NEWSFLASH 

The Southern African Association for Energy Efficiency (SAEE) has done the country proud by scooping the International Best Overall Chapter Performance Award presented by the US-based Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), of which the SAEE is one of 70 chapters.

President of the SAEE, Prof LJ Grobler was elated at the news and said, “After almost 10 years of serving the Southern African market through the SAEE’s activities we feel proud to have achieved this Award and thereby flying the South African flag high in America. It cements the speculation by experts in the industry that our country has the potential to become leaders in the global energy efficiency sector.”

The AEE has an international membership base of over 14,000 professionals in 83 countries and provides information and networking opportunities in the dynamic fields of energy engineering and energy management, renewable and alternative energy, power generation, energy services, sustainability, and all related areas. Globally the AEE is well-known for its widely recognised energy certification programs, which role the SAEE facilitates through its affiliated trainer the Energy Training Foundation, and to date almost 500 energy professionals have been trained to develop an energy engineering career path in South Africa.

The SAEE has established itself as an AEE chapter that provides various platforms for education and awareness creation in energy engineering and all its related industries at a time when our country is experiencing exceptional energy supply constraints coupled with excessive generation cost increases that could potential hinder economic development. The numerous activities in the region has opened the market national and international energy experts to share knowledge, disseminate information and facilitate networking to active individuals within the energy efficiency industry through the Southern African Energy Efficiency Convention (SAEEC) and the Mining and Industrial Energy Optimisation (MIEO) chapter. These initiatives served as a direct conduit between, normally inaccessible, experts and the delegates, whom are ultimately responsible for bringing energy efficiency initiatives to fruition. A scholarship outreach programme created opportunities to upcoming and developing energy engineering individuals and enables the development of this young market on the continent.

In addition, a council was established to uphold the stature of Certificated Measurement and Verification Professionals, thereby providing credibility and advancing honour and dignity of the profession to this fairly infant career path in the region. The Council for Measurement and Verification Professionals of Southern Africa (CMVPSA) has attracted almost a quarter of the CMVP’s in the country to register and abide by the high standards expected from them.

The SAEE has successfully facilitated the AEE’s aim of promoting the educational interests of those engaged in the energy industry.

For more information on the SAEE contact Danielle Badenhorst on 018 293 1499 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and online at www.saee.org.za.