Building owners have just two months to comply with energy performance certificates (EPC) registration as the 7 December 2025 deadline approaches. The regulations, introduced in 2020, make it mandatory to display an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in non-residential buildings in South Africa. Non-compliant building owners risk imprisonment, a fine, or both.
In July 2025, Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Samantha Graham-Maré, said that over 7,000 public and private buildings have registered for the certificate, while 3,884 EPCs had been issued.
“This is a disappointingly slow start, given the Department of Mineral Resources & Energy’s target of reaching 60,000 registrations by the December deadline,” says Alison Groves, Director, Built Ecology, WSP in Africa. “It’s clear that there’s no time to waste and property owners and building managers must act swiftly to ensure they do not contravene legislation.”
WSP’s advisory and support services are available to help building owners comply with the current EPC registration. “Our experts across sustainability, green building and energy management have worked with several organisations to adopt green building best practices in design and building operations,” Groves adds. “This experience puts us in an excellent position to offer advisory guidance to help clients understand what’s required to achieve EPC compliance before the December deadline.”
Groves adds: “Our immediate focus is on evaluating current building performance and advising on steps to improve energy ratings, which is critical for both compliance and long-term sustainability. Given the current levels of EPC compliance, there is a clear need for expert support in navigating regulatory requirements.”
As the EPC registration deadline looms, it’s important to note that certification is not a once-off exercise. EPCs are valid for five years from date of issue, meaning that building owners will have to undertake a recertification process periodically. To support clients through the certification cycle, WSP is preparing to offer EPC audit services to ensure compliance with SANS1544:2014, alongside review and advisory services focused on ongoing energy performance improvement.
“Our qualified professionals are ready to support clients through the recertification process,” Groves explains. “We anticipate that there will be a growing need for registered EPC Professionals, not only to lead and manage the entire energy performance assessment and issuing of EPCs but to support planning and execution to improve the energy performance of existing buildings and achieve better ratings at recertification.”
Level A certification represents the highest possible energy efficiency rating, while Level G indicates the lowest. Although there are no formal penalties for poor performance, publicly displaying a Level G rating could serve as a powerful incentive. Property owners may feel a sense of reputational pressure or embarrassment, which can motivate them to take action - investing in upgrades that improve energy performance and contribute to a more sustainable built environment.
Groves is hopeful that the EPC process could herald the start of a momentum shift in South Africa, where driving sustainability and increased efficiency have been given lip service by many property owners for too long. “The UK has been doing this kind of certification for nearly two decades resulting in a greater awareness of energy efficiency,” Groves explains. “In fact, since 2007, it has been a legal requirement to have a valid EPC when selling, renting, or building a property in the UK.”
As property owners and managers become aware of their energy usage through the EPC rating they receive, managing all aspects of a building’s energy use and finding solutions that maximise efficiency and improve long-term reliability will begin to hold more perceived value.
“Once the initial EPC is issued, we anticipate an increase in property owners setting energy efficiency goals to improve their original building ratings. This is where we can ensure not only compliance with EPC legislation, but help to reduce energy consumption and costs, and assess and implement self-supply options” Groves says.
WSP’s green building expertise is well-renowned in South Africa and encompasses sustainability consulting, advice on sustainable solutions, investigation and advice on sustainable building design opportunities, and building modelling – from concept, verification and certification, for asset optimisation and compliance. “We have an extensive track record of helping clients achieve Green Building Certifications in Green Star, LEED and EDGE, as well as SANS 10400 XA compliance and due diligence assessments on existing buildings,” Groves says. “Providing support to comply with EPC registration and improve building EPC ratings is a natural evolution for our service offering.”
The EPC advisory and audit service aligns with WSP’s Future Ready© approach, helping clients design and operate buildings that meet today’s standards while anticipating tomorrow’s challenges.
WSP in Africa is hiring! To find out more about available opportunities, check out the Careers page on our website or look out for updates on our LinkedIn page, @WSPinAfrica.
About WSP
WSP is one of the world’s leading professional services firms, uniting its engineering, advisory and science-based expertise to shape communities to advance humanity. From local beginnings to a globe-spanning presence today, WSP operates in over 50 countries and employs approximately 73,000 professionals, known as Visioneers. Together they pioneer solutions and deliver innovative projects across sectors: Transportation & Infrastructure, Property & Buildings, Earth & Environment, Water, Power & Energy and Mining & Metals. WSP is publicly listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:WSP). www.wsp.com.
