The SAEE is currently in its 10th year of existence and in the latter part has taken major strides in placing South Africa on the map in the world when it comes to the dynamic fields of energy engineering, energy efficiency and energy management.

For the second year in a row, the Southern African Association for Energy Efficiency (SAEE) has won the US-based Association of Energy Engineers' (AEE) 2012 Overall Best Chapter Performance Award in the international category, in addition to the Best Website Award, and the Best Community Service Award. The AEE has a membership base of over 16,000 professionals in 89 countries and recognises significant achievements of its US-based and international chapters through the annual Chapter Recognition Awards Program which comprises 7 possible awards, of which SAEE won 3.

The SAEE is currently in its 10th year of existence and in the latter part has taken major strides in placing South Africa on the map in the world when it comes to the dynamic fields of energy engineering, energy efficiency and energy management. An elated Prof LJ Grobler, President of the SAEE, said, "Besides receiving international recognition by the AEE, our members and board members have actively worked towards growing the industry at local and international level through standards representation, awareness creation, skills development, and cementing monitoring, verification and control structures."

Grobler continued, "Our website is also continuously improving which is recognised regularly by the AEE, and we will continue growing its usefulness during the next few years."

The Community Service Award acknowledges the work done through the SAEE and Kingfisher FM's Green Hour radio programme which is a voluntary project to educate, share information and knowledge on the importance of energy conservation for sustainable living within the Eastern Cape community. In addition to daily energy news reporting, 50 radio programmes have been aired with continuation of the effort through social media with regular daily energy updates on its blog, Twitter and Facebook pages.

The SAEE consistently provides an accessible platform for small, medium, large and energy intensive organisations; grid and renewable energy end-users; and individual professionals to develop by providing a platform for optimal growth of all stakeholders through its events, exhibitions, membership benefits, marketing assistance programmes, and activities offering unmatched benefit vs cost ratios in South Africa with superior service and advice. Therefore, the SAEE being the most innovative and progressive Chapter of the AEE it was awarded Overall Best Chapter Performance for 2012. Prof LJ Grobler will receive the three awards on behalf of South Africa in October this year in Georgia.