Business exhibitions company Terrapinn says its signing of the 49M pledge, in January, signified the company's commitment to the global agenda for energy efficiency, as well as its commitment to play a proactive role in contributing to energy saving across South Africa.

Terrapinn South Africa MD Gina Bester said the 49M pledge signing was a natural step for the company, as the initiative's objectives formed a large part of the company's overall corporate responsibility goals.

"We are delighted to be joining the 49M initiative and to give back to our country through this energy saving drive," she said.

To date, 49M has signed more than 70 partners, including AngloGold Ashanti, Nedbank, Santam, MTN, Samsung, MassMart, Standard Bank, Food & Trees for Africa, Solidarity, the National Union of Mineworkers, and all eight South African State-owned companies, to name a few.

Launched in March 2011, 49M is an Eskom-led initiative endorsed by government and business partners to encourage the South African population to embrace energy saving as a national culture and to join the global journey towards a sustainable future.

“Signing this important pledge is an endorsement of our efforts and commitment to energy efficiency. It is only natural that we have made this important move. As the host of Africa’s largest power and energy show, we, too, have to be actively involved in conservation and efficiency initiatives," said Bester.

“We have undertaken a new company best practice policy to ensure the behavioural patterns of our staff members are geared towards energy efficient patterns. Small changes, such as using a kettle rather than an urn boiling all day or switching off computers rather than leaving them on standby, all make up a part of this best practice policy.

"In addition, we're assisting our employees to become energy efficient in their homes by informing them of all Eskom-funded energy efficiency programmes and suggestions for sustainable living," she added.

49M campaign representatives would attend Terrapinn’s Power & Electricity World Africa 2013 exhibition in April, to present its various iniatitives, as well as case during a two-day free exhibition.

Anyone interested in attending the 49M seminars could find more details at the following webiste: www.terrapinn.com/powerafrica.