ENSURING SUSTAINABILITY OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ENERGY SECURITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: A CASE STUDY OF AIRPORTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Energy efficiency projects that change inefficient lighting technologies to light emitting diode (LED) technology or employ a solar PV plant to lower carbon emissions to bring a certain level of carbon footprint reduction as well as energy security, bring assurance for as long as the lifespan of these technologies. With the passing of time, technologies change and so does legislation, the market, and business focus. Changes in personnel within organisations, governments and even changes in society, culture and way of life is inevitable. To ensure that energy efficiency and energy security are sustained through time this approach must be embedded in employees' everyday lives, independent of specific persons within governments and organisations who advocate for the mitigation of climate change. With the nature of our knowledge of the planet growing all the time, our use of certain technologies and energy sources may be shifted to be aligned to our understanding of what contributes to climate change and other environmental impacts, working with trade-offs to find the most suitable pathway for all affected entities. Our efforts to mitigate climate change cannot be short lived but must constantly evolve to ensure mitigation of climate change. This paper pr esents principles that provide an approach to ensure that climate change mitigation efforts are sustained through changing technologies, legislation, personnel and markets, and shows the application of these principles in an airport environment.