Alternative energy for happy living: empowering South Africa with the sun

Posted on 03 November 2009

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Ed’s note: This is a guest blog post from Sustainable.co.za.

We all complain about the Eskom price hikes: while facing mass retrenchments and skyrocketing food prices we are also faced with the exorbitant price of electricity and the future threat of 30-40% price hikes. But what are we, as individuals, really doing about the cost of energy and I’m not just talking about the financial cost. America and Europe are already educating citizens about reducing their carbon footprints and introducing incentives and laws to encourage the use of alternative energy. Perhaps it’s time we stopped complaining and started looking to alternative energy sources for our homes, such as solar panels and LED lights.

Here are some ways that you, as a South African, can do your bit to reduce your carbon footprint at home and save on that rapidly escalating electricity bill by tapping into alternative energy supplies:

What many South Africans forget is how lucky we are to spend so many days in the bright sunlight. The sun is one of our greatest alternative energy resources and one of its greatest advantages is that it’s not going anywhere at least for the next five billion years.
The initial installation cost of solar panels can be in the tens of thousands but the return on your investment starts almost immediately and you become immune to inconvenient power cuts and Eskom price increases. You can run your home fully from solar energy but, because the set-up required can easily run into the hundreds of thousands of Rands, you can start small and add sustainable products to your home as the money comes in. Solar water heaters, for example, cost little more than a regular geyser unit. And if you don’t want to overhaul your entire geyser system, invest in a geyser blanket or geyser timer to limit unnecessary heat loss and energy wastage. Geyer blankets and timers range from R200 to R500.

Zeke Murphy, owner of Sustainable.co.za, a Cape Town-based alternative energy company, says that it is possible for every average household to get involved in energy saving with alternative energy. “Realistically, the average household should be able to start considering alternative power for their lighting systems and running one or two low wattage appliances off a renewable energy system. These systems, if considered in the building of new homes, can be integrated without hugely impacting on the overall building cost”, he said.

If you’re considering making a positive change at home for the good of your country, your planet and your pocket, why not start now even if the finances aren’t readily available? Write down a list of what electrical appliances in your home are pushing up your energy bill the most. Usually the most energy heavy items include air conditioners, tumble dryers, geysers and ovens. Then look around for local alternative energy solutions that can do the job at a fraction of the price, like solar cookers and solar powered air conditioners.

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This post was written by:

Nic Haralambous

Nic Haralambous - who has written 999 posts on SA Rocks.

I am the editor, owner and founder of SA Rocks. This project is close to my heart and keeps me sane and grounded in a country filled with diversity, enthusiasm, confusion, frustration but above all, hope.

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18 Comments For This Post

  1. Gravatar Macnet Says:

    We should concentrate more on Alternative Energy sources like hydrogen and solar because fossil fuels are already depleted and they are polluting the environment.

  2. Gravatar Elgar Says:

    http://www.eu2hell.blogspot.com
    A thinly veiled sale’s pitch for some impractical and delusional alternatives to Eslom’s inferior service. It fits neatly into the long string of postings here looking at South Africa and her future through rosy glasses.

  3. Gravatar mother Africa Says:

    “…Perhaps it’s time we stopped complaining and started looking to alternative energy sources for our homes, such as solar panels and LED lights…” great post! alternative energy sources are safer and cheaper in my opinion. Thanks very much for sharing!

  4. Gravatar Green News Says:

    Its a perfect solution to years of debate that isn’t working. Solar has to be part of it now.

  5. Gravatar Mickey Veshedsky Says:

    nice blog i’m driving a car powered on water fuel instead of normal fuel to drive its good against global warming and it saves me loads of money too you check it out here: link

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    I’ve read some good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting.

  7. Gravatar interior design living room Says:

    Thank you for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbour were preparing to do some research about that. We got a good book on that matter from our local library and most books where not as influensive as your information.

  8. Gravatar Faith Foster Says:

    solar water heater is a great alternative to conventional electric heaters which costs much*;”

  9. Gravatar Sublingual Vitamins  Says:

    alternative energy is the best option that we can choose if we really want clean sources of power.”.

  10. Gravatar Diabetic Neuropathy  Says:

    LED Lights last much longer than incandescent bulbs and yet they consume less power~,:

  11. Gravatar Biotin : Says:

    solar water heaters are also energy savers, they help me save electricity bills from each month’.`

  12. Gravatar Reverse Osmosis Says:

    the good thing about solar water heaters is that they can help you conserve energy ,`;

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