Hot ideas for saving electricity

Eskom’s planned electricity hikes of 25% a year are getting customers getting hot under the collar and frantically searching for ways to reduce their electricity bills.
More than 40% of the electricity bills of most households can be attributed to the use of geysers. A number of products on the market offer alternatives for heating water and reducing electricity bills - although the debates around them can be as hot as the water itself. These systems should not be seen as an alternative to the national electricity grid, but rather as a supplement.

Solar Water heaters

The use of solar energy not only reduces your electricity bill substantially, but this clean, renewable energy also significantly reduces the volume of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. Photo: Gabi Falanga



Anthony Schwedhelm, CEO of Totally Solar, explains at Kingswood College on Monday night how an evacuated tube solar water heater works. Photo: Gabi Falanga



Solar water heaters Increasingly popular are two types of solar heater: One is made of flat, glassy looking photovoltaic panels. The other is a series of tubes, known as evacuated tubes, with a water storage tank at the top. The best place to install a solar water heater is on your roof. However, it can be placed on the ground, provided it is at the correct angle, and still gets lots of sunlight. The evacuated tube system is hardy and requires little maintenance.

The outer layer of the tubes consists of a thick layer of borosilicate glass, ensuring minimum reflection. The vacuum created within the tubes is an excellent insulator and although the outside of the tubes will feel cold, the inside will be boiling. The heat generated inside the tubes will heat the copper inside the manifold (the section above the tubes) and this in turn will heat the water in the tank. If one of the tubes breaks, it will discolour, but this will not stop the system from functioning. The tubes are easily replaceable and cost about R80 each.

The system is designed to be low maintenance and the tubes self-clean when it rains or is windy. They are also relatively resistant to the elements. In extended periods of cold or overcast weather, your original geyser will kick in as a back-up, ensuring you always have hot water.
Michael Davies, from MD Plumbing in Grahamstown, prefers the flat photovoltaic panels to the evacuated tubes. He says although the two systems are very similar, the evacuated tube system makes the water too hot and he believes this is a safety risk, especially for families with children.
In order to control the water temperature, you would have to add a temperature valve at an additional cost. The initial cost of installing a solar water heater is relatively expensive (see table). However, Eskom offers rebates and, once the system has been paid off, you will always have hot water, for free. Doug Fincham, from Totally Solar in Port Alfred, believes that “the savings speak for themselves”.
Billy Morgan, chief technical officer for the Information Systems Department at Rhodes University, who installed an evacuated tube system in December 2009, says: “I believe that solar geysers are installed for environmental reasons and not financial reasons. I also believe that when one decides to go this route, one also has to consider modifying one's behaviour to suit the system."
"The geyser has an electrical element and the controller is set to operate the element between 4am-6am and 4pm-6pm (times given by Eskom as being low-demand times). If you have a morning bath or shower, the geyser will only get back to temperature by about 10am on a hot day and later on a cool day. Therefore, if you try and wash dishes at, say, 8am, there will not be enough hot water.
“Taking note of temperatures at various times, understanding the heating patterns of your installation and adjusting your habits to suit these times will ultimately result in your making the most effective use of it,” says Morgan.

Heat pumps

Heat pumps should be placed outdoors for maximum efficiency. They can be strategically placed to blend into their surroundings. Photo: Gabi Falanga

This is the control panel that is used to control your heat pump. It is small and can be placed anywhere in your house. Photo: Gabi Falanga

Heat pumps are an alternative to solar water heaters. The main difference between the two systems is that heat pumps do not make use of the sun. Rather, they draw energy from outside air and, along with one unit of electricity, produce three units of heat.
Our everyday geysers use three units of electricity to produce the same amount of heat. Therefore, heat pumps will always need electricity to function, which will be a problem during extended power failures. Heat pumps compress ambient air, causing a heat exchange which heats water.
The cold air that the system releases can be harnessed and used to run an air-conditioner unit in your house. The system is controlled by a small control panel inside your house and the water temperature can be set (normally at 55°C).
An attractive aspect of heat pumps is that the initial cost of installing them is significantly less than that of solar water heaters. However, in the long run, once the initial cost of either have been paid off, solar becomes more viable, as the running costs for a heat pump are higher. Although Eskom states that heat pumps will qualify for rebates, it appears that the process has not yet been put in place properly.
The use of heat pumps or solar water heaters will result in immediate savings on your electricity bill. These savings will increase once you’ve paid off the system.

How to qualify for an Eskom rebate:
Eskom offers rebates on accredited solar water heaters and heat pumps.

Heat pumps:
• Rebates apply only when you are retrofitting or replacing existing electrical element geysers. Customers who already have an electrical element geyser with a capacity of between 100 litres and 500 litres are eligible to purchase rebated heat pumps.
• Customers can buy a heat pump at rebated cost from the accredited, published registered suppliers and the supplier must perform a full installation.
• Rebates fall into two categories depending on the size of heat pump purchased: Systems with a tank size of 100 to 300 litres qualify for a R3668 rebate. Tanks of 301 to 500 litres qualify you for a rebate worth R4320.
• Must be SABS approved.
• The integrated system warranty should be at least one year, the compressor should be five years and the circulation pump should have a three-year warranty.
• No rebate will be given to customers who have already installed the heat pump prior to its formal announcement.
• The customer will have to fill the rebate forms at the point of sale and provide the following details: ID number, house address, tank size, details of the unit bought, date of installation, and the installer name.

Solar geysers:• The solar heater system and installation must be Eskom-accredited.
• The system must have a 5 year guarantee.
• The system must be SABS passed.
• You must submit a copy of your identity book, your invoice, proof of residence and a copy of your utility bill.
• Before you buy from a supplier, check whether the supplier will claim the rebate and offer you the discounted price, or whether you will pay the full price and then need to claim the rebate from Eskom yourself.
• Applying for a rebate is easy: There is one form to fill in, which is supplied to you by your installer on the day of installation. Include the above-mentioned documents. You will be provided with a self-addressed envelope which you can mail within six months. Within eight weeks the rebate is paid into your bank account directly – if the requirements are met.
The facilitating auditors will email or SMS you to inform you of receipt of your claim, or if the claim form is not completed in full. Claims are only processed once they are complete.
Sourced from: http://www.eskomidm.co.za/ and http://www.solargeysers.co.za/

Why convert to solar power?
• Conserving the environment: A solar geyser has the potential to save 3.7 tons of carbon gases per installed unit per year. This is a great way to practise environmental responsibility, considering that carbon gases are a huge contributor towards climate change.
• Reduction in electricity bill: Your geyser contributes to more than half of your electricity bill. The use of a solar geyser will reduce monthly electricity bills by between 40–50%.
• Price hikes: Families using alternative energy will be less affected by ongoing electricity price increases. • Future legislation: Soon it will be compulsory for citizens to make use of alternative energy sources. Added to this, the proposed introduction of energy usage restrictions and efficiency guidelines will mean that you save on fines or are less susceptible to fines.
•Sunny South Africa: South Africa has very high degrees of solar radiation and harnessing this energy is free.
 •Rebates: Install an Eskom-accredited solar water geyser and you will receive a rebate.
Sourced from: www.solargeysers.co.za

Published in Grocott's Mail on 11 March 2011. All photos by Gabi Falanga. 

Self-knowledge the key to a good documentary

Photo by Caeri Dunnell

When international documentary maker, Michael Rabiger, reflected on the films he had made for the BBC, he realised there were common themes related to his own life experiences. One of the messages he imparted to students and lecturers during his visit to Rhodes is how to use life changing experiences to lead you in a certain direction. “Everyone is marked by certain experiences and you’ll keep discovering what those marks are. But they indicate quite clearly what work a person should do,” he says

Rabiger, a British-born American citizen, arrived in South Africa on Sunday, and is at Rhodes University to give a series of workshops to TV students and documentary makers. On Wednesday evening, in an open lecture entitled ‘Authorship, creativity and identity in the crafting of documentary stories,’ Rabiger stressed the importance of discovering one’s inherent artistic identity.

Rabiger is renowned for his book, Directing the Documentary, which is in its fifth edition and has been translated into 10 languages. It’s known as a bible amongst documentary film makers, and Rhodes TV and mobile communications lecturer, Alette Schoon, was inspired by it as a young film maker. “I found it really empowering,” she gushes.

Rabiger, in his quiet, unassuming manner, talks about how he left school when he was 16 and joined a big film studio as an apprentice, even though that mostly involved carrying cups of coffee to his seniors. “The apprentice part was simply that you were allowed to be there and if you could learn from watching, you learnt,” he says with a timid chuckle. Through a series of lucky breaks, he started editing and then he became a director. Rabiger made 21 films for the BBC, before he moved to the USA where he started teaching, studying and writing.

He also opened the Documentary Centre at Columbia University and says, “We had to invent a way of educating people and it turned out to be exactly the way that I would like to have learnt myself. Practise came first, theory came later: Exactly the opposite to the traditional way of educating people.” His job is to untap his students’ experiences, and allow them to use their temperaments to mediate what path they follow and the type of documentaries they create.

Rabiger is very aware of the complex situation South African film makers find themselves in. His message to them is “Keep the faith. You are as valuable as anybody in the country. You have a potential to change hearts and minds. You can’t do it with techniques; you can only do it with self knowledge and painful confrontation of yourself.”

Published in Grocott's Mail on 25 February 2011.

Freezing for a Cause

Photo by Caeri Dunnell

It’s an uncomfortably hot February afternoon in Grahamstown - yet Riaan Manser has icicles on his beard. I’m sure that’s not all that’s frozen, but it’s difficult to tell, with the thick jacket he’s wearing and all the other layers.

Manser is travelling from Durban to Cape Town in a 40-foot freezer container, at temperatures of -20°C and less, as preparation for his next adventure, in Iceland, in March.

It’s not the first crazy thing this adventurer has done - but this time it’s also for a cause.

“No food for lazy man” is the bizarre name he’s given to a trust which aims at raising funds to buy sport equipment for underprivileged schools.

Sport has always been a big part of Manser’s life and he says, “When we were children, we didn’t realise what a luxury sport was and the lessons we learnt.”

Manser will not leave his freeze-mobile for an entire week, as it stops at towns and cities to raise awareness and funds.

Photo by Caeri Dunnell

Photo by Caeri Dunnell

People can see Manser through the perspex sides of the truck, and some even get to join him inside for a few minutes - like Erin Little, a Grade 2 pupil from St Andrew’s Preparatory School.

“Aah, it’s freezing! I think I’m going to get frostbite!” Little shouts, as she climbs out of the truck.

I also get a chance to talk to Manser in the truck. The cold inside is unbearable. After about two minutes in the truck, I can’t feel my ears. After four minutes, my fingers are frozen - and so is the ink in my pen.

After seven minutes my brain and tongue follow suit and I have to get out.

There’s not much for Manser to do inside the truck: In a corner are blocks of ice - but his attempts at making an igloo have failed thus far. He has two gym machines, a toilet and a shower - but the water in the pipes is frozen. He sleeps at the back of the truck, where the temperature is slightly warmer, at about 0°C.

Photo by Caeri Dunnell

Unlike his other adventures, which he has undertaken unaided and by himself, he will be accompanied by Dan Skinstad, who has cerebral palsy, on his Icelandic trip. While Manser will be trying to conquer the landscape, Skinstad will also be trying to conquer his physical disability.

To make a R30 donation, sms "Donate" to 42220 to help the team raise at least R500 000.

Photo by Caeri Dunnell

Published in Grocott's Mail  on 25 February 2011.  

Horrific rhino poaching at Kariega

A distressed rhino was left stumbling around without its horn after being darted by poachers at Kariega Game Reserve last Thursday.

By the time the rhino was found on Friday morning, it had regained conciousness. Normally, rhinos that fall victim to poachers bleed to death, but the poachers missed the vitals on this animal, extending its suffering. Dr William Fowlds, who was called out to inspect the rhino, describes video footage that was taken of the rhino as "disturbing." After inspecting the rhino, it became apparent that it would not survive and it was put down. In December, Kariega also lost a rhino cow who was used for breeding, to poachers. Kariega’s game ranch manager, Mike Fuller says, "Something has to be done. We have to up our anti-poaching methods. That might mean putting people on the ground, with rifles.” The case has been handed over to the police and the green scorpions, and is still being investigated.

Rhino Horn: Useful or Useless?

Rhino horn is sought after, predominantly in China and Vietnam, for its medicinal properties. In Traditional Chinese medicine, not only is rhino horn believed to be an aphrodisiac, but it can also be used to cure a large number of ailments including fevers, convulsions, delirium, headaches, pus-filled boils, food poisoning and devil possession. Rhino poaching increased alarmingly in 2010 after claims that the horn can prevent and cure cancer. Previously, rhino horn was used in Yemen to make dagger handles, called jambiyas. Various studies on rhino horns have indicated that they have no medicinal properties, as they consist of compressed keratin fibres, the same as in hair and fingernails.

What’s being done?

In a desperate attempt to protect South Africa’s rhinos, game reserves are coming up with solutions.

•DNA Fingerprinting: In Kruger National Park, samples are being taken of every rhino's blood, skin, hair, horn and hooves. This is sent to Pretoria University where they treat the samples in order to extract DNA information. They then create DNA profiles for the animals, which can be used to identify a carcass if an animal is poached.

•Poisoning horns: The Rhino and Lion Park near Krugersdorp have treated their rhinos’ horns with an ectoparasiticide. The poison is highly toxic to humans and is administered with a dye which shows up on X-ray monitors. This makes the horns deadly to consume and will make it impossible for poachers to smuggle whole or powdered horns out of the country.

•GPS Technology: Rhinos in Mafikeng Nature Reserve have had GPS tags fitted in their horns. The tags emit information about the rhino’s location every minute of the day and an alarm sounds when there is a deviation in the animal’s behaviour.

•Foot patrols: Many game reserves have resorted to having armed patrols.

Any information about rhino poaching can be reported to the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s emergency hotline on 082 404 2128.

Sourced from: http://www.sanparks.org/, http://www.5050.co.za/, http://beta.mnet.co.za/carteblanche.

Published in Grocott's Mail on 18 February 2011