Excellence recognised in projects driving resilience, energy efficiency and climate adaptation. This is part two of a three-part series.
IMESA_Awards_Winner Environment and Climate Change. Supplied by CESA
The Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa (IMESA), in partnership with Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA), honoured the country’s top-performing municipalities and engineers at the biennial Municipal Engineering Excellence Awards.
As the HVAC&R sector increasingly integrates climate-smart technologies, this award category celebrates municipal projects that directly mitigate climate impacts and improve resource efficiency – key themes in both cooling technology and sustainable infrastructure.
Joint Winners: City of Cape Town & eThekwini Municipality – Climate Resilient Sanitation Demonstration Project
This pioneering initiative addresses one of South Africa’s toughest challenges: sanitation in informal settlements. By introducing non-sewered, water-efficient systems, the project recovers water, energy, and nutrients while reducing contamination risks.
Developed with support from the Water Research Commission, the Gates Foundation and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, this collaboration is a global model for climate-resilient urban solutions.
Runner-Up: eThekwini Municipality – Coastal Modelling & Forecasting System
Building on its advanced Early Warning Flood System, eThekwini integrated inland and coastal data to predict storms, waves, and flooding – one of the most comprehensive modelling systems worldwide. This precision-driven network mirrors the data-driven monitoring trends shaping smart HVAC&R systems.
Third Place: City of Johannesburg – Orange Grove Stormwater Channel Rehabilitation
This urban renewal project combined green infrastructure and stormwater management with solar lighting, play spaces and pedestrian links – demonstrating how infrastructure can be functional, efficient, and environmentally conscious.
Source: Supplied by CESA
