Bagamoyo, 26 November 2022. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy has organized a two-day workshop for Tanzania energy stakeholders from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlement, EWURA, TANESCO, National Construction Council (NCC) and the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), held in Bagamoyo from 25-26 November 2022 to discuss the stakeholder’s roles to effectively implement Project Action 3 “Development and implementation of a framework for energy performance certification in large buildings in the country.
The Tanzania Energy Efficiency Action Plan project is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the Ministry of Energy in collaboration with UNDP.
The Energy Efficiency Project Coordinator, Mr Aaron Cunningham, argues that the workshop intends to discuss stakeholders’ roles in effectively implementing Project Action 3 “Development and implementation of a framework for energy performance certification in large buildings.
He added, “This plan for the development and promotion of energy-efficient building codes and building energy performance certification will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution produced by the combustion fuel fossils, also the potential to save money.”
The 2018 Energy Report in Tanzania estimates that 67% of energy consumption is in residential, commercial, and public buildings. As a result, the national action plan on energy efficiency has identified the building sector as an important sector for energy consumption reduction.
Eng. Moses Lawrence, the director of technical services for the Tanzania National Construction Council, said that the Ministry of Works and Transportation is in the process of developing the Building Act, which has considered the importance of energy efficiency in buildings. Through the NCC, the government will work with UNDP and other stakeholders to ensure the energy efficiency segment is part of the new Building Act and aligned with the National Energy Policy of 2015 and Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He added, “improvement of buildings’ efficiency at the planning stage is more cost-effective compared to improvements after their initial construction. Therefore, decisions made during a building’s project phase will hence determine consumption over a building’s lifetime”.
Energy efficiency building codes can help transform the sector to be more environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and energy efficient. As a long-term impact, the energy efficiency building codes will contribute to SDG 7 on energy and promote progress towards Goal 13 on climate action, which aligns with the national development priorities. Energy efficiency in the building sector will support the effort of the government to provide sufficient and reliable energy, particularly electricity, to meet increased demand. It will also raise awareness among users of the benefits of more energy-sustainable buildings.
Written by Jolson Masaki, Communications Analyst – UNDP
