways of generating electricity is dependent on making people aware of ways in which they could save electricity by either using a combination of on-grid and off-grid electricity supply or completely switching to off-grid electricity supply,” he emphasises.

Lennon highlights that the eta Awards provide a platform to promote energy efficiency in both personal and professional capacities. Also, it is Eskom’s duty, together with government and businesses, to encourage energy efficiency and the green mindset that is emerging in South Africa.

The eta Awards consist of eight categories – commercial, industrial, residential, community, young designers, energy efficiency awareness, innovation, and energy savings in households.

The commercial category is for the application of sound energy efficiency principles for at least 12 months in the commercial sector in projects such as hotels, shopping centres, businesses and hospitals. The industrial category is for the application of energy efficiency for at least 12 months in the industrial sector in manufacturing plants, smelters, mines and factories.

The residential category is for the application of energy efficiency principles for at least 12 months in the residential sector, such as for reducing household consumption drastically or in instances where residential street lighting projects make use of energy efficient options.

The community category recognises the roll-out of innovative energy projects in rural and urban communities. The young designers category is aimed at schoolgoing children with a creative idea, programme, design, or prototype that looks at the efficient use of energy and not the generation of energy.

The energy efficiency awareness category is aimed at media or communication managers within large corporates who have made efforts to promote energy efficiency to employees. The innovation category recognises prototypes that reduce the energy consumption of equipment or buildings in any way, or ideas that could contribute to energy efficiency.

The energy savings in household category recognises and awards people who have implemented innovative energy efficiency applications at home.

“Entries to these categories are already open and will close on August, 8, while the first online judging will take place on August 22 and the second judging process will take place on September 23. We are hoping for more entries this year, compared with last year, as more people are becoming aware of energy efficiency as a necessity in their everyday lives,” says Eskom eta Awards coordinator Annamarie Murray.