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It al centres around Eskom’s proposed Tariff increases for the next 3 years of 45% each year which will drive up your electricity costs to SHOCKINGLY high levels.
People need to understand that they can make changes now – CFL’S, LED’s, SOLAR, ENERGY EFFICIENT FITTINGS – all will reduce your usage substantially.
Most people complain that these items are TOO expensive and lets face it, they are more expensive than the usual alternatives. BUT this is the completely wrong way of viewing these items. We need to stop thinking like consumers, we need to re-think the way we live.
We need to understand that these Items are ASSETS and not expenses. They generate a return on the investment you have spent. For instance a LED bulb will save you approximate 50% when compared with the usual incandescent bulb. You therefore save money and in the real world saving money is just as good as making more money!
We have to run our homes like businesses – think carefully about our purchases and the rewards will be dramatic.
Right now with the Eskom increases we are financing THEIR assets and footing the bill, paying more for nothing? We have not increased our usage, in fact I would guess in most instances we have reduced our usage – YET we still pay more. This is not how it is supposed to work.
What can we do about it – GO SOLAR, GO EFFICIENT – so a solar system may cost you R15k but you get a return on that investment, and each time Eskom increases their tariffs your return increases. Once you have recouped your initial outlay in savings all that hot water is free – YOU COULDN’T CARE LESS ABOUT WHAT ESKOM DOES IN THE FUTURE.
This is the case with all energy saving products – you generate a return on them and they are in fact assets to you and your household.
You need to take a long term approach and in 24 months you could be generating 80% of your own electricity and saving the rest.
Visit us online – WWW.URBAN-SOLAR.CO.ZA
Have a Solar Day!
- The Earth receives more Solar Energy in one day than the entire human population has consumed in our entire history.
- Most areas in South Africa average more than 2 500 hours of sunshine per year, and average solar-radiation levels range between 4.5 and 6.5kWh/m2 in one day.
- The Sunshine recieved by the average South African is more than double that of a German home. Germany is the global leader in Solar energy production.
- The entire United States of America could be powered by Solar Power Plant 160 km x 160 km large, a small price to pay for completely clean energy?
- It is estimated that the entire world’s Coal Reserves for the next 200 years represents only 0.07% of our Solar Potential over the same time frame!
- 1 Solar Water Heating System in South Africa will save: 1.6 Tons of Carbon Dioxide emissions; 2000 litres of water and 800 kilograms of coal over 1 year.
- The Sun is also the main source of non-renewable fossil fuels (coal, gas and petroleum) which began life as plants or animals millions of years ago.
- The White House in Washington D.C. uses Solar Water Heating Systems.
- All TV & Communication Satellites are powered by Solar Power
- It takes 8 minutes & 17 seconds for sunlight to travel to Earth.
Have a Solar Day!
www.urban-solar.co.za
Most areas in South Africa average more than 2 500 hours of sunshine per year, and average solar-radiation levels range between 4.5 and 6.5kWh/m2 in one day.
The southern African region, and in fact the whole of Africa, has sunshine all year round. The annual 24-hour global solar radiation average is about 220 W/m2 for South Africa, compared with about 150 W/m2 for parts of the USA, and about 100 W/m2 for Europe and the United Kingdom. This makes South Africa’s local resource one of the highest in the world.Water-heating accounts for between 30% to 60% of the energy consumption in the average household. In South Africa, this derives mainly from electricity, being the most common energy-carrier employed. Removing this expenditure could lead to significant improvements in the disposable incomes of homeowners.
The equivalent of a large coal-fired power station
(2 000MW+) is used to provide hot water on tap to the domestic sector alone. Since the inception of the accelerated domestic electrification programme through grid extension, a major distortion of the national load curve has emerged, with the early evening load peak growing significantly.
Modelling indicates that the introduction of solar water-heating can ameliorate the situation substantially. Switching from electrical to solar water-heating can, therefore, have significant economic and environmental benefits.
There are economic benefits for home owners in reducing their energy bills. Expensive generation capacity to address load peaks will be obviated, and the introduction of new base-load capacity will be postponed. Benefits for the country include reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the release of scarce capital for other pressing needs.
Solar water heaters have many benefits both for the customer and for South Africa. The customer benefits by having a reduced electricity bill and the country benefits because less power has to be generated by Eskom and so less pollution is generated.
So as you can see there are many advantages to Solar Power….
Whilst not everyone can afford to install one yet (we are working hard to make it affordable) there are other options that will start the progression to a more energy efficient South Africa.
Have a look at our energy and water efficient showerheads. They operate at a maximum of 9.5 litres per minute, compared to regular shower heads that range from 15 – 25 litres per minute. Not only do you save water and money you also save on the extra costs of heating that extra water. You can expect utility savings up to 60%.
Check it out @ http://www.urban-solar.co.za/shower-heads.html
Have a Solar Day
The use of solar energy is the most readily accessible resource in South Africa. It lends itself to a number of potential uses and the country’s solar-equipment industry is developing.
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