Rainwater Harvesting
It is now viable to harvest rainwater for your whole household. This includes rainwater harvesting, storing and pumping rainwater for bathing, showering, toilet flushing, pool, laundry and irrigation. Rainwater harvesting together with other Water Rhapsody products can save up to 90% of your water bill.
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Tag Archives: Solar panels
With Yes Solar your solar geyser will pay for itself!
“Last year I installed those solar panels in my house for the geyser, that energy-efficient kind. Today, I got a call from the contractor who installed it. He complained that the work had been completed a year ago and I still hadn’t paid for them. Hellooo … just because I’m blonde doesn’t mean that I am automatically stupid. So, I told him
Subsidies vir sonkraggeisers droop op!
Die installering van laedruk-sonkraggeisers in die Baai is voorlopig gestaak omdat Eskom se subsidies daarvoor opgedroog het. Die sondraggeisers is n Eskom-projek en word deur hom gefinansier. Sowat 30 586 geisers is al by regeringshuise hier aangebring. George Ferreira, van die maatskappy wat die geisers installeer, het gesê hulle het al 120 000 huishoudings voorsien. Ferreira het op n onlangse komiteevergadering oor infrastruktuur, ingenieurswese en energie gesê die projek is gestaak weens geldnood en hy weet nie wannneer dit hervat sal word nie. Volgens Mnr. Ferreira spaar huiseienaars maandeliks sowat R30 aan krag met laedruk- sonkrag-geisers. Hulle het egter heelwat probleme ondervind tydens die installering. “Talle huiseienaars wat by hul huise laat aanbou het se dakke voldoen nie aan die standaarde nie en ons kon nie installasies doen nie. Ons het ook enkele lekke ondervind omdat vullertenks wat plaaslik vervaardig en SABS-goedgekeur is, foutief was. Ons moes 6000 van die vullertenks vervang. Sommige foutiewe krane is vervang. Van die geysers wat verkeerd geïnstalleer is, het van huiseienaars se dakke afgewaai.” Dié probleme het veroorsaak dat die maatskappy nie soveel wins gemaak het as wat hy aanvanklik bereken het nie. Helga van Staaden – PE Express, 21 September 2011
Interesting Facts about Electricity
A spark of static electricity can measure up to three thousand (3,000) volts. A bolt of lightning can measure up to three million (3,000,000) volts – and it lasts less than one second! Electricity always tries to find the easiest path to the ground. Electricity can be made from wind, water, the sun and even animal manure. Burning coal is the most common way electricity is made in the United States. The first power plant – owned by Thomas Edison – opened in New York City in 1882. Thomas Edison invented more than 2,000 new products, including almost everything needed for us to use electricity in our homes: switches, fuses, sockets and meters. Benjamin Franklin didn’t discover electricity – but he did prove that lightning is a form of electrical energy. One power plant can produce enough electricity for 180,000 homes. Alternative Energy The bicycle is the most efficient form of transportation known. It uses five times less energy than walking. B.C.’s forest industry obtains 25% of its electricity from biomass — in this case, the waste material from their own industry. A system of distribution and transmission lines brings electricity to southern Manitoba through 70,000 km of lines. That’s … Continue reading
Posted in Energy Saving, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Solar Geysers, Solar Power, Solar Water Heating, Water Conservation, Water Tanks
Tagged Alternative Energy, going green, Saving Electricity, Solar geysers, Solar panels, Solar power, Static Elecrisity Spark, Wind Tubine, Wind Tunnels, Yes Solar
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South Africa Solar Challenge
The South African Solar Challenge 2010 is an ambitious, two-week race in solar-powered cars throughout South Africa from the 20th September to the 2nd October. Teams are to build their own cars, design their own engineering systems and race those same machines through the most demanding terrain that solar cars have ever seen. The South Africa Solar Challenge promotes renewable energy technologies (specifically photo voltaic or “solar cells”), educational excellence in science, engineering and mathematics and creative integration of technical and scientific expertise across a wide-range of disciplines. The challenge is also a hands-on experience for students and engineers to develop and demonstrate their technical and creative abilities. Yes Solar were lucky to catch up with the Japanese team in Jeffrey’s Bay on the 29th of September. We were astonished by the speed of this little car and were told that it reached a top speed of 171km/h at one stage during the challenge. They however stay within the speed limit as this is one of the rules of the race. The race end in Pretoria at the Innovation HUB (Arriving from 10am to 5pm)
Posted in Solar Energy
Tagged Saving Electricity, Solar, Solar panels, Solar power, Yes Solar
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Ways to reduce your electricity bill Step three:
Get a geyser blanket The exact savings are hard to predict, but fitting a geyser blanket around your geyser and insulating your hot water pipes is recommended, says Palmer, as these prevent heat loss when the geyser is switched off. Geyser blankets range in price from R90 to R400 – only buy those that are SABS-approved, Eskom-endorsed and flameproof. DIY kits are available but it’s easiest to ask a plumber to install the blanket, at a cost of roughly R250–R450 per hour (it shouldn’t take longer than an hour). For more information, go to www.eskomdsm.co.za.
Posted in Energy Saving, Green, Solar Energy, Solar Geysers, Solar Power, Solar Water Heating, Water Tanks
Tagged Electricity price increase, Geyser Blanket, Reduce Electricity Bills, Saving Electricity, Solar geysers, Solar panels, Solar power, Solsquare, Water Conservation, Waterwise, Yes Solar
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Ways to reduce your electricity bill – Step Two:
Switch to gas Gas is used extensively for cooking and heating in other parts of the world, but here in SA, we have no pipeline gas, says Palmer. You will need to buy a Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) canister which fits your appliance. A refundable deposit is required for the ongoing use of the canister and you refill it at your nearest gas outlet (see www.totalgaz.co.za; www.afrox.co.za; www.easigas.co.za). Remember, as LPG is 100% derived from oil, its price fluctuates with the oil price. Says Terence of The Gas Experts (www.gasexperts.co.za ), you can purchase a good, safe four-burner gas hob for under R2 500. For a family of four living in a basic townhouse, a 9kg bottle of gas can last up to nine months, costing R200 a year to run the hob. A medium-sized gas water heater, retailing for R3200, will use a 48kg bottle of gas (costing R790) approximately every two and a half months. Installation of a gas stove and geyser will cost around R4500 (excluding the bottles). To keep warm, gas heaters and fireplaces are cost- and energy-efficient.
Posted in Energy Saving, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Solar Geysers
Tagged Eastern Cape, Gas, Saving Electricity, Solar, Solar geysers, Solar panels, Solsquare, Yes Solar
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Ways to reduce your electricity bill – Step One:
Opting off the grid To live off the electricity grid, says Duncan Palmer from the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies, you need a number of solar panels, a wind turbine (depending on where you live), an inverter and some batteries. ‘Solar energy from the sun is harvested with photovoltaic (PV) panels, which convert the solar energy directly into electrical energy. An electrician wires the inverter into your existing electrical reticulation circuit.’ ‘To sustain normal electricity habits and supply a regular house, you will need about 6kW of PV panels, which will cost around R210 000,’ says Riaan Meyer, from the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies at the University of Stellenbosch.‘Adding the inverter, batteries and other components will up it to R500 000 – pricey, but you’re investing in 20 years’ worth of electricity.’ But while an entire solar power system may be out of reach of most people’s budgets, there are some simple steps you can take to lighten the load. According to Eskom, a household’s largest electricity expense is water heating, which typically accounts for 40–50% of the monthly bill. Installing a solar geyser system to cater for the needs of a family of four … Continue reading
What kind of droughts does South Africa experience?
A brief synopsis of drought in South Africa since 1960 -2005 Introduction The rainfall climate of South Africa is one of great variability. Seasonal rainfall percentage deviations since 1960 demonstrate wide fluctuations about the long-term average and it is in this context that large rainfall deficits must be assessed. Between July of 1960 and June of 2004, there have been 8 summer-rainfall seasons where rainfall for the entire summer-rainfall area has been less than 80% of normal. A deficit of 25% is normally regarded as a severe meteorological drought but it can be safely assumed that a shortfall of 20% from normal rainfall will cause crop and water shortfalls in many regions accompanied by social and economic hardship. Discussion All but the south-western and southern regions of South Africa rely on summer rainfall, which normally falls between October and March, the summer season. Rainfall is heaviest in the east and decreases westward. For convenience the rainfall season is taken to run from July until June of the following year, but rainfall outside of the summer season is usually insignificant. The consequence of rainfall being confined to six months of the year is that most crops can only be grown during … Continue reading
Posted in Climate Change, Energy Saving, Green, Grey Water Recycling, Rainwater Harvesting, Renewable Energy, safe water, Water Conservation, Water Tanks, Weather
Tagged Dam Levels, drought disaster area, Eastern Cape, Port Elizabeth, Rainwater Harvesting, Saving water, Solar, Solar geysers, Solar panels, Water shortage, Water tanks, Water usage, Yes Solar
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Why Solar Energy in South Africa?
There are 5 Good reasons to use solar energy in South Africa: Power Shortage: South Africa cannot meet the energy demand in the country only with existing power generation capacity. South Africa must safe 10% on its electricity bill. Former finance Minister Trevor Manuel announced various steps and measures in his February 2008 budget speech which includes: ¨ Levy on electricity generated from non-renewable sources, such as generators. ¨ Promised to consider tax incentives for clean energy. ¨ Tax relief for generation of electricity from amongst others sunlight. Eskom has announced delays in quoting and perhaps supplying only part or none of the electricity requirements for new developments and requirements for permits. 2. Rising Energy Cost: Electricity costs are very low in SA, but Eskom forces a 25% price increase per annum over the next four years. Diesel price increased more than 200% in the last 4 years and will continue to do so for the unforeseeable future. (Source: Stats AS 2007) 3. Independence from providers: Solar energy ensures continued power supply on key appliances at home or in the office, thereby mitigating damage during power surges and outages. It reduces the household reliance on Main Grid Energy … Continue reading
Solar Water Heating
People have been using solar power for many years to heat up their water, light up their homes and for general low-voltage appliances. Solar power energy is now more easily accessible to the public than ever before, and millions of people around the world are installing solar geysers in their homes in order to save money on electricity consumption and thus helping the planet. Converting your home to use solar power can be a considerable undertaking, but the results are very rewarding. Going solar is a growing trend, but where do you begin the process? Solar power systems use energy from the sun – which is an unlimited source of renewable energy – and convert it into electricity or heat. The most practical place to start the process of conversion is with the installation of solar geysers on your roof. Solar water heaters use a roof-mounted, heat-absorbing panels (thermal collectors) to heat water with the power of the sun. The heated water is fed into a special solar geyser that stores the water. Firstly, you should find the most appropriate position suitable on your roof. The solar panels should not be shaded either by trees or any other obstacles. Even if … Continue reading
