Eskom does not have enough generating capacity to meet future demand. Although Eskom electricity is still the cheapest option, this is only because the environmental costs (CO2 emissions, acid rain, radio active waste)  are not built in to the price of electricity. And with imminent electricity price rises - we must start looking at alternatives now.

NEWS FLASH A recent R 40 million investment over the next five years, facilitated by Wesgro, into a photovoltaic solar panel manufacturing plant is set to make sustainable, affordable electricity a reality READ MORE Must Read Document Solving the Energy Crisis Sustainably – what are our options? Author: Muna Lakhani of IZWA Institute for Zero Waste in Africa

South Africa has one of the world's best rates of incoming solar radiation, thus solar water heaters and photovoltaic panels perform very well. In the Western Cape Wind Power is also viable in many areas, including Hout Bay. Wind power and solar water heaters can be manufactured locally, which strengthen the local economy.

Energy Options

 * Biodiesel
Using waste oil from restaurants (not crops) for vehicle fuel
 

 

* Solar Power
    Solar energy can be used in two main ways,    
    direct solar water heating and solar electricity 
    generation. These systems can provide some
    or all the following advantages.

Advantages of Solar Power

• May allow blocked developments to be approved in the absence of adequate power infrastructure

• Reduction of dependence on an unreliable Eskom grid

• Power seamlessly maintained to critical electronic, IT and medical equipment during blackouts

• Simple future addition of alternative power sources – wind, solar, generator

• Complete remote sms and web control and monitoring of over 200 parameters – security, power etc

• Free hot water from the sun for decades

• Savings up to 60% of a standard household power bill

• Hot water even in cloudy, cold and windy conditions

• Reliable and low maintenance systems

• Made from SUS304B stainless steel, aluminium and borosilicate glass components

* Wind Power
   For wind generators built in Cape Town, see www.windpower.org.za

* Water
   It is feasable to generate electricity from any stream that has a steady flow

* Energy Efficient Appliances
   When buying new appliances look for the energy efficiency logo.
   This is particularly important if you are considering running your home
    off renewable energy.

 

Conserving Energy

The cheapest way to save energy is by using a low flow showerhead. The installation cost for this works out to approximately R0.14 per year for each kWh of electricity saved.

By comparison, the installation cost of a solar geyser is R4 per kW hour per year.

Photovoltaic panels (solar electricity) are even more expensive at ~R21/kWh per year.

Heating and cooling

• Use a thermostatically controlled oil heater to regulate the room temperature

• Insulate the ceiling to improve the regulation of the room temperature

• Wear clothing that is appropriate for the weather, to save switching on fans or heaters

• Keep room doors closed so that heaters do not have to work too hard

• Fridges and freezers with the new SA Appliance Label show how much electricity the appliance uses so that you can take an informed decision and buy an efficient appliance with a low operating cost.

Hot water

• Set the geyser temperature to 60 degrees C. Most are set a lot higher

• Insulate both the geyser and outlet pipes to keep the water warm – the savings in electricity make it a good investment

• Taking a shower instead of a bath can save on hot water

• If you do take a bath do not fill the tub, use as little water as possible

• Use a low-flow shower head to control the amount of water used

• Allowing hot water to pour out of taps and down the drain is wasteful

• Fix all leaking taps.

Lighting

• Turn off the lights when you leave a room

• Replace regular light globes with energy saving lamps – they use about a quarter of the electricity and last 6 to 8 times longer

• Use low energy lamps for exterior lighting, with timers or light sensors for switching

• If the sun is shining, make the most of natural light.

Household appliances

• Ensure that the seals on the refrigerator doors are in good condition and that the doors close properly

• Do not open the refrigerator door more than necessary

• If you are making one cup of tea, boil only enough water for one cup

• When toasting bread use the toaster and not the oven

• Buy appliances with the energy efficient label

• Buy products without much packaging and wrapping

Efficient business use

• Increase the efficiency of the energy-consuming device by using a high efficiency boiler or chiller

• Improve the design of the overall system by matching the size of the components to the load

• Switch to a more efficient system, by using a heat pump instead of electric resistance heating

• Improve control of the system by using outside air for cooling when appropriate

• Improve maintenance by cleaning coils, sealing ducts

• Reducing demand by putting in more efficient lights and using day lighting to reduce cooling loads

To save energy using gas and paraffin

• Heaters using propane gas (liquid petroleum gas) burn more efficiently and heat more evenly

• If you have a gas furnace, change the filter monthly to save money

• Be sure that all cooking burners are burning with a blue, cone-shaped flame. A yellow flame indicates clogged air inlets or burners that need adjustment or the valves need cleaning.

• Make sure that the flame of paraffin cookers also burns blue for more efficient fuel usage

• Check the seal on your gas oven door. Gaps or tears in the seal let heat escape and waste energy