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ENERGY SAVING, WATER USE EFFICIENCY IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS
- 17 January 2024
- Public Service
- SA Legal Academy
Please note: On 18 January 2024, the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure re-gazetted the version of these regulations published just 24 hours beforehand. The only difference appears to be a heading to the covering notice, which reads: 'Correction Notice, Gazette No. 50010, dated 18-01-2024, Notice No. 4259 is replacing Gazette No. 50007, dated 17-01-2024, Notice No. 4252'. No reference is made to Gazette No. 49989, dated 12-01-2024, Notice No. 4250.
The Department of Public Works & Infrastructure has re-gazetted regulations on the efficient management of public buildings first published on 12 January 2024. The addition of ‘draft 3 – 6 April 2023’ to the top right-hand corner of each page of the 17 January 2024 version appears to be the only difference in the two sets of regulations. Otherwise, the contents of both notices appear to be identical. In the absence of any reference to replacing or withdrawing the first version, the department’s intentions are therefore not clear.
However, given the number of public buildings to which the new regulations apply, the appalling state of neglect in which so many now find themselves and the significance of issues the new requirements apparently seek to address, there does seem to be merit in drawing attention to them.
Against that backdrop, according to the accompanying notice the purpose of the new regulations is to:
- enable energy and water use efficiency in public buildings,
- reduce waste production by their occupants
- reduce the carbon footprint of government’s immovable assets
- reduce expenditure on utilities and waste management, and
- facilitate the good governance of government assets.
Prescribed in terms of provisions in the Government Immovable Asset Management Act, 2007, the new regulations refer to a ‘green management programme’ and a National Treasury ‘instruction note or guidelines’ under the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act, 2000. Onerous financial and other reporting obligations are imposed.
- 17 January 2024 regulations
- 12 January 2024 regulations
Published by SA Legal Academy Policy Watch