Beheerstrategie vir optimale energiebenutting aan Suid-Afrikaanse universiteite en technikons

Abstract

The total annual energy expenditure for tertiary institutions may account for as much as R150 million of the their total operating budgets or 3-5% of their respective budgets The cost effective utilization of all resources in this period of rising cost and increasing inflation has therefore put the spotlight on the effective use of the energy resource. Empirical surveys of energy use compared the present energy use against generally accepted norms as well as unwise use. The unique character of tertiary institutions required the adaptation of conventional energy control measures to incorporate it into an overall energy management strategy for these institutions. Surveys confirmed that very little directives for energy control or energy norms during design, existed. Two specific areas where energy management can be applied are in the design stage, and in the operational stage. Furthermore, the designers of buildings were often not aware of the energy consequences of badly designed buildings.This was probably due to the fact that the operational responsibilities and energy budgeting is often that of other departments. The application of energy controls in existing buildings often implies the purchase of additional expensive equipment, retrofitting and/or the appointment of control personnel. This often results in long and unaffordable payback periods. Life cycle costing analysis and elaborate motivation is often necessary to convince the financial department to provide financial support, especially if the financial gains are only marginal. Larger energy savings will however materialize if an integrated energy efficient design approach rather than a retrofitting approach, is used. The practical design considerations outlined include the use of heat pumps, reuse of waste energy, power factor improvement, special consideration to the building envelope as energy flywheel as well as composite insulating materials, the building shape, shading and facing directions of building.

The large number of variables in modern buildings that may affect energy use, requires the suitable support of computers to simulate the mutual effect of the large number of parameters and conditions. Furthermore, it is imperative that planners and architects of new facilities be suitably trained or educated in cost effective energy design. The opportunities for energy efficient design rapidly diminish as the design proceeds and capable energy experts must be involved to maximize energy efficient benefits. Owners of buildings must insist on energy efficient design by employing proven energy experts at the early stages of design. Energy use must be managed at all times by amongst others, analyzing deviations between predicted and actual energy consumption as well as verifying energy accounts from supply authorities. Careful analysis of accounts and verifications at the time of measuring is necessary. Negotiations with supply authorities to reconsider tariffs can only be beneficial . Energy design incentives to consultants for energy efficient design will play a major role to promoting energy efficiency. The financial implications of these incentives are usually ofsett at a very early stage by savings achieved in energy conservation and replacement of energy consuming equipment, usually well within the first 5 years. It is therefore necessary that a collaborate approach in the design of all new facilities be adopted from a higher management level and not left to subordinate personnel with little or no influence in the design process.