The sustainable use of energy in buildings has become an imperative — it’s key not just to tackling climate change, but to improving the performance of facilities and the competitiveness of businesses too. Consequently, it’s important that anyone involved in the construction, manufacturing, energy, and oil and transport industries today is well-versed in the field of energy efficiency.

The University of Cape Town (UCT) Energy Efficiency and Sustainability online short course offers a holistic overview of the energy efficiency landscape and the economics of this field. Over the course of eight weeks, you’ll explore the latest developments and regulations in the energy industry, and investigate energy use in commercial and industrial contexts. You’ll also learn how to verify energy savings using industry-accepted techniques, examine how to assess the financial viability of energy-efficiency projects, and build a strong business case for interventions.

This course, which is certified by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) for CPD points, is suited to practicing and consulting engineers, facility managers, architects, building designers, energy managers, energy auditors, manufacturing professionals, and environmental consultants. In essence, it’s designed for all professionals looking to learn how to identify energy conservation opportunities to promote efficiency in buildings and businesses. Additionally, professionals will gain the knowledge needed to specialize their business offerings and take advantage of this increasingly important trend. As students will be asked to apply formulas and perform calculations, basic competence in mathematics is required in order to complete this course.

This course is approved by the University of Cape Town and is validated by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) for CPD credits. The course has an estimated 80 hours of learning and South African engineering professionals can earn up to eight CPD credits.*

International students need to consult their national professional engineering bodies to check whether this course is recognized for points towards maintaining professional status.

*Should you wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is upon you. The University of Cape Town and GetSmarter accept no responsibility. If you would like to claim validation or points, use the ECSA validation number UCTGSEES23.