Objectives

Over the past 21 years the "Domestic Use of Energy Conference” (DUE) has presented a forum for professionals, practitioners and end-users in all fields of domestic energy to discuss the latest developments in the effective use of energy in the residential sector. The importance of energy conservation is now widely recognised, especially as South Africa is facing rapidly increasing energy costs.

Although generating capacity is increasing, there is great benefit in doing everything possible to reduce the increase in demand. Energy conservation has always been high on the agenda of the DUE conferences.

DUE conferences have over the years followed the energy needs of South Africa. The focus has shifted from the provision of electrical energy to South Africa’s underprivileged society and all the societal and financial challenges this brings to energy efficiency generally and the current Demand Side Management protocols.

The issues now addressed at DUE include sustainable energy provision; smart control systems, appropriate legislation and its implementation; the role of renewables; off-grid electricity supply and power purchase agreements through the tendering process. These challenges are particularly marked in the rural and remote areas of developing countries. Papers and workshops are targeted at establishing problem-solving partnerships where suppliers, distributors, generators and users of energy, together with academia, will aim to speed up the provision and effective use of residential energy. Energy efficiency, consumer attitudes and behaviour, education and marketing are but a few of the factors that will be debated in detail at the conference.

Download the DUE 2013 Pamflet.