Power cuts and an increase in the price of electricity and water have made energy-saving measures and alternative energy sources a priority for the average homeowner
For decades South Africans have built habits, lifestyles and industries around an apparent abundance of cheap electricity. The fact is that what we have been paying for energy and what energy actually costs are two verv different things. We now face tariff increases that threaten the affordability of everyday activities and we are relying on a grid that won’t be able to support the growing demand for power much longer.
The only sustainable solution to this crisis is a national drive towards renewable energy. South Africa is blessed with the perfect conditions to power our grid through solar, wind and hydro means. A series of decentralised, micro-grids using these alternatives to supplement Eskom would be a sustainable and manageable solution. What makes it attractive is that every South African could become a contributor to the grid if the incentive exists.
Feed-in grids, similar to those already operating in many countries including Australia and Germany, would allow every consumer to sell the excess energy they generate back to the grid and pay for the necessary equipment from the money earned. However, this issue is still being debated. In the meantime homeowners should start putting energy-saving strategies in place in their homes and budgeting for solutions to the energy crisis.
Homeowners should start putting energy-saving strategies in place and budgeting for solutions to the energy crisis.
Follow the lead of people like Paddy Wallington, who established The Green Power House in Linden, Johannesburg, to demonstrate what can be done in the average South African home. The attractively laid-out garden consists of carefully selected fruit and vegetables chosen for both taste and visual appeal. Large settling tanks and a grey water purification system turn rainwater and washing water into what is necessary for the garden. On the roof are solar panels that power the electricity needs of the house. The lights and a plug point which powers the computers operate separately to the grid, but can use Eskom power when necessary. The swimming pool is literally a mini-wetland. It does not use chemicals, but rather natural plant filtration and healthy, friendly bacteria to keep it sparkling and fresh.
What you can do Now
If you are planning on building a new home or adding onto your existing home, it’s very important to take passive design into consideration. A passive building will be one that makes the most use of natural light and uses materials with high thermal properties that minimise the need tor artificial heating, cooling and lighting. However, most of us are not in the position to build a new energy-efficient home, so retrofitting our existing homes and changing our habits is the answer.
Stephen Scrimgeour, manager of Earth Patrol, has the following advice:
1. House in General:
- Replace your incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient CFLs or LEDs. No one should be using incandescent bulbs anymore. A CFL bulb uses about seven times less energy and LEDs use about 10 times less! They also last considerably longer than incandescent bulbs, thereby reducing landfill use.
- Install a solar geyser. With Eskom’s rebate programme it’s a great place to start and the 40 percent savings in your monthly bill makes it totally logical. Lowering the thermostat on your geyser to 50°C will also conserve electricity.
- Insulate! Proper insulation creates an ambient temperate year round. This not only means more warmth in winter but also keeps your home cooler in summer. The Green Power House has cork-covered floors for extra insulation.
2. Lounge and Dining Room:
- An LCD television uses up to five times less energy than a conventional one of the same size.
- Heating your rooms with gas or efficient fireplaces, such as a Morso, is more energy efficient than an electric heater.
- Make sure that when you’re not using your TV or stereo you unplug them, as these appliances draw approximately 15 percent energy on standby (sleep) mode.
3. Kitchen and Laundry:
- Gas is always the better option for cooking. It heats up instantly and is cheaper than an electric stove.
- If you are buying new appliances, check the energy efficiency rating. Fridges, washing machines and dryers are huge electricity guzzlers. Many brands now offer very efficient appliances.
- Use water-saving fittings on your taps.
- Compost your veggie cuttings! You will be truly amazed at how much less waste you will produce just by composting. If you have limited space, you could also consider a worm farm.
- Redirect your waste grey water into your garden.
4. Bathroom:
- Water-saving fittings for your baths, showers and basins can dramatically reduce your water consumption by up to 40 percent.
- Again, your grey water can be used in the garden.
5. Garden:
- You can harvest water from your roof and store this for irrigation. It can also be plumbed back into your house to flush your toilets and supply your washing machine and dishwashers. (For human consumption, this water needs to be properly filtered first.) A general measurement is that 1 000 litres of water can be harvested per square metre of roofing. Rain water harvesting is the first and most important step towards ensuring your water security.
- Grey water systems capture your waste water from baths, showers, basins and laundry and feed it into your landscape. This waste water is high in phosphates that many indigenous plants thrive on.
- Simple landscaping techniques like swales and berms will catch water where it falls and direct it to your garden instead of letting it run into the sewer.
- Plant endemic or indigenous plants that don’t need too much water.
6. Food:
- What you eat makes a big impact on the environment. Support local, free-range, organic produce.
- Grow your own. Maintaining a vegetable patch is easier than you think! You can provide most of your seasonal crops from a very small space in your own backyard and save money while you’re saving the environment.
Text by Chris Meintjes. Illustration Charne’ Casey. This shortened article was taken from the April 2010 edition of Garden and Home.
Related Content
