Archive for August, 2012
Posted by Zeke on 31 Aug 2012 | Tagged as: Eco General
Friday, August 31st, 2012
Our most recent blog posts have been focussed on educating as many people as possible about the active steps that can be taken to alleviate unnecessary energy use in the home. When consumption has been reduced to the most efficient level possible, it’s time to consider the benefits of going solar.
Once you’ve taken the appropriate measures we will offer free consultation in the design and supply of your Solar Power system. It is, however, mutually beneficial if you can supply us with the following information. The more detailed this is, the quicker we can get the ball rolling to purchasing your own solar power kit.
- Budget:
People are often intimidated by the cost involved in a home with solar power. In previous posts we’ve highlighted how, aside from drastically reducing energy use and eradicating your electricity bill altogether, covering your initial cost only takes a few years. (more…)
Tags: electricity consumption, energy saving, load assessment, solar panel, solar power
Posted in Eco General | 5 Comments »
Posted by Zeke on 29 Aug 2012 | Tagged as: Eco General
Wednesday, August 29th, 2012
Renewable energy has become a legal commodity thanks to Eskom and NERSA (National Energy Regulator of South Africa). South Africa’s electricity distributor and regulator are offering separate supplementary tiers to the country’s independent power producer programme that is currently underway. These nation-wide projects have been adopted in order to avoid a repeat of the load shedding initiatives that occurred in 2008.
Renewable Energy Solutions Courtesy of Eskom and NERSA:
Embedded Generations within Municipal Boundaries
As of the 22nd of September 2011, NERSA approved the directive of municipalities to maintain a database of all small-scale (<100kW) embedded generation within their areas. The idea behind this is to bypass licensing problems introduced by allowing individuals to connect their Solar Panels to electricity grids, thereby reducing their electricity bills (find out more here).
(more…)
Tags: eskom, NERSA, renewable energy
Posted in Eco General | 3 Comments »
Posted by Zeke on 23 Aug 2012 | Tagged as: Eco Products
Thursday, August 23rd, 2012
Every type of Solar Power system has one thing in common; they are all designed to harness clean renewable energy, effectively reducing environmental damage and lowering electricity expenses for those who invest in them. However, these systems are also diverse in their size, structure and suitability; it’s important to know which type of solar power application would be the most appropriate for your property, and why. It may sound like a complex decision, but the first step is simple; know what solar power systems are available, and how they would affect your home and office.
Essentially, solar power systems fall into three main categories, and each of these are suitable for different working and living environments.
(more…)
Tags: grid-tied solar power, off-grid solar power, solar panels, solar power
Posted in Eco Products | 5 Comments »
Posted by Zeke on 17 Aug 2012 | Tagged as: Eco Products
Friday, August 17th, 2012
In an effort to go green, many home owners are installing Solar Power systems in order to produce renewable household energy. Although this is a move in the right direction, many people are missing an important step in converting to green energy, and that is saving energy first.
Conserve Energy First
In previous articles we have been concentrating on how to conserve energy in the home, either by changing wasteful habits or by installing energy saving appliances such as LED Lights, gas heaters and Solar Water Heating systems. Although everyone should be practicing green habits in the home in order to conserve natural resources as well as earnings, energy conservation is the vital prerequisite to installing solar power systems. In short, only once you have conserved energy can you begin to create it. (more…)
Tags: energy conservation, solar power system
Posted in Eco Products | No Comments »
Posted by Zeke on 06 Aug 2012 | Tagged as: Eco Products
Monday, August 6th, 2012
So it’s the end of the month and you’re standing there scratching your head while holding the electricity bill, “Why am I paying so much?” You’ve checked the geyser, you conserve heat by way of geyser blankets and pipe insulation, you boil only as much water as you need and you have already installed LED Lights throughout your household; but did you know how much energy pool pumps use?
The sad fact is that many people don’t realise the cost of pool pumps extends long after installation and without monitoring its operation you could be spending hundreds every month on electricity that you don’t really need. Before you go and rip out your entire pool to save money, there is some good news – you can prevent these large bills from drowning your dreams for sustainable living in some very practical ways.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind:
The first problem with swimming pool pumps is out of sight means out of mind. When you leave for work, in winter or on holiday are just some of the instances where we may even forget they’re running; they could be on for as long as 12 hours a day which is simply not practical or necessary. The operating costs of pool pumps go through the roof when used in this way, so monitor their use; they can still fulfil their function at half the output. (more…)
Posted in Eco Products | 1 Comment »
Posted by Zeke on 05 Aug 2012 | Tagged as: Eco Products
Sunday, August 5th, 2012
A refrigerator is an integral part of any household, yet it can also prove to be among the least environmentally friendly of appliances. It goes without saying that fridges and freezers are among the hardest-working appliances in the home; they run all day, every day, keeping food and beverages chilled or frozen. This means they are high-consumption appliances, raising your electricity costs and your household’s carbon footprint. Pardon the pun but that’s just not cool… it’s time you turned to solar powered refrigeration.
Hot Investment with Cool Savings
We all know a solar kit can be an excellent household investment, but purchasing one simply to lower your refrigerator’s consumption can be very costly. By purchasing a solar compliant refrigerator you can save yourself a good deal of money that would otherwise be spent on solar equipment – up to R20 000 in fact – and you’ll be one step closer to running a fully energy efficient home.
(more…)
Tags: Bosch fridges, eco friendly fridges, Minus40, solar fridge, solar powered fridges
Posted in Eco Products | 1 Comment »
Posted by Zeke on 03 Aug 2012 | Tagged as: Eco General
Friday, August 3rd, 2012
We pay them very little attention until they go out. We feel cheated when we have to make a supermarket run dedicated to them and we certainly get frustrated when we buy the screwy one instead of the clippy one. These issues are basically eradicated when changing to LED Lights. Besides their clear economic benefits and longevity, LED light bulbs trump halogen lights in all departments. Here are just a few qualities that make LED’s the clear solution in sustainable lighting.
Most of us are under the impression that if we’ve changed from halogen to Compact Fluorescent Lighting (CFL), we can be secure in the knowledge that we’re living under the “greenest” light there is. That was the case some time ago, before LED lights saved the day, even though CFLs themselves have come a long way since being introduced to the market.
(more…)
Posted in Eco General | 1 Comment »
Posted by Zeke on 01 Aug 2012 | Tagged as: Eco Products
Wednesday, August 1st, 2012
It’s a well known fact that geysers make up a large portion of the total energy consumption of a home or office. However, efforts to implement a more efficient water heating system are often cast aside, even though water heating is considered the easiest green installation and a first step to making your home more energy efficient. Gas water heaters are an attractive and efficient alternative to high consumption electrical water heaters and can also be used in addition to your Solar Water Heating system, as a backup warm water supply. Another advantage of a gas water heater is that it reduces a building’s reliance on Eskom’s services. This article describes the technology of gas water heaters and its application in the home and office, outlining further benefits of a gas water heating installation.
Green Technology: Gas Water Heaters
Gas water heaters use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), most commonly in the form of propane and butane, which are safe and environmentally friendly fuel sources. The greenest form of ignition is the innovative hydrogenerator ignition, which requires no batteries or manual start up. Water heating is initiated as soon as a tap is opened, offering an instantaneous hot water supply. Like battery powered gas water heaters, hydrogenerators are safe, efficient and quick to use.
(more…)
Tags: gas water heating, solar heating
Posted in Eco Products | No Comments »
