The status of low energy architecture in South Africa

South Africa has an ideal climate for low energy building, but also has a well established coal industry contributing to very cheap electricity. The energy intensity is high with a substantial proportion being used to render buildings habitable in an ideal climate for passive design. Coal is largely used for space heating leading to severe pollution. A new housing drive offers an ideal opportunity to address the neglected area of low energy in South African housing. Dramatic energy savings and peak demand reductions have been modelled and proven experimentally.